Virginia Medication Aide Training Exam
2026/2027 | 150 Questions & Answers |
5 Rights, Drug Abbreviations, Dosage
Conversions, ADR & Medication Safety
1. A medication aide is preparing to administer a medication and notices that
the client's name on the MAR does not match the name on the medication
package. What is the BEST action?
A. Ask another aide which client normally receives the medication
B. Administer the medication if the room number matches
C. Hold the medication and verify the discrepancy before administration
D. Document the medication as refused
Answer: C. Hold the medication and verify the discrepancy before
administration.
Difficulty: Difficult. A mismatch involving client identification creates a potential
medication error. The medication should not be administered until the
discrepancy is resolved.
2. Which combination correctly identifies the Five Rights of medication
administration?
A. Right client, right drug, right dose, right route, right time
B. Right client, right diagnosis, right dose, right provider, right time
C. Right drug, right indication, right room, right route, right documentation
D. Right client, right pharmacy, right dose, right route, right diagnosis
Answer: A. Right client, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
Difficulty: Difficult. Virginia's medication aide curriculum identifies these five rights
as client, drug, dose, route, and time.
, 3. A medication label states 250 mg per tablet. The MAR indicates 500 mg.
How many tablets should be administered?
A. ½ tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: C. 2 tablets.
Difficulty: Moderate. Calculate 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2 tablets.
4. A medication aide discovers that a resident received another resident's
medication. What should the aide do FIRST?
A. Correct the MAR and continue the medication pass
B. Immediately report the error according to facility procedure and notify the
licensed health care professional
C. Wait to see whether symptoms develop
D. Ask the resident to remain in bed
Answer: B. Immediately report the error according to facility procedure and
notify the licensed health care professional.
Difficulty: Difficult. Medication errors must be promptly documented and
reported; delaying notification can place the client at greater risk.
5. The abbreviation “PO” most commonly means:
A. By injection
B. By mouth
C. Into the ear
D. Under the skin
Answer: B. By mouth.
Difficulty: Easy. PO means per os, or orally/by mouth.
6. The abbreviation “PRN” indicates that a medication is:
,A. Given every morning
B. Given only when needed according to the order
C. Given before meals
D. Given immediately
Answer: B. Given only when needed according to the order.
Difficulty: Moderate. PRN means “as needed,” but the medication aide must
follow the specific order and facility procedure.
7. A resident says, “I don't want this medication because it makes me dizzy.”
What is the medication aide's BEST response?
A. Tell the resident dizziness is harmless
B. Crush the medication and hide it in food
C. Respect the refusal and report the concern according to procedure
D. Tell the resident the medication must be taken
Answer: C. Respect the refusal and report the concern according to procedure.
Difficulty: Difficult. A medication aide should not force administration or conceal
medication. Refusal and reported symptoms require appropriate documentation
and notification.
8. Which finding is MOST concerning after administration of a medication?
A. Mild thirst
B. Sudden difficulty breathing and facial swelling
C. Increased appetite
D. Temporary preference for water
Answer: B. Sudden difficulty breathing and facial swelling.
Difficulty: Difficult. These findings may indicate a serious allergic reaction and
require immediate emergency response and notification.
9. A medication aide is unsure whether a medication should be given because
the prescription label and MAR appear inconsistent. What should the aide
do?
, A. Give the medication based on memory
B. Choose the lower dose
C. Withhold the medication until the discrepancy is clarified
D. Ask the resident which dose is usually taken
Answer: C. Withhold the medication until the discrepancy is clarified.
Difficulty: Difficult. When one of the medication rights cannot be verified, the
medication should not be administered until the uncertainty is resolved.
10.Which abbreviation means “twice daily”?
A. QD
B. BID
C. TID
D. QHS
Answer: B. BID.
Difficulty: Moderate. BID means twice daily.
11.A medication is ordered at 0.5 g. How many milligrams is this?
A. 5 mg
B. 50 mg
C. 500 mg
D. 5,000 mg
Answer: C. 500 mg.
Difficulty: Moderate. One gram equals 1,000 milligrams, so 0.5 g equals 500 mg.
12.A medication aide receives a verbal request from a pharmacy to change a
medication dose. What is the appropriate action?
