Safe Medication Principles 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 Safe Medication Principles flashcards as text
Which ISMP error-reduction strategy involves removing concentrated electrolytes from nursing unit stock?
Answer: Forcing functions
Forcing functions physically prevent an error from occurring, such as removing concentrated KCl from units so it cannot be inadvertently given undiluted.
A nurse receives a verbal order during a code. What is the ISMP-recommended first step after the emergency?
Answer: Repeat the order back before administering, then get written confirmation
ISMP recommends read-back verification of verbal orders during the event, followed by prompt written confirmation from the prescriber.
Which practice does ISMP identify as a primary cause of look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) drug errors?
Answer: Storing LASA drugs in alphabetical sequence on shelves
Storing LASA drugs alphabetically places similar-looking names adjacent to each other, increasing the risk of selection errors.
What does the ISMP term 'signal-to-noise ratio' refer to in medication safety?
Answer: The proportion of meaningful safety alerts versus irrelevant alerts that clinicians receive
A low signal-to-noise ratio means clinicians receive so many irrelevant alerts that they begin ignoring meaningful warnings, a phenomenon called alert fatigue.
Per ISMP guidance, which action best prevents wrong-patient medication errors during administration?
Answer: Using two independent patient identifiers before administration
ISMP and The Joint Commission require two independent identifiers (e.g., name + date of birth) to be confirmed directly at the bedside before administration.
A pharmacy receives a prescription written as 'morphine 2.0 mg IV.' What ISMP-recommended practice was violated?
Answer: Writing a trailing zero after a decimal point
ISMP advises against trailing zeros (e.g., 2.0 mg) because if the decimal point is missed the dose reads as 20 mg, a ten-fold overdose.
Which ISMP strategy addresses the hazard of incomplete medication reconciliation at care transitions?
Answer: Obtaining a Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) from every patient
A BPMH gathered from the patient, caregivers, and community pharmacies provides the most complete picture to reconcile against newly ordered medications.