NR 293 Pharmacology: Medication Safety & Administration Practice
Pack 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. When identifying a patient before medication administration, which method
is considered the most reliable?
A. Asking the patient their room number.
B. Comparing the medication label with the patient’s name on the door.
C. Checking the patient’s chart at the nursing station.
D. Comparing the identification band with the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
Answer: D
Rationale: Standard protocol requires at least two patient identifiers, usually the name
and date of birth/ID number on the wristband, compared against the MAR.
2. A nurse discovers that a medication was administered to the wrong patient.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
B. Complete an incident report.
C. Assess the patient’s condition.
D. Inform the nursing supervisor.
Answer: C
Rationale: The first priority in the event of a medication error is to assess the patient for
any adverse effects or changes in status to ensure their safety.
,3. Which of the following medication orders is considered ‘STAT’?
A. Ceftriaxone 1g IV daily.
B. Lorazepam 1mg PO at bedtime.
C. Morphine 2mg IV every 4 hours PRN pain.
D. Nitroglycerin 0.4mg SL now.
Answer: D
Rationale: ‘STAT’ or ‘now’ orders indicate that the medication should be given
immediately and only once.
4. The nurse is preparing to mix regular and NPH insulin in one syringe. Which
step is correct?
A. Draw up the NPH insulin first.
B. Shake both vials vigorously before drawing.
C. Draw up the regular insulin first.
D. Use two separate syringes for administration.
Answer: C
Rationale: To prevent contaminating the regular (clear) insulin with NPH (cloudy), the
regular insulin should always be drawn into the syringe first.
5. A patient refuses to take a prescribed medication. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Document that the patient is non-compliant.
B. Crush the medication and hide it in food.
C. Explore the reasons why the patient is refusing.
D. Call the family to persuade the patient.
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should first assess the patient’s rationale for refusal, provide
education, and then notify the provider and document.
, 6. What is the correct angle for an intradermal injection?
A. 90 degrees
B. 45 degrees
C. 30 degrees
D. 5 to 15 degrees
Answer: D
Rationale: Intradermal injections, such as TB tests, are administered at a shallow 5 to 15-
degree angle with the bevel up.
7. The nurse is administering ear drops to a 2-year-old child. How should the
pinna be pulled?
A. Up and back
B. Up and forward
C. Straight back
D. Down and back
Answer: D
Rationale: For children under 3 years old, the pinna is pulled down and back to straighten
the ear canal.
8. Which oral medication form should never be crushed?
A. Enteric-coated tablets
B. Immediate-release capsules
C. Scored tablets
D. Chewable tablets
Answer: A
Rationale: Enteric-coated and extended-release medications should never be crushed as it
alters their absorption and may cause gastric irritation.
Pack 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. When identifying a patient before medication administration, which method
is considered the most reliable?
A. Asking the patient their room number.
B. Comparing the medication label with the patient’s name on the door.
C. Checking the patient’s chart at the nursing station.
D. Comparing the identification band with the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
Answer: D
Rationale: Standard protocol requires at least two patient identifiers, usually the name
and date of birth/ID number on the wristband, compared against the MAR.
2. A nurse discovers that a medication was administered to the wrong patient.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
B. Complete an incident report.
C. Assess the patient’s condition.
D. Inform the nursing supervisor.
Answer: C
Rationale: The first priority in the event of a medication error is to assess the patient for
any adverse effects or changes in status to ensure their safety.
,3. Which of the following medication orders is considered ‘STAT’?
A. Ceftriaxone 1g IV daily.
B. Lorazepam 1mg PO at bedtime.
C. Morphine 2mg IV every 4 hours PRN pain.
D. Nitroglycerin 0.4mg SL now.
Answer: D
Rationale: ‘STAT’ or ‘now’ orders indicate that the medication should be given
immediately and only once.
4. The nurse is preparing to mix regular and NPH insulin in one syringe. Which
step is correct?
A. Draw up the NPH insulin first.
B. Shake both vials vigorously before drawing.
C. Draw up the regular insulin first.
D. Use two separate syringes for administration.
Answer: C
Rationale: To prevent contaminating the regular (clear) insulin with NPH (cloudy), the
regular insulin should always be drawn into the syringe first.
5. A patient refuses to take a prescribed medication. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Document that the patient is non-compliant.
B. Crush the medication and hide it in food.
C. Explore the reasons why the patient is refusing.
D. Call the family to persuade the patient.
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should first assess the patient’s rationale for refusal, provide
education, and then notify the provider and document.
, 6. What is the correct angle for an intradermal injection?
A. 90 degrees
B. 45 degrees
C. 30 degrees
D. 5 to 15 degrees
Answer: D
Rationale: Intradermal injections, such as TB tests, are administered at a shallow 5 to 15-
degree angle with the bevel up.
7. The nurse is administering ear drops to a 2-year-old child. How should the
pinna be pulled?
A. Up and back
B. Up and forward
C. Straight back
D. Down and back
Answer: D
Rationale: For children under 3 years old, the pinna is pulled down and back to straighten
the ear canal.
8. Which oral medication form should never be crushed?
A. Enteric-coated tablets
B. Immediate-release capsules
C. Scored tablets
D. Chewable tablets
Answer: A
Rationale: Enteric-coated and extended-release medications should never be crushed as it
alters their absorption and may cause gastric irritation.
