Prescriptions and Medication Orders

Chapter 8

1. Prewritten, standardized instructions for patients whose medical care is similar are called:
2. One-time only orders
3. PRN orders
4. STAT orders
5. Standing orders
6. A provider is attempting to give a verbal medication order to a nurse in the hallway outside the patient’s room. Which of these actions by the nurse is the most appropriate?
7. The nurse writes the order down on a piece of scratch paper in her pocket.
8. The nurse refuses to take the order and walks away.
9. The nurse acknowledges the order, but asks the provider to make sure to write the order in the patient’s medical record before leaving.
10. The nurse repeats the order back to the physician, hoping to remember it to write it down later.
11. Which of these is the correct way for a nurse to document a telephone order?
12. “T.O. M. Smith, MD/RB/T. Anders, RN”
13. “T.O., M. Smith, MD/T. Anders, RN”
14. “M. Smith, MD/RB/T. Anders, RN”
15. “T.O., M. Smith/T. Anders”
16. A nurse is preparing to administer an antibiotic medication. Which of these statements made by the nurse shows understanding of the responsibilities of medication administration?
17. “I don’t know what the dose is. The doctor orders that, not me.”
18. “I’m not sure why you are taking this medication. I don’t ask questions.”
19. “This medication will kill the bacteria causing your infection. Be sure not to take it with any dairy products.”
20. “Two of your medications have similar names. I get them confused sometimes.”
21. Which of the following actions should the nurse take if a patient is unable to take an ordered medication?
22. Document that the medication was held on the medication administration record (MAR) and patient’s medical record and notify the provider.
23. Leave the medication on the bedside table so the patient can take it later.
24. Have a coworker try to coerce the patient into taking the medication.
25. Call the floor supervisor.
26. Which of these medication orders is written incorrectly?
27. Loperamide, 4 mg, PO, every 6 hours
28. Repaglinide, 1, PO, before every meal
29. Heparin, 1,000 units, subcut, twice daily
30. Ampicillin, 500 mg, IV, every 6 hours
31. A nurse receives a medication order from a provider. The order is illegible. Which of these actions by the nurse is the most appropriate?
32. Show it to a coworker who is familiar with the provider’s handwriting.
33. Call the provider to clarify the order.
34. Disregard the order.
35. Report the illegible order to a supervisor.
36. Providers must have a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration number before being allowed to prescribe which of the following?
37. Cardiac medications
38. Any medication
39. Controlled substances
40. Inhalers
41. Which of the following is true regarding medication orders?
42. The trade name alone is not permitted.
43. The generic or trade name may be used.
44. If a commonly prescribed drug is ordered, a dosage is not necessary.
45. The trade name is preferred to reduce confusion.
46. A provider writes a medication order for “Zofran 4 mg IV every 4 hours PRN nausea/vomiting.” The unit secretary incorrectly transcribes the order into the MAR, and the nurse administers 8 mg of Zofran to the patient. Who is responsible for this error?
47. The nurse
48. The unit secretary
49. The physician
50. The patient
51. A patient is being transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the medical unit. Which of the following is true regarding his medical orders?
52. A new set of orders for the medical unit must be written by the provider.
53. The orders from the ICU are still in effect.
54. Patients do not need orders on the medical unit.
55. The staff nurse can write new orders for the patient on admission to the medical unit.
56. What information about the provider must be written when composing a medication order? Select all that apply.
57. Name
58. Date of birth
59. Credentials
60. Social security number
61. Medical school attended
62. Which of these medication orders is written correctly? Select all that apply.
63. Gemfibrozil 600 mg PO, every 12 hours
64. Aspirin 2 tablets, PO every 8 hours, PRN, fever
65. Heparin 5,000 units, subcut, twice daily
66. Ceftriaxone 1 g, IV, every 12 hours
67. Vancomycin 1,000 mg every 12 hours
68. The nurse must document administration of a medication on the MAR. Proper documentation should include which of the following? Select all that apply.
69. The nurse’s initials
70. The time the medication was given
71. The route of administration
72. The room number of the patient
73. The prescribing doctor’s DEA number
74. Which of the following medication orders is written correctly? Select all that apply.
75. Esomeprazole 20 mg, IV, every 6 hours
76. Enoxaparin 40 mgms, SQ, q 12 hours
77. Dilaudid 0.2 mg, IV push, every 4 hours, PRN, severe pain
78. NPH insulin 32 units, subcut, every morning before breakfast
79. Levothyroxine 0.0250 mg every morning before breakfast
80. Which of the following medication orders is written correctly? Select all that apply.
81. Vancomycin 500 mg, IV, every 18 hours
82. Digoxin 0.25 mg, IV, every 4 hours
83. Indomethacin 25 mg, PO, three times daily
84. Captopril, 1 tablet, tid
85. Amlodipine 5 mg PO