INDIANA QMA INSULIN ADMINISTRATION EXAM
LATEST 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK
ACTUAL 250 VERIFIED EXAM QUESTIONS & RATIONALIZED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
This comprehensive 250-question exam bank covers all essential topics for the Indiana QMA Insulin
Administration Certification. Content includes insulin types and action times (rapid, short, intermediate,
long-acting), blood glucose monitoring techniques, insulin administration procedures, medication
calculations, and management of adverse effects/complications. Each question features multiple-choice
or select-all-that-apply formats with correct answers and concise rationales. Perfect for exam
preparation, this resource ensures mastery of insulin therapy principles, safety protocols, and clinical
decision-making skills required for QMA certification in Indiana.
SECTION 1: INSULIN TYPES & ACTION TIMES (Questions 1-50)
1. Which of the following is a rapid-acting insulin?
1. NPH insulin
2. Regular insulin
3. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
4. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
Answer: 3 (Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 15-30 minutes. NPH is intermediate-
acting, regular is short-acting, and glargine is long-acting.)
2. What is the onset of action for regular insulin?
1. 15-30 minutes
2. 30-60 minutes
3. 1-2 hours
4. 4-6 hours
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin has an onset of 30-60 minutes. Rapid-acting insulins have an onset of 15-30
minutes. Intermediate-acting insulins have an onset of 1-2 hours.)
3. Which of the following are long-acting insulins? (Select all that apply)
1. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
2. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
3. NPH insulin
4. Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
5. Regular insulin
,Answer: 1, 2, 4 (NPH is intermediate-acting. Regular is short-acting. Glargine, detemir, and degludec are
long-acting.)
4. What is the peak action time for NPH insulin?
1. 2-4 hours
2. 4-12 hours
3. 12-18 hours
4. 18-24 hours
Answer: 2 (NPH insulin has a peak action time of 4-12 hours. Rapid-acting insulins peak in 1-2 hours;
regular insulin peaks in 2-4 hours; long-acting insulins have minimal peak.)
5. A client is prescribed a rapid-acting insulin. When should the client be instructed to administer the
injection?
1. 15 minutes before a meal
2. 30 minutes before a meal
3. 60 minutes before a meal
4. At bedtime
Answer: 1 (Rapid-acting insulin should be injected within 15 minutes of a meal, or immediately before
the meal. Regular insulin should be injected 30 minutes before a meal.)
6. Which insulin is typically given once daily at the same time each day?
1. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
2. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
3. Regular insulin
4. NPH insulin
Answer: 1 (Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin usually given once daily at the same time each day to
provide a steady basal insulin level. NPH may be given once or twice daily.)
7. Which insulin should be given 30 minutes before a meal?
1. Insulin aspart (Novolog)
2. Regular insulin
3. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
4. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin should be administered 30 minutes before a meal. Rapid-acting insulins (A)
can be given immediately before or within 15 minutes of a meal.)
8. Which of the following insulins are available as a pre-filled pen? (Select all that apply)
1. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
2. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
3. NPH insulin
4. Insulin aspart (Novolog)
5. Regular insulin
,Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (All of these insulins are available in pre-filled pen formulations.)
9. A client is prescribed NPH insulin and regular insulin mixed in the same syringe. Which insulin should
be drawn up first?
1. NPH insulin
2. Regular insulin
3. Either insulin can be drawn up first
4. The cloudy insulin should be drawn first
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin (clear) should be drawn up first, followed by NPH insulin (cloudy) to prevent
contamination of the regular insulin vial.)
10. What is the duration of action for insulin glargine (Lantus)?
1. 4-6 hours
2. 8-12 hours
3. 12-18 hours
4. 24 hours
Answer: 4 (Insulin glargine has a duration of action of approximately 24 hours, providing once-daily
basal insulin coverage.)
11. A client is prescribed insulin detemir (Levemir). The nurse should teach the client to:
1. Administer the insulin twice daily, 12 hours apart
2. Administer the insulin once daily at the same time each day
3. Administer the insulin with meals
4. Administer the insulin only when blood glucose is high
Answer: 2 (Insulin detemir is typically given once daily at the same time each day, though some patients
may require twice-daily dosing. It should not be given only when blood glucose is high.)
