High Alert Medications Exam question
and correct answers (verified answers 100%)
Q&A 2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to administer IV heparin. Which action is the priority
before starting the infusion?
A. Check the patient's temperature
B. Verify the most recent aPTT result
C. Assess bowel sounds
D. Obtain the patient's weight only
Correct Answer: B
Heparin therapy requires monitoring of coagulation status, commonly using aPTT,
to ensure therapeutic anticoagulation and prevent bleeding complications.
2. Which medication is considered a high-alert anticoagulant requiring careful
monitoring?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Heparin
C. Calcium carbonate
D. Multivitamin
Correct Answer: B
Heparin is a high-alert medication because dosing errors can cause serious
bleeding or life-threatening hemorrhage.
,3. A patient receiving warfarin therapy should have which laboratory test
monitored regularly?
A. Troponin level
B. INR
C. Hemoglobin A1C
D. Serum sodium
Correct Answer: B
Warfarin effectiveness is measured using INR. Monitoring prevents excessive
anticoagulation and bleeding.
4. A nurse discovers that a patient received an excessive dose of heparin. Which
medication should be prepared?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Calcium gluconate
Correct Answer: B
Protamine sulfate is the antidote used to reverse the effects of heparin.
5. Which finding requires immediate action in a patient receiving anticoagulant
therapy?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Small appetite change
C. Black tarry stools
D. Dry skin
Correct Answer: C
,Black tarry stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious complication of
anticoagulant therapy.
6. A nurse is administering insulin. Which medication safety practice is essential?
A. Administer without checking glucose
B. Verify insulin dose with another nurse according to policy
C. Mix all insulin types together
D. Give insulin only at bedtime
Correct Answer: B
Insulin is a high-alert medication, and independent double-checks reduce
medication errors.
7. Which insulin has the fastest onset of action?
A. Glargine
B. Lispro
C. NPH
D. Detemir
Correct Answer: B
Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin that begins working quickly and is commonly given
before meals.
8. A patient receiving insulin becomes confused and diaphoretic. What should
the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypertension
D. Fluid overload
, Correct Answer: B
Confusion, sweating, and shakiness are classic signs of hypoglycemia caused by
excessive insulin effect.
9. Which medication is commonly used to treat severe opioid-induced
respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: B
Naloxone reverses opioid effects and is used for opioid overdose with respiratory
depression.
10. A nurse administering IV morphine should monitor which assessment finding
first?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Hair growth
C. Skin color only
D. Bowel sounds only
Correct Answer: A
Opioids can cause life-threatening respiratory depression, making respiratory
assessment the priority.
11. Which medication requires monitoring of potassium levels due to risk of
hyperkalemia?
and correct answers (verified answers 100%)
Q&A 2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to administer IV heparin. Which action is the priority
before starting the infusion?
A. Check the patient's temperature
B. Verify the most recent aPTT result
C. Assess bowel sounds
D. Obtain the patient's weight only
Correct Answer: B
Heparin therapy requires monitoring of coagulation status, commonly using aPTT,
to ensure therapeutic anticoagulation and prevent bleeding complications.
2. Which medication is considered a high-alert anticoagulant requiring careful
monitoring?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Heparin
C. Calcium carbonate
D. Multivitamin
Correct Answer: B
Heparin is a high-alert medication because dosing errors can cause serious
bleeding or life-threatening hemorrhage.
,3. A patient receiving warfarin therapy should have which laboratory test
monitored regularly?
A. Troponin level
B. INR
C. Hemoglobin A1C
D. Serum sodium
Correct Answer: B
Warfarin effectiveness is measured using INR. Monitoring prevents excessive
anticoagulation and bleeding.
4. A nurse discovers that a patient received an excessive dose of heparin. Which
medication should be prepared?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Calcium gluconate
Correct Answer: B
Protamine sulfate is the antidote used to reverse the effects of heparin.
5. Which finding requires immediate action in a patient receiving anticoagulant
therapy?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Small appetite change
C. Black tarry stools
D. Dry skin
Correct Answer: C
,Black tarry stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious complication of
anticoagulant therapy.
6. A nurse is administering insulin. Which medication safety practice is essential?
A. Administer without checking glucose
B. Verify insulin dose with another nurse according to policy
C. Mix all insulin types together
D. Give insulin only at bedtime
Correct Answer: B
Insulin is a high-alert medication, and independent double-checks reduce
medication errors.
7. Which insulin has the fastest onset of action?
A. Glargine
B. Lispro
C. NPH
D. Detemir
Correct Answer: B
Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin that begins working quickly and is commonly given
before meals.
8. A patient receiving insulin becomes confused and diaphoretic. What should
the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypertension
D. Fluid overload
, Correct Answer: B
Confusion, sweating, and shakiness are classic signs of hypoglycemia caused by
excessive insulin effect.
9. Which medication is commonly used to treat severe opioid-induced
respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: B
Naloxone reverses opioid effects and is used for opioid overdose with respiratory
depression.
10. A nurse administering IV morphine should monitor which assessment finding
first?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Hair growth
C. Skin color only
D. Bowel sounds only
Correct Answer: A
Opioids can cause life-threatening respiratory depression, making respiratory
assessment the priority.
11. Which medication requires monitoring of potassium levels due to risk of
hyperkalemia?
