Skills Lab I Parenteral Meds Test

Questions
1.

2.

3.

4.

1.
Which syringe should the nurse select for an injection of 0.45 mL of medication to a pediatric
patient?
A.
Tuberculin syringe
B.

Insulin syringe

C.

Low-dose insulin syringe

D.

3-mL syringe

2.
The nurse is preparing to give an IM injection to a 6-month-old infant. Which site is the most
appropriate for administration of the injection to this patient?
A.
The deltoid muscle
B.

The dorsogluteal injection site

C.

The vastus lateralis

D.

All of the above

3.
An appropriate technique for administration of a parenteral medication is observed when the nurse:
A.
Uses strict aseptic technique
B.

Tightly holds the inside surface of the syringe plunger

C.

Injects medication as rapidly as possible

D.

Slowly inserts the needle through the patient's tissue

4.
What is the appropriate technique for the nurse to use to remove medication from an ampule?

5.

A.

Keep the needle against the rim of the ampule

B.

Break the neck of the ampule toward the hands

C.

Tip the ampule to bring all fluid within reach of the needle

D.

Add a volume of air to push the medication out into the syringe

5.
A patient is demonstrating the technique for mixing regular and NPH insulins in the same syringe. A
nurse evaluates that further instruction is required if the patient first:
A.
Aspirates and injects air equal to the regular insulin dose into the vial first and
withdraws the regular insulin
B.
Aspirates and injects air equal to the NPH insulin into the vial but does not

C.

withdraw the medication

Withdraws the proper amount of NPH insulin before withdrawing the regular
insulin

D.

6.

7.

Calculates the combined total of insulin after withdrawing the NPH insulin

6.
The nurse is preparing to administer the long-acting insulin glargine (Lantus) as well as Regular
insulin to a patient. The nurse realizes that she should:
A.
Inject air into the Lantus first and not withdraw medication
B.

Inject air into the Regular insulin first and then into the Lantus

C.

Use two needles

D.

Inject air into the Lantus first and withdraw the Regular

7.
The nurse has drawn up Regular and NPH insulin for administration to her diabetic patient. When
the nurse enters the room, the patient has gone to radiology for a chest radiograph and will return in
20 minutes. What should the nurse do with the medication?
A.
Put the medication in the refrigerator until he returns

8.

9.

10.

B.

Put the medication in the patients medication box until he returns

C.

Keep the syringe in her pocket until he returns

D.

Discard the medication and withdraw more when he returns

8.
The nurse is teaching the patient how to prepare 10 units of Regular insulin and 5 units of NPH
insulin for injection. What should the nurse instruct the patient to do?
A.
Inject air into the Regular insulin, then into the NPH
B.

Withdraw the Regular insulin before injecting the air

C.

Inject air into and withdraw the NPH immediately

D.

Inject air into both vials and withdraw the Regular insulin first

9.
The nurse prepares to administer an intradermal injection for the administration of medication for:
A.
Pain
B.

Allergy sensitivity

C.

Anticoagulant therapy

D.

Low-dose insulin requirements

10.
To administer an injection intradermally, the nurse should:
A.
Use a tuberculin or small syringe with a 1-inch needle
B.

Inject no more than 1 mL of solution

C.

Insert the needle at a 5- to 15-degree angle

D.

Expect a small amount of bleeding after injection

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12.

13.

14.

11.
Intradermal injections are administered correctly when the nurse:
A.
Uses a 1-inch needle
B.

Selects a 22-gauge needle

C.

Injects at a 45-degree angle

D.

Identifies the site at 3 fingerwidths below the antecubital space

12.
A raised, hardened, red zone of 5 mm in diameter noted around an intradermal test site would be
expected in a:
A.
Patient who has no known risk factors for TB
B.

Patient who has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

C.

Patient who is an injection drug user

D.

Patient who is employed in a high-risk setting

13.
What instructions should the nurse give to the family member who is to administer a subcutaneous
insulin injection for a patient?
A.
Massage the site after the injection.
B.

Select a 25-gauge, - to 5/8-inch needle.

C.

Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle if 2 inches of tissue can be pinched.

D.

Rotate injection site each time from one major site to another.

14.
The patient is to receive lowmolecular-weight heparin by injection. Where on the patient's anatomy
should the nurse prepare to inject this medication?
A.
Scapular region
B.

