Chapter 1 —Medication Orders & Tablet
Calculations
Stem: A provider writes an order for “Lasix 40 mg po BID.”
What is the safest nursing action before administration?
A. Administer the medication as ordered.
B. Clarify the order with the provider.
C. Hold the medication until the next shift.
D. Document the order as received and proceed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • B (Correct): The order lacks clarity about timing; safe
practice requires clarification.
• A: Unsafe—never administer without clear understanding.
• C: Incorrect—delaying care without clarification can harm
the patient.
• D: Incorrect—documentation alone does not ensure
safety.
Teaching Point: Always clarify incomplete or unclear
medication orders before administration.
2. Chapter 1, Section: Avoiding Errors in Decimal Placement
Stem: The provider orders morphine 0.5 mg IV. Which unsafe
notation could lead to a tenfold overdose?
A. 0.5 mg
B. .5 mg
C. 0.50 mg
D. ½ mg
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• B (Correct): Leading zero omitted; “.5 mg” may be misread
as “5 mg.”
• A: Correct format—safe.
• C: Safe, though trailing zero is unnecessary.
, • D: Avoid fractions, but less dangerous than option B.
Teaching Point: Always use a leading zero before decimals to
prevent tenfold dosing errors.
3. Chapter 1, Section: Conversion Errors
Stem: A patient is prescribed 1 g ceftriaxone. The vial reads 500
mg per mL. How many mL should be administered?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 5 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• C (Correct): 1000 mg÷500 mg/mL=2 mL1000 \text{ mg} ÷
500 \text{ mg/mL} = 2 \text{
mL}1000 mg÷500 mg/mL=2 mL.
• A: Error—divided by 1000 instead of 500.
• B: Error—forgot to double for full gram.
• D: Error—misplaced decimal.
Teaching Point: Carefully convert grams to milligrams and use
ratio–proportion to prevent overdose.
, 4. Chapter 1, Section: Rights of Medication Administration
Stem: Which “Right” of medication administration prevents
giving a drug at the wrong interval?
A. Right Dose
B. Right Time
C. Right Route
D. Right Documentation
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• B (Correct): Right Time ensures administration at
prescribed intervals.
• A: Ensures correct amount.
• C: Ensures correct method of delivery.
• D: Ensures accurate recordkeeping.
Teaching Point: Adhering to all medication rights prevents
administration errors.
5. Chapter 1, Section: High-Alert Medications
Stem: Which class of drugs requires independent double-
checking due to high risk of harm if miscalculated?
A. Antibiotics
B. Antihistamines
Calculations
Stem: A provider writes an order for “Lasix 40 mg po BID.”
What is the safest nursing action before administration?
A. Administer the medication as ordered.
B. Clarify the order with the provider.
C. Hold the medication until the next shift.
D. Document the order as received and proceed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • B (Correct): The order lacks clarity about timing; safe
practice requires clarification.
• A: Unsafe—never administer without clear understanding.
• C: Incorrect—delaying care without clarification can harm
the patient.
• D: Incorrect—documentation alone does not ensure
safety.
Teaching Point: Always clarify incomplete or unclear
medication orders before administration.
2. Chapter 1, Section: Avoiding Errors in Decimal Placement
Stem: The provider orders morphine 0.5 mg IV. Which unsafe
notation could lead to a tenfold overdose?
A. 0.5 mg
B. .5 mg
C. 0.50 mg
D. ½ mg
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• B (Correct): Leading zero omitted; “.5 mg” may be misread
as “5 mg.”
• A: Correct format—safe.
• C: Safe, though trailing zero is unnecessary.
, • D: Avoid fractions, but less dangerous than option B.
Teaching Point: Always use a leading zero before decimals to
prevent tenfold dosing errors.
3. Chapter 1, Section: Conversion Errors
Stem: A patient is prescribed 1 g ceftriaxone. The vial reads 500
mg per mL. How many mL should be administered?
A. 0.5 mL
B. 1 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 5 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• C (Correct): 1000 mg÷500 mg/mL=2 mL1000 \text{ mg} ÷
500 \text{ mg/mL} = 2 \text{
mL}1000 mg÷500 mg/mL=2 mL.
• A: Error—divided by 1000 instead of 500.
• B: Error—forgot to double for full gram.
• D: Error—misplaced decimal.
Teaching Point: Carefully convert grams to milligrams and use
ratio–proportion to prevent overdose.
, 4. Chapter 1, Section: Rights of Medication Administration
Stem: Which “Right” of medication administration prevents
giving a drug at the wrong interval?
A. Right Dose
B. Right Time
C. Right Route
D. Right Documentation
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• B (Correct): Right Time ensures administration at
prescribed intervals.
• A: Ensures correct amount.
• C: Ensures correct method of delivery.
• D: Ensures accurate recordkeeping.
Teaching Point: Adhering to all medication rights prevents
administration errors.
5. Chapter 1, Section: High-Alert Medications
Stem: Which class of drugs requires independent double-
checking due to high risk of harm if miscalculated?
A. Antibiotics
B. Antihistamines
