Deck 7: Principles of Medication Administration and Medication Safety

Question 1

Which medication order requires nursing judgment and means "administer if needed"?

A) Morphine 4 mg IV stat
B) Morphine 4 mg IV prior to procedure
C) Morphine 4 mg IV four times a day
D) Morphine 4 mg IV every 4 hours PRN

Answer 1

Morphine 4 mg IV every 4 hours PRN

Question 2

Which action will the nurse take when it is determined that the narcotic count is incorrect while obtaining a medication from the narcotic area?

A) Determine the cause of the discrepancy at the end of the shift.
B) Notify the health care provider stat.
C) Call the nurse from the previous shift to determine if there was a discrepancy earlier.
D) Report the discrepancy to the charge nurse immediately.

Answer 2

Report the discrepancy to the charge nurse immediately.

Question 3

What is medication reconciliation?

A) Comparing the patient's current medication orders to all of the medications actually being taken
B) The administration of high-alert medications that have been ordered on admission to an acute care facility
C) The completion of an incident report following a variance that resulted in a serious complication
D) A printout of computerized patient data that identifies the times that all of the ordered medications are to be administered

Answer 3

Comparing the patient's current medication orders to all of the medications actually being taken

Question 4

Which statements are true regarding computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE)? (Select all that apply.)

A) Integrates the ordering system with the pharmacy, laboratory, and nurses' stations
B) Provides instant access to online information to facilitate patient care needs
C) Facilitates review of ordered medications for potential drug interactions
D) Facilitates review of drugs for appropriateness of dosages
E) Alleviates the need to perform mathematical computations

Question 5

Which statements are true regarding the types of medication orders? (Select all that apply.)

A) Stat orders are the same as single-dose orders.
B) Standing orders indicate the number of specified doses a medication is to be given.
C) Renewal orders facilitate physician review before continuance of high-risk medications.
D) PRN medications will designate a mandatory number of times the medication is to be administered.
E) Verbal orders should be used as much as possible.

Question 6

Which action will the nurse take if a dosage is unclear on a health care provider's order?

A) Ask the patient what dosage was given in the past.
B) Ask another physician to determine the correct dosage.
C) Tell the patient that the medication will not be given.
D) Contact the health care provider to verify the correct dosage.

Question 7

Which must the nurse have before administering any medication? (Select all that apply.)

A) A current license to practice
B) A medication order signed by a practitioner licensed with prescription privileges
C) Knowledge of the medication
D) Consultation with a pharmacist
E) Knowledge of the client's diagnosis

Question 8

Which is known as the "fifth vital sign"?

A) Temperature
B) Respirations
C) Pain
D) Pulse

Question 9

Which lab tests are used to assess liver and/or renal function before administering medications? (Select all that apply.)

A) CBC
B) LDH
C) ALT
D) Cr_s
E) BUN
F) APTT

Question 10

The nurse determines that a prescribed medication has not been administered as ordered on the previous shift. What action will the nurse take?

A) Administer the medication immediately.
B) Complete an incident report.
C) Notify the nurse responsible for the error.
D) Record the occurrence in the nurse's notes.

Question 11

Which example best demonstrates safe drug administration by the nurse?

A) Administering an oral medication with the patient sitting upright
B) Asking children to say their name before administering the medication
C) Leaving the medications on the bedside stand after verifying patient identification
D) Returning unused portion of a medication to a stock supply bottle

Question 12

Who defines the standards of care for the practice of nursing? (Select all that apply.)

A) State boards of nursing
B) Hospital policy and procedures
C) Federal laws regulating health care
D) The Joint Commission
E) Professional nursing associations

Question 13

Which advantages does the unit dose drug distribution system include? (Select all that apply.)

A) There is decreased participation by the pharmacy.
B) The pharmacist is able to analyze prescribed medications for each client for drug interactions and contraindications.
C) There is less waste of medications.
D) The time spent by nursing personnel preparing these medications is increased.
E) Credit is given to the patient for unused medications.

Question 14

Where would the procedures and treatments directed by the health care provider be found?

A) Summary sheet
B) Physician's order form
C) Physician's progress notes
D) History and physical examination form

Question 15

Which medication route provides the most rapid onset of a medication, but also poses the greatest risk of adverse effects?

A) Intradermal
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
D) Intravenous

Question 16

The nursing assessment identifies that the client is nauseated and cannot take acetaminophen (Tylenol) orally. Which is true regarding the substitution of this medication to suppository form?

A) It is standard practice when the patient is unable to take the ordered medication.
B) It is acceptable if the patient agrees to the altered route form.
C) It is preferable to having the patient miss a dose of the medication.
D) It is contraindicated without an order from the health care provider.

Question 17

What is the most reliable method to calculate a pediatric patient's medication dosage?

A) Age
B) Height
C) Body surface area (BSA)
D) Placement on a growth scale

Question 18

Which is true regarding the unit dose drug distribution system?

A) The inventory is delivered to each nursing unit on a regular and recurring basis.
B) The system delivers one dose of each medication to be administered until the subsequent delivery of inventory.
C) The use of single-dose packages of drugs dispensed to fill each dose requirement as it is ordered.
D) The amount of inventory needed to dose all patients on the unit for a 24-hour interval.