- A prescription for ipratropium-albuterol 0.5-2.5 mg/3 mL inhalation solution is received. What equipment is necessary for the patient to administer this medication?
Answer: A nebulizer
Medications labeled as "inhalation solution" are intended to be administered using a nebulizer. This machine converts the liquid medication into a fine mist that the patient inhales over several minutes through a mouthpiece or mask.
- A pharmacy technician is preparing an intravenous medication and must withdraw the solution from a glass ampule. What specific type of needle is required for this task to ensure patient safety?
Answer: Filter needle
When a glass ampule is broken, microscopic glass shards can fall into the medication. A filter needle contains a small filter that traps these particles as the medication is drawn into the syringe, preventing them from being injected into the patient.
- A prescription for Nystatin oral suspension for an infant requires a 1 mL dose to be applied to the inside of the mouth. What is the most suitable device for this administration?
Answer: A 1 mL calibrated oral dropper
For administering a small volume of liquid medication into an infant's mouth, a calibrated oral dropper or oral syringe is ideal. It allows for precise measurement and slow, controlled delivery to the buccal area, which is important for medications like Nystatin that require contact with the oral mucosa.
- A technician is assembling supplies for an immunization clinic. For administering an intramuscular vaccine to an average-sized adult, which syringe and needle combination is most commonly used?
Answer: 3 mL syringe with a 1-inch 23G needle
For most adult IM immunizations in the deltoid muscle, a 1- to 5-mL syringe is used. A 1-inch needle is appropriate for most adults, and a gauge between 22G and 25G is standard. The 3 mL syringe with a 1-inch 23G needle is a very common combination. The other options are incorrect sizes, gauges, or types of equipment.
- A technician is asked to retrieve supplies for reconstituting a powdered drug in a vial for injection. Which two items are essential for transferring the sterile diluent into the vial?
Answer: A syringe and a needle
Reconstitution of a sterile powder requires aseptic technique. A sterile syringe and needle are used to accurately withdraw the correct volume of a sterile diluent (e.g., Sterile Water for Injection) and inject it into the vial containing the powder.
- A patient is prescribed an albuterol HFA metered-dose inhaler (MDI) but is having difficulty coordinating their breath with the actuation of the device. Which piece of equipment should be recommended to improve drug delivery?
Answer: Spacer
A spacer (or valved holding chamber) is an external device that attaches to an MDI. It holds the aerosolized medication in a chamber, allowing the patient to inhale it without needing to perfectly time their breath with the actuation, thereby improving lung delivery. A nebulizer is for liquid solutions, a peak flow meter measures lung function, and a dry powder inhaler is a different type of inhalation device.
- A patient with newly diagnosed diabetes is instructed to monitor their blood glucose levels. To obtain a drop of blood for the glucose meter, which supply must be dispensed?
Answer: Lancets
Lancets are small, sterile needles used with a lancing device to prick the fingertip to obtain a small blood sample for use in a blood glucose meter. Pen needles and insulin syringes are for injecting insulin, not for obtaining a blood sample.
- A nurse needs to administer a 0.1 mL intradermal injection for a tuberculosis skin test. Which syringe provides the greatest precision for this dose?
Answer: 1 mL tuberculin syringe
A 1 mL tuberculin syringe is specifically designed for administering very small, precise doses of medication, typically less than 1 mL. Its fine gradations (often in hundredths of a mL) make it the most accurate choice for a 0.1 mL injection. Insulin syringes are calibrated in units, and larger syringes lack the necessary precision.
- A patient is prescribed ciprofloxacin otic solution. What is the primary administration device for this dosage form?
Answer: A bottle with a built-in dropper
Otic preparations are for the ear. They are typically packaged in a squeezable plastic bottle with an integrated dropper tip that allows for the precise dispensing of drops directly into the ear canal.
- A patient is prescribed the Lantus SoloStar insulin pen. In addition to the pen itself, which disposable item is required for administration?
Answer: Pen needles
Insulin pens are injection devices that contain a cartridge of insulin. To administer a dose, a new, disposable pen needle must be twisted onto the tip of the pen before each injection. Syringes are not used with insulin pens.
- An order is received for 1 L of D5W with 20 mEq of KCl to be infused over 8 hours. What type of equipment is used to control the administration rate of this IV fluid?
