NUR 301 EXAM 1 TEST BANK QUESTIONS 2026/2027 – STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
The physician has ordered several medications for the patient. What does the nurse recognize as
responsibilities regarding administration of medications? Select all that apply.
1. Knowing whether or not the medication is on the hospital formulary
2. Knowing the reason the medication was prescribed for this patient
3. Knowing how the medication is to be administered.
4. Knowing how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy
5. Knowing the name of the medication - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2,3,4,5
How the medication is supplied by the pharmacy, how the medication is to be administered, the name
of the medication, and the reason the medication was prescribed for the patient are the responsibilities
of the nurse regarding medication administration. Whether or not a drug is on a hospital formulary list is
not a primary responsibility of the nurse.
The nurse is preparing medications prior to administration. To promote patient safety, the nurse uses
rights of drug administration. What do these rights include? Select all that apply.
1. The right medication
2. The right time of delivery
3. The right dose
4. The right route of administration
5. The right patient - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1,2,3,4,5
The five rights of drug administration are the right patient, the right medication, the right dose, the right
route of administration, and the right time of delivery.
The patient is having chest pain. The physician orders sublingual nitroglycerine STAT. The nurse obtains
the medication from the pharmacy and administers it to the patient 30 minutes later. Which statement
best describes the nurses action?
1. The medication should have been administered immediately.
2. The physician should have specified the time frame for the medication.
3. The medication should have been administered within a 5-minute time frame.
4. The nursing action was correct because the medication was not on the unit. - correct answer
✔✔Correct Answer: 3
For a STAT order, the time frame between writing the order and administering the drug should be 5
minutes or less. Not having a drug on the unit is not an excuse, as commonly ordered STAT medications
should be kept in stock. Although the drug does not need to be administered immediately, it should be
done within 5 minutes. It is not the physicians responsibility to specify the time frame.
The nurse uses the nursing process prior to administering any medications. Which step will assure the
best patient safety?
1. Assess the patients developmental level.
2. Assess the patients medical history.
3. Assess the patients disease process.
4. Assess the patients learning needs. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2
,An assessment of the patients medical history, which includes allergies, is the most important
assessment prior to administering medications. Assessing the patients learning needs is important for
medication education, but not for safely administering medications. Assessing the patients
developmental level is important for medication education, but not for safely administering medications.
Assessing the patients disease process is important in evaluating the effects of the medications, but not
for safely administering medications.
The physician prescribes an oral medication for the patient. What is the primary nursing assessment of
the patient prior to receiving this medication?
1. The patients understanding of the medication
2. The patients ability to swallow
3. The patients allergies
4. The patients eyesight - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2
The ability of the patient to swallow is a safety issue to prevent aspiration of the medication. The
patients understanding is important, but not a priority. The patients eyesight is not significant. The
patients allergies are important, but if the patient cannot swallow the medication, then the allergies are
not significant.
The physician ordered an oral medication. The nurse incorrectly administered the medication
intravenously. What does the best analysis of the nurses action reveal?
1. An antidote cannot be given.
2. The nurse will be terminated from her job.
3. The medication cannot be retrieved.
4. A lawsuit by the patient will be impending. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 3
When a medication is given intravenously, its effects cannot be reversed because it is already in the
bloodstream. A lawsuit may occur, but this is not the primary concern; patient safety is the primary
concern. The nurse may be terminated, but patient safety is the main concern, and the effect of the
medication cannot be reversed. Antidotes may be given, but this must be done very quickly.
What is the best plan as the nurse prepares to administer a topical medication?
1. Check the medication for interactions with other medications.
2. Take the patients vital signs.
3. Educate the patient to not disturb the patch.
4. Assess the patients skin where the medication will be applied. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 4
Planning to assess the patients skin is imperative; if it is cracked, dry, or irritated, the medication may
not be properly absorbed. Patient education is important, but is not the priority. Vital signs are not
always indicated; it depends on the medication. Checking for drug interactions is important, but it is not
the priority.
The physician ordered an intravenous medication for a patient with nausea. The patient asks the nurse
how it will help his nausea. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. We have more intravenous drugs for nausea than we do oral drugs.
2. If you take an oral medication, you will just vomit it up.
3. This will work much faster for your nausea.
4. You cant have anything by mouth, so will receive the medication intravenously. - correct answer
✔✔Correct Answer: 3
The intravenous route provides the quickest route of medication absorption. Telling the patient that he
will vomit the medication is non-therapeutic. Telling the patient that the nurse has more intravenous
,drugs than oral drugs does not answer the patients question. There is no evidence that the patient
cannot have anything by mouth.
