Medication Errors and How to Avoid Them
Self-Study Examination
Instructions: After studying the text answer the following true/false or multiple choice questions. Remember, there's only one answer to each question.
a) The transcribing nurse wrote the order on the wrong MAR. b) The medication nurse switched the drug from one patient’s bin to another. c) The nurse did not compare the drug with the patient’s diagnosis. d) all of the above
a) True b) False
a) “s.c.” b) “sub q.”
a) nurse b) physician c) pharmacist d) patient
a) having the nurse supervisor check the order; b) checking with the prescribing physician; c) calling the pharmacy; d) repeating back the information just given by the technician.
a) 0.25 mg., q.i.d. b) 0.25 mg., q.d. c) 0.25 mg. daily d) b and c
a) q.d b) q.i.d. c) daily
a) nonvolumetric infusion controller with macrodrip tubing b) nonvolumetric infusion controller with microdrip tubing c) volumetric gravity-dependent rate controller
a) prescribing physician b) nurse c) head nurse d) intern e) all of the above
a) by listening to the patient b) by checking the doctor’s original order c) by checking with the doctor on call the night before
a) discontinue the medicine. b) medication upon discharge.
a) Terbutaline .5 mg b) Terbutaline 0.5 mg
a) when your remove the drug from a supply drawer or medication cart b) before you administer it to the patient c) before you discard its container d) all of the above three times
a) medication came from a source other than the pharmacy b) medication was left for a patient to take later c) medication did not match the patient’s diagnosis
a) q.o.d. b) q.i.d. c) every other day
a) storage problem b) symbol misinterpretation c) drug name confusion d) verification failure
a) abbreviation misinterpretation b) drug name confusion c) unfamiliarity and carelessness d) protocol violation
a) apothecary b) metric
a) right eye b) once daily c) overdose d) outside diameter
a) international units. b) units.
a) 2.4 mEq/liter b) 3.8 to 5.5 mEq/liter c) 6.6 mEq/liter d) 60 mEq/liter
a) incorrect medicine b) incomplete order–did not specify after which meal c) incorrect route of administration d) drug interaction
a) nurse b) doctor c) pharmacist d) patient
a) AZT b) azidothymidine c) Zidovudine d) Azathioprine
a) magnesium sulfate 5 mg b) morphine sulfate 5 mg
a) labeled “For oral use only.” b) labeled “Do not use in eyes.” c) prediluted. d) all of the above
a) true b) false
a) Do not use abbreviation; write out the words. b) Use only the JCAHO-approved list of abbreviations. c) If not sure, ask the doctor or the pharmacist.
a) q. n. b) h. s. c) nightly
a) abbreviation misinterpretation b) dosage error c) insulin error d) storage problem
a) five aspirin tablets b) 5-aminosalicyclic acid
a) The error was harmless. b) The error was detected before the medication was administered. c) The patient died due to the error.
a) 1 b) 2 c) more than 2
a) Roman numeral four. b) intravenous.
a) 160 mg b) 960 mg
a) 5 mg/kg b) 60 mg c) 360 mg
a) one b) two c) three
a) 12 p.m. b) 12 a.m. c) 0000 (military time) d) 2400 e) b and c
a) administration route not specified b) equipment misuse c) MAR misuse d) syringe and Tubex problem