Mixed Deck — All MACE Topics Flashcards
100 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 20 Mixed Deck — All MACE Topics flashcards as text
What is a common side effect of antihypertensive drugs?
Answer: Dizziness or lightheadedness
Antihypertensive drugs work to lower blood pressure, and a common side effect is dizziness or lightheadedness. This can occur due to a sudden or significant drop in blood pressure, especially when a patient changes position quickly.
After administering a new medication, the medication aide should observe the resident for at least how long before leaving to ensure no immediate adverse reaction occurs?
Answer: 15 to 30 minutes
Best practice recommends observing a resident for 15 to 30 minutes after a new medication to detect any immediate adverse or allergic reactions.
A resident on a statin medication reports new onset of muscle pain and weakness. The medication aide should prioritize:
Answer: Reporting the symptoms to the nurse before the next dose
Muscle pain and weakness in a resident taking statins can indicate myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, a serious adverse effect that must be reported immediately.
A medication aide administering a bronchodilator knows it is used to treat which condition?
Answer: Asthma or COPD
Bronchodilators relax airway smooth muscle to open constricted airways, treating asthma and COPD.
A Medication Aide is preparing to administer morning medications. A resident, who is normally alert and cooperative, suddenly becomes confused and refuses their blood pressure medication. What is the Medication Aide's MOST appropriate action?
Answer: Document the refusal and report the change in the resident's condition to the supervising nurse immediately.
The Medication Aide's role includes observing for changes in a resident's condition and reporting them promptly to the supervising nurse. A sudden change in mental status is a significant finding that must be reported. Administering medication without consent or by hiding it is improper and unsafe. The nurse must assess the resident's change in condition before the medication is administered.
Which statement best describes a 'contraindication' for a drug?
Answer: A situation in which a drug should NOT be used
A contraindication is a specific condition or factor that makes it inadvisable or dangerous to administer a particular medication.
A medication vial contains 10 mg/mL. The order is for 25 mg. How many mL should be drawn up?
Answer: 2.5 mL
25 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 2.5 mL.
A resident has a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order on file. The resident stops breathing during the Medication Aide's shift. Which of the following actions is legally and ethically correct?
Answer: Follow the DNR order, notify the nurse immediately, and provide comfort measures as directed
A valid DNR order is a legal document that must be honored. The Medication Aide must respect the resident's advance directive, notify the nurse immediately, and provide comfort-focused care. Initiating CPR against a valid DNR or deferring to family members instead of the legal document violates both law and the resident's autonomous wishes.
A resident who takes a corticosteroid long-term is observed to have increased thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision. These signs may indicate:
Answer: Drug-induced hyperglycemia or diabetes
Long-term corticosteroid use can raise blood glucose levels, leading to symptoms of hyperglycemia such as polydipsia, polyuria, and blurred vision.
A resident's medication has been recently increased. The medication aide's PRIMARY responsibility is to:
Answer: Observe for both expected and unexpected changes in the resident's condition
After a dose increase, the medication aide must observe for therapeutic improvements as well as new or worsening side effects and report findings to the nurse.
A medication aide must never crush which type of oral medication?
Answer: Extended-release capsules
Extended-release (ER/XR) medications should never be crushed because doing so destroys the controlled-release mechanism and can cause dangerous overdose.
Scope of practice for a medication aide is primarily defined by:
Answer: State law and the employing facility's policies
Scope of practice is established by state statutes and regulations, further refined by facility policies within those legal boundaries.
What does the abbreviation 'PO' mean for medication administration?
Answer: By mouth (orally)
PO stands for 'per os,' Latin for by mouth or orally.
Which action violates a resident's right to privacy during medication administration?
Answer: Discussing the resident's medications loudly in a common area
Discussing a resident's medications in a public area violates their right to privacy and confidentiality under both HIPAA and resident rights regulations.
A medication order reads: 0.25 mg of digoxin. The tablets available are 0.125 mg. How many tablets should be given?
Answer: 2 tablets
0.25 mg ÷ 0.125 mg = 2 tablets.
Which classification of drugs reduces gastric acid secretion by blocking the proton pump?
Answer: Proton pump inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole irreversibly block the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme (proton pump) in parietal cells.
A supervising nurse has delegated the task of administering a routine oral medication to a resident. As a Medication Aide, you must legally work under the supervision of a licensed nurse. This is an example of which legal and ethical principle?
Answer: Delegation
Delegation is the process by which a licensed nurse authorizes a competent individual, such as a Medication Aide, to perform a specific nursing task in a specific situation, while retaining accountability for the outcome. The Medication Aide's authority to administer medication stems from this delegated authority.
A Medication Aide is assisting a resident with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which instruction is essential for ensuring the medication is delivered effectively into the lungs?
Answer: Shake the inhaler well right before use.
Shaking the metered-dose inhaler before each use is crucial to mix the medication with the propellant, ensuring a uniform and correct dose is delivered with each puff.
A resident taking an SSRI antidepressant reports feeling agitated, has a high fever, rapid heart rate, and muscle rigidity. The medication aide should suspect:
Answer: Serotonin syndrome, which is a medical emergency
Agitation, fever, rapid heart rate, and muscle rigidity are hallmark signs of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening reaction requiring emergency intervention.
Where is it NOT appropriate to store a resident's medications in a long-term care facility?
Answer: On the resident's bedside table without a lock
Medications must be secured at all times; leaving them on a bedside table without a lock violates safety regulations and risks accidental ingestion by others.