A nurse who has been taking antihistamines for a head cold says these

QUESTION

A nurse who has been taking antihistamines for a head cold says these medications always make her “sleepy.” Is this nurse impaired?

1. No; impairment means under the influence of alcohol.
2. Yes; any situation that clouds the nurse’s professional vigilance can be thought of as impairment.
3. No; impairment from drug ingestion occurs only if the drugs are illegal.
4. The nurse is impaired only if he or she has taken more medication than is recommended by the medication literature.

ANSWER:

Correct Answer: 2

Impairment is anything that clouds the nurse’s professional vigilance. This impairment can come from legal drugs at recommended dosages, as well as from illegal drugs, alcohol, depression, sleeplessness, and other situations that change vigilance.