12. A client is prescribed a new insulin. The nurse should teach the client that the onset of action for
NPH insulin is:
1. 15-30 minutes
2. 30-60 minutes
3. 1-2 hours
4. 4-6 hours
Answer: 3 (NPH insulin has an onset of 1-2 hours, making it an intermediate-acting insulin. It should not
be used to correct hyperglycemia before a meal; a rapid-acting insulin is more appropriate for that.)
13. Which of the following are considered short-acting insulins? (Select all that apply)
1. Regular insulin
2. NPH insulin
3. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
4. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
5. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
, Answer: 1 (Only regular insulin is considered short-acting. NPH is intermediate-acting. Glargine, lispro,
and detemir are not short-acting.)
14. What is the peak time for regular insulin?
1. 1-2 hours
2. 2-4 hours
3. 4-12 hours
4. No peak
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin peaks in 2-4 hours. Rapid-acting peaks in 1-2 hours. NPH peaks in 4-12 hours.
Long-acting has no significant peak.)
15. A client is prescribed insulin aspart (Novolog). The nurse should instruct the client that this insulin
will start working in:
1. 5-15 minutes
2. 15-30 minutes
3. 30-60 minutes
4. 1-2 hours
Answer: 1 (Insulin aspart is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 5-15 minutes. It should be given
immediately before meals.)
16. Which insulin has the longest duration of action?
1. Regular insulin
2. NPH insulin
3. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
4. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
Answer: 3 (Insulin glargine has a duration of 24 hours, which is the longest among these options. Regular
insulin lasts 4-6 hours, NPH lasts 12-18 hours, and lispro lasts 3-5 hours.)
17. A client asks the nurse why insulin glargine cannot be mixed with other insulins. The nurse's best
response is:
1. "Mixing causes the insulin to lose potency"
2. "Mixing alters the pH and causes precipitation"
3. "The prolonged absorption is altered when mixed"
4. "It is not compatible with any other insulin"
Answer: 3 (Mixing insulin glargine with other insulins alters its prolonged absorption characteristics. It
should not be mixed in the same syringe.)
18. What is the onset of action for insulin degludec (Tresiba)?
1. 15-30 minutes
2. 1-2 hours
3. 4-6 hours
4. 24 hours
LATEST 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK
ACTUAL 250 VERIFIED EXAM QUESTIONS & RATIONALIZED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
This comprehensive 250-question exam bank covers all essential topics for the Indiana QMA Insulin
Administration Certification. Content includes insulin types and action times (rapid, short, intermediate,
long-acting), blood glucose monitoring techniques, insulin administration procedures, medication
calculations, and management of adverse effects/complications. Each question features multiple-choice
or select-all-that-apply formats with correct answers and concise rationales. Perfect for exam
preparation, this resource ensures mastery of insulin therapy principles, safety protocols, and clinical
decision-making skills required for QMA certification in Indiana.
SECTION 1: INSULIN TYPES & ACTION TIMES (Questions 1-50)
1. Which of the following is a rapid-acting insulin?
1. NPH insulin
2. Regular insulin
3. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
4. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
Answer: 3 (Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 15-30 minutes. NPH is intermediate-
acting, regular is short-acting, and glargine is long-acting.)
2. What is the onset of action for regular insulin?
1. 15-30 minutes
2. 30-60 minutes
3. 1-2 hours
4. 4-6 hours
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin has an onset of 30-60 minutes. Rapid-acting insulins have an onset of 15-30
minutes. Intermediate-acting insulins have an onset of 1-2 hours.)
3. Which of the following are long-acting insulins? (Select all that apply)
1. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
2. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
3. NPH insulin
4. Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
5. Regular insulin
,Answer: 1, 2, 4 (NPH is intermediate-acting. Regular is short-acting. Glargine, detemir, and degludec are
long-acting.)
4. What is the peak action time for NPH insulin?
1. 2-4 hours
2. 4-12 hours
3. 12-18 hours
4. 18-24 hours
Answer: 2 (NPH insulin has a peak action time of 4-12 hours. Rapid-acting insulins peak in 1-2 hours;
regular insulin peaks in 2-4 hours; long-acting insulins have minimal peak.)
5. A client is prescribed a rapid-acting insulin. When should the client be instructed to administer the
injection?
