Medicines Management Flashcards
6 cards from real NMC OSCE 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 flashcards as text
A nurse is administering insulin. Which of the following is the most important safety check specific to insulin?
Answer: Confirming the type of insulin (e.g., rapid-acting vs long-acting)
Insulin errors are a leading cause of serious harm. Confirming the exact type of insulin (e.g., rapid-acting NovoRapid vs long-acting Lantus) is critical because mixing up types can cause severe hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia.
Under UK law, which professional is responsible for a drug error made when following a verbal order from a doctor?
Answer: The nurse who administered the drug
Under NMC standards and UK law, the nurse who administers a drug is professionally accountable for that administration. Verbal orders carry significant risk; nurses should not administer drugs based on verbal orders without proper prescription documentation except in emergency situations.
What does the abbreviation PRN mean on a prescription chart?
Answer: As required
PRN comes from the Latin 'pro re nata' meaning 'as required' or 'as needed'. It indicates that the medication should be given when a specific condition or need arises, not on a regular scheduled basis.
A patient is on warfarin and is prescribed a new course of ciprofloxacin. What is the key concern?
Answer: Ciprofloxacin inhibits warfarin metabolism, increasing bleeding risk
Ciprofloxacin (and other quinolone antibiotics) inhibit the hepatic enzymes that metabolise warfarin, leading to increased warfarin levels and INR, with significantly increased risk of bleeding. INR should be monitored closely.
Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action?
Answer: Intravenous
Intravenous (IV) administration delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption stages, giving the fastest onset of action. This is why IV routes are used in emergencies and for drugs requiring immediate effect.
A nurse is about to administer a medication when the patient states they are allergic to it. What is the correct immediate action?
Answer: Stop, withhold the medication, and inform the prescriber immediately
Any reported allergy must be taken seriously. The nurse must withhold the medication immediately, document the allergy, and inform the prescriber. Administering a medication to someone who reports an allergy could cause anaphylaxis or death.