MACE Role and Permitted Duties 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A licensed nurse is unavailable and a resident is experiencing a severe allergic reaction to a medication just given. What is the medication aide's FIRST action?
- Give an antihistamine from the stock supply
- Call 911 and then notify the nurse through available channels (Correct answer)
- Document the reaction and wait for the nurse
- Ask another aide for advice
Correct answer: Call 911 and then notify the nurse through available channels
Life-threatening emergencies require immediate emergency services activation while simultaneously alerting nursing staff.
Question 2: Which right of medication administration refers to ensuring the medication is given at the correct time interval?
- Right route
- Right dose
- Right time (Correct answer)
- Right documentation
Correct answer: Right time
The 'right time' ensures medications are given at intervals that maintain therapeutic blood levels and avoid dosing errors.
Question 3: A medication aide receives a verbal order from a physician to give an additional dose of a resident's pain medication. What should the aide do?
- Administer the dose as instructed by the physician
- Refuse and tell the physician to speak with the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask another aide for a second opinion
- Give half the dose as a precaution
Correct answer: Refuse and tell the physician to speak with the nurse
Medication aides may not accept verbal physician orders; these must be received and processed by a licensed nurse.
Question 4: When is it appropriate for a medication aide to sign the MAR (Medication Administration Record)?
- Before giving the medication to ensure it is ready
- Immediately after the medication is administered (Correct answer)
- At the end of the shift for all medications given
- Only when the charge nurse supervises
Correct answer: Immediately after the medication is administered
The MAR must be signed immediately after administration to prevent double-dosing and maintain accurate records.
Question 5: Which situation would require the medication aide to withhold a scheduled medication and consult the nurse before giving it?
- The resident's name is on the medication package
- The resident's blood pressure is lower than the parameter listed for a blood pressure medication (Correct answer)
- The medication has been given at the same time yesterday
- The resident is awake and agreeable
Correct answer: The resident's blood pressure is lower than the parameter listed for a blood pressure medication
Many medications have parameters such as blood pressure thresholds; if the parameter is not met, the medication must be held and the nurse notified.
Question 6: A medication aide's certification can be suspended or revoked for:
- Documenting medications immediately after giving them
- Reporting a medication error to the nurse
- Administering a medication that was not ordered for the resident (Correct answer)
- Asking a nurse to clarify an illegible order
Correct answer: Administering a medication that was not ordered for the resident
Administering a non-prescribed medication is a serious violation that endangers resident safety and can result in loss of certification.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the medication aide's relationship with the supervising nurse?
- Independent practitioners who collaborate equally
- Subordinate roles functioning under the nurse's delegation and oversight (Correct answer)
- Peers with identical scopes of practice
- Supervisors who direct the nurse's clinical decisions
Correct answer: Subordinate roles functioning under the nurse's delegation and oversight
Medication aides function under the delegation and supervision of licensed nurses who retain clinical accountability.
MACE Role and Permitted Duties 3
A licensed nurse is unavailable and a resident is experiencing a severe allergic reaction to a medication just given.
What is the medication aide's FIRST action?