The physician orders enteric-coated aspirin, 300 mg every day, for the patient with a nasogastric tube.
What is the priority action by the nurse?
1. Crush the tablet, dissolve it in 30 mL of water, and administer through the tube.
2. Put the tablet in the tube, milk it down the tube, and then flush the tube with 60 mL of water.
3. Withhold the medication and contact the physician.
4. Substitute plain aspirin, dissolve it in 30 mL of water, and administer through the tube. - correct
answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 3
The only option is to withhold the medication and contact the physician. Crushing the tablet destroys the
enteric coating. Putting the tablet in the tube will result in clogging of the tube. The nurse cannot
substitute plain aspirin; this requires a physicians order.
The patient is receiving a sustained-release capsule for his cardiac condition. The patient tells the nurse
there is no way he can swallow such a large pill. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. Withhold the medication and contact the physician.
2. Place the capsule on the back of the patients tongue, and have him drink a full glass of water.
3. Open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over applesauce.
4. Encourage the patient to try and swallow the capsule because it is the best medication for his heart
condition. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
The only option is to contact the physician. Several sustained-release medications cannot be opened and
sprinkled on food. Placing the capsule on the back of the patients tongue and having him drink a full
glass of water may cause the patient to aspirate the capsule and/or the water. Encouraging the patient to
try to swallow the capsule is coercive, and may result in the patient choking on the medication.
The patient is 3 days postop, and the physician orders an oral pain medication. The patient asks the
nurse if it wouldn't be better to get the medication in the intravenous (IV) line. What is the best response
by the nurse?
1. No, because you could not medicate yourself intravenously (IV) at home.
2. No, because pills are more effective than intravenous (IV) medications.
3. No, because pills are safer than intravenous (IV) medications.
4. No, because we are going to take your intravenous (IV) line out. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer:
3
Oral medications are safer than intravenous (IV) medications. Telling the patient that she cannot have
the medication intravenously because the intravenous line is to be removed does not answer the
patients question. There is no evidence that the patient will be going home with an intravenous line, so
this answer is incorrect. Oral medications are not more effective than IV medications.
An order for a medication to be given prn means
1. as needed.
2. every day.
3. at bedtime.
4. with food. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
A patient has an increased reaction to a drug following a change in her dietary habits. Which of the
following changes would most likely be the cause?
1. Increased intake of grapefruit juice
, 2. Reduced intake of alcohol
3. Increased fiber intake
4. Reduced intake of citrus fruit - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
Grapefruit juice lowers the acidity of enzymes in the GI system that break down medications. This in turn
results in higher medication absorption into the bloodstream. A reduction in citrus fruit intake would
likely cause a lowered drug reaction. A reduced intake of alcohol or fiber would not likely produce an
increased reaction to a drug.
The nurse administers an oral preparation of liquid Tylenol 650 mg as ordered. Afterward, the patient
indicates he had been receiving Tylenol 650 mg in pill form. Which of the following is accurate in regards
to the five rights?
1. The nurse failed to deliver the correct dose.
2. The nurse failed to administer the right medication.
3. The nurse did not violate the five rights.
4. The nurse failed to give the medication via the correct route. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 3
Nothing in the question depicts a violation of the five rights.
Placement of a tablet between the cheek and gum would be which route?
1. Buccal
2. Oral
3. Transdermal
4. Sublingual - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
-This is the term used to describe a medication placed between the cheek and gum.
-An oral medication is swallowed.
-A transdermal medication is applied to the skin.
-A sublingual medication is placed under the tongue.
A patient who recently returned from surgery is experiencing nausea. Which statement best explains
why this patient would benefit from IV medication administration?
1. The IV is already in place following the surgery.
2. IV medication administration should be avoided in patients with nausea.
3. Medications are more effective when given IV.
4. IV medications bypass the need for GI absorption. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 4
Nauseated patients might find medications that need to be absorbed through the GI system irritating,
worsening their nausea. The presence of an existing IV line is not a reason to administer medications
through it. Some medications are more effective when given IV, but bypassing the need for GI absorption
is the better answer.
Which of the following is accurate regarding medication administration via the intradermal route?
1. Injections should be limited to 12 milliliters.
2. Hairy sites should be avoided.
3. Usual administration sites include the upper and lower abdomen.
4. Medications should be injected into the epidermis skin layer. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2
Usual sites of intradermal administration include nonhairy surfaces, including the forearm, upper chest,
and scapulae. Intradermal injection involves administering small amounts (0.10.2 milliliters) of
medication into the dermis layer of skin.
