Chapter 31 Medication Administration (Practice Questions)
Nursing Medication Administration Questions and Answers
1. Patient Education Effectiveness
- Question: A nurse knows that patient education has been effective when the patient states:
- a. I must take my parenteral medication with food.
- b. If I am 30 minutes late taking my medication, I should skip that dose.
- c. I will rotate the location where I give myself injections.
- d. Once I start feeling better, I will stop taking my medication.
- ✔️ Answer: c. I will rotate the location where I give myself injections.
- Feedback: Rotating injection sites is vital for consistent absorption. Other statements indicate
misunderstandings about medication administration.
2. Indication for Z-Track Method
- Question: Which statement by the patient is an indication to use the Z-track method?
- a. I'm really afraid that a big needle will hurt.
- b. The last shot like that turned my skin colors.
- c. I am allergic to many medications.
- d. My legs are too obese for the needle to go through.
- ✔️ Answer: b. The last shot like that turned my skin colors.
- Feedback: The Z-track method is used to prevent irritation of sensitive tissues, particularly if prior
injections have caused skin discoloration or irritation.
3. Ear Irrigation in a Child
- Question: A 2-year-old child is ordered to have ear irrigation. The nurse correctly performs the
procedure by:
- a. Pulling the auricle down and back to straighten the ear canal.
- b. Pulling the auricle upward and outward to straighten the ear canal.
, - c. Instilling the irrigation solution by holding the syringe just inside the ear canal.
- d. Holding the fluid in the canal for 2 to 3 minutes with a cotton swab.
- ✔️ Answer: a. Pulling the auricle down and back to straighten the ear canal.
- Feedback: For children under 3 years, the auricle should be pulled down and back. Proper technique
ensures effective irrigation.
4. Calculating U-50 Insulin Dose Using U-100 Syringe
- Question: A patient has an order to receive 10 units of U-50 insulin. How many units should the nurse
draw up in a U-100 syringe?
- a. 0.2 units
- b. 2 units
- c. 5 units
- d. 20 units
- ✔️ Answer: d. 20 units
- Calculation: Since U-50 insulin means there are 50 units/mL, and the U-100 syringe utilizes 100
units/mL, to give 10 units of U-50, you would draw up 20 units in a U-100 syringe.
5. Calculating U-50 Insulin Dose for 20 Units Using U-100 Syringe
- Question: A patient has an order to receive 20 units of U-50 insulin. How many units should the nurse
draw up in a U-100 syringe?
- a. 0.04 mL
- b. 0.4 mL
- c. 4 mL
- d. 10 mL
- ✔️ Answer: b. 0.4 mL
- Calculation: To administer 20 units of U-50 insulin, you would draw up 0.4 mL since U-50 means 50
units per mL, thus 20 units in U-100 is equivalent to 0.4 mL (20 units / 50 units/mL = 0.4 mL).
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,6. The patient is to receive phenytoin (Dilantin) at 0900. The nurse knows that the ideal time to draw a
trough level is
a.
0800.
b.
0830.
c.
0900.
d.
0930. ✔️b.
0830
ANS: B
Trough levels are generally drawn 30 minutes before the drug is administered. If the medication is
administered at 0900, the trough should be drawn at 0830.
7. A patient who has been receiving intermittent chemotherapy through a peripheral IV site is ordered
to receive a high dose of vancomycin through the same vein. Why does this concern the nurse?
a.
Chemotherapy is irritating to the vascular system and may cause the vein to infiltrate.
b.
Two medications should never be placed into the same IV site.
c.
, Once chemotherapy is in a patients system, any additional medicine given will cause a synergistic effect.
d.
Chemotherapy treatments require a special pump designed solely for chemotherapy. ✔️a.
Chemotherapy is irritating to the vascular system and may cause the vein to infiltrate.
ANS: A
Chemotherapy medications and vancomycin are irritating to the veins and introduce increased risk for
infiltration. Infiltration of a chemotherapy medication can lead to extravasation, a serious IV
complication. Medications can be placed into the same IV site if they are compatible. Chemotherapy
does not cause a synergistic effect with antibiotics. Chemotherapy medications can be infused through
the same device as maintenance IV fluids or even antibiotics.
8. A physician orders 1000 mL of normal saline to infuse at a rate of 50 mL/hr. The nurse plans on
hanging a new bag at what time?
a.
2 hours
b.
5 hours
c.
10 hours
d.
20 hours ✔️d.
