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CLN 500: Order Transmittal – Questions with
Correct Answers Comprehensive Nursing
Total Questions: 50
Format: Multiple choice (40) + select all that apply (5) + clinical scenarios (5)
Target Level: Undergraduate (BSN) / Graduate (MSN) bridge
Focus: Order types (written, verbal, telephone, electronic), transcription, verification,
clarification, medication orders, standing orders, order sets, documentation, and legal/ safety
considerations.
DOMAIN I: TYPES OF ORDERS & ORDER ENTRY (8 questions)
Q1. A physician gives a verbal order to a nurse at the bedside during an emergency. The nurse
should:
A. Immediately implement the order without writing it down
B. Write the order verbatim, read it back to the physician, and obtain verification
C. Ask the physician to write the order before leaving
D. Implement the order only if witnessed by another nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verbal orders must be written down, read back to the prescriber for verification, and
documented with the prescriber's name, date, time, and the nurse's signature. Read-back
prevents errors.
Q2. A telephone order is received from a physician. The nurse should:
A. Write the order as stated, sign it, and implement it immediately
B. Write the order, read it back, and document “TO” (telephone order) with physician name and
time
C. Refuse to accept telephone orders under any circumstances
D. Have another nurse listen to the order before writing it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Telephone orders require read-back verification, documentation of the prescriber’s
name, date, time, and the nurse’s signature with “TO” or “VO.” Another nurse (D) is not
required but can be helpful.
,2
Q3. Which of the following is an example of a standing order?
A. “Give furosemide 40 mg IV now for crackles”
B. “If patient’s blood pressure is <90/60, hold lisinopril”
C. “Schedule patient for MRI of the brain”
D. “Discontinue the Foley catheter at 0800 tomorrow”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standing orders (or protocol orders) are pre-written instructions that are activated
under specific conditions (e.g., hold medication if BP low). Options A, C, and D are one-time or
scheduled orders, not conditional.
Q4. A nurse is entering a medication order into the electronic health record (EHR). The order is
missing the route of administration. The nurse should:
A. Assume the route and enter the order
B. Contact the prescriber for clarification
C. Use the most common route for that medication
D. Omit the route and note “route not specified”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incomplete orders must be clarified with the prescriber before implementation.
Assuming or omitting information can lead to medication errors.
Q5. A physician writes an order: “Amoxicillin 500 mg PO tid.” The nurse correctly interprets “tid”
as:
A. Once daily
B. Twice daily
C. Three times daily
D. Four times daily
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: tid = ter in die (three times daily). qd = once daily; bid = twice daily; qid = four times
daily.
Q6. According to ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) and Joint Commission, which
abbreviation is considered “do not use” due to risk of misinterpretation?
A. PO
B. U (for unit)
, 3
C. tid
D. PRN
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: “U” (for unit) can be mistaken for “0,” “4,” or “cc.” Write “unit.” Other “do not use”
abbreviations include: QD, QOD, trailing zeros, lack of leading zero, MS, MSO4, and MgSO4.
Q7. A nurse receives a verbal order for “morphine 4 mg IV push.” The correct read-back
response is:
A. “Okay, I will give it.”
B. “You ordered morphine 4 mg IV push; is that correct?”
C. “I will give 4 mg of morphine now.”
D. “Morphine 4 mg IV push – what is the patient’s name?”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Read-back should restate the complete order (drug, dose, route, frequency) to verify
accuracy. Option B is the correct closed-loop communication.
Q8. A nurse notes that a prescriber wrote an order for “digoxin 0.25 mg daily” but the patient’s
recent level is high. The nurse should:
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Hold the dose and notify the prescriber
C. Give half the dose
D. Chart that the dose was not given but do nothing else
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse has a responsibility to question orders that may be harmful based on
clinical data (lab results, vital signs, allergies). Notify the prescriber before administering.