Vastus lateralis

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16.

17.

18.

C.

Posterior gluteal

D.

Abdomen

15.
An appropriate maximum amount of medication that could be given intramuscularly to a normal, welldeveloped adult is:
A.
2 mL
B.

3 mL

C.

5 mL

D.

8 mL

16.
What does the nurse do to administer an intramuscular injection via the Z-track method?
A.
Pulls the skin tissue laterally 1 to 1 inches
B.

Does not aspirate back on the syringe

C.

Immediately removes the needle after injecting the medication

D.

Releases the skin before removing the needle from the site

17.
What are the anatomical landmarks for the ventrogluteal injection site?
A.
Greater trochanter and knee
B.

Anterosuperior iliac spine and iliac crest

C.

Posterior superior iliac spine and iliac crest

D.

Acromion process, scapula, and axilla

18.

The nurse is evaluating the integrity of the ventrogluteal injection site. The nurse finds the site by
locating the:
A.
Middle third of the lateral thigh

19.

20.

21.

B.

Greater trochanter, anterior iliac spine, and iliac crest

C.

Anterior aspect of the upper thigh

D.

Acromion process and axilla

19.
The nurse is preparing to administer an immunization to a toddler. The preferred site for
administration of immunizations in this age group is the:
A.
Deltoid muscle
B.

Dorsogluteal muscle

C.

Vastus lateralis muscle

D.

Buttock

20.
After insertion of the needle into a patient's tissue, a nurse aspirates and notices a very small
amount of blood return. What should the nurse do?
A.
Continue with the injection
B.

Discontinue the procedure and notify the nurse in charge

C.

Remove and change the needle, and then readminister the medication

D.

Discontinue the procedure and repeat the entire preparation of the medication

21.
To add medication to the intravenous (IV) fluid bag, the nurse should:
A.
Shake the bag vigorously to mix the medication
B.

Insert medication into the main tubing port

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24.

C.

Label the outside of the bag with a felt-tip marker

D.

Cleanse the injection port with antiseptic before adding the medication.

22.
When assessing a patient's IV insertion site, the nurse notes that it is warm, reddened, and tender.
The nurse should first:
A.
Slow the infusion rate
B.

Discontinue the IV infusion

C.

Apply a local anesthetic

D.

Apply warm compresses

23.
The nurse is preparing to start an infusion of ciprofloxacin to run as a piggyback infusion. For the
system to run properly, the nurse must:
A.
Hang the bag lower than the primary infusion
B.

Stop the primary bag from running so the piggyback can run

C.

Plug the piggyback into the lowest port on the primary bags tubing

D.

Connect the bag to the upper Y-port of a primary infusion line

24.
The nurse is preparing to administer an intravenous (IV) antibiotic using a tandem setup. The nurse
must:
A.
Connect the tubing to the upper Y-port of the primary infusion line
B.

Hang the antibiotic at a higher level than the main IV bag

C.

Monitor the tandem setup closely

D.

Be sure that the primary line is not running while the antibiotic is running

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26.

27.

28.

25.
In a volume-controlled administration set, the nurse usually mixes medication with:
A.
10 to 30 mL of solution
B.

50 to 100 mL of solution

C.

100 to 500 mL of solution

D.

500 to 1000 mL of solution

26.
When preparing to administer an IV bolus medication with a small-gauge needle, the nurse notes
that there is no blood return on aspiration. What should the nurse do?
A.
Discontinue the procedure and inform the physician
B.

Select a different site and start a new IV

C.

Notify the pharmacy

D.

Determine the presence of an infiltration

27.
An appropriate technique for the nurse to implement for a patient with a continuous subcutaneous
infusion is to:
A.
Change the site every day
B.

Use a gauze dressing over the insertion site

C.

Select an insertion site over a bony prominence

D.

Insert the packaged needle at a 90-degree angle, or according to direction.

28.
What is an advantage of providing medication via intravenous bolus?
A.
A slow onset of medication effects
B.

Medications can be given over a longer time frame

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30.

31.

C.

Medications provide a more accurate dose of medication delivered

D.

Hypersensitivity reactions are always delayed

29.
Failure to inject a medication correctly may result in which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
A.
An inappropriate dug response

B.

