OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 12: Medication Administration Procedures
OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills
Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 12: Medication Administration Procedures
Review Questions
Multiple Choice
1. Which form of medication contains added sugars, flavors, and alcohol?
A. syrup
B. emulsion
C. lozenge
D. elixir*
LO: 12.1.2
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.1a
2. Which type(s) of medication should never be crushed, even though it is possible to crush
them?
A. gelcaps
B. extended-release tablets and enteric-coated tablets*
C. gelcaps and extended-release tablets
D. enteric-coated tablets
LO: 12.1.3
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Remember, Understand
AACN: 1.1a
3. What happens when medications are not ingested in the gastrointestinal tract?
A. Medications trigger the effects of first-pass metabolism.
B. Medications are time-released.
C. Medications have a faster onset with stronger effects.*
D. Medications are safer and less likely to yield side effects.
LO: 12.2.1
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.1a
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
1 1/29/2026
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Chapter 12: Medication Administration Procedures
4. You enter a patient’s room and see a nurse holding a syringe by the plunger just before
administering medication to the patient. Is this appropriate?
A. Yes. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the plunger.
B. No. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the barrel.*
C. No. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the flange.
D. No. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the protective cover.
LO: 12.2.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate
AACN: 1.1b
5. Your patient needs an injection and bruises easily. What type of needle should you select
for this patient’s injection?
A. a smaller-gauged needle, which has a higher number*
B. a smaller-gauged needle, which also has a smaller number
C. a larger-gauged needle, which also has a higher number
D. a larger-gauged needle, which has a smaller number
LO: 12.2.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Remember, Understand, Apply
AACN: 1.1b
6. Why are some medications packaged in powdered form and what is used to change
powdered medication into a liquid form?
A. It is easier to transport medications in powdered form; solutes are used to change powdered
medication into a liquid form.
B. There is less medical waste with medications in powdered form; reconstitutions are used to
change powdered medication into a liquid form.
C. Some medications are unstable in liquid form; diluents are used to change powdered
medication into a liquid form.*
D. Some medications should not be liquefied until immediately before administered to patients;
saline is used to change powdered medication into a liquid form.
LO: 12.3.4
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Remember, Understand
AACN: 1.1a
7. What is the chief concern when mixing medications in one syringe?
A. reconstitution
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
2 1/29/2026
Chapter 12: Medication Administration Procedures
OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills
Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 12: Medication Administration Procedures
Review Questions
Multiple Choice
1. Which form of medication contains added sugars, flavors, and alcohol?
A. syrup
B. emulsion
C. lozenge
D. elixir*
LO: 12.1.2
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.1a
2. Which type(s) of medication should never be crushed, even though it is possible to crush
them?
A. gelcaps
B. extended-release tablets and enteric-coated tablets*
C. gelcaps and extended-release tablets
D. enteric-coated tablets
LO: 12.1.3
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Remember, Understand
AACN: 1.1a
3. What happens when medications are not ingested in the gastrointestinal tract?
A. Medications trigger the effects of first-pass metabolism.
B. Medications are time-released.
C. Medications have a faster onset with stronger effects.*
D. Medications are safer and less likely to yield side effects.
LO: 12.2.1
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.1a
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
1 1/29/2026
, OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 12: Medication Administration Procedures
4. You enter a patient’s room and see a nurse holding a syringe by the plunger just before
administering medication to the patient. Is this appropriate?
A. Yes. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the plunger.
B. No. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the barrel.*
C. No. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the flange.
D. No. To preserve sterility, the nurse should hold the syringe by the protective cover.
LO: 12.2.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate
AACN: 1.1b
5. Your patient needs an injection and bruises easily. What type of needle should you select
for this patient’s injection?
A. a smaller-gauged needle, which has a higher number*
B. a smaller-gauged needle, which also has a smaller number
C. a larger-gauged needle, which also has a higher number
D. a larger-gauged needle, which has a smaller number
LO: 12.2.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Remember, Understand, Apply
AACN: 1.1b
6. Why are some medications packaged in powdered form and what is used to change
powdered medication into a liquid form?
A. It is easier to transport medications in powdered form; solutes are used to change powdered
medication into a liquid form.
B. There is less medical waste with medications in powdered form; reconstitutions are used to
change powdered medication into a liquid form.
C. Some medications are unstable in liquid form; diluents are used to change powdered
medication into a liquid form.*
D. Some medications should not be liquefied until immediately before administered to patients;
saline is used to change powdered medication into a liquid form.
LO: 12.3.4
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Remember, Understand
AACN: 1.1a
7. What is the chief concern when mixing medications in one syringe?
A. reconstitution
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
2 1/29/2026
