Chapter 7: Medication Errors and Risk Reduction
Question 1
Type: MCMA
The nursing instructor teaches the student nurses about how medication errors can occur. What information will
the nursing instructor include in the presentation?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. The nurse miscalculates the medication dose.
2. The nurse does not check the patient's identification band.
3. The nurse does not validate an order with the physician.
4. The nurse misinterprets a physician's order.
5. The nurse administers the incorrect drug.
Correct Answer: 1,2,4,5
Rationale 1: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 2: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 3: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 4: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 5: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Global Rationale:
,Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Physiological Integrity Client
Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 7-1
Question 2
Type: MCSA
The nurse recognizes that agency system checks are in place to decrease medication errors. Who commonly
collaborates with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration?
1. The nursing supervisor
2. The nursing unit manager
3. The pharmacist 4. The physician
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Rationale 2: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Rationale 3: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Rationale 4: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
, Client Need: Physiological Integrity
Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 7-2
Question 3
Type: MCSA
The nurse makes a medication error and a patient dies. In court, the attorney for the family of the deceased patient
asks the nurse if she followed standards of care in administering the medication. How would the attorney phrase
this question?
1. "Did you follow agency guidelines as in previous circumstances?"
2. "Did you follow the physician's orders and double-check them before administration?"
3. "Did you do the three checks and follow the five rights as taught in school?"
4. "Did you do what another nurse would have done under similar circumstances?"
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Rationale 2: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Rationale 3: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Rationale 4: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Physiological Integrity Client
Need Sub:
Question 1
Type: MCMA
The nursing instructor teaches the student nurses about how medication errors can occur. What information will
the nursing instructor include in the presentation?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. The nurse miscalculates the medication dose.
2. The nurse does not check the patient's identification band.
3. The nurse does not validate an order with the physician.
4. The nurse misinterprets a physician's order.
5. The nurse administers the incorrect drug.
Correct Answer: 1,2,4,5
Rationale 1: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 2: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 3: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 4: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Rationale 5: Medication errors may be related to misinterpretations, miscalculations, and misadministration. The
nurse should always check the patient's identification band. As long as the nurse understands the physician's
order, there is no need to validate the order with the physician.
Global Rationale:
,Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Physiological Integrity Client
Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 7-1
Question 2
Type: MCSA
The nurse recognizes that agency system checks are in place to decrease medication errors. Who commonly
collaborates with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration?
1. The nursing supervisor
2. The nursing unit manager
3. The pharmacist 4. The physician
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Rationale 2: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Rationale 3: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Rationale 4: Pharmacists and nurses must collaborate on checking the accuracy and appropriateness of drug
orders prior to patient administration. The physician does not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking
the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing unit manager does not commonly collaborate
with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration. The nursing supervisor does
not commonly collaborate with the nurse on checking the accuracy of the medication prior to administration.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
, Client Need: Physiological Integrity
Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 7-2
Question 3
Type: MCSA
The nurse makes a medication error and a patient dies. In court, the attorney for the family of the deceased patient
asks the nurse if she followed standards of care in administering the medication. How would the attorney phrase
this question?
1. "Did you follow agency guidelines as in previous circumstances?"
2. "Did you follow the physician's orders and double-check them before administration?"
3. "Did you do the three checks and follow the five rights as taught in school?"
4. "Did you do what another nurse would have done under similar circumstances?"
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Rationale 2: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Rationale 3: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Rationale 4: Standards of care refer to the actions that a reasonable and prudent nurse with equivalent preparation
would do under similar circumstances. Standards of care do not refer to following physician orders. Standards of
care do not refer to following agency guidelines. Standards of care do not refer to doing three checks or five
rights.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Physiological Integrity Client
Need Sub:
