Chapter 05: Medication Errors: Preventing and Responding

Chapter 05: Medication Errors: Preventing and Responding

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The nurse is reviewing medication errors. Which situation is an example of a medication error?

a.	A patient refuses her morning medications.
b.	A patient receives a double dose of a medication because the nurse did not cut the pill in half.
c.	A patient develops hives after having started an IV antibiotic 24 hours earlier.
d.	A patient complains of severe pain still present 60 minutes after a pain medication was given.

 

 

ANS:  B

A medication error is defined as a preventable adverse drug event that involves inappropriate medication use by a patient or health care provider. The other options are not preventable. The patient’s refusing to take medications and complaining of pain after a medication is given are patient behaviors, and the development of hives is a possible allergic reaction.

 

DIF:    COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)                  REF:   p. 67

TOP:   NURSING PROCESS: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

2. The nurse is reviewing a list of verbal medication orders. Which is the proper notation of the dose of the drug ordered?

a.	Digoxin .125 mg
b.	Digoxin .1250 mg
c.	Digoxin 0.125 mg
d.	Digoxin 0.1250 mg

 

 

ANS:  C

Digoxin 0.125 mg illustrates the correct notation with a leading zero before the decimal point. Omitting the leading zero may cause the order to be misread, resulting in a large drug overdose. Digoxin .125 mg and digoxin .1250 mg do not have the leading zero before the decimal point. Digoxin 0.1250 mg has a trailing zero, which also is incorrect.

 

DIF:    COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)                  REF:   p. 69

TOP:   NURSING PROCESS: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

3. When given a scheduled morning medication, the patient states, “I haven’t seen that pill before. Are you sure it’s correct?” The nurse checks the medication administration record and verifies that it is listed. Which is the nurse’s best response?

a.	“It’s listed here on the medication sheet, so you should take it.”
b.	“Go ahead and take it, and then I’ll check with your doctor about it.”
c.	“It wouldn’t be listed here if it were not ordered for you!”
d.	“Let me check on the order first before you take it.”

 

 

ANS:  D

When giving medications, the nurse should always listen to and honor any concerns or doubts expressed by the patient. If the patient doubts an order, the nurse should check the written order and/or check with the prescriber. The other options illustrate that the nurse is not listening to the patient’s concerns.

 

DIF:    COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)                  REF:   p. 69

TOP:   NURSING PROCESS: Planning

MSC:  NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

 

4. During a period of time when the computerized medication order system was down, the prescriber wrote admission orders, and the nurse is transcribing them. The nurse is having difficulty 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 incorrect because this question will not clarify the current order written by the prescriber.

 

DIF:    COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)                  REF:   p. 69

TOP:   NURSING PROCESS: Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care