,Chapter 1: Safety in Medication Administration
Multiple-Choice Questions (1–70)
Question 1: A nurse receives the following medication order: "Digoxin .25 mg PO daily." What is the
nurse's first action?
A) Administer the medication as ordered
B) Clarify the order with the prescribing provider
C) Calculate the dose based on the patient's weight
D) Check the patient's apical pulse before administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The order for digoxin (.25 mg) lacks a leading zero before the decimal point, which is an
unsafe practice that can lead to a tenfold medication error. Safe practice requires a zero before the
decimal point when the dose is less than one (i.e., 0.25 mg). The nurse should clarify the order before
administration.
Question 2: Which of the following represents the safest notation for a medication order of one-half
milligram?
A) .5 mg
B) 0.5 mg
C) ½ mg
D) 5 mg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safe medication notation requires a leading zero before the decimal point (0.5 mg) and
avoidance of trailing zeros. The notation ".5 mg" can be misread as 5 mg. Fractions should not be used in
medication orders.
Question 3: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the order states "MS 4 mg IV
push." What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer the medication as ordered
B) Clarify the order because "MS" is an unsafe abbreviation
C) Administer the medication and document as "MS"
D) Ask another nurse to administer the medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "MS" is an unsafe abbreviation that can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate.
The nurse must clarify the order to determine the intended medication before administration.
Question 4: Which of the following is one of the Six Rights of Medication Administration?
A) Right diagnosis
B) Right documentation
C) Right physician
D) Right hospital
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Six Rights of Medication Administration are: Right patient, Right medication, Right dose,
Right route, Right time, and Right documentation.
Question 5: A nurse is calculating a pediatric dose and the calculation results in 0.6666 mL. How should
the nurse round this dose?
A) 0.66 mL
B) 0.67 mL
C) 0.7 mL
D) 0.666 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For pediatric doses, round to the nearest hundredth (two decimal places) when the dose is
less than 1 mL. 0.6666 rounds to 0.67 mL.
Question 6: A patient is prescribed 0.125 mg of a medication. The pharmacy dispenses tablets labeled
125 mcg. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 0.5 tablet
B) 1 tablet
C) 2 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Convert the ordered dose to the same unit as the available medication: 0.125 mg = 125 mcg.
The available tablet is 125 mcg, so the nurse should administer 1 tablet.
Question 7: A nurse is preparing to administer insulin. Which of the following is the correct action?
A) Use a tuberculin syringe to measure insulin
B) Use a standard 3-mL syringe to measure insulin
C) Use an insulin syringe calibrated in units
D) Use a 1-mL syringe calibrated in milliliters
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin must always be measured using an insulin syringe calibrated in units. Using any other
syringe can result in a medication error.
Question 8: A nurse receives a verbal order from a physician. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer the medication immediately
B) Write down the order and read it back to the physician for verification
C) Ask another nurse to verify the order
D) Document the order after administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When receiving a verbal order, the nurse must write it down and read it back to the
prescriber to verify accuracy. This practice reduces the risk of medication errors.
Question 9: Which of the following is an example of a high-alert medication?
A) Acetaminophen
, B) Insulin
C) Multivitamin
D) Oral rehydration solution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin is classified as a high-alert medication because errors with this medication can cause
significant patient harm.
Question 10: A nurse is calculating a dose and obtains a result of 1.5 tablets. What should the nurse do?
A) Administer 1.5 tablets
B) Administer 2 tablets
C) Clarify the order with the prescriber
D) Cut the tablet in half and administer 1.5 tablets
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If a calculation results in a fraction of a tablet that cannot be accurately administered (i.e., the
tablet does not have a score line), the nurse should clarify the order with the prescriber.
Question 11: What is the primary purpose of the Six Rights of Medication Administration?
A) To reduce the cost of medications
B) To prevent medication errors
C) To speed up medication administration
D) To reduce documentation requirements
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Six Rights of Medication Administration are a safety framework designed to prevent
medication errors.
Question 12: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via nasogastric tube. Which of the
following is the correct action?
A) Administer the medication as a tablet
B) Crush the medication and mix with water
C) Administer the medication with food
D) Use a suppository form instead
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medications administered via nasogastric tube must be in liquid form or crushed and mixed
with water. Enteric-coated and sustained-release medications should not be crushed.
Question 13: A nurse is reviewing a medication order that reads "10.0 mg." What is the nurse's concern
with this order?
