Medicines Management and Safety Flashcards
6 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 6 Medicines Management and Safety flashcards as text
A nurse is preparing to administer a controlled drug to a patient on a surgical ward. According to NMC standards and UK regulations, which of the following is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Answer: Have the administration process checked and witnessed by a second registered nurse.
NMC standards and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations require that the administration of a controlled drug (in most inpatient settings) is witnessed and co-signed by a second registered professional, typically another registered nurse, to ensure safety and accountability.
A patient unexpectedly refuses to take their prescribed morning dose of an antihypertensive medication. What is the nurse's primary responsibility according to the NMC Code?
Answer: Withhold the medication, document the refusal, and inform the prescriber.
The NMC standards emphasize patient-centred care and the right to refuse treatment. The nurse's professional duty is to respect the patient's autonomy, withhold the dose, accurately document the refusal and the reason (if given), and communicate this to the prescriber to ensure the patient's care plan can be reviewed.
A newly registered nurse discovers they have administered a medication via the intramuscular route instead of the prescribed subcutaneous route. What is the immediate priority action for the nurse?
Answer: Assess the patient for any adverse effects and ensure their safety.
The absolute first priority following any medication error is to assess the patient's condition and ensure their immediate safety. While informing others, documenting, and reporting are all crucial subsequent steps, the patient's well-being takes precedence over all other actions.
Which of the following is a key principle of medicines management as outlined in the NMC's 'The Code'?
Answer: Advising on, prescribing, or administering medicines only within the limits of your training and competence.
Standard 18 of 'The Code' explicitly states that nurses, midwives, and nursing associates must 'Advise on, prescribe, supply, dispense or administer medicines within the limits of your training and competence, the law, our guidance and other relevant policies, guidance and regulations'. This highlights the core principle of professional accountability and practising within one's scope.
A nurse independent prescriber is conducting a remote consultation for a patient requesting a prescription for a non-surgical cosmetic procedure. According to the latest NMC guidance (effective June 2025), what is the mandatory requirement for this consultation?
Answer: A face-to-face consultation and clinical assessment must be conducted.
To enhance patient safety, the NMC guidance effective from June 1, 2025, mandates that independent nurse and midwife prescribers must conduct a face-to-face consultation and perform an appropriate clinical assessment before prescribing any products for elective non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Remote prescribing for these specific treatments is not considered appropriate.
When a patient brings their own medicines into the hospital, what is the correct procedure a nurse should follow?
Answer: Use the patient's own supply after they have been assessed as suitable for use by a pharmacist or according to local policy.
Using a patient's own drugs (PODs) is encouraged to ensure continuity of care and reduce waste. However, the nurse must follow local trust policy, which typically involves the medicines being checked by a pharmacist to verify they are correct, in date, and suitable for use during the inpatient stay before they can be administered.