Medication Safety
1.
Questions
1.
A patient requires that acyclovir (Zovirax) be administered intravenously rather than by mouth. Which of the patient's
five rights does this example fall under?
2.
3.
4.
5.
A.
The right dose
B.
The right dosage form
C.
The right route
D.
The right time of administration
Which of the following describes a dispensing error?
A.
Incorrect transcription by the pharmacist receiving a call
B.
Incorrect strength of medication
C.
Incomplete medication name
D.
Quantity and refills omitted
Which of the following describes a prescribing error?
A.
The prescription is interpreted incorrectly.
B.
The prescription is transcribed incorrectly.
C.
The pharmacist incorrectly counsels the patient.
D.
The prescription contains an incomplete medication name.
All of the following describe an administration error except:
A.
oral medications given intravenously.
B.
enteral formulas administered parenterally.
C.
ear medications being placed in the eye.
D.
incorrect strength of medication.
A physician calls in a prescription to the community pharmacy for amoxicillin capsules but fails to put the number of
capsules. This would be considered a(n):
A.
prescribing error.
B.
dispensing error.
C.
administration error.
D.
situation when no error has occurred.
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Medication Safety
6.
A prescription calls for a 2-week supply of antibiotic suspension. The pharmacy fills the prescription with only a 1week supply. This would be considered a(n):
7.
A.
prescribing error.
B.
dispensing error.
C.
administration error.
D.
situation when no error has occurred.
A prescriber writes a prescription for gentamicin (Garamycin) eyedrops to be used 2 GTTS OS BID. The pharmacy
prepares a label that reads: "Instill 2 drops into the left eye twice daily." This would be described as a(n):
8.
A.
prescribing error.
B.
dispensing error.
C.
administration error.
D.
situation when no error has occurred.
A nurse prepares and administers a vaccination labeled for IM use. He administers this injection subcutaneously.
This describes a(n):
9.
A.
prescribing error.
B.
dispensing error.
C.
administration error.
D.
situation when no error has occurred.
A psychiatric patient "cheeks" a medication, hiding it in his cheek and then spitting it out later. What medication error
has occurred?
A.
Improper storage
B.
Wrong time error
C.
Compliance error
D.
Unauthorized drug error
10. A hospitalized patient asks a certified nursing assistant (CNA) if she can get a couple of aspirin to help with her
headache. The CNA says she has some in her purse and gives them to the patient. What error has occurred?
A.
Improper storage
B.
Wrong time error
C.
Compliance error
D.
Unauthorized drug error
11. Which medication error term is correctly matched with its definition?
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Medication Safety
A.
Unauthorized drug error: A medication being stored at room temperature when it should have been
refrigerated
B.
Wrong time error: Medication administered outside the scheduled time frame
C.
Compliance error: Medication administered to a patient from an unauthorized prescriber
D.
Improper storage: Patient does not adhere to prescribed regimen
12. All of the following are workplace conditions that would make an error more likely except:
A.
pharmacy staff members multitasking.
B.
difficult-to-read medication labels.
C.
multiple checks by multiple pharmacy staff members.
D.
similar medication labels of the same font size and color.
13. Which of the following abbreviations would be appropriate and safe for a physician to use?
A.
SC (subcutaneous)
B.
SL (sublingual)
C.
SQ (subcutaneous)
D.
None of these abbreviations should be used.
14. The abbreviations AU and OU should not be used because they can be misinterpreted. What do AU and OU mean?
A.
Right ear and right eye
B.
Left ear and left eye
C.
Right ear and left eye
D.
Both ears and both eyes
15. Although generic drug suffixes and prefixes help identify a medication belonging to a certain class, they can also be
easily confused for one another. Which of the following medications is not an adrenergic antagonist (beta-blocker)?
A.
Propranolol
B.
Albuterol
C.
Metoprolol
D.
Labetalol
16. All of the following drugs on are on the high-alert medication list except:
A.
analgesics.
B.
anesthetics.
C.
antiarrhythmics.
D.
antithrombotics.
17. All of the following drugs cannot be crushed except:
A.
regular-release dosage form tablet.
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Medication Safety
B.
slow-release dosage form.
C.
enteric-coated dosage form.
D.
extended-release dosage form.
18. Certain medications need to be used with caution in elderly adults. The correct rationale is matched to the medication
in each case below except:
A.
antiparkinson agents cause drowsiness.
B.
benzodiazepines cause drowsiness.
C.
androgens cause drowsiness.
D.
aspirin increases the likelihood of GI bleeds.
19. First-generation antihistamines can cause significant sedation and should be avoided in older patients. Which of the
following is the second-generation nonsedating antihistamine?
A.
Loratadine
B.
Chlorpheniramine
C.
Hydroxyzine
D.
Diphenhydramine
20. Which of the following pieces of information is considered counseling?
A.
Name of medication
B.
Dosage form
C.
Route of administration
D.
Duration of therapy
21. All of the following information would be found in a package insert except:
A.
prescriber name.
B.
clinical pharmacology.
C.
contraindications.
D.
warnings.
22. Package inserts are provided to patients taking all of the following types of medication except:
A.
metered-dose inhalers.
B.
oral contraceptives.
C.
blood pressure medication.
D.
estrogen products.
23. Which of the following is not associated with medication error tracking?
A.
FDA
B.
APhA
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Medication Safety
C.
ISMP
D.
FAERS
24. What is a disadvantage of electronic prescribing?
A.
Eliminates illegible prescriptions
B.
Computer downtime prevents prescription transmission
C.
Uses clinical decision support to reduce preventable errors
D.
Improves work efficiency
25. What is a disadvantage of automation?
A.
Automation repair technicians may be outside of the local health facility area
B.
Reduction in medication errors
C.
Increased speed in medication processing
D.
Managing and tracking inventory
26. Technicians may help prevent medication errors by:
A.
keeping their work areas free of clutter.
B.
ignoring dosage appropriateness, leaving that to the pharmacist.
C.
guessing on ambiguous orders.
D.
guessing on illegible handwriting.
27. Pharmacists can help avoid medication errors by:
A.
avoiding using abbreviations that have more than one meaning.
B.
checking prescriptions in a timely manner.
C.
documenting OTC and herbal remedy use.
D.
all of the above.
28. Medication error prevention best practices in the pharmacy include:
A.
using electronic prescribing.
B.
encouraging physicians to use common terminology and abbreviations.
C.
automating and bar coding all fill procedures.
D.
all of the above.
29. A medication with which acronym in the name might be safely crushed; the others would definitely not be crushed?
A.
OTC
B.
XR
C.
ER
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Medication Safety
D.
CR
30. Which of the following medications would be appropriately prescribed for someone needing an antiinflammatory
drug?
A.
Cerebryx
B.
Celebrex
C.
Celexa
D.
Cardizem
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Medication Safety
Answer Key:
1.c
16. a
2.a
17. a
3.b
18. c
4. d
19. a
5.a
20. d
6. b
21. a
7. b
22. c
8.. c
23. b
9. c
24. b
10. d.
25. a
11. b
26. a
12. c
27. d
13. d
28. d
14. d
29. a
15. b
30.b
Resources
Mizner: Mosby's Review for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination, 3rd Edition
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