AAMA Pharmacology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The available suspension is 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the medical assistant prepare?
- 5 mL
- 10 mL (Correct answer)
- 2.5 mL
- 15 mL
Correct answer: 10 mL
Using the ratio: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg × 5 mL = 10 mL.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a broad-spectrum antibiotic?
- Penicillin G
- Vancomycin
- Tetracycline (Correct answer)
- Azithromycin
Correct answer: Tetracycline
Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Question 3: A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual tablets for angina. The medical assistant should instruct the patient to:
- Swallow the tablet with water
- Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve (Correct answer)
- Chew the tablet before swallowing
- Crush and mix with food
Correct answer: Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve
Sublingual nitroglycerin must be placed under the tongue to dissolve for rapid absorption through the mucous membranes.
Question 4: Which of the following medications requires refrigeration for storage?
- Oral aspirin tablets
- Insulin (Correct answer)
- Metformin tablets
- Lisinopril
Correct answer: Insulin
Insulin must be refrigerated to maintain its potency and effectiveness; unrefrigerated insulin degrades more quickly.
Question 5: The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) is used in a medical office primarily to:
- Record patient medication histories
- Look up drug information including dosages, interactions, and contraindications (Correct answer)
- Submit prior authorization requests
- Calculate pediatric medication doses
Correct answer: Look up drug information including dosages, interactions, and contraindications
The PDR is a comprehensive drug reference guide used to find detailed prescribing information, drug interactions, and contraindications.
Question 6: A medical assistant administers a medication to the wrong patient. Which action should be taken first?
- Document the error in the patient's chart
- Notify the physician immediately (Correct answer)
- Contact the pharmacy
- Reassure the patient that everything is fine
Correct answer: Notify the physician immediately
Patient safety is the priority; the physician must be notified immediately so appropriate assessment and intervention can occur.
Question 7: Which of the following describes the pharmacokinetic process of 'distribution'?
- How the body breaks down a drug into metabolites
- How the drug moves from the bloodstream to body tissues (Correct answer)
- How the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream
- How the drug is eliminated from the body
Correct answer: How the drug moves from the bloodstream to body tissues
Distribution refers to the process by which a drug moves from the systemic circulation into tissues and organs throughout the body.
AAMA Pharmacology 3
A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin.
The available suspension is 250 mg/5 mL.
How many mL should the medical assistant prepare?