MACE Patient Care & Communication Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct procedure when a medication aide discovers they gave the wrong dose to a resident?
- Give a corrective dose immediately to compensate
- Notify the nurse immediately and complete an incident report (Correct answer)
- Monitor the resident and document nothing unless symptoms appear
- Tell the resident about the error and ask them not to mention it
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately and complete an incident report
Medication errors require immediate nurse notification and formal incident reporting to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.
Question 2: Which action violates a resident's right to privacy during medication administration?
- Closing the room curtain before administering medications
- Discussing a resident's medications in the hallway where others can hear (Correct answer)
- Knocking before entering a resident's room
- Using the resident's preferred name during administration
Correct answer: Discussing a resident's medications in the hallway where others can hear
Discussing a resident's medications where others can hear violates HIPAA privacy regulations and the resident's dignity.
Question 3: A medication aide notes a resident's skin appears yellow (jaundiced) before administering medications. The aide should:
- Administer all scheduled medications as planned
- Report the observation to the nurse before giving any medications (Correct answer)
- Assume it is a lighting issue and proceed
- Ask the resident if they have always had yellow skin
Correct answer: Report the observation to the nurse before giving any medications
Jaundice can indicate liver problems that may affect medication metabolism; the nurse must assess before administration continues.
Question 4: When documenting medication administration, the aide should record:
- The medication after administering it (Correct answer)
- The medication before administering it to save time
- Only medications that the resident refused
- Medications at the end of the shift from memory
Correct answer: The medication after administering it
Documentation should occur immediately after administration, not before, to accurately reflect what was given.
Question 5: A resident tells the aide they are experiencing nausea after taking their morning pills. The aide should:
- Advise the resident to rest and ignore the complaint
- Offer a snack and report the symptom to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Give the resident an over-the-counter antacid
- Skip the afternoon medications to let the stomach settle
Correct answer: Offer a snack and report the symptom to the nurse
Nausea after medication is a reportable side effect; the nurse must be informed and may adjust the medication plan.
Question 6: The term 'PRN' on a medication order means the medication should be given:
- Every morning before breakfast
- As needed based on specific conditions or symptoms (Correct answer)
- Only on weekdays
- Twice daily regardless of symptoms
Correct answer: As needed based on specific conditions or symptoms
PRN (pro re nata) means 'as needed,' and the medication aide must understand the triggering condition before administration.
Question 7: Which statement best describes the role of active listening in patient care?
- Interrupting residents to keep conversations brief
- Giving full attention and acknowledging what the resident says (Correct answer)
- Nodding without actually processing what is being said
- Finishing the resident's sentences to show understanding
Correct answer: Giving full attention and acknowledging what the resident says
Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to the resident to build trust and catch important health information.
MACE Patient Care & Communication Skills 3
What is the correct procedure when a medication aide discovers they gave the wrong dose to a resident?