Question 1

When taking a telephone order for a medication, which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Verify the order with the charge nurse. 
B)  Call back the prescriber to review the order. 
C)  Repeat the order to the prescriber before hanging up the telephone. 
D)  Ask the pharmacist to double-check the order. 
A)  Verify the order with the charge nurse. 
B)  Call back the prescriber to review the order. 
C)  Repeat the order to the prescriber before hanging up the telephone. 
D)  Ask the pharmacist to double-check the order. C

Question 2

The nurse can prevent medication errors by following which principles?

Accepted Answer

A)  Assess for allergies after giving medications. 
B)  Use two patient identifiers before giving medications. 
C)  Always following the rights of medication administration. 
D)  Minimize the use of verbal and telephone orders. 
E)  Use trade names instead of generic names to avoid confusion. 
A)  Assess for allergies after giving medications. 
B)  Use two patient identifiers before giving medications. 
C)  Always following the rights of medication administration. 
D)  Minimize the use of verbal and telephone orders. 
E)  Use trade names instead of generic names to avoid confusion. B, C, D

Question 3

Levothyroxine is available in 75-mcg tablet form. Convert this dose to milligram strength. (do not round) _______

Accepted Answer

0.075 mg
One mg equals 1000 mcg. To convert 75 mcg to mg, divide 75 by 1000 to equal 0.075 mg, or move the decimal point to the left three spaces. Do not forget to include the leading zero in front of the decimal point.

Question 4

The nurse is reviewing a list of verbal medication orders. Which is the proper notation of the dose of the drug ordered?

Accepted Answer

A)  Levothyroxine.75 mg 
B)  Levothyroxine.750 mg 
C)  Levothyroxine 0.75 mg 
D)  Levothyroxine 0.750 mg 
A)  Levothyroxine.75 mg 
B)  Levothyroxine.750 mg 
C)  Levothyroxine 0.75 mg 
D)  Levothyroxine 0.750 mg

Question 5

During a period of time when the computerized medication order system was down, the prescriber wrote admission orders, and the nurse is transcribing them. The nurse is having difficulty transcribing one order because of the prescriber's handwriting. Which is the best action for the nurse to take at this time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ask a colleague what the order says. 
B)  Contact the prescriber to clarify the order. 
C)  Wait until the prescriber makes rounds again to clarify the order. 
D)  Ask the patient what medications he takes at home. 
A)  Ask a colleague what the order says. 
B)  Contact the prescriber to clarify the order. 
C)  Wait until the prescriber makes rounds again to clarify the order. 
D)  Ask the patient what medications he takes at home.

Question 6

When given a scheduled morning medication, the patient states, "I haven't seen that pill before. Are you sure it's correct?" The nurse checks the medication administration record and verifies that it is listed. Which is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

A)  "It's listed here on the medication sheet, so you should take it." 
B)  "Go ahead and take it, and then I'll check with your doctor about it." 
C)  "It wouldn't be listed here if it were not ordered for you!" 
D)  "Let me check on the order first before you take it." 
A)  "It's listed here on the medication sheet, so you should take it." 
B)  "Go ahead and take it, and then I'll check with your doctor about it." 
C)  "It wouldn't be listed here if it were not ordered for you!" 
D)  "Let me check on the order first before you take it."

Question 7

When reviewing pediatric medication administration, the nurse recognizes that which type of medication error is most common with children?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oral medication administration errors 
B)  Wrong route errors 
C)  Incorrect dosage form errors 
D)  Dosing errors 
A)  Oral medication administration errors 
B)  Wrong route errors 
C)  Incorrect dosage form errors 
D)  Dosing errors

Question 8

The nurse is reviewing medication errors. Which situation is an example of a medication error?

Accepted Answer

A)  A patient refuses her morning medications. 
B)  A patient receives a double dose of a medication because the nurse did not cut the pill in half. 
C)  A patient develops hives after having started an IV antibiotic 24 hours earlier. 
D)  A patient complains of severe pain still present 60 minutes after a pain medication was given. 
A)  A patient refuses her morning medications. 
B)  A patient receives a double dose of a medication because the nurse did not cut the pill in half. 
C)  A patient develops hives after having started an IV antibiotic 24 hours earlier. 
D)  A patient complains of severe pain still present 60 minutes after a pain medication was given.