A. Change the MAR immediately
B. Accept the verbal change and administer the new dose
C. Follow the authorized prescriber and facility procedures for medication changes
D. Ask the resident to approve the change
2026/2027 | 150 Questions & Answers |
5 Rights, Drug Abbreviations, Dosage
Conversions, ADR & Medication Safety
1. A medication aide is preparing to administer a medication and notices that
the client's name on the MAR does not match the name on the medication
package. What is the BEST action?
A. Ask another aide which client normally receives the medication
B. Administer the medication if the room number matches
C. Hold the medication and verify the discrepancy before administration
D. Document the medication as refused
Answer: C. Hold the medication and verify the discrepancy before
administration.
Difficulty: Difficult. A mismatch involving client identification creates a potential
medication error. The medication should not be administered until the
discrepancy is resolved.
2. Which combination correctly identifies the Five Rights of medication
administration?
A. Right client, right drug, right dose, right route, right time
B. Right client, right diagnosis, right dose, right provider, right time
C. Right drug, right indication, right room, right route, right documentation
D. Right client, right pharmacy, right dose, right route, right diagnosis
Answer: A. Right client, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
Difficulty: Difficult. Virginia's medication aide curriculum identifies these five rights
as client, drug, dose, route, and time.
, 3. A medication label states 250 mg per tablet. The MAR indicates 500 mg.
How many tablets should be administered?
A. ½ tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: C. 2 tablets.
Difficulty: Moderate. Calculate 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2 tablets.
4. A medication aide discovers that a resident received another resident's
medication. What should the aide do FIRST?
A. Correct the MAR and continue the medication pass
B. Immediately report the error according to facility procedure and notify the
licensed health care professional
C. Wait to see whether symptoms develop
D. Ask the resident to remain in bed
Answer: B. Immediately report the error according to facility procedure and
notify the licensed health care professional.
Difficulty: Difficult. Medication errors must be promptly documented and
reported; delaying notification can place the client at greater risk.
5. The abbreviation “PO” most commonly means:
A. By injection
B. By mouth
C. Into the ear
D. Under the skin
Answer: B. By mouth.
Difficulty: Easy. PO means per os, or orally/by mouth.
6. The abbreviation “PRN” indicates that a medication is:
,A. Given every morning
B. Given only when needed according to the order
C. Given before meals
D. Given immediately
Answer: B. Given only when needed according to the order.
Difficulty: Moderate. PRN means “as needed,” but the medication aide must
follow the specific order and facility procedure.
7. A resident says, “I don't want this medication because it makes me dizzy.”
What is the medication aide's BEST response?
A. Tell the resident dizziness is harmless
B. Crush the medication and hide it in food
C. Respect the refusal and report the concern according to procedure
D. Tell the resident the medication must be taken
Answer: C. Respect the refusal and report the concern according to procedure.
Difficulty: Difficult. A medication aide should not force administration or conceal
medication. Refusal and reported symptoms require appropriate documentation
and notification.
8. Which finding is MOST concerning after administration of a medication?
A. Mild thirst
B. Sudden difficulty breathing and facial swelling
C. Increased appetite
D. Temporary preference for water
Answer: B. Sudden difficulty breathing and facial swelling.
Difficulty: Difficult. These findings may indicate a serious allergic reaction and
require immediate emergency response and notification.
9. A medication aide is unsure whether a medication should be given because
the prescription label and MAR appear inconsistent. What should the aide
do?
, A. Give the medication based on memory
B. Choose the lower dose
C. Withhold the medication until the discrepancy is clarified
D. Ask the resident which dose is usually taken
Answer: C. Withhold the medication until the discrepancy is clarified.
Difficulty: Difficult. When one of the medication rights cannot be verified, the
medication should not be administered until the uncertainty is resolved.
10.Which abbreviation means “twice daily”?
A. QD
B. BID
C. TID
D. QHS
Answer: B. BID.
Difficulty: Moderate. BID means twice daily.
11.A medication is ordered at 0.5 g. How many milligrams is this?
A. 5 mg
B. 50 mg
C. 500 mg
D. 5,000 mg
Answer: C. 500 mg.
Difficulty: Moderate. One gram equals 1,000 milligrams, so 0.5 g equals 500 mg.
12.A medication aide receives a verbal request from a pharmacy to change a
medication dose. What is the appropriate action?
A. Change the MAR immediately
B. Accept the verbal change and administer the new dose
C. Follow the authorized prescriber and facility procedures for medication changes
D. Ask the resident to approve the change
