NUR 155 Exam 4 | Concepts of Foundations of Nursing (2026)
Q&A | Galen College
1. Which of the following best defines a drug, according to foundational nursing principles?
A) A substance specifically administered for its therapeutic effect on psychological function
B) Any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function
C) A medication that requires a prescription from a licensed provider
D) A chemical compound that is only available over the counter
Correct Answer: Any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function
Rationale: A drug is defined as any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic
function. A medication is a drug specifically administered for its therapeutic effect. This
distinction is important for understanding the scope of substances that can affect the body.
2. What is the correct sequence of the six rights of medication administration?
A) Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation
B) Right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right patient, right documentation
C) Right patient, right time, right dose, right route, right drug, right documentation
D) Right drug, right patient, right time, right dose, right route, right documentation
Correct Answer: Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right
documentation
Rationale: The six rights of medication administration are: right patient, right drug, right dose,
right route, right time, and right documentation. This sequence provides a systematic approach
to ensuring safe medication administration and preventing errors.
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Within what time frame should the
medication be administered relative to the scheduled time?
A) 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after
B) 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after
C) 1 hour before to 1 hour after
D) 2 hours before to 2 hours after
Correct Answer: 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after
Rationale: Medications should be administered within 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after
the scheduled time to maintain therapeutic drug levels. This standard time frame helps ensure
consistency and efficacy of the medication regimen.
4. What is the purpose of the third check in the safety checks when giving medications?
A) To verify the medication order against the healthcare provider's prescription
B) To recheck the label on the container against the Medication Record (MR) at the bedside
C) To confirm the patient's identity using two identifiers
D) To assess the patient's ability to swallow the medication
Correct Answer: To recheck the label on the container against the Medication Record (MR) at
the bedside
Rationale: The third check is performed at the bedside to recheck the label on the container
against the Medication Record (MR) before giving the medication to the client or returning it to
storage. This final verification helps prevent medication errors.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via the oral route. Which of the following
precautions should the nurse take?
,A) Assess the patient's ability to swallow and level of consciousness
B) Crush all medications regardless of formulation
C) Administer the medication with a full glass of milk
D) Have the patient lie flat for 30 minutes after administration
Correct Answer: Assess the patient's ability to swallow and level of consciousness
Rationale: For oral medications, the nurse should always test the patient's ability to swallow,
level of consciousness, and assess for nausea and vomiting. These precautions help prevent
aspiration and ensure the medication is safely administered.
6. Which route of medication administration allows for the most rapid absorption?
A) Oral
B) Sublingual
C) Buccal
D) Inhaled
Correct Answer: Inhaled
Rationale: Inhaled medications are administered through the respiratory tract and have a very
rapid absorption rate. Sublingual and buccal routes also allow rapid absorption, but inhaled
medications provide the fastest onset of action.
7. A nurse is administering a sublingual medication. Where should the medication be placed?
A) Against the mucous membrane of the inner cheek
B) Under the tongue
C) In the conjunctival sac of the eye
, D) Into the rectum
Correct Answer: Under the tongue
Rationale: Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue to dissolve and allow for rapid
absorption through the mucous membranes. This route avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver.
8. Which route involves placing a medication against the mucous membrane of the inner cheek
until it dissolves completely?
A) Sublingual
B) Buccal
C) Oral
D) Topical
Correct Answer: Buccal
Rationale: Buccal administration involves placing the medication against the mucous membrane
of the inner cheek until it dissolves completely. This route allows for rapid absorption and avoids
first-pass metabolism.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which of the
following actions is correct?
A) Flush the tube with water before and after medication administration
B) Leave the NG tube hooked to suction during administration
C) Administer the medication without crushing it
D) Mix the medication with a large volume of formula
Correct Answer: Flush the tube with water before and after medication administration
Q&A | Galen College
1. Which of the following best defines a drug, according to foundational nursing principles?
A) A substance specifically administered for its therapeutic effect on psychological function
B) Any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function
C) A medication that requires a prescription from a licensed provider
D) A chemical compound that is only available over the counter
Correct Answer: Any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function
Rationale: A drug is defined as any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic
function. A medication is a drug specifically administered for its therapeutic effect. This
distinction is important for understanding the scope of substances that can affect the body.
2. What is the correct sequence of the six rights of medication administration?
A) Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation
B) Right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right patient, right documentation
C) Right patient, right time, right dose, right route, right drug, right documentation
D) Right drug, right patient, right time, right dose, right route, right documentation
Correct Answer: Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right
documentation
Rationale: The six rights of medication administration are: right patient, right drug, right dose,
right route, right time, and right documentation. This sequence provides a systematic approach
to ensuring safe medication administration and preventing errors.
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Within what time frame should the
medication be administered relative to the scheduled time?
A) 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after
B) 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after
C) 1 hour before to 1 hour after
D) 2 hours before to 2 hours after
Correct Answer: 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after
Rationale: Medications should be administered within 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after
the scheduled time to maintain therapeutic drug levels. This standard time frame helps ensure
consistency and efficacy of the medication regimen.
4. What is the purpose of the third check in the safety checks when giving medications?
A) To verify the medication order against the healthcare provider's prescription
B) To recheck the label on the container against the Medication Record (MR) at the bedside
C) To confirm the patient's identity using two identifiers
D) To assess the patient's ability to swallow the medication
Correct Answer: To recheck the label on the container against the Medication Record (MR) at
the bedside
Rationale: The third check is performed at the bedside to recheck the label on the container
against the Medication Record (MR) before giving the medication to the client or returning it to
storage. This final verification helps prevent medication errors.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via the oral route. Which of the following
precautions should the nurse take?
,A) Assess the patient's ability to swallow and level of consciousness
B) Crush all medications regardless of formulation
C) Administer the medication with a full glass of milk
D) Have the patient lie flat for 30 minutes after administration
Correct Answer: Assess the patient's ability to swallow and level of consciousness
Rationale: For oral medications, the nurse should always test the patient's ability to swallow,
level of consciousness, and assess for nausea and vomiting. These precautions help prevent
aspiration and ensure the medication is safely administered.
6. Which route of medication administration allows for the most rapid absorption?
A) Oral
B) Sublingual
C) Buccal
D) Inhaled
Correct Answer: Inhaled
Rationale: Inhaled medications are administered through the respiratory tract and have a very
rapid absorption rate. Sublingual and buccal routes also allow rapid absorption, but inhaled
medications provide the fastest onset of action.
7. A nurse is administering a sublingual medication. Where should the medication be placed?
A) Against the mucous membrane of the inner cheek
B) Under the tongue
C) In the conjunctival sac of the eye
, D) Into the rectum
Correct Answer: Under the tongue
Rationale: Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue to dissolve and allow for rapid
absorption through the mucous membranes. This route avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver.
8. Which route involves placing a medication against the mucous membrane of the inner cheek
until it dissolves completely?
A) Sublingual
B) Buccal
C) Oral
D) Topical
Correct Answer: Buccal
Rationale: Buccal administration involves placing the medication against the mucous membrane
of the inner cheek until it dissolves completely. This route allows for rapid absorption and avoids
first-pass metabolism.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric (NG) tube. Which of the
following actions is correct?
A) Flush the tube with water before and after medication administration
B) Leave the NG tube hooked to suction during administration
C) Administer the medication without crushing it
D) Mix the medication with a large volume of formula
Correct Answer: Flush the tube with water before and after medication administration