Question 9

During morning medication administration, the nurse discovered an error on the electronic MAR before the medication was given. Which action by the nurse is appropriate for this "near-miss?"

Accepted Answer

A)  Correct the MAR error but say nothing because nothing happened. 
B)  Notify the pharmacy about the error they almost caused. 
C)  Report the near-miss using the facility's recommended protocol, and correct the error on the MAR. 
D)  Report the near-miss to the next shift before the next dose is due. 
A)  Correct the MAR error but say nothing because nothing happened. 
B)  Notify the pharmacy about the error they almost caused. 
C)  Report the near-miss using the facility's recommended protocol, and correct the error on the MAR. 
D)  Report the near-miss to the next shift before the next dose is due.

Question 10

Digoxin is available in 0.125-mg tablet form. Convert this dose to microgram strength. (do not round) _______

Accepted Answer

125 mcg
One mg equals 1000 mcg

Exam 5: Medication Errors: Preventing and Responding

When taking a telephone order for a medication, which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

The nurse can prevent medication errors by following which principles?

Levothyroxine is available in 75-mcg tablet form. Convert this dose to milligram strength. (do not round) _______

The nurse is reviewing a list of verbal medication orders. Which is the proper notation of the dose of the drug ordered?

When given a scheduled morning medication, the patient states, "I haven't seen that pill before. Are you sure it's correct?" The nurse checks the medication administration record and verifies that it is listed. Which is the nurse's best response?

When reviewing pediatric medication administration, the nurse recognizes that which type of medication error is most common with children?

The nurse is reviewing medication errors. Which situation is an example of a medication error?

During morning medication administration, the nurse discovered an error on the electronic MAR before the medication was given. Which action by the nurse is appropriate for this "near-miss?"

Digoxin is available in 0.125-mg tablet form. Convert this dose to microgram strength. (do not round) _______

The Nursing Process and Drug Therapy

Pharmacologic Principles

Lifespan Considerations

Cultural, Legal, and Ethical Considerations

Patient Education and Drug Therapy

Over-The-Counter Drugs and Herbal and Dietary Supplements

Gene Therapy and Pharmacogenomics

Photo Atlas of Drug Administration

Analgesic Drugs

General and Local Anesthetics

Central Nervous System Depressants and Muscle Relaxants

Central Nervous System Stimulants and Related Drugs

Antiepileptic Drugs

Antiparkinson Drugs

Psychotherapeutic Drugs

Substance Use Disorder

Adrenergic Drugs

Adrenergic-Blocking Drugs

Cholinergic Drugs

Cholinergic-Blocking Drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

Antianginal Drugs

Heart Failure Drugs

Antidysrhythmic Drugs

Coagulation Modifier Drugs

Antilipemic Drugs

Diuretic Drugs

Fluids and Electrolytes

Pituitary Drugs

Thyroid and Antithyroid Drugs

Antidiabetic Drugs

Adrenal Drugs

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Antihistamines, Decongestants, Antitussives, and Expectorants

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Antibiotics Part 1

Antibiotics Part 2

Antiviral Drugs

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Antifungal Drugs

Antimalarial, Antiprotozoal, and Anthelmintic Drugs

Anti-Inflammatory and Antigout Drugs

Antineoplastic Drugs Part 1: Cancer Overview and Cell Cycle-Specific Drugs

Antineoplastic Drugs Part 2: Cell Cyclenonspecific Drugs and Miscellaneous Drugs

Biologic Responsemodifying and Antirheumatic Drugs

Immunosuppressant Drugs

Immunizing Drugs

Acid-Controlling Drugs

Bowel Disorder Drugs

Antiemetic and Antinausea Drugs

Vitamins and Minerals

Anemia Drugs

Nutritional Supplements

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