Medication Administration / Study Guide Actual
Exam Review Questions & Complete Answers /
Newest Update 2025.
A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection to a client who is overweight.
Which of the following sites should the nurse select for the injection?
a. the lower, medial quadrant of the buttock near the coccyx
b. the side hip between the iliac crest and anterior iliac spine
c. the tissue of the posterior upper arm
d. the lower, inner thigh 4 finger widths above the patella - ...(ANSWERS)....b. the
side hip between the iliac crest and anterior iliac spine
Ventrogluteal injection: the nurse should prepare for injection by placing a hand
on the client's greater trochanter (right hand on left hip, for example) with the
first two fingers touching the iliac crest and anterior superior iliac spine, forming a
"V" shape.
a. dorsogluteal site poses greater risks (sciatic nerve)
c. this site would appropriate for subQ injections
d. to inject in the vastus laterals site, the nurse should select one hand width
below the greater trochanter and one hand width above the patella
Classification of medications - ...(ANSWERS)....Based on:
,- effects on body system
- symptoms relieved by medication
- medication's desired effect
Pharmacokinetics - ...(ANSWERS)....The study of how medications enter the body,
reach their site of action, metabolize, and exit the body.
ADME
Absorption - ...(ANSWERS)....Passage of medication molecules into the blood
from the site of administration
Factors that alter absorption:
- route
- ability of medication to dissolve
- blood flow to site of administration
- body surface area (increased surface area = increased absorption)
- lipid solubility of medication (BBB)
Distribution - ...(ANSWERS)....After absorbed, the medication is distributed to
body tissues/organs (the site of action)
Rate/extent depends on:
,- physical/chemical properties of medication
- physiology of client
** circulation (blood flow to liver decreases with age)
** membrane permeability
** protein binding (decreased albumin with age)
Metabolism - ...(ANSWERS)....Metabolized into a less potent/inactive form
Biotransformation: enzymes detoxify, break down, & remove active chemicals
Occurs mostly in the liver, but also in the kidneys, blood, intestines, & lungs
Excretion - ...(ANSWERS)....Medications are excreted by the:
- kidneys
- liver
- bowel
- lungs
- exocrine glands
Chemical makeup of medication determines organ of excretion
, Therapeutic effect - ...(ANSWERS)....expected or predicted physiological response
that a medication causes
Side effects - ...(ANSWERS)....predictable and often unavoidable secondary
effects produced at a usual therapeutic dose
Adverse effects - ...(ANSWERS)....unintended, undesirable, and often
unpredictable severe responses to medication
Toxic effects - ...(ANSWERS)....develop after prolonged intake of a medication or
when a medication accumulates in the blood because of impaired metabolism or
excretion
Idiosyncratic reaction - ...(ANSWERS)....unpredictable effects
a patient overreacts or underreacts to a medication or has a reaction different
from normal
Synergistic effect - ...(ANSWERS)....combined effect of two medications is greater
than the effect of medications given separately
Mild allergic reaction symptoms - ...(ANSWERS)....Urticaria
Rash
Pruritus
Exam Review Questions & Complete Answers /
Newest Update 2025.
A nurse is preparing to administer an IM injection to a client who is overweight.
Which of the following sites should the nurse select for the injection?
a. the lower, medial quadrant of the buttock near the coccyx
b. the side hip between the iliac crest and anterior iliac spine
c. the tissue of the posterior upper arm
d. the lower, inner thigh 4 finger widths above the patella - ...(ANSWERS)....b. the
side hip between the iliac crest and anterior iliac spine
Ventrogluteal injection: the nurse should prepare for injection by placing a hand
on the client's greater trochanter (right hand on left hip, for example) with the
first two fingers touching the iliac crest and anterior superior iliac spine, forming a
"V" shape.
a. dorsogluteal site poses greater risks (sciatic nerve)
c. this site would appropriate for subQ injections
d. to inject in the vastus laterals site, the nurse should select one hand width
below the greater trochanter and one hand width above the patella
Classification of medications - ...(ANSWERS)....Based on:
,- effects on body system
- symptoms relieved by medication
- medication's desired effect
Pharmacokinetics - ...(ANSWERS)....The study of how medications enter the body,
reach their site of action, metabolize, and exit the body.
ADME
Absorption - ...(ANSWERS)....Passage of medication molecules into the blood
from the site of administration
Factors that alter absorption:
- route
- ability of medication to dissolve
- blood flow to site of administration
- body surface area (increased surface area = increased absorption)
- lipid solubility of medication (BBB)
Distribution - ...(ANSWERS)....After absorbed, the medication is distributed to
body tissues/organs (the site of action)
Rate/extent depends on:
,- physical/chemical properties of medication
- physiology of client
** circulation (blood flow to liver decreases with age)
** membrane permeability
** protein binding (decreased albumin with age)
Metabolism - ...(ANSWERS)....Metabolized into a less potent/inactive form
Biotransformation: enzymes detoxify, break down, & remove active chemicals
Occurs mostly in the liver, but also in the kidneys, blood, intestines, & lungs
Excretion - ...(ANSWERS)....Medications are excreted by the:
- kidneys
- liver
- bowel
- lungs
- exocrine glands
Chemical makeup of medication determines organ of excretion
, Therapeutic effect - ...(ANSWERS)....expected or predicted physiological response
that a medication causes
Side effects - ...(ANSWERS)....predictable and often unavoidable secondary
effects produced at a usual therapeutic dose
Adverse effects - ...(ANSWERS)....unintended, undesirable, and often
unpredictable severe responses to medication
Toxic effects - ...(ANSWERS)....develop after prolonged intake of a medication or
when a medication accumulates in the blood because of impaired metabolism or
excretion
Idiosyncratic reaction - ...(ANSWERS)....unpredictable effects
a patient overreacts or underreacts to a medication or has a reaction different
from normal
Synergistic effect - ...(ANSWERS)....combined effect of two medications is greater
than the effect of medications given separately
Mild allergic reaction symptoms - ...(ANSWERS)....Urticaria
Rash
Pruritus
