Medication Aide Certification Examination–(MACE®)
Version 2.0
Advanced Comprehensive Practice Assessmen
for Certified Medication Aide
-C) (MA
Candidates
a well
detailed one written and graded A+ upgrad
Exam Title: Medication Aide Certification Examination (MACE®) – Advanced Clinical Reasoning
and Medication Management Assessment for Certified Medication Aide (MA-C) Candidates
SECTION I: AUTHORIZED DUTIES – Scope, Delegation, Legal/Ethical Issues, and Professional
Boundaries (Questions 1–24)
1. A licensed nurse delegates the administration of a PRN antipsychotic medication to an MA-
C. The resident is exhibiting increased agitation. Which of the following actions by the MA-C
demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment?
A) Administer the medication immediately to prevent escalation of agitation
B) Verify the PRN order includes the specific behavioral symptoms that warrant administration
and assess the resident's current behavior against the order
C) Consult with another MA-C to determine if the medication should be given
D) Administer the medication only if the resident specifically requests it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PRN orders must include specific indications. The MA-C must verify the order
specifies the symptoms/behaviors that warrant administration and assess the resident against
those criteria. Administering without verification could result in inappropriate medication
,administration. Consulting other MA-Cs or relying solely on resident requests is not appropriate
clinical judgment.
2. An MA-C is working on a unit where the supervising nurse is occupied with an emergency.
A family member asks the MA-C to explain why the resident's medication was changed. What
is the most appropriate response?
A) Provide a detailed explanation since the family has a right to know
B) Explain that medication changes are determined by the healthcare provider and refer the
family to the supervising nurse or provider
C) Review the resident's chart and provide the information the family requests
D) Tell the family member to call the pharmacy for information
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The MA-C must maintain professional boundaries and respect scope-of-practice
limitations. Explaining medication changes requires clinical judgment and knowledge beyond
the MA-C's scope. The MA-C should refer the family to the supervising nurse or provider who
can address their concerns appropriately.
3. Which of the following scenarios represents a violation of the MA-C's scope of practice that
could result in disciplinary action?
A) Documenting that a resident refused their morning dose of lisinopril
B) Notifying the nurse that a resident's blood pressure is 88/52 mmHg
C) Accepting a verbal medication order from a prescribing provider over the telephone
D) Reporting that a resident appears more lethargic than usual
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Accepting verbal or telephone orders from a provider is outside the MA-C's scope of
practice. Only licensed nurses or providers should accept new orders. Documentation, reporting
changes, and notifying the nurse of abnormal findings are all within the MA-C's permitted
duties.
4. A resident who is alert and oriented refuses to take their scheduled cardiac medication. The
MA-C explains the purpose of the medication, but the resident continues to refuse. What
should the MA-C do?
,A) Crush the medication and mix it with applesauce to ensure the resident receives it
B) Respect the refusal, document it on the MAR, and notify the supervising nurse immediately
C) Ask the resident's family member to convince the resident to take the medication
D) Tell the resident they will not receive their meal until they take the medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Residents have the absolute legal right to refuse medications. The MA-C must
respect the refusal, document it accurately, and notify the supervising nurse. Coercion,
deception, or withholding meals constitutes assault and is unethical and illegal.
5. An MA-C is preparing to administer medications when another MA-C on the unit asks for
help administering medications to their assigned residents because they are behind schedule.
What is the most appropriate response?
A) Assist the other MA-C with their medication pass to ensure all residents receive medications
on time
B) Refuse to assist and focus only on your assigned residents
C) Offer to assist only after completing your own medication pass and with the supervising
nurse's approval
D) Switch assignments with the other MA-C to balance the workload
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Medication administration must be delegated by a licensed nurse. The MA-C should
not administer medications to residents they are not assigned to without proper delegation.
Offering assistance after completing assigned duties and with nurse approval maintains safety
and appropriate delegation.
6. An MA-C observes a certified nursing assistant (CNA) remove a controlled substance from
the medication cart without documentation. What should the MA-C do?
A) Ignore the observation to avoid confrontation with the CNA
B) Confront the CNA immediately and demand an explanation
C) Report the observation to the supervising nurse immediately
D) Document the observation in the MAR
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Controlled substances require strict accountability and documentation. Unauthorized
access to controlled substances is a serious concern that must be reported immediately to the
supervising nurse. Confrontation without proper reporting is not appropriate, and ignoring the
observation is unethical.
7. Which of the following is an example of professional boundary violation by an MA-C?
A) Providing emotional support to a resident who is feeling anxious
B) Accepting a gift of significant value from a resident's family member
C) Respecting a resident's request for privacy during medication administration
D) Reporting a resident's change in condition to the supervising nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Accepting gifts of significant value from residents or family members constitutes a
boundary violation. Providing emotional support, respecting privacy, and reporting changes are
appropriate professional behaviors.
8. A licensed nurse delegates medication administration to an MA-C but fails to provide
information about a resident's recent fall. The MA-C discovers the fall when reviewing the
chart. What should the MA-C do?
A) Proceed with medication administration since the nurse delegated the task
B) Hold medications and request a report from the nurse regarding the resident's current status
before administering
C) Administer medications but document that the nurse did not provide a report
D) Ask the resident about the fall and proceed based on the resident's response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Before accepting delegation, the MA-C must have sufficient information to
administer medications safely. A recent fall is significant information that could affect
medication administration (e.g., aspiration risk, need for observation). The MA-C should request
the necessary report from the delegating nurse.
9. An MA-C discovers that a medication order on the MAR appears to have been altered
without authorization. Which of the following is the correct action?
