MACE Medication Storage and Handling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended room temperature range for storing most oral medications?
- 50°F to 59°F (10°C to 15°C)
- 59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C) (Correct answer)
- 32°F to 50°F (0°C to 10°C)
- 78°F to 90°F (26°C to 32°C)
Correct answer: 59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C)
Most oral medications should be stored at room temperature between 59°F and 77°F (15°C to 25°C) to maintain potency and stability.
Question 2: Which of the following medications typically requires refrigeration for storage?
- Aspirin tablets
- Insulin (Correct answer)
- Ibuprofen capsules
- Acetaminophen tablets
Correct answer: Insulin
Insulin is a protein-based medication that must be refrigerated (36°F to 46°F) when not in use to maintain its effectiveness.
Question 3: When storing controlled substances, which security measure is required by law?
- Storing them in any labeled cabinet
- Keeping them in a separate room from other medications
- Locking them in a double-locked, secure cabinet (Correct answer)
- Placing a warning sign on the storage area
Correct answer: Locking them in a double-locked, secure cabinet
Federal and state laws require controlled substances to be stored in a double-locked, secure cabinet to prevent diversion and unauthorized access.
Question 4: What is the correct action when a medication is found to be expired?
- Continue using it if it still looks normal
- Return it to the pharmacy or follow facility disposal policy (Correct answer)
- Flush it down the toilet immediately
- Give it to the patient since it may still work
Correct answer: Return it to the pharmacy or follow facility disposal policy
Expired medications must be returned to the pharmacy or disposed of following the facility's policy and state/federal regulations to ensure safety.
Question 5: Which environmental factor most commonly degrades medication quality during storage?
- Normal fluorescent lighting
- Exposure to excessive heat, light, or moisture (Correct answer)
- Being stored near other medications
- Using plastic rather than glass containers
Correct answer: Exposure to excessive heat, light, or moisture
Excessive heat, light, and moisture are the primary environmental factors that break down medication compounds and reduce their effectiveness.
Question 6: Where is it NOT appropriate to store a resident's medications in a long-term care facility?
- In a locked medication cart
- In a locked medication room
- On the resident's bedside table without a lock (Correct answer)
- In a locked medication cabinet at the nurses' station
Correct answer: On the resident's bedside table without a lock
Medications must be secured at all times; leaving them on a bedside table without a lock violates safety regulations and risks accidental ingestion by others.
Question 7: What should a medication aide do if a medication container's label becomes unreadable or damaged?
- Try to guess the medication based on its appearance
- Continue using the medication and write the name in marker
- Do not use the medication and contact the pharmacy for a replacement (Correct answer)
- Ask a coworker what they think the medication is
Correct answer: Do not use the medication and contact the pharmacy for a replacement
An unreadable label means the medication cannot be safely identified, so it must not be administered; the pharmacy must provide a properly labeled replacement.
MACE Medication Storage and Handling 1
What is the recommended room temperature range for storing most oral medications?