CMT - Certified Medication Technician Legal and Ethical Guidelines Questions and Answers

Question 1

A resident has a court-appointed guardian who has provided written instructions to the facility to withhold a specific, non-life-sustaining medication.
The resident, who is alert and oriented, verbally demands that the CMT administer the medication.
What is the CMT's most appropriate ethical and legal action?

Accepted Answer

Hold the medication, report the conflict to the supervising nurse immediately, and document both the resident's request and the guardian's directive.

Answer

Follow the resident's verbal demand and administer the medication.

Answer

Refuse to give the medication, citing the guardian's written instructions.

Answer

Administer half the dose to partially satisfy both parties.

Question 2

Which of the following actions by a CMT would constitute a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

Accepted Answer

Telling a resident's visiting spouse which new medication the doctor prescribed.

Answer

Discussing a resident's medication schedule with the oncoming shift's CMT in a private office.

Answer

Informing the supervising nurse that a resident is complaining of side effects from a medication.

Answer

Looking up a resident's diagnosis in the chart to better understand their condition before administering medication.

Question 3

A CMT is assigned to a resident who is known to be difficult and often verbally abusive. The CMT feels a strong personal dislike for the resident and considers deliberately delaying their pain medication by 30 minutes. This action would violate which primary ethical principle?

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Veracity

Question 4

When is it legally and ethically permissible for a CMT to administer medication without first obtaining informed consent from a capable resident?

Accepted Answer

In a documented medical emergency where the resident is incapacitated and delay would cause serious harm.

Answer

When a family member provides consent on behalf of the resident.

Answer

When the medication is a routine, daily prescription.

Answer

If the resident has refused the medication on a previous day.

Question 5

A fellow CMT is observed putting one of a resident's narcotic pain pills into their own pocket before administering the rest of the medications. What is the observing CMT's primary legal and ethical responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Report the observation immediately to the supervising nurse or facility administrator according to policy.

Answer

Confront the fellow CMT and demand they return the pill.

Answer

Anonymously report the incident to the facility's compliance hotline.

Answer

Pretend not to have seen anything to avoid creating conflict with a coworker.

Question 6

Which of the following is a key legal requirement for documenting medication administration in a resident's record?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the documentation is completed immediately after administration and includes the CMT's signature or initials.

Answer

Documenting the medication before it is actually administered to save time.

Answer

Using correction fluid (White-Out) to fix any documentation errors.

Answer

Having the resident co-sign the Medication Administration Record (MAR).