Medication Administration Short Answer Questions

Medication Administration:
Answer every question independently:
1. Define the following terms:
a. Generic drug name
b. Drug trade name:
c. Therapeutic effect:
d. Side effect
e. Toxic effects:
f. Allergic reaction
g. Medication tolerance:
h. Medication interaction
i. Synergistic effect:
j. Anaphylactic reaction:
k. Physiological drug dependence
l. Psychological drug dependence:
2. What is the major role of the nurse during medication administration?
3. Who defines the scope of nurses’ professional functions and responsibilities?
4. List the role of each healthcare provider in the prescribing and administering of medication.
a. Physician/Nurse Practitioner/Physician’s Assistant
b. Pharmacist
c. Nurse
5. Describe the key points surrounding the administration of controlled substances.
6. Briefly describe each route of medication administration
a. Oral:
b. Inhalation:
c. Intravenous (IV):
d. Intramuscular(IM):
e. Intradermal:
f. Subcutaneous:
g. Topical:
h. Sublingual:
i. Buccal:
7. List the essential parts of a medication order.
8. What actions are required when the nurse judges a primary care provider ordered medication inappropriately? Why is this important?
9. List at least ten practice guidelines for preventing medication errors.
10. What is the process medication reconciliation and why should it be done?
11. What are the three checks of medication administration?
12. What are the seven rights of medication administration?
13. List the steps the nurse should follow when giving oral medications (implementation).
14. Identify at least four practice guidelines when administering meds through an NG or GT.
15. Describe key points the nurse should know when giving an intradermal injection.
16. List the steps the nurse should follow when giving an injection.
17. Complete the following table:
Syringe size Needle size Needle length Common uses
Intradermal
Subcutaneous
Intramuscular

18. Matching:
Ventrogluteal site a. Most common reason for IM injections
Vastus lateralis site b. Recommended site for infants and young children
Immunizations c. Safest site of choice for an IM injection
Skin Assessment d. Sites should be free from infection, necrosis, bruising, or abrasions
Deltoid site e. Recommended for all IM injections, and required for meds irritating to the tissue
Z-track method f. Used in adults, but is near nerves and limited to small injection volumes

19. Use the arrows to identify all possible areas for subcutaneous injection. You can move the arrows by dragging and dropping them. You can also reposition the arrows by turning them.

Part 2:

1. Identify the steps used in administering IVP medications (IV bolus medications).
2. Identify the steps used in administering IVPB medications.
3. Identify the steps in changing an intravenous container and tubing.
4. Identify the steps in discontinuing an intravenous infusion.
5. State the importance of timeliness of tubing and solution changes for continuous and intermittent IV infusions. What products require an every 24 hour changes? What products are shorter spans between changes?
6. Using the table below, compare isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic IV solutions:
Examples Use/purpose
Isotonic
Hypotonic
Hypertonic

7. Describe the differences between phlebitis and infiltration.
8. When administering an IV infusion, what is the safest method? Why?

9. Explain the purpose of a patient assessment and vital signs prior to blood administration. What three checks require 2 RN’s to verify before blood administration?
10. Describe the IV catheter size, tubing, and the solution used for blood product infusion.
11. Explain the importance of remaining with the patient for the first 15 minutes of a blood transfusion.
12. What are the potential complications during blood administration?
13. Identify the steps taken if the patient has a blood transfusion reaction.

14. Define vascular access devices. Describe the benefits of using a vascular access devise. List the nursing responsibilities related to a vascular access devise.