Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
Chapter 1: Safety in Medication Administration
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 narcotic.
ANS: B
Feedback
The medication order has all the required components (drug name, dose, route, and
frequency of administration) for a drug order. “PO” is an appropriate abbreviation;
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 use.
D It protects the patient by providing information to decrease side effects.
ANS: C
Feedback
A drug label with a boxed warning provides information to healthcare professionals
and patients regarding the serious risks and side effects related to the drug. 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 provide
information to reduce or decrease side effects.
1
,Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
3. When practicing safety in the administration of medication, for which of the following
medication orders should a nurse seek clarification before the administration 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 itching.
D Ondansetron 4 mg IVP stat.
ANS: A
Feedback
The “u” should never be used in a medication order; rather, for safety, the word
“units” should be spelled out. The other answer options contain the 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 on 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 that
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 injectable
drug.”
ANS: B
Feedback
Tall man lettering highlights a portion of the drug name to help distinguish from
similar drug names. It is not used to identify high alert drugs, highlight 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.
Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg PO every 12 hr at 0900 and 2100.
Digoxin .25 mg PO daily at 0900.
2
,Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
In reading the medication orders for the 0700–1500 shift, the nurse determines that which of
the following is the priority nursing intervention?
A Clarify the metformin HCl order.
B Clarify the hydrochlorothiazide order.
C Clarify the digoxin order.
D Prepare to administer the 0900 medications.
ANS: C
Feedback
The digoxin medication order is lacking a zero before the decimal fraction (.25).
Safe practice recommends using a zero before a decimal point when the dose is less
than one. The metformin HCl and the hydrochlorothiazide orders are written
correctly. The order should be clarified before preparing the 0900 medications.
6. In the administration of medications, when should the nurse document the administration of
medications?
A 30 minutes before administering to the patient.
B Immediately before administering to the patient.
C At the end of the shift.
D Immediately after administering to the patient.
ANS: D
Feedback
The last “Right of Medication Administration” is the documentation of medications.
The documentation is done immediately after administering the medications to the
patient.
7. The following medication is ordered for the patient:
Calcitriol Oral Solution 2 µg PO Daily
After reading the order, what is the initial action needed by the nurse?
A Clarify the written medication dose of 2 µg.
B Look up the dose in a drug reference book.
3
, Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
C Transcribe the medication order onto the MAR.
D Ask the patient the daily dose taken at home.
ANS: A
Feedback
The initial action is for the nurse to clarify the drug dose because it is written with
the error-prone letter/symbol “µ.” To avoid medication errors, it is recommended
that the “µ” not be used in medication orders. Instead the abbreviation “mcg” is to
be used for microgram.
8. Recommendations by the Institute of Medicine for reducing medication errors help enhance
safe nursing practice by:
A shifting primary responsibility for drug therapy onto patients and families.
B referring patients and families to the pharmacist for drug therapy questions.
C answering drug therapy questions when a new prescription is ordered.
D promoting ongoing communication between patients and healthcare
providers.
ANS: D
Feedback
The Institute of Medicine recommendations include the establishment of
collaborative partnership between patients and healthcare providers to assist in
educating, consulting, and listening to patient’s concerns. Ongoing communication
between patients and healthcare providers keeps the focus on the needs of the
individual patient and promotes safety.
9. In consulting a drug reference book, the nurse reads that certain medications are classified as
“high-alert” medications. In the administration of high-alert medications, what is the priority
action of the nurse?
A Inform the patient of the harmful side effects.
B Double-check the dose with another nurse prior to administering the drug.
C Provide drug literature to the family to assist with monitoring for harmful
effects.
4
Instructor Test Bank
Chapter 1: Safety in Medication Administration
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 narcotic.
ANS: B
Feedback
The medication order has all the required components (drug name, dose, route, and
frequency of administration) for a drug order. “PO” is an appropriate abbreviation;
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 use.
D It protects the patient by providing information to decrease side effects.
ANS: C
Feedback
A drug label with a boxed warning provides information to healthcare professionals
and patients regarding the serious risks and side effects related to the drug. 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 provide
information to reduce or decrease side effects.
1
,Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
3. When practicing safety in the administration of medication, for which of the following
medication orders should a nurse seek clarification before the administration 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 itching.
D Ondansetron 4 mg IVP stat.
ANS: A
Feedback
The “u” should never be used in a medication order; rather, for safety, the word
“units” should be spelled out. The other answer options contain the 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 on 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 that
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 injectable
drug.”
ANS: B
Feedback
Tall man lettering highlights a portion of the drug name to help distinguish from
similar drug names. It is not used to identify high alert drugs, highlight 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.
Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg PO every 12 hr at 0900 and 2100.
Digoxin .25 mg PO daily at 0900.
2
,Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
In reading the medication orders for the 0700–1500 shift, the nurse determines that which of
the following is the priority nursing intervention?
A Clarify the metformin HCl order.
B Clarify the hydrochlorothiazide order.
C Clarify the digoxin order.
D Prepare to administer the 0900 medications.
ANS: C
Feedback
The digoxin medication order is lacking a zero before the decimal fraction (.25).
Safe practice recommends using a zero before a decimal point when the dose is less
than one. The metformin HCl and the hydrochlorothiazide orders are written
correctly. The order should be clarified before preparing the 0900 medications.
6. In the administration of medications, when should the nurse document the administration of
medications?
A 30 minutes before administering to the patient.
B Immediately before administering to the patient.
C At the end of the shift.
D Immediately after administering to the patient.
ANS: D
Feedback
The last “Right of Medication Administration” is the documentation of medications.
The documentation is done immediately after administering the medications to the
patient.
7. The following medication is ordered for the patient:
Calcitriol Oral Solution 2 µg PO Daily
After reading the order, what is the initial action needed by the nurse?
A Clarify the written medication dose of 2 µg.
B Look up the dose in a drug reference book.
3
, Castillo/Werner-McCullough: Calculating Drug Dosages, 2e
Instructor Test Bank
C Transcribe the medication order onto the MAR.
D Ask the patient the daily dose taken at home.
ANS: A
Feedback
The initial action is for the nurse to clarify the drug dose because it is written with
the error-prone letter/symbol “µ.” To avoid medication errors, it is recommended
that the “µ” not be used in medication orders. Instead the abbreviation “mcg” is to
be used for microgram.
8. Recommendations by the Institute of Medicine for reducing medication errors help enhance
safe nursing practice by:
A shifting primary responsibility for drug therapy onto patients and families.
B referring patients and families to the pharmacist for drug therapy questions.
C answering drug therapy questions when a new prescription is ordered.
D promoting ongoing communication between patients and healthcare
providers.
ANS: D
Feedback
The Institute of Medicine recommendations include the establishment of
collaborative partnership between patients and healthcare providers to assist in
educating, consulting, and listening to patient’s concerns. Ongoing communication
between patients and healthcare providers keeps the focus on the needs of the
individual patient and promotes safety.
9. In consulting a drug reference book, the nurse reads that certain medications are classified as
“high-alert” medications. In the administration of high-alert medications, what is the priority
action of the nurse?
A Inform the patient of the harmful side effects.
B Double-check the dose with another nurse prior to administering the drug.
C Provide drug literature to the family to assist with monitoring for harmful
effects.
4
