MACE Medication Knowledge 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident is prescribed a nitroglycerin tablet for chest pain. Where should it be placed?
- Swallowed with a full glass of water
- Under the tongue (Correct answer)
- Between the cheek and gum
- Chewed thoroughly before swallowing
Correct answer: Under the tongue
Nitroglycerin is administered sublingually (under the tongue) for rapid absorption into the bloodstream.
Question 2: Which of the following medications requires the medication aide to take an apical pulse for one full minute before administration?
- Metformin
- Digoxin (Correct answer)
- Lisinopril
- Atorvastatin
Correct answer: Digoxin
Digoxin is held if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm because it slows heart rate and can cause bradycardia.
Question 3: A patient's medication label reads '1 tab PO BID.' How many tablets should the patient receive daily?
- 1
- 2 (Correct answer)
- 3
- 4
Correct answer: 2
BID means twice daily, so 1 tablet given twice equals 2 tablets per day.
Question 4: Which type of medication error involves giving the right drug but at the wrong time?
- Wrong dose error
- Wrong route error
- Omission error
- Timing error (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Timing error
A timing error occurs when medication is given outside the acceptable time window for a scheduled dose.
Question 5: A medication aide is storing insulin. Which of the following storage conditions is correct for a vial currently in use?
- Keep it in the freezer at all times
- Store at room temperature for up to 28–30 days (Correct answer)
- Refrigerate immediately after every use
- Keep it at room temperature indefinitely
Correct answer: Store at room temperature for up to 28–30 days
An open vial of insulin can typically be kept at room temperature for 28–30 days, depending on the manufacturer's instructions.
Question 6: Which statement best describes the meaning of a drug's 'half-life'?
- The time it takes for a drug to reach maximum concentration
- The time required for the body to eliminate half of the drug (Correct answer)
- The duration of the drug's therapeutic effect
- The shelf life of the medication before it expires
Correct answer: The time required for the body to eliminate half of the drug
Half-life is the time needed for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%.
Question 7: A resident using an inhaler should be instructed to wait how long between puffs of a short-acting bronchodilator?
- 5–10 seconds
- 30–60 seconds (Correct answer)
- 5–10 minutes
- 20–30 minutes
Correct answer: 30–60 seconds
Waiting 30–60 seconds between puffs allows the first dose to open airways so the second dose reaches deeper into the lungs.
MACE Medication Knowledge 3
A resident is prescribed a nitroglycerin tablet for chest pain.
Where should it be placed?