Question 1

What is the proper procedure for giving a verbal medication order to a health care practitioner?

Accepted Answer

This procedure ensures that the medication order is accurately communicated and recorded, minimizing the risk of medication error. It also allows the physician to review and verify the order after the emergency situation has passed. Option A is not appropriate as verbal orders should not be written down by other healthcare practitioners. Option C is incorrect as there are situations where verbal orders are acceptable, especially in emergency situations. Option D is also not appropriate as the physician should be the one to sign the medication order after review.

Question 2

The prescription states the medication should be given bid.How often should it be given?

Accepted Answer

Bid means twice a day.

Question 3

Dr.Berry orders blood tests to be done "stat." What does stat mean?

Accepted Answer

"Stat" is a medical abbreviation that means immediately or urgently, indicating that the blood tests should be done without delay.

Question 4

You are reviewing Dr.Casey's instructions and see the abbreviation d/c.What does d/c mean?

Accepted Answer

d/c is an abbreviation for "discontinue".

Question 5

The order specifies D5W.What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

D5W means dextrose 5% in water, indicating a solution containing 5 grams of dextrose dissolved in 100 mL of water. It is commonly used as an intravenous fluid for hydration and calorie supplementation.

Question 6

You take your first telephone order from a doctor on your first day of work at a nursing home.You carefully write out the order for a medication to be given twice a day,using the abbreviation "b.i.d." in the chart.Your supervisor reviews your notes and informs you that periods should not be used with medical abbreviations.What is her reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Using periods to abbreviate medical terms can lead to errors and confusion, as a poorly written period could be mistaken for the number 1. To avoid this potential issue, it is recommended that periods should not be used in medical abbreviations.

Question 7

The abbreviation mcg means .

Accepted Answer

The abbreviation mcg stands for microgram, which is one millionth of a gram. It is commonly used in medical contexts to denote small quantities of medication or nutrients.

Question 8

The primary problem with the household measuring system is that it is .

Accepted Answer

The primary issue with the household measuring system is its inaccuracy. This is because household measurements (like a cup, spoon, or pinch) can vary significantly from one person to another, leading to inconsistent results.

Question 9

The physician's order indicates the medication is to be administered prn.What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

PRN stands for "pro re nata" which means "as needed." Therefore, the medication should be administered as needed by the patient. The nurse should use their clinical judgment to determine when the medication is necessary.

Question 10

The liter is a measure of .

Accepted Answer

The liter is a unit of volume, typically used to measure liquid substances.

Question 11

Suppose a prescription is written for a controlled substance such as a narcotic pain medication.What information,in addition to that required on all prescriptions,must be included on the written prescription?

Accepted Answer

The physician's DEA number is required on prescriptions for controlled substances as it indicates that the physician is authorized to prescribe these medications.

Answer: C 
 The physician's license number is also required on prescriptions for controlled substances to ensure that the physician is licensed to practice medicine and legally allowed to prescribe medications.

Answer: D 
 The physician's provider number is not typically required on prescriptions for controlled substances as it is specific to insurance billing and not relevant to the legality and safety of prescribing these medications.

Question 12

It is Connor's first day as a CNA at the nursing home and he is answering the phones on his unit.A physician calls to place a medication order.What should Connor do before he takes it?

Accepted Answer

Connor should determine the nursing home policy, as typically a registered nurse is required to take medication orders by phone, not a CNA.

Question 13

The correct abbreviation for "every four hours" is .

Accepted Answer

"q" stands for "every" and "4h" stands for "four hours", making "q4h" the correct abbreviation for "every four hours". The other options are not commonly used abbreviations for this frequency of dosing.

Question 14

Under what circumstances may a verbal medication order be given?

Accepted Answer

Verbal medication orders may only be given in emergencies when there is no other feasible option to obtain a written order. In all other circumstances, written medication orders should be obtained to ensure accuracy and reduce the risk of medication errors.

Question 15

Doctor Casey's medication orders for her patient indicate that the route of administration is IVPB.What does IVPB mean?

Accepted Answer

IVPB stands for intravenous piggyback, which means that the medication should be administered by attaching a secondary IV bag containing the medication to the primary IV line. This allows for the medication to be given intermittently while the primary IV fluid is still infusing.

Question 16

What measurement system is considered to be obsolete?

Accepted Answer

The apothecary system was widely used in the past for measuring medication and was based on fluid measurements such as drops, drams, and ounces. However, it is now considered obsolete and has been largely replaced by the metric system in healthcare settings.

Question 17

The abbreviation for capsule is .

Accepted Answer

The correct abbreviation for capsule in medical terminology is "cap."

Question 18

Edgar is asked to take a telephone order from a physician.He listens carefully,writes down everything the physician says,then thanks her before he hangs up the phone.Why is Edgar subsequently reprimanded by his supervisor?

Accepted Answer

Reading the order back to the physician is an important step to ensure accuracy and avoid misunderstandings. By not doing so, Edgar may have missed important details or made errors in the order, which could cause harm to the patient.

Question 19

What abbreviation should be used to indicate that an extended release formulation is required?

Accepted Answer

"ER" is the standard abbreviation used in the pharmaceutical industry to indicate an extended release formulation.

Question 20

You have misplaced the medication cup for measuring out a dose of 15 ml of medicated mouthwash.You do,however,have measuring spoons and cups for household measurement.Using your household measuring cups and spoons,how much should you take?

Accepted Answer

One tablespoon is equivalent to 15 ml, which matches the required dose of the medicated mouthwash.

Quiz 5: Abbreviations and Systems of Measurement