CMT - Certified Medication Technician Medication Administration Procedures Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When administering medications, a Certified Medication Technician (CMT) must adhere to the 'Six Rights' of medication administration. Which of the following is a critical component of these rights?
- Right to refuse
- Right Documentation (Correct answer)
- Right Price
- Right Manufacturer
Correct answer: Right Documentation
The 'Six Rights' of Medication Administration are Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, and Right Documentation. Accurate documentation is crucial for patient safety and continuity of care.
Question 2: A resident has difficulty swallowing and has an order for a medication in tablet form. Before crushing the tablet, what is the MOST important action for the CMT to take?
- Mix the crushed tablet in the resident's favorite food, like pudding or applesauce.
- Check with the pharmacist or a licensed nurse to ensure the medication can be safely crushed. (Correct answer)
- Use a pill splitter to make the pieces smaller for the resident to swallow.
- Document on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) that the tablet was crushed.
Correct answer: Check with the pharmacist or a licensed nurse to ensure the medication can be safely crushed.
Not all medications can be crushed. Crushing certain medications, such as extended-release, sustained-release, or enteric-coated tablets, can alter their properties, leading to a rapid release of the drug and potential overdose or adverse effects. It is essential to verify with a pharmacist or nurse if a medication is safe to crush.
Question 3: A CMT is preparing to administer an oral medication to a resident. After verifying the physician's order and the Medication Administration Record (MAR), what is the NEXT step in the procedure?
- Administer the medication immediately to the resident.
- Document the administration on the MAR.
- Perform the third check of the medication label against the MAR. (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident to state their full name and date of birth.
Correct answer: Perform the third check of the medication label against the MAR.
The three-check system is a fundamental safety procedure. The third check involves comparing the medication label to the MAR one last time before returning the medication to storage or taking it to the resident. This helps to catch any potential errors before administration.
Question 4: A resident refuses to take their prescribed blood pressure medication. Which of the following actions should the CMT take?
- Insist that the resident take the medication for their own good.
- Document the refusal on the MAR, and report it to the supervising nurse. (Correct answer)
- Crush the medication and mix it with their food without their knowledge.
- Leave the medication at the bedside for the resident to take later.
Correct answer: Document the refusal on the MAR, and report it to the supervising nurse.
Patients have the right to refuse medication. The CMT's responsibility is to not force the medication, to properly document the refusal in the MAR, and to promptly inform the supervising nurse. The nurse can then assess the patient and determine the next steps.
Question 5: If a CMT makes a medication error, what is the immediate priority?
- Completing an incident report.
- Informing the resident's family of the error.
- Assessing the resident's condition and reporting the error to the supervising nurse. (Correct answer)
- Correcting the documentation in the MAR.
Correct answer: Assessing the resident's condition and reporting the error to the supervising nurse.
The immediate priority after a medication error is the resident's safety. The CMT must first assess the resident for any adverse reactions and then immediately report the error to the supervising nurse. The nurse will then provide further instructions and assess the resident. Documentation and reporting follow, but the resident's well-being comes first.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT within the scope of practice for a Certified Medication Technician when administering medications?
- Administering a pre-measured oral liquid medication.
- Applying a medicated topical cream.
- Calculating and administering a dose of intravenous (IV) medication. (Correct answer)
- Administering prescribed eye drops.
Correct answer: Calculating and administering a dose of intravenous (IV) medication.
CMT scope of practice is typically limited to nonparenteral medications (oral, topical, inhalant, etc.). Administering medications via injection or intravenous (IV) routes requires advanced training and is outside the scope of a CMT.
CMT - Certified Medication Technician Medication Administration Procedures Questions and Answers 1
When administering medications, a Certified Medication Technician (CMT) must adhere to the 'Six Rights' of medication administration.
Which of the following is a critical component of these rights?