High Alert LASA - Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Ptce
- What term describes drugs that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm if misused?
- High-alert medications. These drugs have a narrow therapeutic index, making errors likely to result in serious adverse events or death.
- What term describes medication names or packages that can be confused because they look or sound similar?
- Look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications. Such similarities increase the risk of medication errors during prescribing, dispensing, or administration.
- Which medication class is high-alert due to profound sedation and respiratory depression risk?
- Opioids. These analgesics can cause overdose leading to respiratory arrest, especially in opioid-naive patients.
- Which IV electrolyte is high-alert because rapid infusion can cause dangerous hypermagnesemia?
- Magnesium sulfate (IV). Intravenous administration demands monitoring to avoid respiratory depression or cardiac toxicity from overdose.
- Identify the safer practice for a high-alert IV medication: independent double-check or single check?
- Independent double-check. This method involves two practitioners verifying independently to minimize errors in preparation and administration.
- Which abbreviation should be avoided because it can be mistaken for "0" or "4" in medication orders?
- "U" for units (write "units" instead). The abbreviation can be misread as numbers, leading to dangerous dosing errors in medications like insulin.
- Which medication class is high-alert because overdose can cause severe hypotension and bradycardia?
- IV beta-blockers. Intravenous forms can precipitate acute cardiovascular collapse if not titrated carefully.
- Which IV electrolyte is high-alert because incorrect dosing can cause severe hypotension or arrhythmias?
- Calcium (for example, calcium chloride or calcium gluconate). Improper use can lead to hypercalcemia, resulting in bradycardia, hypotension, or cardiac arrest.
- Which anticoagulant is high-alert and commonly confused with heparin due to similar naming?
- Enoxaparin. As a low-molecular-weight heparin, it poses risks of bleeding and is prone to mix-ups with unfractionated heparin in clinical settings.
- Which electrolyte is high-alert and can cause fatal arrhythmias if concentrated doses are misused?
- Potassium chloride (concentrated KCl). Concentrated forms can induce hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest if administered rapidly or in error.
- Which thrombolytic (fibrinolytic) class is considered high-alert due to severe bleeding risk?
- Thrombolytics (for example, alteplase). These agents dissolve clots but carry a high risk of hemorrhagic complications if dosed incorrectly.
- Which medication class is high-alert because errors can cause life-threatening hypotension or ischemia?
- IV vasopressors (for example, norepinephrine). Overdosing may result in severe hypertension or tissue necrosis, while underdosing causes shock.
- Which LASA pair is a classic confusion risk: dopamine vs dobutamine?
- Dopamine vs dobutamine. Similar names can lead to errors in administering vasopressors versus inotropes in critical care.
- What organization maintains the best-known list of high-alert medications used in US hospitals?
- ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices). ISMP develops and publishes evidence-based lists to identify medications with high error potential and promote safety protocols in healthcare.
- Which medication class is high-alert because small dosing errors can cause severe hypoglycemia?
- Insulins. Dosing inaccuracies can lead to profound hypoglycemia, coma, or death due to their potent blood glucose-lowering effects.
- What is the required dosing unit for insulin that should be written explicitly to reduce errors?
- Units (write out "units"; do not use "U"). Explicitly writing the term prevents misinterpretation of abbreviations that could lead to tenfold dosing errors.
- Which immunosuppressant class is high-alert because small errors can cause rejection or toxicity?
- Immunosuppressants (for example, tacrolimus, cyclosporine). Narrow therapeutic indices mean minor errors can lead to graft rejection or severe immunosuppression-related complications.
- Which LASA pair is commonly tested due to sound-alike risk: hydrOXYzine vs hydrALAzine?
- Hydroxyzine vs hydralazine. Their phonetic similarity heightens the risk of dispensing the wrong medication for allergy versus hypertension.
- Which error-prevention strategy uses mixed-case lettering to help differentiate similar drug names?
- Tall Man lettering. This technique emphasizes differing portions of drug names to reduce visual confusion in storage and selection.
- Which anticoagulant is a classic high-alert medication requiring careful dosing and monitoring?
- Heparin. It requires precise dosing due to its narrow therapeutic window and potential for life-threatening bleeding or thrombosis.
- Which route warning is critical for vincristine to prevent fatal administration errors?
- IV use only; never intrathecal. Intrathecal injection causes fatal neurotoxicity, necessitating strict route-specific safeguards.
- Which paralytic medication class is high-alert because it can cause apnea without sedation?
- Neuromuscular blocking agents (paralytics). They induce paralysis, risking respiratory failure if given without ventilatory support.
- Which chemotherapy category is high-alert due to narrow therapeutic index and severe toxicity?
- Antineoplastics (chemotherapy). These agents have high toxicity potential, with errors causing irreversible organ damage or death.
- Which LASA pair is commonly confused and involves an antihistamine vs an antipsychotic?
- Zyrtec (cetirizine) vs Zyprexa (olanzapine). Brand names sound alike, risking confusion between allergy treatment and schizophrenia management.