NSG 3100 Medication Administration Exam —
Exam Questions with Correct Answers
(VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Open the medication package
B. Identify the patient after entering the room
C. Perform hand hygiene and review the medication order
D. Document administration of the medication
Rationale: Hand hygiene is an essential infection-prevention
measure, and the medication order must be reviewed before
preparation or administration. Reviewing the order allows the
nurse to verify the medication, dose, route, timing, and other
relevant instructions before proceeding.
2. Which identifiers are most appropriate for verifying a
patient's identity before medication administration?
A. Room number and diagnosis
B. Patient's name and room number
C. Physician's name and patient's age
D. Patient's name and another approved identifier, such as
date of birth
,Rationale: Using two approved patient identifiers helps prevent
medication errors caused by misidentification. Room numbers
should not be used as identifiers because patients can be
transferred or assigned to different rooms.
3. The nurse receives an order for a medication with an
unusually high dose. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Ask another nurse to administer it
C. Hold the medication and clarify the order with the
prescriber
D. Reduce the dose independently
Rationale: A nurse should not independently change a
medication order. An unusually high or potentially unsafe dose
should be questioned and clarified before administration to
protect the patient from a preventable medication error.
4. Which action is most important when administering a
medication to a patient with a known drug allergy?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Ask whether the patient has previously tolerated it
C. Compare the medication with the documented allergy
information before administration
D. Give the medication slowly
,Rationale: Allergy verification is a critical safety step. The nurse
should compare the medication being administered with the
patient's documented allergies and clarify any potential conflict
before giving the medication.
5. A patient states, "I don't know what this pill is for." What
should the nurse do?
A. Tell the patient to take it because it was prescribed
B. Ask the family member to explain it
C. Explain the medication's purpose and relevant information
before administration
D. Administer the medication and explain it afterward
Rationale: Patients have the right to receive understandable
information about their medications. Providing appropriate
education promotes informed participation, improves
adherence, and gives the patient an opportunity to identify
concerns or errors before the medication is administered.
6. Which medication administration practice helps reduce
errors?
A. Preparing medications for several patients simultaneously
B. Leaving prepared medications unattended
C. Preparing medications for one patient at a time
D. Removing all medications from their packages before
checking orders
, Rationale: Preparing medications for one patient at a time
reduces the likelihood of mixing medications or confusing one
patient's medications with another's. Prepared medications
should remain under the nurse's control until administration.
7. A nurse is administering an oral tablet to a patient who has
difficulty swallowing. What should the nurse do?
A. Crush every tablet before administration
B. Mix the tablet with water without checking
C. Determine whether the medication can safely be altered
and use an appropriate formulation if available
D. Tell the patient to swallow the tablet without water
Rationale: Not all tablets can be crushed or altered. Extended-
release, enteric-coated, and certain other formulations may be
unsafe to crush because doing so can change drug absorption or
cause toxicity. The nurse should verify the medication
formulation before altering it.
8. Which finding should cause the nurse to question an order
for a medication?
A. The patient requests medication education
B. The medication is available in the medication room
C. The prescribed dose conflicts with the patient's clinical
condition or established parameters
D. The patient has previously received medication
Exam Questions with Correct Answers
(VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Open the medication package
B. Identify the patient after entering the room
C. Perform hand hygiene and review the medication order
D. Document administration of the medication
Rationale: Hand hygiene is an essential infection-prevention
measure, and the medication order must be reviewed before
preparation or administration. Reviewing the order allows the
nurse to verify the medication, dose, route, timing, and other
relevant instructions before proceeding.
2. Which identifiers are most appropriate for verifying a
patient's identity before medication administration?
A. Room number and diagnosis
B. Patient's name and room number
C. Physician's name and patient's age
D. Patient's name and another approved identifier, such as
date of birth
,Rationale: Using two approved patient identifiers helps prevent
medication errors caused by misidentification. Room numbers
should not be used as identifiers because patients can be
transferred or assigned to different rooms.
3. The nurse receives an order for a medication with an
unusually high dose. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Ask another nurse to administer it
C. Hold the medication and clarify the order with the
prescriber
D. Reduce the dose independently
Rationale: A nurse should not independently change a
medication order. An unusually high or potentially unsafe dose
should be questioned and clarified before administration to
protect the patient from a preventable medication error.
4. Which action is most important when administering a
medication to a patient with a known drug allergy?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Ask whether the patient has previously tolerated it
C. Compare the medication with the documented allergy
information before administration
D. Give the medication slowly
,Rationale: Allergy verification is a critical safety step. The nurse
should compare the medication being administered with the
patient's documented allergies and clarify any potential conflict
before giving the medication.
5. A patient states, "I don't know what this pill is for." What
should the nurse do?
A. Tell the patient to take it because it was prescribed
B. Ask the family member to explain it
C. Explain the medication's purpose and relevant information
before administration
D. Administer the medication and explain it afterward
Rationale: Patients have the right to receive understandable
information about their medications. Providing appropriate
education promotes informed participation, improves
adherence, and gives the patient an opportunity to identify
concerns or errors before the medication is administered.
6. Which medication administration practice helps reduce
errors?
A. Preparing medications for several patients simultaneously
B. Leaving prepared medications unattended
C. Preparing medications for one patient at a time
D. Removing all medications from their packages before
checking orders
, Rationale: Preparing medications for one patient at a time
reduces the likelihood of mixing medications or confusing one
patient's medications with another's. Prepared medications
should remain under the nurse's control until administration.
7. A nurse is administering an oral tablet to a patient who has
difficulty swallowing. What should the nurse do?
A. Crush every tablet before administration
B. Mix the tablet with water without checking
C. Determine whether the medication can safely be altered
and use an appropriate formulation if available
D. Tell the patient to swallow the tablet without water
Rationale: Not all tablets can be crushed or altered. Extended-
release, enteric-coated, and certain other formulations may be
unsafe to crush because doing so can change drug absorption or
cause toxicity. The nurse should verify the medication
formulation before altering it.
8. Which finding should cause the nurse to question an order
for a medication?
A. The patient requests medication education
B. The medication is available in the medication room
C. The prescribed dose conflicts with the patient's clinical
condition or established parameters
D. The patient has previously received medication
