ADMINISTERING
MEDICATIONS: 2025 RELEASE
• AUTHOR(S)DONNA
GAUWITZ
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — eMAR Technology — Medication
Verification & Barcode Scanning
Stem: A registered nurse preparing to give a scheduled oral
antibiotic scans the patient’s wristband and the unit dose
medication. The eMAR shows the correct patient and
medication, but the barcode scanner returns a “barcode
mismatch” alert. The nurse confirms the medication name and
dose match the eMAR. What should the nurse do next?
,A. Administer the medication because the name and dose
match the eMAR.
B. Place the medication at the bedside and notify pharmacy
later.
C. Hold the medication and contact pharmacy or nursing
leadership to resolve the barcode discrepancy before
administration.
D. Remove the barcode label from the package and administer
using manual documentation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale — Correct (C): Barcode mismatch may indicate
packaging error or wrong patient/medication assignment;
holding prevents a potential medication error. Contacting
pharmacy/leadership initiates verification and correction,
aligning with medication-safety protocols and facility barcode
policies. This action protects the patient and maintains legal
documentation standards.
Rationale — Incorrect (A): Administering despite alert bypasses
a safety barrier; barcode mismatch could indicate wrong
formulation or patient barcode error and risks harm.
Rationale — Incorrect (B): Leaving medication at bedside
without resolving the mismatch delays care and fails to secure
the medication; it does not address safety risk.
Rationale — Incorrect (D): Removing barcode circumvents
safety technology and violates facility policy and medication-
safety standards.
,Teaching Point: Never override barcode alerts—verify with
pharmacy/leadership before giving medication.
Citation: Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Drug Names — Brand vs. Generic & Look-
Alike/Sound-Alike Names
Stem: A 68-year-old patient with heart failure receives an order
for “hydralazine.” The nurse notes a recently stocked
medication labeled “Hyzar” (a brand not routinely used in the
unit). The eMAR lists hydralazine. What is the nurse’s best
immediate action?
A. Administer the stocked “Hyzar” because it’s likely the brand-
name formulation.
B. Check a drug reference to confirm equivalence and verify the
manufacturer’s label before administration.
C. Substitute with another vasodilator that the nurse
recognizes.
D. Ask the patient if they have taken “Hyzar” at home; if yes,
give it.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B): Confirming drug identity via a reliable
drug reference and verifying packaging/manufacturer prevents
misadministration due to look-alike/sound-alike names and
, ensures correct generic/brand matching. This aligns with safety
and regulatory standards.
Rationale — Incorrect (A): Assuming equivalence without
verification risks giving the wrong drug or dose; brand names
can be unfamiliar or misleading.
Rationale — Incorrect (C): Substituting without prescriber
approval violates scope of practice and could harm the patient.
Rationale — Incorrect (D): Patient recall is unreliable for
medication identity and does not replace professional
verification.
Teaching Point: Use trusted drug references to verify unfamiliar
brand names before administration.
Citation: Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Drug References & Coping with Technical
Language
Stem: A newly licensed nurse is preparing a medication
teaching session for a parent of a child starting inhaled
corticosteroid therapy. The parent becomes overwhelmed
when the nurse uses pharmacologic terminology (e.g., “anti-
inflammatory,” “systemic bioavailability”). How should the
nurse proceed to ensure comprehension?
MEDICATIONS: 2025 RELEASE
• AUTHOR(S)DONNA
GAUWITZ
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — eMAR Technology — Medication
Verification & Barcode Scanning
Stem: A registered nurse preparing to give a scheduled oral
antibiotic scans the patient’s wristband and the unit dose
medication. The eMAR shows the correct patient and
medication, but the barcode scanner returns a “barcode
mismatch” alert. The nurse confirms the medication name and
dose match the eMAR. What should the nurse do next?
,A. Administer the medication because the name and dose
match the eMAR.
B. Place the medication at the bedside and notify pharmacy
later.
C. Hold the medication and contact pharmacy or nursing
leadership to resolve the barcode discrepancy before
administration.
D. Remove the barcode label from the package and administer
using manual documentation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale — Correct (C): Barcode mismatch may indicate
packaging error or wrong patient/medication assignment;
holding prevents a potential medication error. Contacting
pharmacy/leadership initiates verification and correction,
aligning with medication-safety protocols and facility barcode
policies. This action protects the patient and maintains legal
documentation standards.
Rationale — Incorrect (A): Administering despite alert bypasses
a safety barrier; barcode mismatch could indicate wrong
formulation or patient barcode error and risks harm.
Rationale — Incorrect (B): Leaving medication at bedside
without resolving the mismatch delays care and fails to secure
the medication; it does not address safety risk.
Rationale — Incorrect (D): Removing barcode circumvents
safety technology and violates facility policy and medication-
safety standards.
,Teaching Point: Never override barcode alerts—verify with
pharmacy/leadership before giving medication.
Citation: Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Drug Names — Brand vs. Generic & Look-
Alike/Sound-Alike Names
Stem: A 68-year-old patient with heart failure receives an order
for “hydralazine.” The nurse notes a recently stocked
medication labeled “Hyzar” (a brand not routinely used in the
unit). The eMAR lists hydralazine. What is the nurse’s best
immediate action?
A. Administer the stocked “Hyzar” because it’s likely the brand-
name formulation.
B. Check a drug reference to confirm equivalence and verify the
manufacturer’s label before administration.
C. Substitute with another vasodilator that the nurse
recognizes.
D. Ask the patient if they have taken “Hyzar” at home; if yes,
give it.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B): Confirming drug identity via a reliable
drug reference and verifying packaging/manufacturer prevents
misadministration due to look-alike/sound-alike names and
, ensures correct generic/brand matching. This aligns with safety
and regulatory standards.
Rationale — Incorrect (A): Assuming equivalence without
verification risks giving the wrong drug or dose; brand names
can be unfamiliar or misleading.
Rationale — Incorrect (C): Substituting without prescriber
approval violates scope of practice and could harm the patient.
Rationale — Incorrect (D): Patient recall is unreliable for
medication identity and does not replace professional
verification.
Teaching Point: Use trusted drug references to verify unfamiliar
brand names before administration.
Citation: Gauwitz, D. (2025). Administering Medications. Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Drug References & Coping with Technical
Language
Stem: A newly licensed nurse is preparing a medication
teaching session for a parent of a child starting inhaled
corticosteroid therapy. The parent becomes overwhelmed
when the nurse uses pharmacologic terminology (e.g., “anti-
inflammatory,” “systemic bioavailability”). How should the
nurse proceed to ensure comprehension?
