MACE Medication Concepts and Calculations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A medication order reads 'furosemide 40 mg IV push.' The vial contains 10 mg/mL. How many mL should be drawn up?
- 2 mL
- 4 mL (Correct answer)
- 8 mL
- 10 mL
Correct answer: 4 mL
40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 4 mL to be drawn into the syringe.
Question 2: Which of the following is the primary purpose of 'five rights' verification in medication administration?
- To document billing information
- To prevent medication errors and ensure resident safety (Correct answer)
- To verify the physician's credentials
- To confirm the resident's insurance coverage
Correct answer: To prevent medication errors and ensure resident safety
The five rights (right resident, drug, dose, route, time) are a safety checklist designed to prevent medication administration errors.
Question 3: A resident is prescribed sustained-release morphine 30 mg PO q12h. What action by the medication aide is CONTRAINDICATED?
- Administering the medication with water
- Checking the resident's allergy band before giving the dose
- Crushing the tablet for easier swallowing (Correct answer)
- Documenting the administration time
Correct answer: Crushing the tablet for easier swallowing
Crushing extended-release morphine destroys the controlled-release mechanism, potentially causing a dangerous dose dump.
Question 4: Which drug-drug interaction occurs when two medications together produce a greater effect than either drug alone?
- Antagonism
- Synergism (Correct answer)
- Tolerance
- Tachyphylaxis
Correct answer: Synergism
Synergism (potentiation) occurs when two drugs together produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Question 5: A medication label indicates the drug should be stored at 2–8°C. Where should this medication be kept?
- In the freezer
- In the refrigerator (Correct answer)
- At room temperature
- In a locked cabinet at any temperature
Correct answer: In the refrigerator
2–8°C corresponds to standard refrigerator temperature (approximately 36–46°F), the required storage condition for this medication.
Question 6: Which term describes a diminished drug response after repeated administration, requiring higher doses for the same effect?
- Sensitization
- Dependence
- Tolerance (Correct answer)
- Cumulative toxicity
Correct answer: Tolerance
Tolerance is the phenomenon where repeated drug exposure leads to a decreased effect, requiring dose escalation to achieve the original response.
Question 7: When preparing to administer eye drops, which technique is correct?
- Instill drops directly onto the cornea for maximum absorption
- Pull down the lower eyelid to create a conjunctival pocket and instill the drops there (Correct answer)
- Have the resident look directly at the dropper while instilling
- Wipe the eye immediately after instilling the drops to remove excess
Correct answer: Pull down the lower eyelid to create a conjunctival pocket and instill the drops there
Creating a conjunctival pocket in the lower eyelid is the correct technique to instill eye drops without touching the eye surface.
MACE Medication Concepts and Calculations 5
A medication order reads 'furosemide 40 mg IV push.' The vial contains 10 mg/mL.
How many mL should be drawn up?