QMAP Medication Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before administering any medication, a QMAP must verify the resident's identity. What is the best method?
- Ask the resident their name
- Check the room number
- Compare the resident's photo ID or wristband against the MAR (Correct answer)
- Ask another staff member
Correct answer: Compare the resident's photo ID or wristband against the MAR
Comparing a photo ID or wristband against the MAR is the most reliable identification method.
Simply asking a resident their name is unreliable because residents with cognitive impairments may respond to any name. The gold standard is using two identifiers such as comparing a photo ID or wristband with the MAR to prevent wrong-resident errors.
Question 2: A QMAP discovers that a medication was given to the wrong resident. What is the first action?
- Document the error in the MAR
- Notify the supervising nurse or healthcare provider immediately (Correct answer)
- Monitor the resident who received the wrong medication
- File an incident report
Correct answer: Notify the supervising nurse or healthcare provider immediately
Notify the supervising nurse first so they can assess whether immediate medical intervention is needed.
The immediate priority is resident safety. Notifying the supervising nurse ensures that a clinical assessment can be made quickly. The provider can determine if the resident needs monitoring, treatment, or emergency care. Documentation and incident reports come after the clinical notification.
Question 3: Which route of administration involves placing medication under the tongue?
- Buccal
- Sublingual (Correct answer)
- Topical
- Enteral
Correct answer: Sublingual
Sublingual means "under the tongue." Medications are absorbed through mucous membranes into the bloodstream.
Sublingual administration provides rapid absorption by bypassing the digestive system. Common sublingual medications include nitroglycerin for angina. Buccal administration places medication between the cheek and gum. QMAPs must know the difference as it affects absorption.
Question 4: A resident refuses their prescribed medication. What should the QMAP do?
- Disguise the medication in food
- Document the refusal and notify the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Skip documentation and try again later
- Explain they are required to take it by law
Correct answer: Document the refusal and notify the supervising nurse
Residents have the right to refuse medication. Document the refusal and notify the supervising nurse.
QMAPs should calmly explain the purpose of the medication, respect the refusal if it continues, document it on the MAR with time and reason, and notify the supervising nurse. Hiding medication in food without consent is generally prohibited.
Question 5: What is the proper procedure for administering ear drop medication?
- Pull the earlobe down and back
- Pull the pinna up and back for adults, down and back for children (Correct answer)
- Insert the dropper tip into the ear canal
- Tilt the head toward the affected ear
Correct answer: Pull the pinna up and back for adults, down and back for children
For adults, pulling the pinna up and back straightens the ear canal. For children, pull down and back.
In adults, the ear canal curves upward, so pulling the pinna up and back straightens it. In children under 3, it curves differently, requiring the pinna to be pulled down and back. Never insert the dropper tip into the ear canal.
Question 6: Which is NOT one of the Seven Rights of medication administration?
- Right medication
- Right diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Right time
- Right dose
Correct answer: Right diagnosis
The Seven Rights are: right resident, medication, dose, route, time, documentation, and reason. Right diagnosis is not included.
The Seven Rights are a safety framework: Right Resident, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, Right Documentation, and Right Reason. The QMAP ensures accurate administration based on orders, not diagnosis.
QMAP Medication Administration 2
Before administering any medication, a QMAP must verify the resident's identity.
What is the best method?