DOMAIN II: TRANSCRIPTION & VERIFICATION (8 questions)
Q9. A nurse transcribes a physician’s order from a written order sheet to the Medication
Administration Record (MAR). The original order says “Metoprolol 50 mg PO BID.” The nurse
transcribes “Metoprolol 25 mg PO BID.” The error was caught before administration. This is an
example of:
A. Misfill
B. Transcription error
C. Prescribing error
D. Administration error
CLN 500: Order Transmittal – Questions with
Correct Answers Comprehensive Nursing
Total Questions: 50
Format: Multiple choice (40) + select all that apply (5) + clinical scenarios (5)
Target Level: Undergraduate (BSN) / Graduate (MSN) bridge
Focus: Order types (written, verbal, telephone, electronic), transcription, verification,
clarification, medication orders, standing orders, order sets, documentation, and legal/ safety
considerations.
DOMAIN I: TYPES OF ORDERS & ORDER ENTRY (8 questions)
Q1. A physician gives a verbal order to a nurse at the bedside during an emergency. The nurse
should:
A. Immediately implement the order without writing it down
B. Write the order verbatim, read it back to the physician, and obtain verification
C. Ask the physician to write the order before leaving
D. Implement the order only if witnessed by another nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verbal orders must be written down, read back to the prescriber for verification, and
documented with the prescriber's name, date, time, and the nurse's signature. Read-back
prevents errors.
Q2. A telephone order is received from a physician. The nurse should:
A. Write the order as stated, sign it, and implement it immediately
B. Write the order, read it back, and document “TO” (telephone order) with physician name and
time
C. Refuse to accept telephone orders under any circumstances
D. Have another nurse listen to the order before writing it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Telephone orders require read-back verification, documentation of the prescriber’s
name, date, time, and the nurse’s signature with “TO” or “VO.” Another nurse (D) is not
required but can be helpful.
,2
Q3. Which of the following is an example of a standing order?
A. “Give furosemide 40 mg IV now for crackles”
B. “If patient’s blood pressure is <90/60, hold lisinopril”
C. “Schedule patient for MRI of the brain”
D. “Discontinue the Foley catheter at 0800 tomorrow”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standing orders (or protocol orders) are pre-written instructions that are activated
under specific conditions (e.g., hold medication if BP low). Options A, C, and D are one-time or
scheduled orders, not conditional.
Q4. A nurse is entering a medication order into the electronic health record (EHR). The order is
missing the route of administration. The nurse should:
A. Assume the route and enter the order
B. Contact the prescriber for clarification
C. Use the most common route for that medication
D. Omit the route and note “route not specified”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incomplete orders must be clarified with the prescriber before implementation.
Assuming or omitting information can lead to medication errors.
Q5. A physician writes an order: “Amoxicillin 500 mg PO tid.” The nurse correctly interprets “tid”
as:
A. Once daily
B. Twice daily
C. Three times daily
D. Four times daily
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: tid = ter in die (three times daily). qd = once daily; bid = twice daily; qid = four times
daily.
Q6. According to ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) and Joint Commission, which
abbreviation is considered “do not use” due to risk of misinterpretation?
A. PO
B. U (for unit)
, 3
C. tid
D. PRN
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: “U” (for unit) can be mistaken for “0,” “4,” or “cc.” Write “unit.” Other “do not use”
abbreviations include: QD, QOD, trailing zeros, lack of leading zero, MS, MSO4, and MgSO4.
Q7. A nurse receives a verbal order for “morphine 4 mg IV push.” The correct read-back
response is:
A. “Okay, I will give it.”
B. “You ordered morphine 4 mg IV push; is that correct?”
C. “I will give 4 mg of morphine now.”
D. “Morphine 4 mg IV push – what is the patient’s name?”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Read-back should restate the complete order (drug, dose, route, frequency) to verify
accuracy. Option B is the correct closed-loop communication.
Q8. A nurse notes that a prescriber wrote an order for “digoxin 0.25 mg daily” but the patient’s
recent level is high. The nurse should:
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Hold the dose and notify the prescriber
C. Give half the dose
D. Chart that the dose was not given but do nothing else
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse has a responsibility to question orders that may be harmful based on
clinical data (lab results, vital signs, allergies). Notify the prescriber before administering.
DOMAIN II: TRANSCRIPTION & VERIFICATION (8 questions)
Q9. A nurse transcribes a physician’s order from a written order sheet to the Medication
Administration Record (MAR). The original order says “Metoprolol 50 mg PO BID.” The nurse
transcribes “Metoprolol 25 mg PO BID.” The error was caught before administration. This is an
example of:
A. Misfill
B. Transcription error
C. Prescribing error
D. Administration error