QUESTIONS
The physician has ordered several medications for the patient. What does the nurse recognize as
responsibilities regarding administration of medications? Select all that apply.
1. Knowing whether or not the medication is on the hospital formulary
2. Knowing the reason the medication was prescribed for this patient
3. Knowing how the medication is to be administered.
4. Knowing how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy
5. Knowing the name of the medication - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2,3,4,5
How the medication is supplied by the pharmacy, how the medication is to be administered, the name
of the medication, and the reason the medication was prescribed for the patient are the responsibilities
of the nurse regarding medication administration. Whether or not a drug is on a hospital formulary list is
not a primary responsibility of the nurse.
The nurse is preparing medications prior to administration. To promote patient safety, the nurse uses
rights of drug administration. What do these rights include? Select all that apply.
1. The right medication
2. The right time of delivery
3. The right dose
4. The right route of administration
5. The right patient - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1,2,3,4,5
The five rights of drug administration are the right patient, the right medication, the right dose, the right
route of administration, and the right time of delivery.
The patient is having chest pain. The physician orders sublingual nitroglycerine STAT. The nurse obtains
the medication from the pharmacy and administers it to the patient 30 minutes later. Which statement
best describes the nurses action?
1. The medication should have been administered immediately.
2. The physician should have specified the time frame for the medication.
3. The medication should have been administered within a 5-minute time frame.
4. The nursing action was correct because the medication was not on the unit. - correct answer
✔✔Correct Answer: 3
For a STAT order, the time frame between writing the order and administering the drug should be 5
minutes or less. Not having a drug on the unit is not an excuse, as commonly ordered STAT medications
should be kept in stock. Although the drug does not need to be administered immediately, it should be
done within 5 minutes. It is not the physicians responsibility to specify the time frame.
The nurse uses the nursing process prior to administering any medications. Which step will assure the
best patient safety?
1. Assess the patients developmental level.
2. Assess the patients medical history.
3. Assess the patients disease process.
4. Assess the patients learning needs. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2
,An assessment of the patients medical history, which includes allergies, is the most important
assessment prior to administering medications. Assessing the patients learning needs is important for
medication education, but not for safely administering medications. Assessing the patients
developmental level is important for medication education, but not for safely administering medications.
Assessing the patients disease process is important in evaluating the effects of the medications, but not
for safely administering medications.
The physician prescribes an oral medication for the patient. What is the primary nursing assessment of
the patient prior to receiving this medication?
1. The patients understanding of the medication
2. The patients ability to swallow
3. The patients allergies
4. The patients eyesight - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2
The ability of the patient to swallow is a safety issue to prevent aspiration of the medication. The
patients understanding is important, but not a priority. The patients eyesight is not significant. The
patients allergies are important, but if the patient cannot swallow the medication, then the allergies are
not significant.
The physician ordered an oral medication. The nurse incorrectly administered the medication
intravenously. What does the best analysis of the nurses action reveal?
1. An antidote cannot be given.
2. The nurse will be terminated from her job.
3. The medication cannot be retrieved.
4. A lawsuit by the patient will be impending. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 3
When a medication is given intravenously, its effects cannot be reversed because it is already in the
bloodstream. A lawsuit may occur, but this is not the primary concern; patient safety is the primary
concern. The nurse may be terminated, but patient safety is the main concern, and the effect of the
medication cannot be reversed. Antidotes may be given, but this must be done very quickly.
What is the best plan as the nurse prepares to administer a topical medication?
1. Check the medication for interactions with other medications.
2. Take the patients vital signs.
3. Educate the patient to not disturb the patch.
4. Assess the patients skin where the medication will be applied. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 4
Planning to assess the patients skin is imperative; if it is cracked, dry, or irritated, the medication may
not be properly absorbed. Patient education is important, but is not the priority. Vital signs are not
always indicated; it depends on the medication. Checking for drug interactions is important, but it is not
the priority.
The physician ordered an intravenous medication for a patient with nausea. The patient asks the nurse
how it will help his nausea. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. We have more intravenous drugs for nausea than we do oral drugs.
2. If you take an oral medication, you will just vomit it up.
3. This will work much faster for your nausea.
4. You cant have anything by mouth, so will receive the medication intravenously. - correct answer
✔✔Correct Answer: 3
The intravenous route provides the quickest route of medication absorption. Telling the patient that he
will vomit the medication is non-therapeutic. Telling the patient that the nurse has more intravenous
,drugs than oral drugs does not answer the patients question. There is no evidence that the patient
cannot have anything by mouth.
