PSB-PN Pharmacology & Medication Administration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'six rights' of medication administration include the right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and:
- Right physician
- Right documentation (Correct answer)
- Right insurance authorization
- Right pharmacy
Correct answer: Right documentation
The sixth right is right documentation — recording the medication after administration ensures accurate medical records and prevents duplicate dosing.
Question 2: A patient is prescribed digoxin 0.125 mg daily. Before administering the dose, the practical nurse must assess which parameter?
- Blood glucose level
- Apical pulse for a full minute (Correct answer)
- Respiratory rate
- Temperature
Correct answer: Apical pulse for a full minute
Digoxin slows the heart rate; the apical pulse must be counted for a full minute and if it is below 60 bpm, the dose is withheld and the RN is notified.
Question 3: Which medication route provides the fastest onset of action in an emergency?
- Oral (PO)
- Intramuscular (IM)
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Intravenous (IV) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Intravenous (IV)
The intravenous route delivers medication directly into the bloodstream, providing immediate systemic absorption and the fastest onset of action.
Question 4: A practical nurse is administering an intramuscular injection to an adult patient. The preferred site for most IM injections in adults is the:
- Dorsogluteal (upper outer buttock)
- Vastus lateralis (outer thigh)
- Ventrogluteal (hip) (Correct answer)
- Deltoid (upper arm) for volumes >2 mL
Correct answer: Ventrogluteal (hip)
The ventrogluteal site is currently the preferred IM injection site in adults because it is free of major nerves and blood vessels and has a large muscle mass.
Question 5: When a patient is ordered to receive a subcutaneous heparin injection, the practical nurse should administer it at which angle?
- 15 degrees
- 45–90 degrees (Correct answer)
- 10 degrees
- Parallel to the skin surface
Correct answer: 45–90 degrees
Subcutaneous injections are given at 45–90 degrees depending on body fat, ensuring the medication is deposited in the subcutaneous tissue rather than muscle or skin.
Question 6: A patient who is taking warfarin reports starting a daily aspirin supplement. The practical nurse should notify the RN because this combination may:
- Decrease the anticoagulant effect of warfarin
- Increase bleeding risk significantly (Correct answer)
- Reduce gastrointestinal side effects
- Have no significant interaction
Correct answer: Increase bleeding risk significantly
Both warfarin and aspirin inhibit clotting mechanisms via different pathways; combined use significantly increases the risk of serious bleeding.
PSB-PN Pharmacology & Medication Administration 1
The 'six rights' of medication administration include the right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and: