Free NCMA Pharmacology and Medication Administration Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A provider orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The medication on hand is 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets should the medical assistant administer?
- 1 tablet
- 1.5 tablets
- 2 tablets (Correct answer)
- 0.5 tablets
Correct answer: 2 tablets
This is a dosage calculation problem. The formula is Desired Dose / Dose on Hand = Amount to Administer. In this case, 500 mg (Desired) / 250 mg (On Hand) = 2 tablets.
Question 2: Which of the following is the preferred site for an intramuscular (IM) injection for an infant or young child?
- Deltoid
- Vastus lateralis (Correct answer)
- Dorsogluteal
- Ventrogluteal
Correct answer: Vastus lateralis
The vastus lateralis muscle, located on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, is the preferred IM injection site for infants and young children. This muscle is well-developed in this age group and is away from major nerves and blood vessels. The deltoid muscle is not recommended until the child is older and has more muscle mass.
Question 3: The abbreviation 'PO' on a prescription means the medication should be administered by which route?
- Intravenously
- Subcutaneously
- By mouth (Correct answer)
- As needed
Correct answer: By mouth
PO is the medical abbreviation for the Latin term 'per os,' which means 'by mouth' or 'orally.' This is one of the most common routes for medication administration. It is crucial for medical assistants to be proficient in reading and understanding medical abbreviations to ensure patient safety.
Question 4: Which of the following is one of the 'Seven Rights' of medication administration?
- Right Provider
- Right Pharmacy
- Right Diagnosis
- Right Dose (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Right Dose
The 'Seven Rights' are a standard set of safety checks to prevent medication errors. They include the Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, Right Documentation, and Right to Refuse. 'Right Provider' is not one of the universally accepted 'Seven Rights' of administration.
Question 5: Which schedule of controlled substances is defined as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the United States?
- Schedule I (Correct answer)
- Schedule II
- Schedule III
- Schedule IV
Correct answer: Schedule I
Schedule I drugs are classified as having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S., and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Other schedules have accepted medical uses with varying potentials for abuse.
Question 6: A subcutaneous injection is administered at what angle to the skin?
- 10-15 degrees
- 45 degrees (Correct answer)
- 90 degrees
- 30 degrees
Correct answer: 45 degrees
Subcutaneous injections are given into the fatty tissue just below the skin. A 45-degree angle is typically used for a person of average size to ensure the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous layer and not the muscle. A 90-degree angle may be used if there is a substantial amount of subcutaneous tissue.
Free NCMA Pharmacology and Medication Administration Questions and Answers 1
A provider orders 500 mg of amoxicillin.
The medication on hand is 250 mg per tablet.
How many tablets should the medical assistant administer?