ATI DOSAGE CALCULATION AND SAFE
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION 4 REVISION
HANDBOOK 2026 SAFE MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION AND ERROR PREVENTION
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 40 mEq PO
daily. Available is potassium chloride 20 mEq effervescent tablets. In
addition to checking the correct dosage before administering the
medication, the nurse should check which of the following? (Select
all that apply.)
Answer: The amount of liquid in which to dissolve the tablets
The type of liquid in which to dissolve the tablets
The acceptable dose range of the medication
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who received lisinopril (Zestril) 30
min ago and is now reporting dizziness and headache. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Obtain the client's vital signs.
The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to
assess the client. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is
to obtain the client's vital signs.
,◉ A nurse is reviewing a client's prescriptions. The nurse should
contact the provider to clarify which of the following prescriptions?
Answer: Morphine 2.5 mg IV bolus PRN for incisional pain
This prescription requires clarification because it is missing the
frequency of medication administration.
◉ A nurse manager is reviewing a client's medical record and
discovers that the client received a double dose of a prescribed
medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse
manager take first?
Answer: Assess the client for adverse effects.
Using the nursing process, the first step the nurse should take is to
assess the client for adverse effects.
◉ A nurse is assisting with the orientation of a newly licensed nurse.
The nurse should explain that it is important to have a second nurse
review the dosage of high-alert medications, such as heparin and
insulin, for which of the following reasons?
Answer: Dosage errors have the potential for significant harm to the
client.
The nurse should have a second nurse check the dosage of high-alert
medications because serious harm with excessive dosing can occur.
,Heparin overdose can lead to hemorrhage, and insulin overdose can
lead to shock.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer insulin subcutaneously to a
client. The nurse should document the administration of the
medication immediately after which of the following actions?
Answer: Injecting the insulin
The nurse should not delay documentation because this could lead
to errors, such as omission of the documentation or administration
of a second dose of medication to the client by another nurse.
◉ A nurse is providing teaching regarding medication
administration to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the
following is a legal responsibility of a nurse?
Answer: Reporting medication errors
The nurse is legally responsible for reporting medication errors
according to facility policy.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive omeprazole
(Prilosec) 40 mg PO daily. The client tells the nurse that the pill is
too hard to swallow. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
Answer: Request a liquid form of medication from the pharmacy.
, The nurse can administer a liquid form of an oral medication if
available. This is not changing the route of the medication.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer a medication subcutaneously.
Which of the following should the nurse use?
Answer: 5/8-inch, 25 gauge needle
This is the appropriate size needle for the nurse to use when giving a
subcutaneous injection.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication to a
toddler. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Answer: Offer the child a choice of taking the medication with either
a cup or a spoon.
Toddlers respond well to choosing between two options.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who states that his provider told him
he is at risk for anaphylaxis following administration of amoxicillin
(Amoxil) and that he does not understand what this means. Which of
the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?
Answer: "Anaphylaxis is a severe hypersensitivity or allergic reaction
that is life-threatening."
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION 4 REVISION
HANDBOOK 2026 SAFE MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION AND ERROR PREVENTION
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 40 mEq PO
daily. Available is potassium chloride 20 mEq effervescent tablets. In
addition to checking the correct dosage before administering the
medication, the nurse should check which of the following? (Select
all that apply.)
Answer: The amount of liquid in which to dissolve the tablets
The type of liquid in which to dissolve the tablets
The acceptable dose range of the medication
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who received lisinopril (Zestril) 30
min ago and is now reporting dizziness and headache. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Obtain the client's vital signs.
The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to
assess the client. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is
to obtain the client's vital signs.
,◉ A nurse is reviewing a client's prescriptions. The nurse should
contact the provider to clarify which of the following prescriptions?
Answer: Morphine 2.5 mg IV bolus PRN for incisional pain
This prescription requires clarification because it is missing the
frequency of medication administration.
◉ A nurse manager is reviewing a client's medical record and
discovers that the client received a double dose of a prescribed
medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse
manager take first?
Answer: Assess the client for adverse effects.
Using the nursing process, the first step the nurse should take is to
assess the client for adverse effects.
◉ A nurse is assisting with the orientation of a newly licensed nurse.
The nurse should explain that it is important to have a second nurse
review the dosage of high-alert medications, such as heparin and
insulin, for which of the following reasons?
Answer: Dosage errors have the potential for significant harm to the
client.
The nurse should have a second nurse check the dosage of high-alert
medications because serious harm with excessive dosing can occur.
,Heparin overdose can lead to hemorrhage, and insulin overdose can
lead to shock.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer insulin subcutaneously to a
client. The nurse should document the administration of the
medication immediately after which of the following actions?
Answer: Injecting the insulin
The nurse should not delay documentation because this could lead
to errors, such as omission of the documentation or administration
of a second dose of medication to the client by another nurse.
◉ A nurse is providing teaching regarding medication
administration to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the
following is a legal responsibility of a nurse?
Answer: Reporting medication errors
The nurse is legally responsible for reporting medication errors
according to facility policy.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive omeprazole
(Prilosec) 40 mg PO daily. The client tells the nurse that the pill is
too hard to swallow. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
Answer: Request a liquid form of medication from the pharmacy.
, The nurse can administer a liquid form of an oral medication if
available. This is not changing the route of the medication.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer a medication subcutaneously.
Which of the following should the nurse use?
Answer: 5/8-inch, 25 gauge needle
This is the appropriate size needle for the nurse to use when giving a
subcutaneous injection.
◉ A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication to a
toddler. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Answer: Offer the child a choice of taking the medication with either
a cup or a spoon.
Toddlers respond well to choosing between two options.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who states that his provider told him
he is at risk for anaphylaxis following administration of amoxicillin
(Amoxil) and that he does not understand what this means. Which of
the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?
Answer: "Anaphylaxis is a severe hypersensitivity or allergic reaction
that is life-threatening."
