MACE Medication Administration 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident is ordered a medication 'AC.' When should this medication be given?
- After meals
- Before meals (Correct answer)
- At bedtime
- Every morning with breakfast
Correct answer: Before meals
AC stands for 'ante cibum,' meaning before meals; the medication is given prior to eating.
Question 2: Which of the following actions violates the 'right route' of medication administration?
- Giving an oral tablet by mouth as ordered
- Dissolving an oral tablet in water to give via IV (Correct answer)
- Applying a topical cream to the skin as ordered
- Administering an oral liquid by mouth as ordered
Correct answer: Dissolving an oral tablet in water to give via IV
Giving an oral (PO) medication intravenously is a serious and potentially fatal route error that violates the right route.
Question 3: Which storage requirement is most important for nitroglycerin tablets?
- Store at room temperature in a clear glass bottle
- Store in a tightly closed dark glass bottle away from light and heat (Correct answer)
- Refrigerate to maintain potency
- Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator door
Correct answer: Store in a tightly closed dark glass bottle away from light and heat
Nitroglycerin is unstable when exposed to light, heat, or moisture; it must be stored in a tightly sealed, dark glass container.
Question 4: When administering ear drops to an adult, the pinna (outer ear) should be pulled in which direction?
- Down and back
- Up and back (Correct answer)
- Forward and down
- Straight out from the head
Correct answer: Up and back
In adults, the pinna is pulled upward and backward to straighten the ear canal and allow drops to reach the eardrum.
Question 5: A resident is prescribed a sustained-release (SR) capsule. The medication aide should:
- Open and sprinkle the contents onto food for easier swallowing
- Administer the capsule whole as ordered (Correct answer)
- Crush it and dissolve in water before giving
- Break the capsule in half if the resident has difficulty swallowing
Correct answer: Administer the capsule whole as ordered
Sustained-release formulations must not be crushed, opened, or broken because doing so releases the entire dose at once, causing toxicity.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of the Medication Administration Record (MAR)?
- To record the resident's dietary preferences
- To provide a legal, chronological record of all medications given to a resident (Correct answer)
- To list the medications stocked in the facility pharmacy
- To document physician orders for laboratory tests
Correct answer: To provide a legal, chronological record of all medications given to a resident
The MAR is a legal document that tracks every medication administered, the time given, and who gave it.
Question 7: A medication aide notices a resident is showing signs of difficulty breathing after receiving a new antibiotic. The PRIORITY action is:
- Document the observation and report it at the end of the shift
- Call 911 and notify the nurse simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Give the resident a glass of water and monitor for 10 minutes
- Administer a PRN antihistamine from the medication cart
Correct answer: Call 911 and notify the nurse simultaneously
Difficulty breathing after a new medication suggests anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate emergency services and nurse notification.
MACE Medication Administration 5
A resident is ordered a medication 'AC.' When should this medication be given?