Page 1 of 18
PHARMACOLOGY CH. 7 - PRINCIPLES OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
AND MEDICATION SAFETY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [VERIFIED]
>> Standards of care
-answer- Developed by each state's nurse practice act, state and federal law, The Joint
commission, professional organizations. Nurses must be familiar with the nurse practice act in
their state; claiming unfamiliarity with its contents is considered negligence. Each state has
limitations imposed on medication administration. Each agency that employs nurses has
procedures and policies specific to the administration of medication.
>> When administering medication, the nurse must:
-answer- - Have a current license to practice
- Clear policy statement that authorizes the act
- Medication order signed by a practitioner licensed with prescriptive privileges
-Understand the individual patient's diagnosis and symptoms that correlate with the rationale
for drug use
- Know why a medication is ordered, expected actions, usual dosing, proper dilution, route
and rate of administration, adverse effects, and contraindications for the use of a particular
drug
- Be accurate in calculating, preparing, and administering medication
- Assess the patient to be certain that therapeutic and adverse effects associated with the
medication regimen are reported
- Take an active role in educating the patient, family, and significant others in preparation for
discharge from the health care environment
, Page 2 of 18
>> Patient Charts
-answer- The record serves as the communication link among all members of the health care
team regarding the patient's status, care provided, and progress. The chart is a legal
document that describes the patient's health, lists diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
initiated, and describes the patient's response to these measures.
>> Contents of patient charts
-answer- Summary sheet; Consent forms; Physician's order form; History and physical
examination form; Progress notes; Critical pathways; Core measures; Nurses' notes; Nursing
care plans; Laboratory tests record; Graphic record; Flow sheets; Consultation reports; Other
diagnostic reports; Medication administration record (MAR); PRN or Unscheduled medication
record; Case management; Patient education record; Kardex records
>> Summary Sheet
-answer- Gives the patient's name, address, date of birth, attending physician, gender,
marital status, allergies, nearest relative, occupation and employer, insurance carrier and
other payment arrangements, religious preference, date and time of admission to the
hospital, previous hospital admission, and admitting problem or diagnosis. The date and time
of discharge are added when appropriate
>> Consent Forms
-answer- Grant permission to the health care facility and health care provider to provide
treatment. Other types of consent forms include an operative procedure permit or consent,
invasive procedure consent, and blood product consent, and consent to bill to patient's
insurance carrier
, Page 3 of 18
>> Physician's Order Form
-answer- All procedures and treatments are ordered by the health care provider on the
physician's order form. These orders include general care, laboratory tests to be completed,
other diagnostic procedures, and all medications and treatments such as physical therapy or
occupational therapy
>> History and Physical Examination Form
-answer- On admission to the hospital, the patient is interviewed by a health care provider
and given a physical examination. The health care provider records the findings on the history
and physical examination form and lists the problems to be corrected
>> Progress Notes
-answer- The attending health care provider records frequent observations of the patient's
health status in the progress note
>> Critical Pathways
-answer- This document is a comprehensive standardized plan of care that is individualized at
admission by the health care provider and nurse case manager. It is describe a
multidisciplinary plan used by all caregivers to track the individual's progress toward expected
outcomes within a specified period. The use of standardized outcomes is designed to improve
the quality of care provided, reduce the costs of care, and document the effect on patient
outcomes influenced by the nursing care
>> Evidence-Based Medicine (Core Measures)
-answer- These are measures of care that are tracked to show how often hospitals and health
PHARMACOLOGY CH. 7 - PRINCIPLES OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
AND MEDICATION SAFETY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [VERIFIED]
>> Standards of care
-answer- Developed by each state's nurse practice act, state and federal law, The Joint
commission, professional organizations. Nurses must be familiar with the nurse practice act in
their state; claiming unfamiliarity with its contents is considered negligence. Each state has
limitations imposed on medication administration. Each agency that employs nurses has
procedures and policies specific to the administration of medication.
>> When administering medication, the nurse must:
-answer- - Have a current license to practice
- Clear policy statement that authorizes the act
- Medication order signed by a practitioner licensed with prescriptive privileges
-Understand the individual patient's diagnosis and symptoms that correlate with the rationale
for drug use
- Know why a medication is ordered, expected actions, usual dosing, proper dilution, route
and rate of administration, adverse effects, and contraindications for the use of a particular
drug
- Be accurate in calculating, preparing, and administering medication
- Assess the patient to be certain that therapeutic and adverse effects associated with the
medication regimen are reported
- Take an active role in educating the patient, family, and significant others in preparation for
discharge from the health care environment
, Page 2 of 18
>> Patient Charts
-answer- The record serves as the communication link among all members of the health care
team regarding the patient's status, care provided, and progress. The chart is a legal
document that describes the patient's health, lists diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
initiated, and describes the patient's response to these measures.
>> Contents of patient charts
-answer- Summary sheet; Consent forms; Physician's order form; History and physical
examination form; Progress notes; Critical pathways; Core measures; Nurses' notes; Nursing
care plans; Laboratory tests record; Graphic record; Flow sheets; Consultation reports; Other
diagnostic reports; Medication administration record (MAR); PRN or Unscheduled medication
record; Case management; Patient education record; Kardex records
>> Summary Sheet
-answer- Gives the patient's name, address, date of birth, attending physician, gender,
marital status, allergies, nearest relative, occupation and employer, insurance carrier and
other payment arrangements, religious preference, date and time of admission to the
hospital, previous hospital admission, and admitting problem or diagnosis. The date and time
of discharge are added when appropriate
>> Consent Forms
-answer- Grant permission to the health care facility and health care provider to provide
treatment. Other types of consent forms include an operative procedure permit or consent,
invasive procedure consent, and blood product consent, and consent to bill to patient's
insurance carrier
, Page 3 of 18
>> Physician's Order Form
-answer- All procedures and treatments are ordered by the health care provider on the
physician's order form. These orders include general care, laboratory tests to be completed,
other diagnostic procedures, and all medications and treatments such as physical therapy or
occupational therapy
>> History and Physical Examination Form
-answer- On admission to the hospital, the patient is interviewed by a health care provider
and given a physical examination. The health care provider records the findings on the history
and physical examination form and lists the problems to be corrected
>> Progress Notes
-answer- The attending health care provider records frequent observations of the patient's
health status in the progress note
>> Critical Pathways
-answer- This document is a comprehensive standardized plan of care that is individualized at
admission by the health care provider and nurse case manager. It is describe a
multidisciplinary plan used by all caregivers to track the individual's progress toward expected
outcomes within a specified period. The use of standardized outcomes is designed to improve
the quality of care provided, reduce the costs of care, and document the effect on patient
outcomes influenced by the nursing care
>> Evidence-Based Medicine (Core Measures)
-answer- These are measures of care that are tracked to show how often hospitals and health
