Patient Safety Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real CMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Safety Protocols flashcards as text
A medication aide finds that a resident's MAR lists a dose that differs from the label on the pharmacy-supplied blister pack. What should the aide do first?
Answer: Hold the medication and notify the charge nurse to clarify the order
Any discrepancy between the order, MAR, and label must be clarified by the licensed nurse before administration.
Which pair of identifiers is acceptable for confirming a resident's identity before giving medications?
Answer: Full name and date of birth
Two person-specific identifiers such as name and birth date are required; room numbers are never acceptable identifiers.
A resident with dementia removes her wristband and answers to any name. What is the safest way for the medication aide to verify identity?
Answer: Compare the resident to a current photo on the MAR and confirm with a staff member who knows her
For residents who cannot self-identify, facilities use a current photo plus confirmation by staff who know the resident.
Before giving a scheduled dose of digoxin, the aide obtains an apical pulse of 54 beats per minute. What is the correct action?
Answer: Hold the dose and report the pulse to the nurse per facility parameters
Digoxin is typically held when the apical pulse is below 60, and the nurse must be notified.
A resident tells the medication aide, "That pill looks different from the one I usually take." What should the aide do?
Answer: Stop, recheck the order and label, and consult the nurse or pharmacist before giving it
A resident questioning a medication is a safety signal that requires rechecking before administration.
Which situation is considered a medication error that must be reported?
Answer: Giving a scheduled 9 a.m. medication at 11:30 a.m. without an approved reason
Administering a medication outside the facility's allowed time window, usually 60 minutes either side, is a wrong-time error.
After discovering that she gave a resident another resident's morning pills, what should the medication aide do first?
Answer: Assess and stay with the resident while notifying the nurse immediately
Resident safety comes first: monitor the resident and notify the nurse immediately, then document.