Medication Management Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real ALF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medication Management Principles flashcards as text
A med aide notices a resident on warfarin has new, unexplained bruising on both arms. The MOST appropriate action is to:
Answer: Report the observation promptly to the nurse or prescriber for evaluation
Unexplained bruising may indicate warfarin toxicity or bleeding risk and requires prompt clinical evaluation.
Which of the following PRN order examples is complete enough for unlicensed staff to assist with in most states?
Answer: Acetaminophen 500 mg by mouth every 6 hours as needed for headache, not to exceed 3,000 mg in 24 hours
A complete PRN order specifies drug, dose, route, frequency, indication, and maximum daily amount.
During a facility audit, the administrator finds expired medications in the med room. The correct handling is to:
Answer: Segregate them for disposal or destruction according to state regulations and facility policy
Expired medications must be removed from stock and disposed of per state law and facility policy, with documentation.
A resident who self-administers medications begins showing memory decline and missed doses. The administrator's BEST response is to:
Answer: Arrange a re-assessment of the resident's self-administration capability
A change in condition triggers a re-assessment to determine whether the resident still qualifies for self-administration.
Which situation represents 'borrowing' medications, a prohibited practice in assisted living?
Answer: Giving Resident A a dose from Resident B's supply because A's refill has not arrived
Administering one resident's prescription to another resident is prohibited borrowing and constitutes a medication error.
The 'six rights' of medication administration include right resident, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and:
Answer: Right documentation
Right documentation completes the six rights, ensuring administration is accurately recorded after it occurs.
A hospice resident's family asks staff to give an extra dose of morphine 'to keep her comfortable' beyond the prescribed frequency. Staff should:
Answer: Decline, explain the order limits, and contact the hospice nurse or prescriber about the comfort concern
Staff may never exceed prescribed dosing, but the comfort concern should be escalated to the hospice nurse or prescriber.