OSCE Pharmacology and Medication Administration 5

Question 1

A patient with a penicillin allergy is prescribed a cephalosporin. What is the nurse's priority action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the prescriber and clarify the order before administration

Answer

Cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins exists in 1-10% of patients, requiring prescriber notification before administration.

Question 2

A nurse is calculating a drug dose: the prescriber orders amoxicillin 500mg, and the medication is available as 250mg/5mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?

Accepted Answer

10 mL

Answer

Using ratio-proportion: 250mg/5mL = 500mg/x; x = 10mL is the correct dose.

Question 3

Which action by a nursing student during medication administration requires immediate correction by the supervising nurse?

Accepted Answer

Drawing up two different insulin types in the same syringe without checking compatibility

Answer

Not all insulins are compatible in the same syringe; mixing incompatible insulins can alter their pharmacokinetics and cause harm.

Question 4

A nurse administers a medication to the wrong patient. After ensuring patient safety, what is the priority next step?

Accepted Answer

Complete an incident report and notify the physician immediately

Answer

A medication error requires immediate physician notification for potential intervention and incident report completion per institutional safety protocols.

Question 5

A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy asks why they cannot stop the medication abruptly. The nurse explains that sudden discontinuation can cause:

Accepted Answer

Adrenal insufficiency and hemodynamic collapse

Answer

Long-term corticosteroids suppress the HPA axis, so abrupt discontinuation can cause adrenal crisis with hypotension, hypoglycemia, and cardiovascular collapse.

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Practice Test

OSCE Pharmacology and Medication Administration 5