Medicines Management and Pharmacology 1 Flashcards
6 cards from real NMC CBT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Medicines Management and Pharmacology 1 flashcards as text
A nurse is about to administer oral metformin to a patient scheduled for an IV contrast CT scan later that day. What is the most appropriate action?
Answer: Withhold the metformin and inform the prescriber, as it should be held before contrast administration
Metformin should be withheld before iodinated contrast procedures due to the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy leading to metformin accumulation and lactic acidosis. The nurse must withhold the dose and notify the prescriber.
When documenting the administration of a controlled drug in the Controlled Drug Register, which piece of information is NOT routinely required?
Answer: The patient's GP's name and practice address
The Controlled Drug Register requires patient identification, dose given, stock balance, date/time, and signatures of both checking nurses. The patient's GP details are not a standard mandatory entry in the register.
A patient prescribed digoxin has a resting heart rate of 52 beats per minute. What is the nurse's priority action before administering the dose?
Answer: Withhold the dose and inform the prescriber, documenting the decision
Digoxin slows the heart rate and is typically withheld if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm. The nurse must withhold the dose, document the reason, and notify the prescriber for further guidance.
Which route of administration provides the fastest onset of drug action in an emergency?
Answer: Intravenous
Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption entirely and providing the fastest onset of action — critical in emergencies such as anaphylaxis or cardiac arrest.
A nurse discovers a discrepancy in the controlled drug stock count at the end of a shift. What is the correct immediate action?
Answer: Report the discrepancy immediately to the senior nurse on duty and document it according to local policy
Any controlled drug discrepancy must be reported immediately to the senior nurse and documented per local policy. This triggers a formal investigation and may require reporting to the Accountable Officer. Adjusting records without investigation would be a serious breach of governance.
A patient is prescribed paracetamol 1 g QDS orally. They mention they have been self-administering 'Lemsip Max' sachets (each containing 1000 mg paracetamol) throughout the day for a cold. What is the nurse's concern?
Answer: The patient may be receiving a total daily paracetamol dose exceeding the safe maximum of 4 g
The prescribed QDS dose already equals 4 g/day — the maximum safe adult dose. Adding Lemsip Max sachets containing further paracetamol risks hepatotoxicity through overdose. The nurse must assess total intake and inform the prescriber.