Medication Aide State Test Exam Questions and Answers (Latest 2025 / 2026) 100% Verified (UPDATED)

MED AIDE STATE TEST
Actual Questions and Ansẉers
Expert-Verified Explanation


This Exam contains:


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❖ Questions and Ansẉers

❖ format set of multiple-choice

❖ Expert-Verified Explanation

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,1. When should a medication error be reported?
A. At the end of your shift
B. As soon as the error occurs
C. Only if the resident complains
D. The next time you see the nurse

Correct Answer: B. As soon as the error occurs

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Medication errors pose a serious risk to resident safety. Reporting them immediately
is critical for prompt intervention and to minimize potential harm.
• Timely reporting activates your facility’s error-reporting system or root-cause
analysis to prevent future errors.
• Delayed reporting can allow the condition to worsen or complicate subsequent
clinical decisions.

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2. One teaspoon (tsp) of cough syrup is equal to how many milliliters (mL)?
A. 3 mL
B. 4 mL
C. 5 mL
D. 10 mL

Correct Answer: C. 5 mL

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Basic conversions: 1 teaspoon equals 5 milliliters.
• This is a standard measurement recognized in both pharmacy practice and culinary
measures.
• Accurate dose measurement avoids underdosing or overdosing, especially with
liquid medications where measuring spoons or oral syringes may be used.

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3. Which of the following is a sign of anaphylaxis?
A. Drowsiness
B. Wheezing (airway closing)
C. Dry mouth

, D. Mild rash only

Correct Answer: B. Wheezing (airway closing)

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that often involves
respiratory distress, such as wheezing or difficulty breathing.
• Other signs can include hives, swelling of the face/lips, and a drop in blood
pressure.
• Recognizing and responding to anaphylaxis quickly is essential—epinephrine
administration may be needed.

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4. The best site for placing a transdermal patch is where?
A. Over bony prominences
B. On a hairless area (clipping, not shaving, if needed)
C. On an area with cuts
D. Over open wounds

Correct Answer: B. On a hairless area (clipping, not shaving, if needed)

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Transdermal patches rely on good skin contact to deliver medication consistently.
• Placing patches on hairless or minimally hairy skin improves adherence and uniform
absorption.
• Avoid shaving the skin, as micro-abrasions can alter absorption and increase
irritation.

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5. The medication aide is responsible for knowing the medical information of which
residents?
A. All residents in the facility
B. Residents’ family members
C. Only the residents you are assigned, in accordance with HIPAA
D. Entire neighborhood area

Correct Answer: C. Only the residents you are assigned, in accordance with HIPAA

, Expert-Verified Explanation:
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) requires respecting
privacy and safeguarding personal health information.
• You should have access only to the records of residents for whom you provide
direct care.
• Accessing or sharing private information beyond your scope is both illegal and
unethical.

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6. One responsibility of the medication aide is:
A. Prescribing new medications
B. Diagnosing resident illnesses
C. Giving PRN medications after checking with the nurse
D. Writing hospital discharge instructions

Correct Answer: C. Giving PRN medications after checking with the nurse

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Medication aides may administer PRN (as needed) medications, but these often
require an assessment or confirmation by a nurse first.
• Nurses hold the authority to assess the resident’s need for the medication.
• Prescribing and diagnosing are outside the scope of practice for medication aides.

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7. When a drug’s action changes a resident’s response in a positive way, it is said to
have a:
A. Toxic effect
B. Therapeutic effect
C. Placebo effect
D. Side effect

Correct Answer: B. Therapeutic effect

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• The therapeutic effect is the intended benefit of the drug, achieving the purpose for
which it was prescribed.

, • Side effects are unintended, and toxicity is harmful.
• Therapeutic monitoring ensures the medication achieves its positive outcomes
without harm.

