Chapter 06: Medication Errors: Preventing and Responding

Question 1

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 starting an intravenous antibiotic 24 hours earlier.
d. A patient reports severe pain still present 60 minutes after a pain medication was
given.

Answer 1

b. A patient receives a double dose of a medication because the nurse did not cut the
pill in half.

Question 2

Which is the proper notation for the dose of the drug ordered?

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

Answer 2

c. digoxin 0.125 mg

Question 3

When the nurse is giving 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 sees that medication is listed. Which is the nurse’s best response to the patient?
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 wasn’t ordered for you!”
d. “I’ll check on the order first, before you take it.”

Answer 3

d. “I’ll check on the order first, before you take it.”

Question 4

The physician has written admission orders, and the nurse is transcribing them. The nurse is
having difficulty transcribing one order because of the physician’s handwriting. The best
action for the nurse to take is to
a. ask a colleague what the order says.
b. contact the physician in order to clarify the order.
c. contact the pharmacy in order to clarify the order.
d. ask the patient what medications are being taken at home.

Answer 4

b. contact the physician in order to clarify the order

Question 5

Health care providers should report actual and potential medication errors to which
organization?
a. Institute for Safe Medications Practices (ISMP) Canada
b. Accreditation Canada
c. Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI)
d. Health Canada

Answer 5

a. Institute for Safe Medications Practices (ISMP) Canada

Question 6

Which statements are true regarding an adverse drug reactions (ADRs)? (Select all that

apply. )
a. Adverse effects are ADRs that are usually predictable.
b. ADRs always result in harm to patients.
c. All ADRs are preventable if proper precautions are taken.
d. ADRs can be unexpected and unintended responses to medications.

Answer 6

a. Adverse effects are ADRs that are usually predictable.

d. ADRs can be unexpected and unintended responses to medications.