20 hours
ANS: D
Nursing Medication Administration Questions and Answers
1. Patient Education Effectiveness
- Question: A nurse knows that patient education has been effective when the patient states:
- a. I must take my parenteral medication with food.
- b. If I am 30 minutes late taking my medication, I should skip that dose.
- c. I will rotate the location where I give myself injections.
- d. Once I start feeling better, I will stop taking my medication.
- ✔️ Answer: c. I will rotate the location where I give myself injections.
- Feedback: Rotating injection sites is vital for consistent absorption. Other statements indicate
misunderstandings about medication administration.
2. Indication for Z-Track Method
- Question: Which statement by the patient is an indication to use the Z-track method?
- a. I'm really afraid that a big needle will hurt.
- b. The last shot like that turned my skin colors.
- c. I am allergic to many medications.
- d. My legs are too obese for the needle to go through.
- ✔️ Answer: b. The last shot like that turned my skin colors.
- Feedback: The Z-track method is used to prevent irritation of sensitive tissues, particularly if prior
injections have caused skin discoloration or irritation.
3. Ear Irrigation in a Child
- Question: A 2-year-old child is ordered to have ear irrigation. The nurse correctly performs the
procedure by:
- a. Pulling the auricle down and back to straighten the ear canal.
- b. Pulling the auricle upward and outward to straighten the ear canal.
, - c. Instilling the irrigation solution by holding the syringe just inside the ear canal.
- d. Holding the fluid in the canal for 2 to 3 minutes with a cotton swab.
- ✔️ Answer: a. Pulling the auricle down and back to straighten the ear canal.
- Feedback: For children under 3 years, the auricle should be pulled down and back. Proper technique
ensures effective irrigation.
4. Calculating U-50 Insulin Dose Using U-100 Syringe
- Question: A patient has an order to receive 10 units of U-50 insulin. How many units should the nurse
draw up in a U-100 syringe?
- a. 0.2 units
- b. 2 units
- c. 5 units
- d. 20 units
- ✔️ Answer: d. 20 units
- Calculation: Since U-50 insulin means there are 50 units/mL, and the U-100 syringe utilizes 100
units/mL, to give 10 units of U-50, you would draw up 20 units in a U-100 syringe.
5. Calculating U-50 Insulin Dose for 20 Units Using U-100 Syringe
- Question: A patient has an order to receive 20 units of U-50 insulin. How many units should the nurse
draw up in a U-100 syringe?
- a. 0.04 mL
- b. 0.4 mL
- c. 4 mL
- d. 10 mL
- ✔️ Answer: b. 0.4 mL
- Calculation: To administer 20 units of U-50 insulin, you would draw up 0.4 mL since U-50 means 50
units per mL, thus 20 units in U-100 is equivalent to 0.4 mL (20 units / 50 units/mL = 0.4 mL).
---
,6. The patient is to receive phenytoin (Dilantin) at 0900. The nurse knows that the ideal time to draw a
trough level is
a.
0800.
b.
0830.
c.
0900.
d.
0930. ✔️b.
0830
ANS: B
Trough levels are generally drawn 30 minutes before the drug is administered. If the medication is
administered at 0900, the trough should be drawn at 0830.
7. A patient who has been receiving intermittent chemotherapy through a peripheral IV site is ordered
to receive a high dose of vancomycin through the same vein. Why does this concern the nurse?
a.
Chemotherapy is irritating to the vascular system and may cause the vein to infiltrate.
b.
Two medications should never be placed into the same IV site.
c.
, Once chemotherapy is in a patients system, any additional medicine given will cause a synergistic effect.
d.
Chemotherapy treatments require a special pump designed solely for chemotherapy. ✔️a.
Chemotherapy is irritating to the vascular system and may cause the vein to infiltrate.
ANS: A
Chemotherapy medications and vancomycin are irritating to the veins and introduce increased risk for
infiltration. Infiltration of a chemotherapy medication can lead to extravasation, a serious IV
complication. Medications can be placed into the same IV site if they are compatible. Chemotherapy
does not cause a synergistic effect with antibiotics. Chemotherapy medications can be infused through
the same device as maintenance IV fluids or even antibiotics.
8. A physician orders 1000 mL of normal saline to infuse at a rate of 50 mL/hr. The nurse plans on
hanging a new bag at what time?
a.
2 hours
b.
5 hours
c.
10 hours
d.
20 hours ✔️d.
20 hours
ANS: D
