Medication Safety Flashcards
6 cards from real ExCPT Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Medication Safety flashcards as text
Which of the following is a recommended strategy to prevent medication errors caused by verbal orders?
Answer: Read back and verify the order with the prescriber
The read-back technique requires the recipient to repeat the verbal order back to the prescriber for confirmation, reducing misinterpretation.
Which FDA program is used by healthcare professionals to voluntarily report medication errors and adverse events?
Answer: MedWatch
FDA MedWatch is the voluntary reporting program for healthcare professionals to submit reports on medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and product problems.
Which of the following abbreviations is on the 'Do Not Use' list due to risk of medication errors?
Answer: QD
QD (intended to mean 'once daily') is on the Do Not Use list because it can be misread as QID (four times daily), leading to dangerous overdosing.
What is the term for a medication error that reaches the patient but does not cause harm?
Answer: No-harm error
A 'no-harm error' (NCC MERP Category C or D) is one that reaches the patient but does not cause harm, as opposed to a near miss which is intercepted before reaching the patient.
A prescription is written for 'Celebrex 200 mg.' The technician dispenses Celexa 200 mg instead. What type of error is this?
Answer: Wrong drug error
Dispensing Celexa (citalopram, an antidepressant) instead of Celebrex (celecoxib, an NSAID) is a wrong drug error — a classic look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) mix-up.
Which of the following best describes a 'sentinel event' in the context of medication safety?
Answer: An unexpected occurrence resulting in death or serious harm
A sentinel event is a serious, unexpected occurrence — including death or permanent harm — that signals the need for immediate investigation and response.