Medication Management Flashcards
7 cards from real HHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medication Management flashcards as text
A client asks the HHA to give them an extra dose of their pain medication because the prescribed amount is not providing relief. What should the HHA do?
Answer: Refuse, document the complaint, and report to the supervising nurse
Giving unauthorized extra doses exceeds the HHA's scope of practice; the proper action is to report the client's complaint to the nurse for a clinical reassessment.
What does 'contraindication' mean in the context of medications?
Answer: A condition or factor that makes a medication potentially harmful or unsuitable for a client
A contraindication is a specific situation in which a medication should not be used because it may cause harm, such as an allergy or a dangerous drug interaction.
Which of the following are common signs of a possible medication overdose that an HHA should report immediately?
Answer: Confusion, difficulty breathing, extreme drowsiness, or loss of consciousness
Confusion, breathing difficulty, extreme drowsiness, and loss of consciousness are serious signs of overdose requiring emergency response and immediate reporting.
How should an HHA handle medications that have passed their expiration date?
Answer: Report expired medications to the supervisor and follow agency policy for disposal
The HHA should not make independent disposal decisions; reporting to the supervisor and following agency and local disposal guidelines ensures safe handling.
Before assisting a client with prescribed eye drops, what must the HHA do first?
Answer: Wash hands thoroughly and verify the medication label matches the care plan
Hand hygiene prevents infection, and verifying the label against the care plan ensures the correct medication, dose, and eye are treated.
What is the correct HHA approach when a client has controlled substances (such as opioid pain medications) in the home?
Answer: Count and document the medications according to agency policy and report any discrepancies to the supervisor
Controlled substances require careful counting and documentation to prevent diversion or theft; discrepancies must be reported to the supervising nurse per agency policy.
A client's family member asks the HHA to give the client a vitamin supplement that was not listed in the care plan. What should the HHA do?
Answer: Refuse to give it and contact the supervisor, as only care-plan-approved items should be administered
Even vitamins and supplements can interact with medications; only substances listed in the approved care plan should be administered, and any additions require clinician approval.