,
,Chapter 1: Safety in Medication Administration
Castillo: Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient-Safe Approach to Nursing and Math 3rd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The following medication order is in the patient’s medication administration record (MAR):
methylPREDnisolone 40 mg PO daily at 0900.
After reading the order, the nurse correctly determines:
A “PO” is an inappropriate abbreviation.
B the medication order is written correctly.
C 40 mg should be written as 40mg.
D tall man lettering indicates that the drug is a narco
tic.
ANSWER: B
Feedback
The medication order has all the required components (drug name, dose, rout
e, and frequency of administration) for a drug order. “PO” is an appropriate a
DC
bbreviation;40 mg is written correctly with a space between the dose and the
unit of measurement. Tall man lettering is used to distinguish the drug from another
drug
with a similar name.
2. Which of the following accurately describes the “Boxed Warning” found on a drug label?
A It is primarily is used to identify the safe dose for the patient.
B It is commonly found on all drug labels.
C It identifies serious potential risks and side effects related to drug u
se.
D It protects the patient by providing information to decrease side effe
cts.
ANSWER: C
Feedback
A drug label with a boxed warning provides information to healthcare profess
ionalsand patients regarding the serious risks and side effects related to the dr
ug. The Boxed Warning is not the primary source for identifying the patient’s
drug dosage.
The warning is found on specific prescription medications and does not p
rovideinformation to reduce or decrease side effects.
, 3. When practicing safety in the administration of medication, for which of the fol
lowingmedication orders should a nurse seek clarification before the administrati
on of the medication?
A Regular insulin 5 u subcut now.
B Enoxaparin 80 mg subcut every 12 hours.
C Benadryl 50 mg PO PRN every 6 hr for itchi
ng.
D Ondansetron 4 mg IVP stat.
ANSWER: A
Feedback
The “u” should never be used in a medication order; rather, for safety, th e
word“units” should be spelled out. The other answer options contain th e
required
components needed to safely carry out the medication order.
4. A nurse is reviewing a drug label with a drug name written with tall man lettering.
Which statements shows the nurse has a correct understanding of tall man lettering o
n a drug label?
A “The tall man lettering means this is a high alert drug.”
B “The tall man lettering helps me distinguish this drug with other drugs tha
t
have similar names.”
C “The tall man lettering means that this drug must have a Boxed Warning.
”
D “The tall man lettering helps me quickly identify that this drug is an injec
table
drug.”
ANSWER: B
Feedback
Tall man lettering highlights a portion of the drug name to help distinguis h
from similar drug names. It is not used to identify high alert drugs, highl ight
DC
a boxed
warning, or identify injectable drugs.
5. The following medication orders are found in the patient’s MAR:
Metformin HCl 500 mg PO daily at 0900. Hydrochloroth
iazide 25 mg PO every 12 hr at 0900 and 2100. Digoxin .
DC
25 mg PO daily at 0900.
,Chapter 1: Safety in Medication Administration
Castillo: Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient-Safe Approach to Nursing and Math 3rd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The following medication order is in the patient’s medication administration record (MAR):
methylPREDnisolone 40 mg PO daily at 0900.
After reading the order, the nurse correctly determines:
A “PO” is an inappropriate abbreviation.
B the medication order is written correctly.
C 40 mg should be written as 40mg.
D tall man lettering indicates that the drug is a narco
tic.
ANSWER: B
Feedback
The medication order has all the required components (drug name, dose, rout
e, and frequency of administration) for a drug order. “PO” is an appropriate a
DC
bbreviation;40 mg is written correctly with a space between the dose and the
unit of measurement. Tall man lettering is used to distinguish the drug from another
drug
with a similar name.
2. Which of the following accurately describes the “Boxed Warning” found on a drug label?
A It is primarily is used to identify the safe dose for the patient.
B It is commonly found on all drug labels.
C It identifies serious potential risks and side effects related to drug u
se.
D It protects the patient by providing information to decrease side effe
cts.
ANSWER: C
Feedback
A drug label with a boxed warning provides information to healthcare profess
ionalsand patients regarding the serious risks and side effects related to the dr
ug. The Boxed Warning is not the primary source for identifying the patient’s
drug dosage.
The warning is found on specific prescription medications and does not p
rovideinformation to reduce or decrease side effects.
, 3. When practicing safety in the administration of medication, for which of the fol
lowingmedication orders should a nurse seek clarification before the administrati
on of the medication?
A Regular insulin 5 u subcut now.
B Enoxaparin 80 mg subcut every 12 hours.
C Benadryl 50 mg PO PRN every 6 hr for itchi
ng.
D Ondansetron 4 mg IVP stat.
ANSWER: A
Feedback
The “u” should never be used in a medication order; rather, for safety, th e
word“units” should be spelled out. The other answer options contain th e
required
components needed to safely carry out the medication order.
4. A nurse is reviewing a drug label with a drug name written with tall man lettering.
Which statements shows the nurse has a correct understanding of tall man lettering o
n a drug label?
A “The tall man lettering means this is a high alert drug.”
B “The tall man lettering helps me distinguish this drug with other drugs tha
t
have similar names.”
C “The tall man lettering means that this drug must have a Boxed Warning.
”
D “The tall man lettering helps me quickly identify that this drug is an injec
table
drug.”
ANSWER: B
Feedback
Tall man lettering highlights a portion of the drug name to help distinguis h
from similar drug names. It is not used to identify high alert drugs, highl ight
DC
a boxed
warning, or identify injectable drugs.
5. The following medication orders are found in the patient’s MAR:
Metformin HCl 500 mg PO daily at 0900. Hydrochloroth
iazide 25 mg PO every 12 hr at 0900 and 2100. Digoxin .
DC
25 mg PO daily at 0900.
