ADMINISTERING
MEDICATIONS: 2025 RELEASE
• AUTHOR(S)DONNA
GAUWITZ
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Definition of Terms & Pharmacology
Stem
A charge nurse receives a telephone order for metoprolol 50 mg
PO once for a patient with new-onset atrial fibrillation. The
order is from the on-call physician who will sign the chart later.
The nurse's facility policy requires verification of telephone
orders. Which is the most appropriate immediate nursing
action?
,A. Administer the metoprolol now per the telephone order and
chart the order was given by phone.
B. Clarify the order by repeating the drug, dose, and indication
back to the caller, document the read-back, then administer if
appropriate.
C. Refuse the telephone order and wait for the physician to
come in person to write the order.
D. Ask a colleague to witness the telephone order and then
administer the medication without further documentation.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: Repeating the drug, dose, route, and indication back to
the caller (read-back) and documenting the interaction follows
safe medication communication practices and reduces
transcription errors. This action aligns with standard telephone-
order protocols and protects the patient while allowing timely
treatment.
A: Unsafe — administering without read-back and
documentation risks transcription errors and violates most
facility telephone-order policies.
C: Inappropriate — delaying treatment for a patient in atrial
fibrillation may be harmful; telephone orders are permissible
when properly verified.
D: Incomplete — a witness alone does not replace the required
,read-back and documentation of the telephone order; it may
still allow errors.
Teaching Point
Always perform read-back verification and document telephone
orders immediately.
Citation
Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Drug Names; Brand-Name vs. Generic-Name
Stem
A patient brings a pre-filled medication box labeled “Lopressor”
to the med-admin pass, but the MAR lists “metoprolol tartrate.”
The patient asks why the name is different. The nurse notices
the dosage and manufacturer on the box. Which response and
action best combines patient education and safety?
A. Tell the patient brand names often change; administer the
medication without further action.
B. Explain that Lopressor is a brand name of metoprolol, verify
dose and lot if available, then document the brand on the MAR
when giving the dose.
C. Refuse to administer anything with a brand name and return
the box to the patient for pharmacy substitution.
, D. Substitute the medication with a different beta blocker that is
on the unit formulary.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: Explaining brand vs. generic to the patient supports
education; verifying dose and lot ensures the correct drug and
allows documentation of the brand name for traceability. This
aligns with medication identification and safety standards.
A: Incomplete — patient education is missing and simply
administering without verification ignores traceability and
safety checks.
C: Overly rigid — refusing is unnecessary if the medication
matches the MAR and is verified; pharmacy substitution should
be handled by providers/pharmacy.
D: Unsafe — substituting without prescriber/pharmacy
approval risks medication errors and is not within nursing scope
of practice.
Teaching Point
Verify generic/brand names, confirm dose/lot, and document
brand when administering patient-supplied meds.
Citation
Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
3
MEDICATIONS: 2025 RELEASE
• AUTHOR(S)DONNA
GAUWITZ
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Definition of Terms & Pharmacology
Stem
A charge nurse receives a telephone order for metoprolol 50 mg
PO once for a patient with new-onset atrial fibrillation. The
order is from the on-call physician who will sign the chart later.
The nurse's facility policy requires verification of telephone
orders. Which is the most appropriate immediate nursing
action?
,A. Administer the metoprolol now per the telephone order and
chart the order was given by phone.
B. Clarify the order by repeating the drug, dose, and indication
back to the caller, document the read-back, then administer if
appropriate.
C. Refuse the telephone order and wait for the physician to
come in person to write the order.
D. Ask a colleague to witness the telephone order and then
administer the medication without further documentation.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: Repeating the drug, dose, route, and indication back to
the caller (read-back) and documenting the interaction follows
safe medication communication practices and reduces
transcription errors. This action aligns with standard telephone-
order protocols and protects the patient while allowing timely
treatment.
A: Unsafe — administering without read-back and
documentation risks transcription errors and violates most
facility telephone-order policies.
C: Inappropriate — delaying treatment for a patient in atrial
fibrillation may be harmful; telephone orders are permissible
when properly verified.
D: Incomplete — a witness alone does not replace the required
,read-back and documentation of the telephone order; it may
still allow errors.
Teaching Point
Always perform read-back verification and document telephone
orders immediately.
Citation
Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Drug Names; Brand-Name vs. Generic-Name
Stem
A patient brings a pre-filled medication box labeled “Lopressor”
to the med-admin pass, but the MAR lists “metoprolol tartrate.”
The patient asks why the name is different. The nurse notices
the dosage and manufacturer on the box. Which response and
action best combines patient education and safety?
A. Tell the patient brand names often change; administer the
medication without further action.
B. Explain that Lopressor is a brand name of metoprolol, verify
dose and lot if available, then document the brand on the MAR
when giving the dose.
C. Refuse to administer anything with a brand name and return
the box to the patient for pharmacy substitution.
, D. Substitute the medication with a different beta blocker that is
on the unit formulary.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: Explaining brand vs. generic to the patient supports
education; verifying dose and lot ensures the correct drug and
allows documentation of the brand name for traceability. This
aligns with medication identification and safety standards.
A: Incomplete — patient education is missing and simply
administering without verification ignores traceability and
safety checks.
C: Overly rigid — refusing is unnecessary if the medication
matches the MAR and is verified; pharmacy substitution should
be handled by providers/pharmacy.
D: Unsafe — substituting without prescriber/pharmacy
approval risks medication errors and is not within nursing scope
of practice.
Teaching Point
Verify generic/brand names, confirm dose/lot, and document
brand when administering patient-supplied meds.
Citation
Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
3
