Ethics
A competent resident refuses to take their morning scheduled blood pressure medication, stating it makes them feel dizzy. What is the ethical and legal action for the CMA to take first?
What is Respect the resident's right to refuse, document the refusal properly, and notify the licensed nurse immediately.
This chronic respiratory disease is commonly managed using metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) or bronchodilators, which a CMA is allowed to administer.
What is Asthma (or COPD)?
A resident's Medication Administration Record (MAR) states a medication is to be administered "PO." How should the CMA administer this medication?
What is By mouth /orally
The standard list of core verifications required every single time a drug is dispensed: Right resident, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and...
What is right documentation
Which of the following is the responsibility of the Medication Aide?
A. Giving the first dose of a newly ordered medication to the client
B. Converting medication dosage from milligrams to micrograms
C. Withholding a patient medication without reviewing it with the nurse first
D. Giving PRN medications ordered after checking with the resident’s nurse
The correct answer is D
Metformin and insulin glargine are standard maintenance medications prescribed to manage this chronic metabolic diagnosis.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
If a medication order indicates that a dose should be given "QID," how many times per day must the CMA schedule or administer it?
What four times a day?
The minimum number of personal identity checks required before passing any medication to a resident to fulfill the "Right Resident" rule.
What is 3?
An appreciative resident offers a CMA a $50 cash tip for being so kind and gentle during medication passes. What is the ethical response for the CMA?
What is Politely decline the cash gift, explaining that facility policy and professional ethics prohibit accepting money or expensive gifts from residents.
Residents diagnosed with Chronic Heart Failure or Hypertension are frequently prescribed Furosemide (Lasix), which belongs to this drug class.
What are diuretics?
A gastrointestinal medication order includes the instruction "AC." When should the CMA give this medication relative to meals?
What is before meals?
The allowable time frame (window of administration) established under Iowa board rules for passing routinely scheduled non-controlled medications.
What is 1 hour before to 1 hour after the scheduled time (a 2-hour window)?
A CMA accidentally administers a morning pill to the wrong resident. Realizing no immediate physical harm was done to the resident, the CMA considers not documenting or reporting it to avoid getting written up. What ethical duty does this contemplate violating?
What is
This class of medication is commonly used to treat chronic joint pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis but requires monitoring for GI bleeding.
What are NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)?
While reviewing a liquid ear drop order, the CMA sees the abbreviation "gtt." What unit of measurement does "gtt" represent?
What is drops
What is the primary difference between a side effect and an adverse drug reaction?
A CMA takes a selfie in the medication room and accidentally captures the computer screen showing a partial list of resident names and room numbers in the background, then posts it on social media. Why is this a serious ethical and legal violation?
What is It exposes protected health information (PHI) to unauthorized individuals, violating HIPAA and resident privacy rights.
Residents taking Atorvastatin (Lipitor) for hyperlipidemia should be monitored closely and report this specific musculoskeletal side effect to the nurse.
What is unexplained muscle pain or weakness (myalgia)?
A resident has an order for acetaminophen "1 table PO Q4H PRN headache." As a CMA, what critical element must be verified before you can administer this medication?
What is That the resident is currently complaining of or exhibiting signs of a headache, and at least 4 hours have passed since the last dose.
Before administering Digoxin (Lanoxin) to a resident with Heart Failure, what vital sign measurement is critical?