Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Pharmacology and Medication Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct needle gauge range for subcutaneous (SQ) injections?
- 16-18 gauge
- 18-20 gauge
- 25-27 gauge (Correct answer)
- 30-32 gauge
Correct answer: 25-27 gauge
Subcutaneous injections typically use 25-27 gauge needles to minimize tissue trauma while delivering medication into the fatty tissue layer.
Question 2: Which term describes an unexpected, severe allergic reaction to a medication that requires immediate treatment?
- Tolerance
- Anaphylaxis (Correct answer)
- Synergism
- Idiosyncratic reaction
Correct answer: Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by respiratory distress, hypotension, and urticaria, requiring immediate epinephrine administration.
Question 3: What does 'QID' mean in a medication order?
- Once daily
- Twice daily
- Three times daily
- Four times daily (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Four times daily
QID (quater in die) means four times daily, indicating the medication should be administered four times throughout the day.
Question 4: When reconstituting a powdered medication, which solution is most commonly used as a diluent?
- Normal saline or sterile water (Correct answer)
- Dextrose 10% solution
- Lactated Ringer's solution
- Bacteriostatic saline only
Correct answer: Normal saline or sterile water
Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) and sterile water are the most common diluents for reconstituting powdered medications unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a drug's 'half-life'?
- The time it takes for a drug to reach peak effectiveness
- The time required for the drug concentration in the body to decrease by 50% (Correct answer)
- The duration a drug remains therapeutically active
- The time between drug doses in a scheduled regimen
Correct answer: The time required for the drug concentration in the body to decrease by 50%
Half-life is the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by half, which determines dosing frequency and duration of action.
Question 6: A medical assistant is preparing an oral liquid medication for a pediatric patient. The order reads '250 mg' and the concentration is '125 mg/5 mL.' How many mL should be administered?
- 5 mL
- 10 mL (Correct answer)
- 2.5 mL
- 15 mL
Correct answer: 10 mL
Using the formula: Desired/Have × Volume = 250/125 × 5 mL = 10 mL is the correct volume to administer.
Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Pharmacology and Medication Administration 2
What is the correct needle gauge range for subcutaneous (SQ) injections?