MCQ Flashcards
7 cards from real ISMP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 MCQ flashcards as text
ISMP identifies 'trailing zeros' in medication orders as dangerous. Which of the following correctly illustrates this error?
Answer: Writing '1.0 mg' when 1 mg is intended, which could be misread as 10 mg
A trailing zero (e.g., '1.0 mg') can be misread as '10 mg' if the decimal point is missed, leading to a tenfold overdose.
Which of the following abbreviations does ISMP include on its 'Do Not Use' list because it is frequently misinterpreted?
Answer: QD
ISMP lists 'QD' (once daily) as dangerous because it is frequently misread as 'QID' (four times daily), causing fourfold overdoses.
A nurse is preparing a heparin infusion and must select between two vials: one labeled '1,000 units/mL' and another labeled '10,000 units/mL.' Which ISMP strategy best prevents selecting the wrong concentration?
Answer: Limit the number of heparin concentrations available and use physical or electronic separation
ISMP recommends limiting available concentrations and using physical separation or automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) differentiation to prevent wrong-concentration selection.
According to ISMP, which strategy is MOST effective for preventing wrong-patient medication errors in hospitals?
Answer: Using at least two patient identifiers before administering any medication
ISMP and The Joint Commission require at least two independent patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) before administering medications.
ISMP recommends that concentrated electrolytes such as potassium chloride (KCl) for injection should be:
Answer: Removed from patient care units and dispensed only from the pharmacy as premixed solutions
ISMP's landmark recommendation was to remove concentrated KCl from patient care units after numerous fatal inadvertent IV push administrations.
Which of the following best describes ISMP's 'forcing function' as a medication error prevention strategy?
Answer: A physical or system design constraint that makes it impossible to proceed with an error
A forcing function is a design feature that physically or electronically prevents an error from occurring, such as requiring a pharmacist override before dispensing a critical drug.
When a patient's medication order says 'Lasix 40 mg PO daily,' which ISMP concern applies?
Answer: The use of a brand name (Lasix) instead of the generic name (furosemide) increases error risk
ISMP discourages use of brand names in orders because generic names improve clarity and reduce confusion, especially for drugs with similar brand names.