Medicines Management and Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real NMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medicines Management and Safety flashcards as text
A patient is prescribed metformin 500mg twice daily but accidentally receives 1000mg twice daily for three days. What is the most important immediate action?
Answer: Report the error, assess the patient for adverse effects, and notify the prescriber immediately
When a medication error occurs, the nurse must immediately assess the patient for harm, notify the prescriber, and report through the organisation's incident reporting system.
Which of the following is a 'high-alert' medication requiring extra verification steps before administration?
Answer: Intravenous potassium chloride concentrate
Concentrated potassium chloride IV is a high-alert medication because errors can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias; it requires double-checking and is typically restricted to diluted premixed bags.
A nurse is about to administer a medication when the patient states, 'That pill looks different from usual.' What is the correct response?
Answer: Hold the medication, verify the prescription and product, and investigate before administering
Patient concerns about medication appearance must be taken seriously; the nurse should withhold the dose and verify the drug, dose, and formulation before proceeding.
Under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, which schedule of controlled drug requires a witness signature when administering and wasting the remainder?
Answer: Schedule 2
Schedule 2 controlled drugs (e.g., morphine, diamorphine) require two registered nurses to check, sign the controlled drug register, and witness disposal of any unused portion.
A patient with a known penicillin allergy is prescribed amoxicillin. What should the nurse do?
Answer: Withhold the medication and contact the prescriber immediately
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic; administering it to a penicillin-allergic patient poses a serious anaphylaxis risk, so the nurse must withhold it and alert the prescriber.
What does the abbreviation 'PRN' on a medication chart indicate?
Answer: Administer as required based on clinical need
PRN (pro re nata) means 'as needed' — the medication should be given when a specific condition or symptom warrants it, within defined parameters.
When transcribing a verbal medication order over the phone, what is the safest practice?
Answer: Read back the entire order to the prescriber for confirmation before acting
Read-back of verbal and telephone orders is a WHO safety recommendation to verify accuracy and prevent transcription errors before medication is given.