Nerve injury and/or pain

C.

Tissue necrosis

D.

Sterile abscess

30.
The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular medication. In determining what size needle
and syringe to use to administer the medication, the nurse must consider which of the following?
(Select all that apply.)
A.
The quantity of medication

B.

The viscosity of the medication

C.

The body size of the patient

D.

Whether or not the syringe has a safety needle

31.
Which part of the syringe must be kept sterile at all times?
(Select all that apply.)
A.
The needle hub

B.

The needle shaft

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33.

34.

C.

The syringe outer barrel

D.

The needle bevel

32.
The nurse has a responsibility to ensure that every IM injection is given safely. In doing so, the nurse
is trying to prevent which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
A.
Abscess formation

B.

Sciatic nerve injury

C.

Persistent pain

D.

Hematoma

33.
Which of the following are acceptable sites for subcutaneous injections?
(Select all that apply.)
A.
Dorsogluteal

B.

Upper arms

C.

Abdomen

D.

Thighs

34.
The nurse administers the intramuscular medication of iron by the Z-track method. Why was the
medication administered by this method?
(Select all that apply.)
A.
Provides faster absorption of the medication

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36.

37.

B.

Reduces discomfort from the needle

C.

Prevents leakage of medication into subcutaneous tissue

D.

Prevents the drug from irritating sensitive tissue

35.
Which of the following methods is used to administer intravenous medications? (Select all that
apply.)
A.
Piggyback infusion

B.

Volume control device

C.

Electronic infusion device

D.

Bolus injection

36.
Why is the IV bolus considered a dangerous method by which to administer medications? (Select all
that apply.)
A.
It does not allow time to correct errors

B.

It may be irritating to the lining of blood vessels

C.

It can cause pain and abscesses

D.

It can cause sloughing of tissues

37.
________________ administration of medication instills medications into body tissues and into the
circulatory system by injection.

38.

38.
A _______________ injection is an injection into tissues just under the dermis of the skin.

39.

39.
An injection that is given into the body of a muscle is known as an __________________ injection.

40.

40.
An ____________ injection is an injection into the dermis just under the epidermis.

41.

41.
Injection of a medication into a vein is known as an ________________injection or infusion.

42.

42.
_____________ syringes require special needles, which are twisted onto the tip and lock themselves
in place.

43.

43.
The most frequent route of exposure to blood-borne disease for health care workers is
_________________.

44.

44.
The dorsogluteal injection site should not be avoided in favor of the ventrogluteal site because of the
risk of damaging the _______________.

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45.
Research suggests that the _____________ area is the most appropriate site for all age groups of
children receiving IM injections.

46.

46.
An _______________ is made of glass with a constricted, prescored neck that needs to be snapped
off to allow access to the medication.

47.

47.
The nurse is preparing to draw up medication from an ampule. She realizes that she will need a
_________________ to draw up the medication.

48.

48.
A single-dose or multidose container that contains a liquid or dry form of a medication and that has a
rubber seal at the top is known as a ________________.

49.

49.
The method of injecting a medication that requires pulling the skin laterally before injection is known
as the ___________________.

50.

50.
A method of medication delivery that involves a small intravenous (IV) bag or bottle connected by a
short tubing line connected to the upper Y-port of a primary infusion line is called a _____________
infusion.

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51.
A ______________ is a small (25 to 250 mL) IV bag or bottle connected to a short tubing line to
the lower Y-port of a primary infusion line or to an intermittent venous access.

52.

52.
An intravenous (IV) administration set that attaches just below the primary infusion bag or bottle to
control small volumes of fluid is known as a ________________.

53.

53.
The patient is complaining of tenderness at his intravenous (IV) insertion site. The nurse examines
the site and notices that the site is swollen, warm, and reddened. The nurse stops the intravenous
infusion, realizing that the patient has a ________________.

54.

54.
While checking the patient's intravenous (IV) site, the nurse notices that the site is cool, pale, and
swollen. She immediately stops the IV infusion, realizing that these are signs indicating
_____________.

55.

55.
An IV __________ or "push" usually requires small volumes of fluid, which is an advantage for
patients who are at risk for fluid overload.

56.

56.
A subcutaneous medication delivery system that allows for continuous administration of medication
is known as ________________.