Medication Administration Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real ISMP 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 Administration Safety flashcards as text
ISMP identifies 'free-flow' of IV fluids as a significant risk. Which device feature is the most important safeguard against free-flow errors?
Answer: Anti-free-flow (AFF) IV administration sets
Anti-free-flow administration sets automatically close the tubing when removed from the pump, preventing uncontrolled gravity-driven infusion of medications.
According to ISMP guidelines, what is the greatest risk associated with misconnection of enteral feeding tubing to an IV access site?
Answer: Introduction of enteral formula directly into the bloodstream
Enteral-to-IV misconnections can cause fatal embolism or sepsis when enteral formula or medications are injected intravenously; ISMP recommends ENFit connectors to prevent this.
ISMP recommends weight-based dosing for pediatric patients be calculated using which weight measurement?
Answer: Actual current body weight measured at admission
ISMP recommends using the patient's actual current body weight, measured and documented in kilograms at the time of admission, to prevent dosing errors in pediatric patients.
Which abbreviation has ISMP placed on its 'Do Not Use' list because it has been misinterpreted as a number?
Answer: U (units)
The abbreviation 'U' for units has been misread as '0', '4', or '6', leading to 10-fold or other dosing errors; ISMP recommends writing out 'units' in full.
ISMP recommends that medications removed from automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) using the 'override' function should be:
Answer: Limited to true emergencies and reviewed retrospectively by pharmacy
Override retrieval bypasses pharmacist review, so ISMP recommends restricting it to genuine emergencies and mandating retrospective pharmacy review to identify potential errors.
When preparing medications outside of pharmacy (i.e., at the bedside or in a procedure area), ISMP recommends that labels be applied:
Answer: Immediately after preparation, before the syringe is set down
ISMP requires immediate labeling of all prepared medications to prevent mix-ups, as an unlabeled syringe can be mistaken for another drug or dose within seconds.
ISMP recommends that which of the following verbal/telephone orders be read back to the prescriber before administration?
Answer: All verbal and telephone medication orders
ISMP recommends a full read-back for all verbal and telephone orders to verify accuracy, as mishearing drug names, doses, or routes is common during oral communication.