C HAPTER 05: M EDICATION E RRORS :
P REVENTING AND R ESPONDING
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. During a period of time when the computerized medication order system
was down, the prescr iber wrote admission orders, and the nurse is
transcribing them. The nurse is having difficult y transcribing one order
because of the prescriber ’s handwriting. Which is the best action for the
nurse to take at this time?
a. Ask a colleague what the order says .
b. Contact the prescriber to clarify the order.
c. Wait until the prescriber makes rounds again to clarify the order.
d. Ask the patient what medications he takes at home.
ANS: B
If a prescriber writes an order that is illegible, the nurse should contact
the prescriber for clarification. Asking a colleague is not useful
because the colleague did not write the order. Waiting for the
prescriber to return is incorrect because it would delay implementation
of the order. Asking the patient about medications is incorre ct because
this question will not clarify the current order written by the
prescriber.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
, MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
2. When taking a telephone order for a medication, which action by the nurse
is most appropriate?
a. Verify the order with the charge nurse.
b. Call back the prescriber to review the order.
c. Repeat the order to the prescriber before hanging up the telephone.
d. Ask the pharmacist to dou ble-check the order.
ANS: C
For telephone or verbal orders, repeat the order back to the prescriber
before hanging up the telephone. The other options are incorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
3. During morning medication administration, the nurse discovered an error
on the electronic MAR before the medication was given. Which action by
the nurse is appropriate for this “near-miss”?
a. Correct the MAR error but say nothing because nothing happened.
b. Notify the pharmacy about the error they almost caused.
c. Report the near -miss using the facilit y’s recommended protocol, and
correct the error on the MAR.
d. Report the near -miss to the next shift bef ore the next dose is due.
ANS: C
P REVENTING AND R ESPONDING
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. During a period of time when the computerized medication order system
was down, the prescr iber wrote admission orders, and the nurse is
transcribing them. The nurse is having difficult y transcribing one order
because of the prescriber ’s handwriting. Which is the best action for the
nurse to take at this time?
a. Ask a colleague what the order says .
b. Contact the prescriber to clarify the order.
c. Wait until the prescriber makes rounds again to clarify the order.
d. Ask the patient what medications he takes at home.
ANS: B
If a prescriber writes an order that is illegible, the nurse should contact
the prescriber for clarification. Asking a colleague is not useful
because the colleague did not write the order. Waiting for the
prescriber to return is incorrect because it would delay implementation
of the order. Asking the patient about medications is incorre ct because
this question will not clarify the current order written by the
prescriber.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
, MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
2. When taking a telephone order for a medication, which action by the nurse
is most appropriate?
a. Verify the order with the charge nurse.
b. Call back the prescriber to review the order.
c. Repeat the order to the prescriber before hanging up the telephone.
d. Ask the pharmacist to dou ble-check the order.
ANS: C
For telephone or verbal orders, repeat the order back to the prescriber
before hanging up the telephone. The other options are incorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
3. During morning medication administration, the nurse discovered an error
on the electronic MAR before the medication was given. Which action by
the nurse is appropriate for this “near-miss”?
a. Correct the MAR error but say nothing because nothing happened.
b. Notify the pharmacy about the error they almost caused.
c. Report the near -miss using the facilit y’s recommended protocol, and
correct the error on the MAR.
d. Report the near -miss to the next shift bef ore the next dose is due.
ANS: C