Answer: An electronic infusion pump (IV pump)
An electronic infusion pump is the standard device used in healthcare settings to precisely control the rate and volume of intravenous fluids delivered to a patient. While a gravity drip can be used, an IV pump provides much greater accuracy and safety, which is crucial for infusions containing electrolytes like KCl.
- A pharmacy technician is drawing up a very viscous medication for an IM injection from a vial. To make drawing the medication into the syringe easier, which needle gauge is most appropriate to use?
Answer: A low-gauge (e.g., 18G) needle
Needle gauge refers to the diameter of the needle. A lower gauge number corresponds to a wider diameter. A low-gauge needle (e.g., 18G) is wider and allows thick, viscous liquids to be drawn into the syringe more easily and quickly. Often, the needle is then changed to a higher gauge (thinner) one for patient comfort during injection.
- Based on the prescription, which syringe is the most appropriate to dispense for this patient?
Answer: 1 mL insulin syringe
Insulin is dosed in units, not milliliters. An insulin syringe is specifically calibrated in units to ensure accurate dosing. A 1 mL insulin syringe can hold up to 100 units, making it appropriate for a 40-unit dose. A tuberculin syringe is for small mL doses, a 3 mL syringe is for general purpose injections, and an oral syringe is for non-sterile oral administration.
- A patient is prescribed testosterone cypionate 200 mg/mL, to be injected intramuscularly. Which of the following supplies would be necessary for this administration?
Answer: A syringe, a needle for drawing up, and a needle for injection
Testosterone for IM injection is an oil-based solution supplied in a vial. Administration requires a syringe to hold the medication and needles. It is common practice to use a wider, lower-gauge needle to draw the viscous solution from the vial, and then switch to a thinner, higher-gauge needle for the actual injection for patient comfort.
- A medication needs to be diluted with 0.9% Sodium Chloride before being administered intravenously. The 0.9% Sodium Chloride serves as a:
Answer: Dilution solution
A dilution solution, also known as a diluent or vehicle, is a sterile liquid used to dissolve or dilute a medication to the appropriate concentration for administration. 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline) and 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) are the most common dilution solutions for IV medications.
- A parent needs to administer 4 mL of amoxicillin oral suspension to a toddler. Which of the following measuring devices will provide the most accurate dose?
Answer: A 5 mL oral syringe
An oral syringe is the most accurate device for measuring and administering specific liquid medication volumes. A 5 mL syringe is the ideal size for a 4 mL dose. Household spoons are highly inaccurate. Medicine cups have wider gradations, making them less accurate for a specific 4 mL dose. A 1 mL dropper is too small.
- An IV order for phenytoin requires the use of an in-line filter during administration to prevent infusion of precipitate. What is the standard micron size for this type of filter?
Answer: 0.22 micron
Phenytoin is known to precipitate, and package inserts require the use of a 0.22-micron in-line filter during administration to capture any potential particulate matter. The 1.2-micron filter is typically used for lipid emulsions.
- To prevent the accidental IV administration of an oral liquid medication in a hospital setting, what is a key safety feature of an oral syringe?
Answer: It has a tip that is incompatible with a Luer-Lok needle.
Oral syringes have a unique tip design that prevents them from connecting to IV tubing or accepting a Luer-Lok needle. This design is a critical safety feature to eliminate the risk of injecting an oral medication intravenously, which can be fatal. They come in various sizes and colors and are marked in mL.
- A patient is given a prescription for a fentanyl transdermal patch. What is the primary administration device associated with this dosage form?
Answer: The adhesive patch itself
For a transdermal patch, the administration system is the patch itself. It is a self-contained unit that includes the drug reservoir, a rate-controlling membrane, and an adhesive layer that is applied directly to the skin to deliver medication over an extended period.
- A technician needs to measure a 6.5 mL dose of a liquid medication. According to best practices for accuracy, which size syringe should be selected?
Answer: 10 mL syringe
The 'rule of thumb' for syringe accuracy is to choose the smallest syringe that can hold the required volume. Since a 5 mL syringe is too small for a 6.5 mL dose, the next appropriate size is the 10 mL syringe. Using a much larger syringe (like 20 mL or 30 mL) would decrease accuracy due to the wider spacing of the graduation marks.