A) The dose is too high
B) The trailing zero is unsafe
C) The dose is too low
D) The medication is not appropriate
Multiple-Choice Questions (1–70)
Question 1: A nurse receives the following medication order: "Digoxin .25 mg PO daily." What is the
nurse's first action?
A) Administer the medication as ordered
B) Clarify the order with the prescribing provider
C) Calculate the dose based on the patient's weight
D) Check the patient's apical pulse before administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The order for digoxin (.25 mg) lacks a leading zero before the decimal point, which is an
unsafe practice that can lead to a tenfold medication error. Safe practice requires a zero before the
decimal point when the dose is less than one (i.e., 0.25 mg). The nurse should clarify the order before
administration.
Question 2: Which of the following represents the safest notation for a medication order of one-half
milligram?
A) .5 mg
B) 0.5 mg
C) ½ mg
D) 5 mg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safe medication notation requires a leading zero before the decimal point (0.5 mg) and
avoidance of trailing zeros. The notation ".5 mg" can be misread as 5 mg. Fractions should not be used in
medication orders.
Question 3: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the order states "MS 4 mg IV
push." What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer the medication as ordered
B) Clarify the order because "MS" is an unsafe abbreviation
C) Administer the medication and document as "MS"
D) Ask another nurse to administer the medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "MS" is an unsafe abbreviation that can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate.
The nurse must clarify the order to determine the intended medication before administration.
Question 4: Which of the following is one of the Six Rights of Medication Administration?
A) Right diagnosis
B) Right documentation
C) Right physician
D) Right hospital
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Six Rights of Medication Administration are: Right patient, Right medication, Right dose,
Right route, Right time, and Right documentation.
Question 5: A nurse is calculating a pediatric dose and the calculation results in 0.6666 mL. How should
the nurse round this dose?
A) 0.66 mL
B) 0.67 mL
C) 0.7 mL
D) 0.666 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For pediatric doses, round to the nearest hundredth (two decimal places) when the dose is
less than 1 mL. 0.6666 rounds to 0.67 mL.
Question 6: A patient is prescribed 0.125 mg of a medication. The pharmacy dispenses tablets labeled
125 mcg. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 0.5 tablet
B) 1 tablet
C) 2 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Convert the ordered dose to the same unit as the available medication: 0.125 mg = 125 mcg.
The available tablet is 125 mcg, so the nurse should administer 1 tablet.
Question 7: A nurse is preparing to administer insulin. Which of the following is the correct action?
A) Use a tuberculin syringe to measure insulin
B) Use a standard 3-mL syringe to measure insulin
C) Use an insulin syringe calibrated in units
D) Use a 1-mL syringe calibrated in milliliters
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin must always be measured using an insulin syringe calibrated in units. Using any other
syringe can result in a medication error.
Question 8: A nurse receives a verbal order from a physician. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer the medication immediately
B) Write down the order and read it back to the physician for verification
C) Ask another nurse to verify the order
D) Document the order after administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When receiving a verbal order, the nurse must write it down and read it back to the
prescriber to verify accuracy. This practice reduces the risk of medication errors.
Question 9: Which of the following is an example of a high-alert medication?
A) Acetaminophen
, B) Insulin
C) Multivitamin
D) Oral rehydration solution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin is classified as a high-alert medication because errors with this medication can cause
significant patient harm.
Question 10: A nurse is calculating a dose and obtains a result of 1.5 tablets. What should the nurse do?
A) Administer 1.5 tablets
B) Administer 2 tablets
C) Clarify the order with the prescriber
D) Cut the tablet in half and administer 1.5 tablets
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If a calculation results in a fraction of a tablet that cannot be accurately administered (i.e., the
tablet does not have a score line), the nurse should clarify the order with the prescriber.
Question 11: What is the primary purpose of the Six Rights of Medication Administration?
A) To reduce the cost of medications
B) To prevent medication errors
C) To speed up medication administration
D) To reduce documentation requirements
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Six Rights of Medication Administration are a safety framework designed to prevent
medication errors.
Question 12: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via nasogastric tube. Which of the
following is the correct action?
A) Administer the medication as a tablet
B) Crush the medication and mix with water
C) Administer the medication with food
D) Use a suppository form instead
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Medications administered via nasogastric tube must be in liquid form or crushed and mixed
with water. Enteric-coated and sustained-release medications should not be crushed.
Question 13: A nurse is reviewing a medication order that reads "10.0 mg." What is the nurse's concern
with this order?
A) The dose is too high
B) The trailing zero is unsafe
C) The dose is too low
D) The medication is not appropriate
