Safe Medications Principles Quiz I

(15 Questions)

Congratulations - you have completed Safe Medications Principles Quiz I.You scored
9 out of 15.Your performance have been rated as 'Competent'

All the questions in the quiz along with their answers are shown below. Your answers are bolded.
The correct answers have a green background while the incorrect ones have a red background.

Prescription errors can be minimized by observing all of the following practices,

EXCEPT for:

 Specifying concentration
 Using abbreviations
 Noting the patient's age and, when appropriate, weight
 Writing legibly

Prescriptions should include the full names of drugs, both brand-name and generic.

 True
 False

Regarding prescription instructions, nurses should:

 Give the patient website addresses where he or she can learn more about the drug
 Explain what the medication is and does, as well as its potential side effects
 Tell the patient to read the detailed sheet that accompanies the medication
 Do nothing, it just confuses the patient

The abbreviation Q.D. (daily) is often mistaken for Q.I.D. (four times daily).

 True
 False

Why should numbers / quantities for controlled substances be fully written?

 To prevent alterations by the patient

 To use up more space on the prescription form
 Numbers written out are more legible
 To help the pharmacist understand the prescription

Nurses should avoid asking patients about their alcohol or "recreational" drug use.

 True
 False

Since the dosage amounts "5 mg" and "5.0 mg" mean the same thing, nurses can
use them interchangeably.

 True
 False

On the prescription form, the condition for which the medication is being prescribed
should NOT be included.

 True
 False

Any nurse can administer prescribed medications.

 True
 False

The nurse has to be authorized as defined in her scope of practice and specified by legislation
and regulations; in some cases, additional training and certification may be required before a
nurse can administer prescription drugs.

Nurses are not doctors or pharmacists; therefore they don’t need to know much
about the drugs they are giving to their patients / clients.

 True
 False

A nurse should NEVER administer a drug about which she knows very little or nothing; her
knowledge should be at a level that she is able to question any uncertainty in the dose, route of
administration, frequency and potential interactions with other medicines being taken.

What should a nurse do if she thinks that the prescribed medication may be wrong
for a particular patient?

 Challenge it – get clarification and confirmation from her supervisor and/ or the doctor
 Administer it since it is unlikely that the doctor and/or pharmacist made a mistake
 Administer it as there likely won’t be any adverse side effects
 Don’t administer it and make a note in the patient’s chart as to reasons why

A nurse has the right (and a duty) to question any part of the authorization to administer a
medication if she is unclear about the instructions or preparation.

Which of the following is most important to check prior to administering a

medication to a patient?
 Medical condition
 Vital signs
 Other prescription medications
 Allergy status

Check the patient’s chart to see if any allergy status is recorded. If not, be sure to ask the
patient. Also remember to check the drug’s generic and brand names to avoid inadvertent
administration.

To make sure you have the right patient, check the patient’s identification band and
his or her room number.

 True
 False

It is recommended that two patient identifiers be used prior to medication administration;

identification bracelet is acceptable; however room number should NEVER be used.

When checking to see that you have the right patient for medication administration,
you should ask the patient whether he is “Mr. John Smith”?

 True
 False

Many older patients, who are hard of hearing, will simply nod their head and say yes. The correct
identification procedure is to ask them their name. Remember to use at least one other approved
identifier as well.

If a nurse is really busy, it is acceptable for her to prepare the medication in

advance, and leave it for the patient to take, or for another professional to
administer.

 True
 False

This should NEVER be done!