NSG 3023 TEST BANK
Chapter 17: Administering Medications
Potter: Essentials for Nursing Practice, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.A registered nurse for more than 15 years was concerned when she learned that her hospital
was going to let unlicensed nursing assistants start IVs on patients. The nurse knew this was in
violation of the scope of nursing practice in her state. Which of the following organizations
defines the scope of nursings professional functions and responsibilities?
a. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
b.The MedWatch program
c. Employee assistance programs (EAP)
d.State Nurse Practice Acts
ANS: D
State Nurse Practice Acts have the most influence over nursing practice because they define the
scope of nurses professional functions and responsibilities. The primary intent of state Nurse
Practice Acts is to protect the public from unskilled, undereducated, and unlicensed nurses. The
FDA ensures that all medications on the market undergo rigorous review before allowing
manufacturers to distribute them to the public. In 1993, the FDA instituted the MedWatch
program. This voluntary program encourages nurses and other health care professionals to report
when a medication, product, or medical event causes serious harm to a patient. Mandatory
reporting is required for medication manufacturers, distributors, and packers. A wide variety of
programs to help people who abuse medications are offered through an institutions employee
assistance program (EAP), the State Board of Nursing, and community agencies.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF:378 | 379
OBJ: Discuss legal responsibilities in medication prescription and administration.
,TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2.A 34 year old has been on morphine for 6 months after back surgery and has gone to multiple
health care providers to obtain prescriptions. Which term best describes this situation?
a. Medication dependence
b.Medication abuse
c. Medication misuse
d.Medication underuse
ANS: B
Medication abuse happens when patients repeatedly use an addictive substance (e.g., opioids or
alcohol). Medication dependence happens when a patient experiences withdrawal symptoms
when the medication is stopped abruptly. Medication misuse includes overuse, underuse, erratic
use, and contraindicated use of medications. Patients of all ages misuse medications. Some
people use medications for purposes other than their intended effect. Medication underuse occurs
when people use medications less than the amount intended when symptoms subside
PTS:1DIF:Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
REF:379
OBJ: Discuss legal responsibilities in medication prescription and administration.
TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3.A patient calls to say that he is unable to pay for the medication from a specific manufacturer
that was prescribed. The health care provider gives another name for the medication and suggests
the patient look for this name instead. The new name was probably which of the following?
a. Generic
b.Trade
c. Chemical
d.Proprietary
,ANS: A
The trade or brand name (e.g., Tylenol) is the name under which a manufacturer markets a
medication. The trade name has the symbol to the upper right of the name, indicating that the
manufacturer has registered the medications name. Acetaminophen is an example of a generic
name. It is the generic name for Tylenol. A medication sometimes has as many as three different
names. A medications chemical name is an exact description of the medications composition and
molecular structure. In clinical practice, health care workers rarely use chemical names. An
example of a chemical name is N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, which is commonly known as
Tylenol. The manufacturer who first develops the medication gives the generic or nonproprietary
name with United States Adopted Names Council (USANC) approval. The generic name
becomes the official name that is listed in publications such as the United States Pharmacopeia
(USP).
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF:379
OBJ: Discuss legal responsibilities in medication prescription and administration.
TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4.A patient is unable to swallow pain medication following oral surgery. What would be the
appropriate form of the medication to use to administer the drug using the rectal route?
a. Tablet
b.Elixir
c. Capsule
d.Suppository
ANS: D
Medications are available in a variety of forms or preparations. The form of the medication
determines its route of administration. Manufacturers make many medications in several forms,
such as tablets, capsules, elixirs, and suppositories. Suppositories are solid dosage form mixed
, with gelatin and shaped in the form of a pellet for insertion into a body cavity (rectum or vagina).
A suppository melts when it reaches body temperature, allowing the medication to be absorbed.
A tablet is a powdered medication compressed into a hard disk or cylinder and designed to be
taken orally. An elixir is a clear fluid containing water and alcohol; designed for oral use; usually
sweetener has been added. A capsule is medication encased in a gelatin shell and taken orally.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF:379 | 380 | 385
OBJ: Describe factors to consider when choosing routes of medication administration.
TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5.A 12-year-old patient has undergone knee surgery. She has an order for pain medication, which
can be given by several different routes. Which of the following routes of administration will
provide the fastest pain relief?
a. Transcutaneous
b.Intravenous
c. Oral
d.Rectal
ANS: B
Intravenous (IV) injection produces the most rapid absorption because medications given in this
route are immediately absorbed into the systemic circulation. When you place medications on the
skin (transcutaneous), absorption is slow because of the physical makeup of the skin. The body
also absorbs oral medications at a slow rate because these medications have to pass through the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The body absorbs medications through the mucous membranes (rectal
and buccal) and respiratory airways quickly because these tissues contain many blood vessels,
but the intravenous route is fastest.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
Chapter 17: Administering Medications
Potter: Essentials for Nursing Practice, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.A registered nurse for more than 15 years was concerned when she learned that her hospital
was going to let unlicensed nursing assistants start IVs on patients. The nurse knew this was in
violation of the scope of nursing practice in her state. Which of the following organizations
defines the scope of nursings professional functions and responsibilities?
a. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
b.The MedWatch program
c. Employee assistance programs (EAP)
d.State Nurse Practice Acts
ANS: D
State Nurse Practice Acts have the most influence over nursing practice because they define the
scope of nurses professional functions and responsibilities. The primary intent of state Nurse
Practice Acts is to protect the public from unskilled, undereducated, and unlicensed nurses. The
FDA ensures that all medications on the market undergo rigorous review before allowing
manufacturers to distribute them to the public. In 1993, the FDA instituted the MedWatch
program. This voluntary program encourages nurses and other health care professionals to report
when a medication, product, or medical event causes serious harm to a patient. Mandatory
reporting is required for medication manufacturers, distributors, and packers. A wide variety of
programs to help people who abuse medications are offered through an institutions employee
assistance program (EAP), the State Board of Nursing, and community agencies.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF:378 | 379
OBJ: Discuss legal responsibilities in medication prescription and administration.
,TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2.A 34 year old has been on morphine for 6 months after back surgery and has gone to multiple
health care providers to obtain prescriptions. Which term best describes this situation?
a. Medication dependence
b.Medication abuse
c. Medication misuse
d.Medication underuse
ANS: B
Medication abuse happens when patients repeatedly use an addictive substance (e.g., opioids or
alcohol). Medication dependence happens when a patient experiences withdrawal symptoms
when the medication is stopped abruptly. Medication misuse includes overuse, underuse, erratic
use, and contraindicated use of medications. Patients of all ages misuse medications. Some
people use medications for purposes other than their intended effect. Medication underuse occurs
when people use medications less than the amount intended when symptoms subside
PTS:1DIF:Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
REF:379
OBJ: Discuss legal responsibilities in medication prescription and administration.
TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3.A patient calls to say that he is unable to pay for the medication from a specific manufacturer
that was prescribed. The health care provider gives another name for the medication and suggests
the patient look for this name instead. The new name was probably which of the following?
a. Generic
b.Trade
c. Chemical
d.Proprietary
,ANS: A
The trade or brand name (e.g., Tylenol) is the name under which a manufacturer markets a
medication. The trade name has the symbol to the upper right of the name, indicating that the
manufacturer has registered the medications name. Acetaminophen is an example of a generic
name. It is the generic name for Tylenol. A medication sometimes has as many as three different
names. A medications chemical name is an exact description of the medications composition and
molecular structure. In clinical practice, health care workers rarely use chemical names. An
example of a chemical name is N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, which is commonly known as
Tylenol. The manufacturer who first develops the medication gives the generic or nonproprietary
name with United States Adopted Names Council (USANC) approval. The generic name
becomes the official name that is listed in publications such as the United States Pharmacopeia
(USP).
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF:379
OBJ: Discuss legal responsibilities in medication prescription and administration.
TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4.A patient is unable to swallow pain medication following oral surgery. What would be the
appropriate form of the medication to use to administer the drug using the rectal route?
a. Tablet
b.Elixir
c. Capsule
d.Suppository
ANS: D
Medications are available in a variety of forms or preparations. The form of the medication
determines its route of administration. Manufacturers make many medications in several forms,
such as tablets, capsules, elixirs, and suppositories. Suppositories are solid dosage form mixed
, with gelatin and shaped in the form of a pellet for insertion into a body cavity (rectum or vagina).
A suppository melts when it reaches body temperature, allowing the medication to be absorbed.
A tablet is a powdered medication compressed into a hard disk or cylinder and designed to be
taken orally. An elixir is a clear fluid containing water and alcohol; designed for oral use; usually
sweetener has been added. A capsule is medication encased in a gelatin shell and taken orally.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
REF:379 | 380 | 385
OBJ: Describe factors to consider when choosing routes of medication administration.
TOP:Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5.A 12-year-old patient has undergone knee surgery. She has an order for pain medication, which
can be given by several different routes. Which of the following routes of administration will
provide the fastest pain relief?
a. Transcutaneous
b.Intravenous
c. Oral
d.Rectal
ANS: B
Intravenous (IV) injection produces the most rapid absorption because medications given in this
route are immediately absorbed into the systemic circulation. When you place medications on the
skin (transcutaneous), absorption is slow because of the physical makeup of the skin. The body
also absorbs oral medications at a slow rate because these medications have to pass through the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The body absorbs medications through the mucous membranes (rectal
and buccal) and respiratory airways quickly because these tissues contain many blood vessels,
but the intravenous route is fastest.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
