© Academic_Excellence
Medication Administration & Clinical Safety | Practice
Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A | Instant Download
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Section 1: Rights of Medication Administration & Error Prevention
1. A nurse is preparing to administer morning medications to a client.
What is the priority action to ensure the "right patient" is correctly
identified?
A. Check the name on the medication administration record (MAR) against the
door placard.
B. Ask the client "Are you Mr. Jones?"
C. Verify the client's identification using two approved identifiers (e.g., name
and date of birth) and compare them to the MAR.
D. Identify the client by their room and bed number.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Joint Commission requires at least two unique patient
identifiers before medication administration. Acceptable identifiers include the
client's full name, date of birth, or medical record number. Room number is
never acceptable because it can change. Asking a leading question like "Are
you Mr. Jones?" risks a confused client agreeing in error.
,© Academic_Excellence
2. A nurse administers a medication to the wrong client. What is the
nurse's immediate priority action?
A. Complete an incident report.
B. Notify the risk management department.
C. Monitor the client's vital signs and assess for adverse effects.
D. Document the error in the client's medical record.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Client safety is always the first priority after a medication error. The
nurse must immediately assess the client's condition and continue monitoring
for any adverse or toxic effects. Once the client is stable, the provider is
notified, and an incident report is completed (which is not placed in the
medical record).
3. A provider writes an order for "Lasix 40.0 mg PO daily." What is the
most appropriate action by the nurse?
A. Administer the medication as ordered.
B. Clarify the order with the provider because a trailing zero is used.
C. Clarify the order with the provider because a leading zero is missing.
D. Administer 40 mg, but request the pharmacist change the label.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The trailing zero (40.0) is a dangerous abbreviation that can be
misread as 400 if the decimal point is missed. The order should be written as
"40 mg" without the trailing zero. This is an error-prone practice and the nurse
must clarify it with the provider per The Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list.
A leading zero (0.5 mg, not .5 mg) is also required.
,© Academic_Excellence
4. Which of the following scenarios represents a "near miss" medication
error?
A. A nurse gives a client an extra dose of a beta-blocker, and the heart rate
drops to 50.
B. A pharmacy dispenses the wrong medication, but the nurse catches the
error during the administration check and does not give it.
C. A client develops an allergic rash after receiving their first dose of an
antibiotic.
D. A nurse documents a medication was given when it was actually held.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A "near miss" (or close call) is an error that was caught before it
reached the client. Because no harm occurred, it presents a valuable
opportunity for systems analysis without patient consequence. Near misses
should still be reported in the facility's safety reporting system.
5. The nurse is preparing to administer insulin and verifies the order
against the MAR. According to the "Six Rights" of medication
administration, what is the final "right" that must be performed?
A. Right to refuse.
B. Right documentation.
C. Right evaluation.
D. Right education.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The six rights are: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose,
, © Academic_Excellence
Right Route, Right Time, and Right Documentation. Documentation must be
completed promptly after administration (never before) and includes the drug
name, dose, route, time, site (if injection), and the nurse's signature/initials.
Section 2: Routes of Administration & Techniques
6. A nurse is to administer an intradermal injection for a tuberculin skin
test. The correct needle gauge, angle of insertion, and site are:
A. 18-gauge, 90-degree angle, deltoid muscle.
B. 25-gauge, 15-degree angle, dorsal gluteal.
C. 27-gauge, 5- to 15-degree angle, inner forearm.
D. 21-gauge, 45-degree angle, vastus lateralis.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An intradermal (ID) injection deposits medication just below the
epidermis. A fine, short needle (26- to 27-gauge) is inserted at a very shallow
angle (5 to 15 degrees) with the bevel up. The inner forearm is the standard
site for a TB skin test. A visible wheal (bleb) should form if the technique is
correct.
7. The nurse is administering an intramuscular (IM) injection using the Z-
track method. What is the primary purpose of this technique?