1. 15 minutes before a meal
2. 30 minutes before a meal
3. 60 minutes before a meal
4. At bedtime
Answer: 1 (Rapid-acting insulin should be injected within 15 minutes of a meal, or immediately before
the meal. Regular insulin should be injected 30 minutes before a meal.)
6. Which insulin is typically given once daily at the same time each day?
1. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
2. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
3. Regular insulin
4. NPH insulin
Answer: 1 (Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin usually given once daily at the same time each day to
provide a steady basal insulin level. NPH may be given once or twice daily.)
7. Which insulin should be given 30 minutes before a meal?
1. Insulin aspart (Novolog)
2. Regular insulin
3. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
4. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin should be administered 30 minutes before a meal. Rapid-acting insulins (A)
can be given immediately before or within 15 minutes of a meal.)
8. Which of the following insulins are available as a pre-filled pen? (Select all that apply)
1. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
2. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
3. NPH insulin
4. Insulin aspart (Novolog)
5. Regular insulin
,Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (All of these insulins are available in pre-filled pen formulations.)
9. A client is prescribed NPH insulin and regular insulin mixed in the same syringe. Which insulin should
be drawn up first?
1. NPH insulin
2. Regular insulin
3. Either insulin can be drawn up first
4. The cloudy insulin should be drawn first
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin (clear) should be drawn up first, followed by NPH insulin (cloudy) to prevent
contamination of the regular insulin vial.)
10. What is the duration of action for insulin glargine (Lantus)?
1. 4-6 hours
2. 8-12 hours
3. 12-18 hours
4. 24 hours
Answer: 4 (Insulin glargine has a duration of action of approximately 24 hours, providing once-daily
basal insulin coverage.)
11. A client is prescribed insulin detemir (Levemir). The nurse should teach the client to:
1. Administer the insulin twice daily, 12 hours apart
2. Administer the insulin once daily at the same time each day
3. Administer the insulin with meals
4. Administer the insulin only when blood glucose is high
Answer: 2 (Insulin detemir is typically given once daily at the same time each day, though some patients
may require twice-daily dosing. It should not be given only when blood glucose is high.)
12. A client is prescribed a new insulin. The nurse should teach the client that the onset of action for
NPH insulin is:
1. 15-30 minutes
2. 30-60 minutes
3. 1-2 hours
4. 4-6 hours
Answer: 3 (NPH insulin has an onset of 1-2 hours, making it an intermediate-acting insulin. It should not
be used to correct hyperglycemia before a meal; a rapid-acting insulin is more appropriate for that.)
13. Which of the following are considered short-acting insulins? (Select all that apply)
1. Regular insulin
2. NPH insulin
3. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
4. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
5. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
, Answer: 1 (Only regular insulin is considered short-acting. NPH is intermediate-acting. Glargine, lispro,
and detemir are not short-acting.)
14. What is the peak time for regular insulin?
1. 1-2 hours
2. 2-4 hours
3. 4-12 hours
4. No peak
Answer: 2 (Regular insulin peaks in 2-4 hours. Rapid-acting peaks in 1-2 hours. NPH peaks in 4-12 hours.
Long-acting has no significant peak.)
15. A client is prescribed insulin aspart (Novolog). The nurse should instruct the client that this insulin
will start working in:
1. 5-15 minutes
2. 15-30 minutes
3. 30-60 minutes
4. 1-2 hours
Answer: 1 (Insulin aspart is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 5-15 minutes. It should be given
immediately before meals.)
16. Which insulin has the longest duration of action?
1. Regular insulin
2. NPH insulin
3. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
4. Insulin lispro (Humalog)
Answer: 3 (Insulin glargine has a duration of 24 hours, which is the longest among these options. Regular
insulin lasts 4-6 hours, NPH lasts 12-18 hours, and lispro lasts 3-5 hours.)
17. A client asks the nurse why insulin glargine cannot be mixed with other insulins. The nurse's best
response is:
1. "Mixing causes the insulin to lose potency"
2. "Mixing alters the pH and causes precipitation"
3. "The prolonged absorption is altered when mixed"
4. "It is not compatible with any other insulin"
Answer: 3 (Mixing insulin glargine with other insulins alters its prolonged absorption characteristics. It
should not be mixed in the same syringe.)
18. What is the onset of action for insulin degludec (Tresiba)?
1. 15-30 minutes
2. 1-2 hours
3. 4-6 hours
4. 24 hours
