NCNZ Pharmacology and Medication Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is Medsafe and what role does it play in NZ medication management?
- The NZ Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority that approves medicines for use and monitors safety (Correct answer)
- A brand of medication storage cabinet
- A nurses' union in New Zealand
- A pharmacy chain in New Zealand
Correct answer: The NZ Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority that approves medicines for use and monitors safety
Medsafe is the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, a business unit of the Ministry of Health. It evaluates and approves medicines for use in NZ, monitors their safety, and manages recalls and safety alerts.
Question 2: What is the NZ nurse's responsibility regarding medication storage?
- Ensure medications are stored according to manufacturer specifications, controlled drugs are locked, and expired medications are removed (Correct answer)
- Any drawer or cupboard is acceptable for medication storage
- Medication storage is solely the pharmacy's responsibility
- Medications only need to be secured overnight
Correct answer: Ensure medications are stored according to manufacturer specifications, controlled drugs are locked, and expired medications are removed
NZ nurses must ensure medications are stored according to manufacturer specifications (temperature, light protection), controlled drugs are stored in a locked cabinet with restricted access, and expired or recalled medications are removed from clinical areas.
Question 3: In NZ, what is the nurse prescriber role and what are its limitations?
- Registered nurse prescribers who have completed an approved prescribing programme can prescribe from a defined formulary within their area of practice (Correct answer)
- Any registered nurse can prescribe any medication in NZ
- Nurse prescribing does not exist in New Zealand
- Only nurse practitioners can prescribe, not registered nurses
Correct answer: Registered nurse prescribers who have completed an approved prescribing programme can prescribe from a defined formulary within their area of practice
In NZ, registered nurses who complete an approved prescribing programme (registered nurse prescriber — community or designated) can prescribe from a defined subset of medicines within their area of practice and competence.
Question 4: What does the NZ medication safety programme 'Open for better care' focus on?
- Reducing preventable harm including medication errors through evidence-based interventions and system improvements (Correct answer)
- Opening pharmacies for longer hours
- Making all medications available without prescription
- Increasing the number of pharmacists in hospitals
Correct answer: Reducing preventable harm including medication errors through evidence-based interventions and system improvements
The Health Quality & Safety Commission's 'Open for better care' programme focuses on reducing preventable harm in NZ healthcare, including medication safety. It promotes evidence-based interventions such as medication reconciliation, high-risk medicine management, and open disclosure.
Question 5: What is the NZ nurse's responsibility when a verbal medication order is given?
- Read back the order to the prescriber to confirm accuracy, document it, and ensure it is signed by the prescriber within 24 hours (Correct answer)
- Verbal orders are never acceptable in NZ
- Simply carry out the order without confirmation
- Only write it down if the nurse has time
Correct answer: Read back the order to the prescriber to confirm accuracy, document it, and ensure it is signed by the prescriber within 24 hours
When a verbal order is received, the NZ nurse must use the 'read back' technique — repeat the order to the prescriber to confirm accuracy, document the order clearly, and ensure the prescriber co-signs the order within a specified timeframe (usually 24 hours).
Question 6: What is the NZ requirement for nurses regarding high-risk or high-alert medications?
- Additional safety checks, independent double-checking, and heightened monitoring are required for medications with a higher risk of causing significant harm (Correct answer)
- High-risk medications are only handled by pharmacists
- No additional precautions are required beyond standard medication procedures
- High-risk medications are banned in NZ
Correct answer: Additional safety checks, independent double-checking, and heightened monitoring are required for medications with a higher risk of causing significant harm
High-risk medications (such as insulin, anticoagulants, opioids, and potassium chloride concentrate) require additional safety measures in NZ including independent double-checking, specific storage arrangements, and heightened patient monitoring.
NCNZ Pharmacology and Medication Safety 2
What is Medsafe and what role does it play in NZ medication management?