MEDSCI303 | MEDSCI303 Pharmacy Exam 1
Version 3 | Questions with Correct Answers and
Expert Explanation for Each Question | Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a high-alert medication to a patient. Which
action is the most effective intervention to prevent a medication error?
A. Relying on the hospital’s automated dispensing cabinet for dosage verification.
B. Checking the medication label against the MAR three times.
C. Performing an independent double-check with another licensed nurse.
D. Using the patient’s room number as a secondary identifier.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: High-alert medications carry a heightened risk of causing
significant patient harm when used in error. An independent double-check involves
two clinicians separately verifying the medication, dose, and patient. This process
reduces the probability of a single clinician’s cognitive bias leading to an error.
Automated systems provide support but do not replace clinical cross-verification for
high-risk drugs. Ensuring this redundant check is performed consistently is a
hallmark of high-reliability healthcare organizations.
,2. A physician orders 250 mg of an antibiotic to be administered orally. The
medication is available as a 125 mg/5 mL suspension. How many milliliters should the
nurse administer?
A. 2.5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 7.5 mL
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: To find the correct volume, the nurse must use the formula
‘Desired dose divided by Dose on Hand multiplied by the Volume’. In this
calculation, 250 mg divided by 125 mg equals a factor of two. Multiplying this factor
by the 5 mL volume results in a total dose of 10 mL. Precision in pediatric or
suspension dosing is critical to avoid under-medication or toxicity. This standard
calculation prevents volumetric errors in clinical practice.
3. When performing medication reconciliation during a patient’s admission, what is
the primary goal of the pharmacist?
A. To ensure the patient can afford the medications prescribed at discharge.
B. To identify and resolve discrepancies between the home list and hospital orders.
,C. To educate the patient on the mechanism of action of each drug.
D. To determine the patient’s insurance coverage for high-cost biologics.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Medication reconciliation is a formal process designed to
prevent errors at transition points of care. It involves creating the most accurate list
possible of all medications the patient is currently taking. By comparing this list to
the admission orders, clinicians can catch omissions or duplications. This process is
essential for preventing adverse drug events during hospitalization. Systematic
reconciliation reduces the risk of drug-drug interactions resulting from incomplete
histories.
4. A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of Normal Saline to infuse over 8 hours. The drop
factor of the tubing is 15 gtt/mL. What is the correct flow rate in drops per minute
(gtt/min)?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 42 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 125 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C
, Expert Explanation: The formula for IV flow rate is ‘Total Volume in mL multiplied
by drop factor, divided by time in minutes’. First, convert 8 hours into 480 minutes
to standardize the time unit. Next, calculate 1,000 mL times 15 drops per mL, which
equals 15,000 drops. Dividing 15,000 by 480 minutes results in approximately
31.25 drops per minute. Rounding to the nearest whole number provides a safe and
practical administration rate of 31 gtt/min.
5. Which of the following represents a violation of the ‘Right Documentation’
principle?
A. Recording the site of an injection on the MAR.
B. Documenting a medication as given before it is actually administered.
C. Writing an entry describing the patient’s refusal of a dose.
D. Noting the patient’s blood pressure prior to giving an antihypertensive.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Documentation must always occur after the medication has
been successfully administered to the patient. Pre-documenting is a dangerous
practice that can lead to errors if the administration is interrupted. It creates a legal
record that does not accurately reflect the clinical reality of the patient’s care.
Accurate documentation includes the time, route, and any necessary clinical
Version 3 | Questions with Correct Answers and
Expert Explanation for Each Question | Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a high-alert medication to a patient. Which
action is the most effective intervention to prevent a medication error?
A. Relying on the hospital’s automated dispensing cabinet for dosage verification.
B. Checking the medication label against the MAR three times.
C. Performing an independent double-check with another licensed nurse.
D. Using the patient’s room number as a secondary identifier.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: High-alert medications carry a heightened risk of causing
significant patient harm when used in error. An independent double-check involves
two clinicians separately verifying the medication, dose, and patient. This process
reduces the probability of a single clinician’s cognitive bias leading to an error.
Automated systems provide support but do not replace clinical cross-verification for
high-risk drugs. Ensuring this redundant check is performed consistently is a
hallmark of high-reliability healthcare organizations.
,2. A physician orders 250 mg of an antibiotic to be administered orally. The
medication is available as a 125 mg/5 mL suspension. How many milliliters should the
nurse administer?
A. 2.5 mL
B. 10 mL
C. 15 mL
D. 7.5 mL
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: To find the correct volume, the nurse must use the formula
‘Desired dose divided by Dose on Hand multiplied by the Volume’. In this
calculation, 250 mg divided by 125 mg equals a factor of two. Multiplying this factor
by the 5 mL volume results in a total dose of 10 mL. Precision in pediatric or
suspension dosing is critical to avoid under-medication or toxicity. This standard
calculation prevents volumetric errors in clinical practice.
3. When performing medication reconciliation during a patient’s admission, what is
the primary goal of the pharmacist?
A. To ensure the patient can afford the medications prescribed at discharge.
B. To identify and resolve discrepancies between the home list and hospital orders.
,C. To educate the patient on the mechanism of action of each drug.
D. To determine the patient’s insurance coverage for high-cost biologics.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Medication reconciliation is a formal process designed to
prevent errors at transition points of care. It involves creating the most accurate list
possible of all medications the patient is currently taking. By comparing this list to
the admission orders, clinicians can catch omissions or duplications. This process is
essential for preventing adverse drug events during hospitalization. Systematic
reconciliation reduces the risk of drug-drug interactions resulting from incomplete
histories.
4. A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of Normal Saline to infuse over 8 hours. The drop
factor of the tubing is 15 gtt/mL. What is the correct flow rate in drops per minute
(gtt/min)?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 42 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 125 gtt/min
Correct Answer: C
, Expert Explanation: The formula for IV flow rate is ‘Total Volume in mL multiplied
by drop factor, divided by time in minutes’. First, convert 8 hours into 480 minutes
to standardize the time unit. Next, calculate 1,000 mL times 15 drops per mL, which
equals 15,000 drops. Dividing 15,000 by 480 minutes results in approximately
31.25 drops per minute. Rounding to the nearest whole number provides a safe and
practical administration rate of 31 gtt/min.
5. Which of the following represents a violation of the ‘Right Documentation’
principle?
A. Recording the site of an injection on the MAR.
B. Documenting a medication as given before it is actually administered.
C. Writing an entry describing the patient’s refusal of a dose.
D. Noting the patient’s blood pressure prior to giving an antihypertensive.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Documentation must always occur after the medication has
been successfully administered to the patient. Pre-documenting is a dangerous
practice that can lead to errors if the administration is interrupted. It creates a legal
record that does not accurately reflect the clinical reality of the patient’s care.
Accurate documentation includes the time, route, and any necessary clinical
