MACE Role and Authorized Duties 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following tasks is within the authorized duties of a medication aide?
- Changing an IV bag and adjusting the infusion rate
- Administering oral medications from the MAR as ordered (Correct answer)
- Performing a wound assessment and selecting appropriate dressings
- Writing new medication orders in the resident's chart
Correct answer: Administering oral medications from the MAR as ordered
Administering oral medications as documented on the MAR is a core authorized duty of a certified medication aide.
Question 2: A medication aide is uncertain whether a resident's dose seems higher than usual. What should they do?
- Administer the dose since the nurse ordered it
- Withhold the medication and notify the supervising nurse before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Reduce the dose to what seems appropriate
- Ask a fellow medication aide for their opinion and proceed
Correct answer: Withhold the medication and notify the supervising nurse before proceeding
When in doubt about a medication dose, the aide must withhold it and consult the supervising nurse before administration.
Question 3: What should a medication aide do immediately after administering a medication?
- Document the administration on the MAR (Correct answer)
- Place the medication cup back on the cart for later documentation
- Inform the physician that the medication was given
- Wait until the end of the shift to document all medications at once
Correct answer: Document the administration on the MAR
Documentation must occur immediately after administration — never before or at the end of the shift — to ensure accuracy and prevent double-dosing.
Question 4: A resident tells the medication aide that a new medication makes them feel dizzy. What is the aide's role?
- Advise the resident to push through the side effect
- Withhold the medication, report the complaint to the supervising nurse, and document it (Correct answer)
- Stop the medication permanently without consulting the nurse
- Call the physician directly to request a medication change
Correct answer: Withhold the medication, report the complaint to the supervising nurse, and document it
The medication aide must report observed or reported side effects to the nurse immediately and document them; only the nurse or physician can adjust the medication.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST defines 'delegation' in the context of medication administration?
- A resident choosing which medications they want to take
- A licensed nurse authorizing the medication aide to perform specific tasks within the aide's scope (Correct answer)
- The pharmacy sending medications to the facility for administration
- The facility administrator assigning medication carts to each aide
Correct answer: A licensed nurse authorizing the medication aide to perform specific tasks within the aide's scope
Delegation occurs when a licensed nurse transfers responsibility for a specific task to the medication aide within the aide's certified scope of practice.
Question 6: A medication aide is offered a tip by a resident's family for excellent medication care. What should the aide do?
- Accept it, as tips are a personal matter between the aide and the family
- Decline, as accepting gifts or tips from residents or families is typically prohibited by facility policy (Correct answer)
- Accept it only if the amount is small
- Accept it only if no supervisor is watching
Correct answer: Decline, as accepting gifts or tips from residents or families is typically prohibited by facility policy
Most facilities prohibit medication aides from accepting gifts or tips from residents or families to maintain professional boundaries and prevent exploitation.
Question 7: A medication aide notices a co-worker administering a medication without checking the resident's ID band. What is the appropriate response?
- Ignore it since it is the co-worker's responsibility
- Report the unsafe practice to the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Confront the co-worker loudly in front of residents
- Document the observation in the resident's chart independently
Correct answer: Report the unsafe practice to the supervising nurse
Witnessing unsafe medication practices must be reported to the supervising nurse to protect resident safety.
MACE Role and Authorized Duties 4
Which of the following tasks is within the authorized duties of a medication aide?