Chapter 31: Medical Administration Fundamentals of Nursing 11th Edition (Potter & Perry) 50 NCLEX-Style Exam Questions with Detailed Rationales

1. The nurse prepares to administer a subcutaneous injection of insulin. What is the best site for this injection to ensure consistent absorption? A) Deltoid B) Abdomen C) Vastus lateralis D) Gluteus medius Answer: B Rationale: The abdomen is the preferred site for insulin due to its consistent absorption rate and accessibility. ________________________________________ 2. A patient refuses to take a prescribed oral medication. What is the nurse’s most appropriate first action? A) Document the refusal in the chart and discard the medication B) Notify the provider and document the refusal C) Force the patient to take the medication D) Save the dose for later administration Answer: B Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse medication. The nurse must notify the provider and document the refusal accurately. ________________________________________ 3. Which nursing action ensures the "right time" in medication administration? A) Administering medications only during rounds B) Giving all medications within a 4-hour window C) Administering time-critical medications within 30 minutes of scheduled time D) Administering medications after completing other tasks Answer: C Rationale: Time-critical medications must be administered within 30 minutes before or after the scheduled time for efficacy and safety. ________________________________________ 4. What is the nurse’s priority action before administering a medication through a nasogastric (NG) tube? A) Aspirate stomach contents B) Flush with 30 mL of water C) Administer all medications at once D) Verify tube placement Answer: D Rationale: Verifying correct NG tube placement prevents accidental aspiration and ensures safe drug delivery. ________________________________________ 5. A medication label reads: "Give 1 tablet PO BID." What does BID mean? A) Before breakfast B) Three times a day C) Every 12 hours D) Twice a day Answer: D Rationale: BID (bis in die) is a Latin abbreviation meaning “twice a day.” ________________________________________ 6. Which action best reflects the nurse’s role in preventing medication errors? A) Trusting the pharmacy’s preparation B) Relying on the healthcare provider’s orders C) Following the “six rights” of medication administration D) Giving medications quickly to avoid delays Answer: C Rationale: The “six rights” (right patient, drug, dose, route, time, documentation) form the foundation of safe medication practice. ________________________________________ 7. What should the nurse do immediately after identifying a medication error has occurred? A) Document the error in the patient’s chart B) Notify the physician and complete an incident report C) Wait to see if the patient develops symptoms D) Keep the error confidential Answer: B Rationale: The nurse must report the error promptly, ensure patient safety, and document the incident accurately (not in the medical chart). ________________________________________ 8. When preparing medications, which identifier is acceptable to confirm the patient's identity? A) Room number B) Age and weight C) Full name and date of birth D) Diagnosis Answer: C Rationale: Two acceptable identifiers include the patient’s full name and date of birth, matched with the MAR and ID band. ________________________________________ 9. The nurse prepares to administer an intramuscular injection to an adult. What is the preferred site? A) Vastus lateralis B) Ventrogluteal C) Deltoid D) Dorsogluteal Answer: B Rationale: The ventrogluteal site is safest and least prone to injury due to its distance from major nerves and blood vessels. ________________________________________ 10. A provider orders a medication to be given stat. What does this mean? A) Every 6 hours B) Before meals C) Immediately D) At bedtime Answer: C Rationale: "Stat" means the medication should be administered immediately, typically within 30 minutes or sooner.