Medication Administration Exam - SUNY Upstate Medical University

Rev March2012
Upstate University Health System Medication Exam - Version A
Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________________________
ID Number: ________________________ Unit: ____________________________
Directions: Please read each question below. Chose the best response for each of the
Multiple Choice and Medication Matching Questions and provide the best answer for each
of the Fill in the Blank Questions.
Each Question is worth 4 points each. The Minimum Passing Score is 80%.
Tracker Code: MEDADRNLPN
Multiple Choice and Fill in the Blank:
1. The Physician orders Cefazolin (Kefzol) 1 gram to infuse over 30 minutes. The label on
the Cefazolin bag indicates the volume is 50 mL, and the drop factor is 10 drops/mL.
The Nurse sets the IV to infuse at how many drops per minute?
2. When a Patient refuses to take a Narcotic Analgesic that has been prepared, the Nurse
should:
A. Encourage the Patient to take it anyway.
B. Label the Medication and place it in the Med Cart or Pxyis for use at a later time.
C. Discard the Medication in the presence of a witness and chart accordingly.
D. Return it to the Pharmacy.
3. It was noted in report that Mr. Smith has a Potassium level of 6.0. His scheduled
morning medications include Potassium Chloride 10 mEq PO BID. The Nurse will:
A. Give the Potassium as ordered.
B. Hold the Potassium and notify the Physician.
C. Call the Physician and request a higher Potassium dose.
D. Ask the Patient if he feels like taking his Potassium this morning.

4. Mr. Pitt is receiving intravenous Heparin Therapy. If necessary, which of the following
medications would be ordered to reverse the effects of Heparin?
Rev March2012
A. Protamine Sulfate
B. Potassium Chloride
C. Amicar (Aminocaproic Acid)
D. Vitamin K (Aquamephyton)
5. The Patient’s IV is to run at D5 ½ NS @ 75 mL per hour, with a drip factor of 15 drops per
mL. The Nurse sets the IV to infuse at how many drops per minute?
6. FROM QUESTION #5 above - Indicate by circling the correct label which IV solution the
Nurse will choose:
A. B.
C.

7. The Physician orders 15 mEq of Potassium Chloride Elixir. Using the label (below), the Nurse
determines the Patient should receive how many mL:
8. MD order: Midazolam (Versed) 1.5mg IV now. Medication Vial: Midazolam 5 mg per ml.
How many mL will you administer?
9. MD order: Regular Insulin drip 8 units /hr continuous IV infusion:
Bag from Pharmacy is labeled 100 units Regular Insulin in 100 ml of NS (Normal Saline).You will
set the infusion pump at how many mL per hour to deliver 8 units /hr?
10. The Physician orders Digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25 mg PO daily. Using the label below the
Patient is to receive how many tablets daily:
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11. When the Nurse brings in the patient’s morning medications, the Patient says to the
Nurse, “This little blue one looks different”. The Nurse will:
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A. Verify whether this is the correct medication for this Patient before administering it.
B. Tell the Patient that many medications look alike and this is what the Doctor has
ordered.
C. Ask the Patient to take the medications until the Nurse can check this medication
order later.
D. Hold all medications until the Physician makes rounds to assure this is the right
Patient’s medications.
12. MD order: Docusate (Colace) liquid 30 mg PO daily. The bottle is labeled Docusate 20
mg/5 mL. How many mL would you administer?
13. Mrs. Carter receives NPH Insulin 10 units every day. Which are signs of hypoglycemia?
A. Sweating, dizziness, confusion and headache.
B. Acetone breath, polyuria and polydipsia.
C. Photo sensitivity.
D. Sore throat and watery eyes.

14. Mr. Cook is being discharged from the hospital. His discharge medications include
Sublingual Nitroglycerin (NTG) (Nitrostat) tablet for angina. What of the following are important
to include in medication discharge education
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A. Dissolve under tongue- do not swallow.
B. Drug should burn or fizzle while under tongue.
C. When stored properly SL nitroglycerin maintains its potency until expiration date
specified by the manufacturer.
D. Keep tablets in original container, tightly seal container after each use.
E. All of above.
15. A Patient has requested pain medication. She tells the Nurse she has Oxycodone HCl
(OxyContin) ordered every 6 hours PO PRN. The Nurse will first:
A. Verify that the Patient does have an order for this medication.
B. Get the medication and administer it to the Patient as quickly as possible.
C. Counsel her that to prevent becoming addicted she should wait as long as possible
between doses.
D. Remove the drugs from the locked narcotic storage, and then document the time and
initials on the medication record.

Rev March2012
Medication Matching:
____ 1. Teach the patient and family that this antidepressant may require several weeks to
reach full therapeutic effect.
____ 2. An adverse reaction to this calcium channel blocker is peripheral edema.
____ 3. Side effects include electrolyte imbalances, dizziness, orthostatic or postural
hypotension and photosensitivity.
____ 4. Assess your patient for signs of unusual bruising, black tarry stools, bleeding
gums, hematuria and fall in hematocrit.
____ 5. This drug commonly used in diabetes treatment, can cause anorexia, vomiting,
diarrhea, hypoglycemia and epigastric discomfort.
____ 6. A broad spectrum antibiotic capable of causing kidney, hearing and Central
Nervous System damage.
____ 7. A bronchodilator used for bronchospasms associated with COPD, chronic
bronchitis and rhinorrrhea.
____ 8. Side effects include respiratory depression, dizziness, confusion and constipation.
____ 9. This benzodiazepine drug should be used cautiously in patients with impaired renal
and hepatic function and the elderly.
____10. Adverse reactions from this drug are depression, hypertension, decreased wound
healing, and moon face.
a.Glimepiride (Amaryl) f. Oxycodone/acetaminophen
(Percocet)
b. Ipratropium bromide
(Atrovent)
g. Gentamycin (Garamycin)
c.Sertraline (Zoloft) h. Diltazem (Cardizem)
d.Lorazepam (Ativan) i. Dexamethasone (Decadron)
e. Furosemide (Lasix) j. Warfarin (Coumadin)

1. To find the desired dose of a drug:
desired dose X
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Calculation Formulas
drug available units of measurement
2. IV calculations
a. To find the hourly rate: total amount to be infused = amount to infuse per hour
b. To find the number of drops per minute:
total amount of time in hours
total amount of fluid to be infused X the drop factor = # drops per minute
total amount of time in minutes
References
(solve for X to determine the number of tablets,
milligrams, milliliters, etc., you will administer to
the patient by cross- multiplying)
Gray Morris, D. (Ed.). (2010). Calculate with Confidence. (5th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
Oglesby, R. (Ed.). (2011). NCLEX-RN Review. (6 th ed. ). Newport, R.I.: Delmar.
Roach, S. (Ed.). (2009). Clinical Pharmacology. (7 th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

Rev March2012