INACE Pharmacology Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident is ordered a 'sublingual' medication. Where should the nurse aide assist in placing it?
- Swallowed with water
- Under the tongue (Correct answer)
- Applied to the skin
- Placed in the ear
Correct answer: Under the tongue
Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue where they dissolve and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Question 2: Which type of medication error occurs when a nurse aide gives the correct drug but at the wrong time?
- Wrong dose error
- Wrong route error
- Wrong time error (Correct answer)
- Omission error
Correct answer: Wrong time error
A wrong time error occurs when a medication is given outside the scheduled administration window defined by facility policy.
Question 3: A resident begins showing signs of an allergic reaction shortly after a new medication is given. The FIRST action of the nurse aide should be:
- Document the reaction and continue monitoring
- Give antihistamine without waiting for orders
- Notify the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Hold all future doses and wait for the next shift
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately
Any suspected allergic reaction must be reported to the nurse immediately so medical intervention can be provided promptly.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of an enteral route of medication administration?
- Intravenous injection
- Topical patch
- Oral tablet (Correct answer)
- Inhalation
Correct answer: Oral tablet
Enteral routes involve the gastrointestinal tract; oral administration is the most common enteral route.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a medication reconciliation process in a long-term care facility?
- To reduce the cost of medications
- To ensure the correct list of medications follows the resident through transitions of care (Correct answer)
- To allow aides to change medication orders as needed
- To document when medications expire
Correct answer: To ensure the correct list of medications follows the resident through transitions of care
Medication reconciliation prevents errors by ensuring an accurate and complete medication list accompanies the resident during care transitions.
Question 6: A nurse aide is unsure whether a medication has already been given to a resident. What should the aide do?
- Administer it again to be safe
- Skip the dose entirely
- Check the medication administration record and ask the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask another aide who was on the previous shift
Correct answer: Check the medication administration record and ask the nurse
Verifying via the MAR and consulting the nurse prevents both double-dosing and missed doses.
Question 7: Which schedule of controlled substances carries the highest potential for abuse and has no accepted medical use in the US?
- Schedule II
- Schedule III
- Schedule IV
- Schedule I (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Schedule I
Schedule I substances have the highest abuse potential and are not accepted for medical use in the United States.
INACE Pharmacology Fundamentals 3
A resident is ordered a 'sublingual' medication.
Where should the nurse aide assist in placing it?