Version 2.0
Advanced Comprehensive Practice Assessmen
for Certified Medication Aide
-C) (MA
Candidates
a well
detailed one written and graded A+ upgrad
Exam Title: Medication Aide Certification Examination (MACE®) – Advanced Clinical Reasoning
and Medication Management Assessment for Certified Medication Aide (MA-C) Candidates
SECTION I: AUTHORIZED DUTIES – Scope, Delegation, Legal/Ethical Issues, and Professional
Boundaries (Questions 1–24)
1. A licensed nurse delegates the administration of a PRN antipsychotic medication to an MA-
C. The resident is exhibiting increased agitation. Which of the following actions by the MA-C
demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment?
A) Administer the medication immediately to prevent escalation of agitation
B) Verify the PRN order includes the specific behavioral symptoms that warrant administration
and assess the resident's current behavior against the order
C) Consult with another MA-C to determine if the medication should be given
D) Administer the medication only if the resident specifically requests it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PRN orders must include specific indications. The MA-C must verify the order
specifies the symptoms/behaviors that warrant administration and assess the resident against
those criteria. Administering without verification could result in inappropriate medication
,administration. Consulting other MA-Cs or relying solely on resident requests is not appropriate
clinical judgment.
2. An MA-C is working on a unit where the supervising nurse is occupied with an emergency.
A family member asks the MA-C to explain why the resident's medication was changed. What
is the most appropriate response?
A) Provide a detailed explanation since the family has a right to know
B) Explain that medication changes are determined by the healthcare provider and refer the
family to the supervising nurse or provider
C) Review the resident's chart and provide the information the family requests
D) Tell the family member to call the pharmacy for information
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The MA-C must maintain professional boundaries and respect scope-of-practice
limitations. Explaining medication changes requires clinical judgment and knowledge beyond
the MA-C's scope. The MA-C should refer the family to the supervising nurse or provider who
can address their concerns appropriately.
3. Which of the following scenarios represents a violation of the MA-C's scope of practice that
could result in disciplinary action?
A) Documenting that a resident refused their morning dose of lisinopril
B) Notifying the nurse that a resident's blood pressure is 88/52 mmHg
C) Accepting a verbal medication order from a prescribing provider over the telephone
D) Reporting that a resident appears more lethargic than usual
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Accepting verbal or telephone orders from a provider is outside the MA-C's scope of
practice. Only licensed nurses or providers should accept new orders. Documentation, reporting
changes, and notifying the nurse of abnormal findings are all within the MA-C's permitted
duties.
4. A resident who is alert and oriented refuses to take their scheduled cardiac medication. The
MA-C explains the purpose of the medication, but the resident continues to refuse. What
should the MA-C do?
,A) Crush the medication and mix it with applesauce to ensure the resident receives it
B) Respect the refusal, document it on the MAR, and notify the supervising nurse immediately
C) Ask the resident's family member to convince the resident to take the medication
D) Tell the resident they will not receive their meal until they take the medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Residents have the absolute legal right to refuse medications. The MA-C must
respect the refusal, document it accurately, and notify the supervising nurse. Coercion,
deception, or withholding meals constitutes assault and is unethical and illegal.
5. An MA-C is preparing to administer medications when another MA-C on the unit asks for
help administering medications to their assigned residents because they are behind schedule.
What is the most appropriate response?
A) Assist the other MA-C with their medication pass to ensure all residents receive medications
on time
B) Refuse to assist and focus only on your assigned residents
C) Offer to assist only after completing your own medication pass and with the supervising
nurse's approval
D) Switch assignments with the other MA-C to balance the workload
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Medication administration must be delegated by a licensed nurse. The MA-C should
not administer medications to residents they are not assigned to without proper delegation.
Offering assistance after completing assigned duties and with nurse approval maintains safety
and appropriate delegation.
6. An MA-C observes a certified nursing assistant (CNA) remove a controlled substance from
the medication cart without documentation. What should the MA-C do?
A) Ignore the observation to avoid confrontation with the CNA
B) Confront the CNA immediately and demand an explanation
C) Report the observation to the supervising nurse immediately
D) Document the observation in the MAR
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Controlled substances require strict accountability and documentation. Unauthorized
access to controlled substances is a serious concern that must be reported immediately to the
supervising nurse. Confrontation without proper reporting is not appropriate, and ignoring the
observation is unethical.
7. Which of the following is an example of professional boundary violation by an MA-C?
A) Providing emotional support to a resident who is feeling anxious
B) Accepting a gift of significant value from a resident's family member
C) Respecting a resident's request for privacy during medication administration
D) Reporting a resident's change in condition to the supervising nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Accepting gifts of significant value from residents or family members constitutes a
boundary violation. Providing emotional support, respecting privacy, and reporting changes are
appropriate professional behaviors.
8. A licensed nurse delegates medication administration to an MA-C but fails to provide
information about a resident's recent fall. The MA-C discovers the fall when reviewing the
chart. What should the MA-C do?
A) Proceed with medication administration since the nurse delegated the task
B) Hold medications and request a report from the nurse regarding the resident's current status
before administering
C) Administer medications but document that the nurse did not provide a report
D) Ask the resident about the fall and proceed based on the resident's response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Before accepting delegation, the MA-C must have sufficient information to
administer medications safely. A recent fall is significant information that could affect
medication administration (e.g., aspiration risk, need for observation). The MA-C should request
the necessary report from the delegating nurse.
9. An MA-C discovers that a medication order on the MAR appears to have been altered
without authorization. Which of the following is the correct action?
