Medication Storage and Handling Flashcards
7 cards from real MAC 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 Storage and Handling flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of maintaining a daily medication temperature log for storage areas?
Answer: To document that storage temperatures remain within required ranges for safety and regulatory compliance
Temperature logs provide documentation that medications were stored within required ranges, supporting both patient safety and regulatory compliance during inspections.
A liquid medication appears cloudy when it was previously clear. What should the MAC do?
Answer: Do not administer it and immediately report the finding to a supervisor or pharmacist
A change in appearance such as unexpected cloudiness may indicate contamination or degradation; the medication must not be given until evaluated by qualified personnel.
Why is a controlled substance count conducted at every shift change?
Answer: To ensure accountability and detect any discrepancies or potential medication diversion
Shift-change counts create a chain of accountability that helps detect any discrepancies or diversion of controlled medications between staff transitions.
Which medications should be stored separately and clearly labeled to prevent accidental mix-ups?
Answer: Medications with similar names or look-alike packaging (LASA medications)
Look-Alike/Sound-Alike (LASA) medications must be stored separately with clear labeling to prevent administration errors caused by visual or name confusion.
How should medications brought into the facility by a resident from home be handled?
Answer: Handled per facility policy, typically stored separately, documented, and verified by a nurse or pharmacist before use
Resident-supplied medications must follow facility policy, including separate storage, documentation, and verification by licensed personnel to ensure safety.
What is the general rule regarding removing a medication from its original labeled container for storage?
Answer: Medications should not be removed from original labeled packaging; follow facility policy strictly
Medications must remain in their original labeled containers to preserve critical identification information and maintain chain of custody, as removing them creates serious error risk.
What information must be clearly visible on all individual medication storage containers for residents?
Answer: Drug name, dose/strength, resident name, and expiration date
Medication containers must display the drug name, dose/strength, resident name, and expiration date to enable safe identification and prevent administration errors.