QMA Final Exam Questions and Verified
Answers with Rationale Latest Edition
2026/2027
Question 1
What is the primary role of a Qualified Medication Aide (QMA)
within a long-term care facility?
A. Independently prescribing and altering medication
regimens for complex residents
B. Administering routine medications safely under the
supervision and delegation of a licensed nurse
C. Diagnosing new acute medical conditions and ordering
laboratory diagnostic tests
D. Performing surgical procedures and invasive wound
debridement independently
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: A QMA is trained and certified to administer
routine medications safely to residents within a facility under the
direct supervision and delegation of a licensed nurse, remaining
strictly within their legal scope of practice.
Question 2
Which of the following routes of administration is typically
outside the legal scope of practice for a standard QMA in most
jurisdictions?
, A. Oral tablet and capsule administration
B. Sublingual and buccal medication administration
C. Intravenous push and central line medication infusions
D. Topical ointment and medicated eye drop application
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Intravenous medications, central line infusions,
and injections are restricted to licensed nurses or physicians and
fall outside the allowable scope of practice for a QMA.
Question 3
What is the most critical step a QMA must perform immediately
before administering any medication to a resident?
A. Document the administration in the chart before giving the
drug
B. Verify the resident's identity using at least two unique
identifiers
C. Check the facility inventory count of controlled substances
D. Ask the resident what medications they prefer to take
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Using at least two unique identifiers (such as
name and date of birth or photo ID) ensures that the correct
medication is given to the correct resident every time,
preventing medication errors.
,Question 4
What action should a QMA take if a resident refuses to take a
prescribed scheduled medication?
A. Crush the medication and mix it secretly into the resident's
food or beverage
B. Force the resident to swallow the pill to ensure compliance
with the care plan
C. Respect the resident's right to refuse, document the refusal,
and notify the licensed nurse immediately
D. Leave the medication on the bedside table so the resident
can take it later when ready
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Competent residents have the legal right to
refuse treatment. QMAs must never force or secretly administer
medications, but must document the refusal and inform the
licensed nurse promptly.
Question 5
What is the correct procedure for handling a medication that has
been dropped on the floor by a resident?
A. Pick it up, wipe it off with a tissue, and administer it
anyway
B. Discard (waste) the dropped medication according to
facility policy and obtain a fresh dose
, C. Place the dropped pill back into the multi-dose medication
card for future use
D. Rinse the pill under warm tap water and return it to the
medicine cup
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Medications dropped on the floor are considered
contaminated and unsafe for consumption; they must be
disposed of according to strict facility waste protocols and
replaced with a clean dose.
Question 6
When should a QMA document that a resident has been given a
scheduled medication?
A. At the end of the entire medication pass shift
B. Immediately after the resident swallows or receives the
medication
C. Before pulling the medication from the cart to save time
D. Only if the resident experiences an adverse side effect
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Medications must always be charted
immediately after administration to prevent accidental double-
dosing or omissions by other healthcare staff.
Question 7
Answers with Rationale Latest Edition
2026/2027
Question 1
What is the primary role of a Qualified Medication Aide (QMA)
within a long-term care facility?
A. Independently prescribing and altering medication
regimens for complex residents
B. Administering routine medications safely under the
supervision and delegation of a licensed nurse
C. Diagnosing new acute medical conditions and ordering
laboratory diagnostic tests
D. Performing surgical procedures and invasive wound
debridement independently
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: A QMA is trained and certified to administer
routine medications safely to residents within a facility under the
direct supervision and delegation of a licensed nurse, remaining
strictly within their legal scope of practice.
Question 2
Which of the following routes of administration is typically
outside the legal scope of practice for a standard QMA in most
jurisdictions?
, A. Oral tablet and capsule administration
B. Sublingual and buccal medication administration
C. Intravenous push and central line medication infusions
D. Topical ointment and medicated eye drop application
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Intravenous medications, central line infusions,
and injections are restricted to licensed nurses or physicians and
fall outside the allowable scope of practice for a QMA.
Question 3
What is the most critical step a QMA must perform immediately
before administering any medication to a resident?
A. Document the administration in the chart before giving the
drug
B. Verify the resident's identity using at least two unique
identifiers
C. Check the facility inventory count of controlled substances
D. Ask the resident what medications they prefer to take
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Using at least two unique identifiers (such as
name and date of birth or photo ID) ensures that the correct
medication is given to the correct resident every time,
preventing medication errors.
,Question 4
What action should a QMA take if a resident refuses to take a
prescribed scheduled medication?
A. Crush the medication and mix it secretly into the resident's
food or beverage
B. Force the resident to swallow the pill to ensure compliance
with the care plan
C. Respect the resident's right to refuse, document the refusal,
and notify the licensed nurse immediately
D. Leave the medication on the bedside table so the resident
can take it later when ready
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Competent residents have the legal right to
refuse treatment. QMAs must never force or secretly administer
medications, but must document the refusal and inform the
licensed nurse promptly.
Question 5
What is the correct procedure for handling a medication that has
been dropped on the floor by a resident?
A. Pick it up, wipe it off with a tissue, and administer it
anyway
B. Discard (waste) the dropped medication according to
facility policy and obtain a fresh dose
, C. Place the dropped pill back into the multi-dose medication
card for future use
D. Rinse the pill under warm tap water and return it to the
medicine cup
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Medications dropped on the floor are considered
contaminated and unsafe for consumption; they must be
disposed of according to strict facility waste protocols and
replaced with a clean dose.
Question 6
When should a QMA document that a resident has been given a
scheduled medication?
A. At the end of the entire medication pass shift
B. Immediately after the resident swallows or receives the
medication
C. Before pulling the medication from the cart to save time
D. Only if the resident experiences an adverse side effect
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Medications must always be charted
immediately after administration to prevent accidental double-
dosing or omissions by other healthcare staff.
Question 7
