MACE Role and Authorized Duties 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scenario represents an appropriate boundary for a medication aide?
- Administering a medication via intravenous injection because the nurse is busy
- Withholding a scheduled medication because the aide personally disagrees with the treatment
- Administering an oral medication as documented on the MAR under nurse supervision (Correct answer)
- Calling a physician directly to request a change in a resident's medication regimen
Correct answer: Administering an oral medication as documented on the MAR under nurse supervision
Administering oral medications as documented on the MAR under nurse supervision is exactly within the medication aide's authorized scope.
Question 2: A medication aide who is also a nursing student is asked to perform a sterile dressing change during the medication pass. What should they do?
- Perform it since they have nursing student training
- Decline and inform the nurse, as the task is outside the certified medication aide scope (Correct answer)
- Perform it only if no nurse is immediately available
- Delegate the dressing change to an unlicensed nursing assistant
Correct answer: Decline and inform the nurse, as the task is outside the certified medication aide scope
Training in another role does not expand a medication aide's scope of practice; they must decline and refer the task to appropriate personnel.
Question 3: What is the purpose of the Medication Administration Record (MAR) in relation to the medication aide's role?
- It is a billing document for the pharmacy
- It serves as the legal record and authorization guide for medication administration (Correct answer)
- It is used only by nurses and physicians, not medication aides
- It is an optional reference tool medication aides may consult if they choose
Correct answer: It serves as the legal record and authorization guide for medication administration
The MAR is the legal authorization document that medication aides must follow and use to record every medication administered.
Question 4: If a medication aide's certification lapses, what is true about their ability to administer medications?
- They may continue administering medications until the next renewal cycle
- They must stop administering medications immediately until recertified (Correct answer)
- The supervising nurse may grant temporary permission to continue
- They may administer only non-scheduled medications until recertified
Correct answer: They must stop administering medications immediately until recertified
A lapsed certification means the aide is no longer authorized to administer medications and must stop until recertification is complete.
Question 5: Which resident right is MOST directly related to the medication aide's duty during medication administration?
- The right to vote in facility elections
- The right to be informed about and refuse medications (Correct answer)
- The right to choose their own physician
- The right to decorate their room
Correct answer: The right to be informed about and refuse medications
Residents have the right to be informed about their medications and to refuse them, which medication aides must respect and document.
Question 6: A medication aide realizes they administered a medication to the wrong resident. What is the FIRST action they should take?
- Wait to see if the resident has an adverse reaction before reporting
- Immediately notify the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Document the error and continue the medication pass
- Contact the physician directly to discuss the error
Correct answer: Immediately notify the supervising nurse
The first and immediate action after any medication error is to notify the supervising nurse so the resident can be assessed and treated if necessary.
Question 7: Which situation requires the medication aide to obtain a new authorization before proceeding?
- Administering a medication that has been on the MAR for two weeks
- Administering a medication that the nurse has just verbally added without updating the MAR (Correct answer)
- Giving a scheduled medication at its documented time
- Documenting a routine medication after administration
Correct answer: Administering a medication that the nurse has just verbally added without updating the MAR
A medication aide cannot administer a medication based on a verbal addition alone; the MAR must be updated by the nurse before the aide can legally proceed.
MACE Role and Authorized Duties 5
Which scenario represents an appropriate boundary for a medication aide?