A. To reduce the pain of the injection.
B. To accelerate the absorption of the medication.
C. To prevent the medication from leaking back into the subcutaneous tissue.
D. To allow for a larger volume of medication to be injected.
Medication Administration & Clinical Safety | Practice
Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A | Instant Download
Section 1: Rights of Medication Administration & Error Prevention
1. A nurse is preparing to administer morning medications to a client.
What is the priority action to ensure the "right patient" is correctly
identified?
A. Check the name on the medication administration record (MAR) against the
door placard.
B. Ask the client "Are you Mr. Jones?"
C. Verify the client's identification using two approved identifiers (e.g., name
and date of birth) and compare them to the MAR.
D. Identify the client by their room and bed number.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Joint Commission requires at least two unique patient
identifiers before medication administration. Acceptable identifiers include the
client's full name, date of birth, or medical record number. Room number is
never acceptable because it can change. Asking a leading question like "Are
you Mr. Jones?" risks a confused client agreeing in error.
,© Academic_Excellence
2. A nurse administers a medication to the wrong client. What is the
nurse's immediate priority action?
A. Complete an incident report.
B. Notify the risk management department.
C. Monitor the client's vital signs and assess for adverse effects.
D. Document the error in the client's medical record.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Client safety is always the first priority after a medication error. The
nurse must immediately assess the client's condition and continue monitoring
for any adverse or toxic effects. Once the client is stable, the provider is
notified, and an incident report is completed (which is not placed in the
medical record).
3. A provider writes an order for "Lasix 40.0 mg PO daily." What is the
most appropriate action by the nurse?
A. Administer the medication as ordered.
B. Clarify the order with the provider because a trailing zero is used.
C. Clarify the order with the provider because a leading zero is missing.
D. Administer 40 mg, but request the pharmacist change the label.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The trailing zero (40.0) is a dangerous abbreviation that can be
misread as 400 if the decimal point is missed. The order should be written as
"40 mg" without the trailing zero. This is an error-prone practice and the nurse
must clarify it with the provider per The Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list.
A leading zero (0.5 mg, not .5 mg) is also required.
,© Academic_Excellence
4. Which of the following scenarios represents a "near miss" medication
error?
A. A nurse gives a client an extra dose of a beta-blocker, and the heart rate
drops to 50.
B. A pharmacy dispenses the wrong medication, but the nurse catches the
error during the administration check and does not give it.
C. A client develops an allergic rash after receiving their first dose of an
antibiotic.
D. A nurse documents a medication was given when it was actually held.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A "near miss" (or close call) is an error that was caught before it
reached the client. Because no harm occurred, it presents a valuable
opportunity for systems analysis without patient consequence. Near misses
should still be reported in the facility's safety reporting system.
5. The nurse is preparing to administer insulin and verifies the order
against the MAR. According to the "Six Rights" of medication
administration, what is the final "right" that must be performed?
A. Right to refuse.
B. Right documentation.
C. Right evaluation.
D. Right education.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The six rights are: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose,
, © Academic_Excellence
Right Route, Right Time, and Right Documentation. Documentation must be
completed promptly after administration (never before) and includes the drug
name, dose, route, time, site (if injection), and the nurse's signature/initials.
Section 2: Routes of Administration & Techniques
6. A nurse is to administer an intradermal injection for a tuberculin skin
test. The correct needle gauge, angle of insertion, and site are:
A. 18-gauge, 90-degree angle, deltoid muscle.
B. 25-gauge, 15-degree angle, dorsal gluteal.
C. 27-gauge, 5- to 15-degree angle, inner forearm.
D. 21-gauge, 45-degree angle, vastus lateralis.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An intradermal (ID) injection deposits medication just below the
epidermis. A fine, short needle (26- to 27-gauge) is inserted at a very shallow
angle (5 to 15 degrees) with the bevel up. The inner forearm is the standard
site for a TB skin test. A visible wheal (bleb) should form if the technique is
correct.
7. The nurse is administering an intramuscular (IM) injection using the Z-
track method. What is the primary purpose of this technique?
A. To reduce the pain of the injection.
B. To accelerate the absorption of the medication.
C. To prevent the medication from leaking back into the subcutaneous tissue.
D. To allow for a larger volume of medication to be injected.
