DSP DSP - Direct Support Professional Medication Administration and Support Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the 'Six Rights' of medication administration that DSPs must follow?
- Right person, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation (Correct answer)
- Right person, right color, right size, right shelf, right cost, right brand
- Right staff, right building, right cabinet, right lock, right log, right signature
- Right person, right drug, right label, right prescription, right pharmacy, right packaging
Correct answer: Right person, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation
The Six Rights — right person, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation — are the foundational safety checks for every medication administration.
Question 2: A supported individual refuses to take their prescribed medication. What should a DSP do?
- Crush the medication and hide it in food without telling the person
- Force the medication to prevent health complications
- Respect the refusal, document it, and notify the supervisor and healthcare provider (Correct answer)
- Skip documenting the refusal since it was the individual's choice
Correct answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and notify the supervisor and healthcare provider
DSPs must respect an individual's right to refuse medication, document the refusal accurately, and notify the appropriate healthcare provider and supervisor.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of a medication error a DSP must report immediately?
- Giving a medication 5 minutes after the scheduled time
- Giving the wrong medication to a supported individual (Correct answer)
- Storing a medication in a locked cabinet
- Documenting a medication after it is given
Correct answer: Giving the wrong medication to a supported individual
Administering the wrong medication to a person is a serious medication error that must be reported immediately to a supervisor and healthcare provider to prevent harm.
Question 4: What does 'PRN' mean on a medication order?
- Administer the medication at a fixed daily time
- Administer the medication as needed based on specific conditions (Correct answer)
- Do not administer unless a nurse is present
- The medication has been permanently discontinued
Correct answer: Administer the medication as needed based on specific conditions
PRN (from Latin 'pro re nata') means the medication is given as needed when a specified condition or symptom occurs, not on a fixed schedule.
Question 5: How should unused or expired medications be disposed of in a US residential support setting?
- Flush all medications down the toilet regardless of type
- Return to a licensed pharmacy or follow the agency's disposal policy, which may include DEA-approved take-back programs (Correct answer)
- Throw medications in the household trash without any precautions
- Give leftover medications to another supported individual who takes the same drug
Correct answer: Return to a licensed pharmacy or follow the agency's disposal policy, which may include DEA-approved take-back programs
Medications should be disposed of according to agency policy, typically through licensed take-back programs or pharmacy disposal, not by giving them to others or improper disposal.
Question 6: Before administering a medication, what must a DSP verify about the supported individual's identity?
- Ask the person if they feel like taking medication today
- Verify using at least two identifiers such as name and date of birth or photo ID (Correct answer)
- Check if the person is in the correct room
- Ask a coworker if it looks like the right person
Correct answer: Verify using at least two identifiers such as name and date of birth or photo ID
Using two identifiers — such as full name and date of birth or photo — ensures the medication is given to the correct person and prevents errors.
DSP DSP - Direct Support Professional Medication Administration and Support Questions and Answers 1
What are the 'Six Rights' of medication administration that DSPs must follow?