Medical Reactions or Conditions Flashcards
7 cards from real MACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medical Reactions or Conditions flashcards as text
A resident on an opioid analgesic has a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute and is difficult to arouse. The medication aide should FIRST:
Answer: Call for emergency help and stay with the resident
A respiratory rate of 8 with unresponsiveness indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate help.
Which finding in a resident taking digoxin for heart failure should prompt the medication aide to withhold the dose and report immediately?
Answer: Heart rate below 60 bpm and visual disturbances
Bradycardia (HR <60) and yellow-green visual disturbances are classic signs of digoxin toxicity, requiring the dose to be held and the nurse notified.
A resident develops hives, itching, and a runny nose after taking a new antibiotic but has no breathing difficulty. This reaction is BEST classified as:
Answer: Mild allergic reaction that must be reported
Urticaria, pruritus, and rhinorrhea without respiratory compromise indicate a mild allergic reaction, which still requires reporting and medication review.
Which condition results from abrupt discontinuation of long-term corticosteroid therapy?
Answer: Adrenal insufficiency (adrenal crisis)
Abrupt steroid withdrawal suppresses adrenal function, causing adrenal insufficiency with fatigue, hypotension, and electrolyte imbalances.
A resident on an SSRI antidepressant develops easy bruising and prolonged bleeding from minor wounds. The medication aide should:
Answer: Report the findings to the nurse as a potential adverse effect on platelet function
SSRIs inhibit serotonin uptake in platelets, impairing platelet aggregation and increasing bleeding risk, which must be reported to the nurse.
A resident prescribed an antihistamine for allergies becomes unusually sedated and confused. For an elderly resident, this effect is BEST described as:
Answer: An exaggerated side effect due to age-related changes in drug metabolism
Elderly patients metabolize drugs more slowly, causing exaggerated CNS side effects such as excessive sedation and confusion with antihistamines.
A resident being treated with an aminoglycoside antibiotic reports new ringing in the ears and difficulty hearing. The medication aide should recognize this as:
Answer: Ototoxicity, a serious adverse effect requiring immediate reporting
Tinnitus and hearing loss in a patient on aminoglycosides indicate ototoxicity, an irreversible adverse effect requiring prompt reporting and possible drug discontinuation.