The physician orders enteric-coated aspirin, 300 mg every day, for the patient with a nasogastric tube.
What is the priority action by the nurse?
1. Crush the tablet, dissolve it in 30 mL of water, and administer through the tube.
2. Put the tablet in the tube, milk it down the tube, and then flush the tube with 60 mL of water.
3. Withhold the medication and contact the physician.
4. Substitute plain aspirin, dissolve it in 30 mL of water, and administer through the tube. - correct
answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 3
The only option is to withhold the medication and contact the physician. Crushing the tablet destroys the
enteric coating. Putting the tablet in the tube will result in clogging of the tube. The nurse cannot
substitute plain aspirin; this requires a physicians order.
The patient is receiving a sustained-release capsule for his cardiac condition. The patient tells the nurse
there is no way he can swallow such a large pill. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. Withhold the medication and contact the physician.
2. Place the capsule on the back of the patients tongue, and have him drink a full glass of water.
3. Open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over applesauce.
4. Encourage the patient to try and swallow the capsule because it is the best medication for his heart
condition. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
The only option is to contact the physician. Several sustained-release medications cannot be opened and
sprinkled on food. Placing the capsule on the back of the patients tongue and having him drink a full
glass of water may cause the patient to aspirate the capsule and/or the water. Encouraging the patient to
try to swallow the capsule is coercive, and may result in the patient choking on the medication.
The patient is 3 days postop, and the physician orders an oral pain medication. The patient asks the
nurse if it wouldn't be better to get the medication in the intravenous (IV) line. What is the best response
by the nurse?
1. No, because you could not medicate yourself intravenously (IV) at home.
2. No, because pills are more effective than intravenous (IV) medications.
3. No, because pills are safer than intravenous (IV) medications.
4. No, because we are going to take your intravenous (IV) line out. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer:
3
Oral medications are safer than intravenous (IV) medications. Telling the patient that she cannot have
the medication intravenously because the intravenous line is to be removed does not answer the
patients question. There is no evidence that the patient will be going home with an intravenous line, so
this answer is incorrect. Oral medications are not more effective than IV medications.
An order for a medication to be given prn means
1. as needed.
2. every day.
3. at bedtime.
4. with food. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
A patient has an increased reaction to a drug following a change in her dietary habits. Which of the
following changes would most likely be the cause?
1. Increased intake of grapefruit juice
, 2. Reduced intake of alcohol
3. Increased fiber intake
4. Reduced intake of citrus fruit - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
Grapefruit juice lowers the acidity of enzymes in the GI system that break down medications. This in turn
results in higher medication absorption into the bloodstream. A reduction in citrus fruit intake would
likely cause a lowered drug reaction. A reduced intake of alcohol or fiber would not likely produce an
increased reaction to a drug.
The nurse administers an oral preparation of liquid Tylenol 650 mg as ordered. Afterward, the patient
indicates he had been receiving Tylenol 650 mg in pill form. Which of the following is accurate in regards
to the five rights?
1. The nurse failed to deliver the correct dose.
2. The nurse failed to administer the right medication.
3. The nurse did not violate the five rights.
4. The nurse failed to give the medication via the correct route. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 3
Nothing in the question depicts a violation of the five rights.
Placement of a tablet between the cheek and gum would be which route?
1. Buccal
2. Oral
3. Transdermal
4. Sublingual - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 1
-This is the term used to describe a medication placed between the cheek and gum.
-An oral medication is swallowed.
-A transdermal medication is applied to the skin.
-A sublingual medication is placed under the tongue.
A patient who recently returned from surgery is experiencing nausea. Which statement best explains
why this patient would benefit from IV medication administration?
1. The IV is already in place following the surgery.
2. IV medication administration should be avoided in patients with nausea.
3. Medications are more effective when given IV.
4. IV medications bypass the need for GI absorption. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 4
Nauseated patients might find medications that need to be absorbed through the GI system irritating,
worsening their nausea. The presence of an existing IV line is not a reason to administer medications
through it. Some medications are more effective when given IV, but bypassing the need for GI absorption
is the better answer.
Which of the following is accurate regarding medication administration via the intradermal route?
1. Injections should be limited to 12 milliliters.
2. Hairy sites should be avoided.
3. Usual administration sites include the upper and lower abdomen.
4. Medications should be injected into the epidermis skin layer. - correct answer ✔✔Correct Answer: 2
Usual sites of intradermal administration include nonhairy surfaces, including the forearm, upper chest,
and scapulae. Intradermal injection involves administering small amounts (0.10.2 milliliters) of
medication into the dermis layer of skin.