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8. The nurse informs you that the blood level of a drug is too high. This means there is
a risk for:
A. Therapeutic effect
B. Tolerance
C. Toxicity
D. Tardive dyskinesia

Correct Answer: C. Toxicity

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• A very high drug blood level signals potential toxicity, where adverse or damaging
effects may occur.
• Monitoring drug levels (e.g., digoxin, lithium) helps maintain the balance between
efficacy and safety.
• Signs of toxicity vary by drug type but may include GI upset, neurological changes,
or organ dysfunction.

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9. An example of a contraindication to giving a particular medication is if the patient:
A. Is able to swallow medication
B. Prefers liquid medications
C. Has an allergy to the medication
D. Has eaten recently

Correct Answer: C. Has an allergy to the medication

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Contraindications are specific conditions or factors (e.g., allergies, organ
impairments) that make a particular medication unsafe.
• Medication allergies can range from mild to life-threatening.
• Always check a resident’s allergy information before administration.

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10. What is a life-threatening allergic reaction?
A. Hives
B. Rhinitis
C. Anaphylactic reaction
D. Mild rash

Correct Answer: C. Anaphylactic reaction

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Anaphylactic reactions can be fatal due to airway obstruction, extreme
hypotension, or shock.
• Prompt recognition and treatment (often with epinephrine) are essential.
• Less severe allergic manifestations (e.g., hives, rash) can progress, so timely
intervention matters.

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11. Raised, irregular patches on a person’s skin are known as:
A. Eczema
B. Warts
C. Hives
D. Psoriasis

Correct Answer: C. Hives

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Hives (urticaria) appear as red, raised, and often itchy patches that can emerge
from allergic reactions.
• They can be caused by medications, foods, or other allergens.
• Monitoring for associated breathlessness or swelling is crucial to rule out severe
reactions.

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12. Most drugs are excreted through urine and feces.
A. True
B. False

, Correct Answer: A. True

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• The two primary routes of drug excretion are via the kidneys (into urine) and the
GI tract (into feces).
• Some drugs may also be excreted in sweat, saliva, or exhaled air, but these are
generally minor pathways.
• Monitoring kidney and liver function is vital for proper medication clearance.

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13. A physician says, “Please change Mr. Nelson’s Lasix (furosemide) to 20 mg instead
of 40 mg.” The med aide should:
A. Follow the order immediately
B. Document the change without telling anyone
C. Tell the physician you need to get the nurse
D. Change it if you feel the resident needs it

Correct Answer: C. Tell the physician you need to get the nurse

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Medication aides do not have the authority to accept new medication orders from a
physician.
• Such dosage changes must be communicated through, or confirmed by, a licensed
nurse.
• Proper chain of command ensures legal and safe practice.

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14. 30 mL is equal to:
A. 2 teaspoons
B. 1 tablespoon
C. 2 tablespoons
D. 3 tablespoons

Correct Answer: C. 2 tablespoons

Expert-Verified Explanation:

, • Common volume conversions: 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 mL, so 2 tablespoons = 30
mL.
• These basic conversions are important for measuring liquid medications accurately.
• Using standardized measuring tools (e.g., medication cups, syringes) prevents
dosing errors.

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15. A resident complains of a headache at pain level 5/10. No analgesic is ordered. The
med aide should:
A. Ask the resident to wait until next shift
B. Give them Tylenol from another resident’s prescription
C. Report to the nurse and inform them there is no order
D. Document the pain without acting

Correct Answer: C. Report to the nurse and inform them there is no order

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• When no medication is available for a reported symptom, the nurse must be
informed to assess and obtain the appropriate order.
• The med aide cannot administer medications prescribed to another resident or
without an order.
• Pain management is a critical component of quality patient care.

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16. For maximum absorption of a sublingual medication, the resident should:
A. Swallow it quickly with water
B. Chew it before swallowing
C. Avoid food or fluids until the medication is dissolved
D. Place it under the tongue and drink water immediately

Correct Answer: C. Avoid food or fluids until the medication is dissolved

Expert-Verified Explanation:
• Sublingual medications are absorbed through the mucous membranes under the
tongue.
• Eating or drinking immediately can wash the medication away, reducing efficacy.
• Sublingual route often provides faster onset than oral ingestion.