Week 4 - Med Admin, Informatics, and Tech

Question 1

What is nursing informatics?

Answer 1

The integration of nursing science with information and communication technologies to manage and communicate data, enhance decision-making, and improve patient care.

Question 2

What are clinical information systems (CIS)?

Answer 2

Broad systems that store and retrieve patient data to support care, such as EHRs, lab systems, telehealth platforms, and CDSS.

Question 3

Give three examples of health information technology used in nursing practice.

Answer 3

Barcode scanning for meds, electronic health records (EHR), wearable monitors.

Question 4

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

Answer 4

A digital version of a patient’s chart containing medical history, medications, lab values, progress notes, and other essential health info.

Question 5

How does technology assist in safe medication administration?

Answer 5

Through EHR-integrated tools like barcode scanning, medication reconciliation, and e-prescribing.

Question 6

What is the purpose of simulation in nursing education?

Answer 6

To safely practice clinical decision-making and hands-on skills in realistic, risk-free scenarios.

Question 7

What is required if there is a breach of unencrypted ePHI?

Answer 7

Notify the client by mail within 60 days; immediate phone call if there’s imminent misuse.

Question 8

What are common Telehealth technologies used in nursing?

Answer 8

Video conferencing, remote monitoring, health apps, and secure messaging.

Question 9

What are the benefits of EHR for documentation?

Answer 9

Eases charting with flowsheets, improves tracking and communication, enhances patient safety.

Question 10

What is a major downside of EHR documentation?

Answer 10

Time-consuming and may reduce time spent with patients.

Question 11

What is digital health literacy?

Answer 11

The ability to find, understand, and evaluate electronic health information.

Question 12

What populations are at higher risk for low digital health literacy?

Answer 12

Older adults, low-income groups, non-English speakers, and individuals without tech access.

Question 13

What are potential outcomes of low health literacy?

Answer 13

Increased ER use, worse health outcomes, and higher mortality rates.

Question 14

What does ISBARR stand for?

Answer 14

Identity, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, Read Back.

Question 15

What is the purpose of the ISBARR tool?

Answer 15

To provide structured, concise communication between healthcare providers during handoffs or urgent situations.

Question 16

What happens during the “Read Back” step of ISBARR?

Answer 16

The nurse repeats the information or orders received to ensure accuracy and prevent miscommunication.

Question 17

What is the role of a nurse in ensuring HIPAA compliance?

Answer 17

Nurses must protect PHI, avoid unauthorized access or sharing, log out of systems, and dispose of PHI properly.

Question 18

What is a common cause of a HIPAA breach related to technology?

Answer 18

Downloading PHI onto unauthorized devices or sharing login credentials.

Question 19

What is meant by “minimum necessary” in HIPAA?

Answer 19

Only the information needed to perform a task should be accessed or shared.

Question 20

How does technology support health literacy for patients?

Answer 20

It enables easier access to health records, online scheduling, messaging providers, and remote monitoring.

Question 20

How can simulation benefit interprofessional education?

Answer 20

It promotes teamwork, communication, and understanding of each profession’s role in patient care.

Question 21

How does technology support health literacy for patients?

Answer 21

It enables easier access to health records, online scheduling, messaging providers, and remote monitoring.

Question 22

What is the function of a clinical decision support system (CDSS)?

Answer 22

It assists providers by offering evidence-based guidance and alerts based on patient data.

Question 23

How does barcode scanning improve medication safety?

Answer 23

It ensures the “five rights” of medication administration (right patient, drug, dose, route, and time).

Question 24

What is one way to protect PHI on physical paper (e.g., brain sheets)?

Answer 24

Shred or dispose of it in a secure receptacle after use—never leave it in the open.

Question 25

What are the three safety checks before administering medication?

Answer 25

1) When removing from dispensing system 2) During preparation 3) At bedside before administration.

Question 26

What is the purpose of performing the 3 medication checks?

Answer 26

To ensure the correct medication is given to the correct patient in the correct manner.

Question 27

What should always be compared during safety checks?

Answer 27

The medication should always be compared to the Medication Administration Record (MAR).

Question 28

Why is documenting after administration critical?

Answer 28

If it isn't documented, it didn't happen—this protects patient safety and legal compliance.

Question 29

What is the nurse’s role in medication safety?

Answer 29

Assess, plan, administer, and evaluate medication effectiveness and side effects.

Question 30

Name the 10 Rights of Medication Administration.

Answer 30

Right client, medication, dose, route, time, documentation, assessment, evaluation, education, right to refuse.

Question 31

How do you confirm the Right Client?

Answer 31

Use 2 identifiers (e.g., full name, DOB, or medical record number) and check the ID band.

Question 32

What is involved in confirming the Right Dose?

Answer 32

Check against the MAR, verify with the provider if unclear, and ensure accuracy.

Question 33

What does the Right Medication involve?

Answer 33

Check prescription, medication label, expiration date, and confirm it matches the diagnosis.

Question 34

What are common routes of administration?

Answer 34

Oral, IV, IM, SubQ, Sublingual, Buccal, Rectal, Topical, Transdermal, Inhalation, Intranasal.

Question 35

What is considered the Right Time?

Answer 35

Follow timing policies (usually within 30–60 minutes), and give STAT meds immediately.

Question 36

What is the Right Documentation practice?

Answer 36

Document after giving the medication and include time, dose, and any patient response.

Question 37

What does the Right Assessment include?

Answer 37

Check for allergies, contraindications, lab values, vitals, and interactions.

Question 38

What should you do if a patient refuses medication?

Answer 38

Investigate the reason, educate the patient, and document refusal.

Question 39

What is the Right Evaluation?

Answer 39

Follow-up to assess if the medication had the intended therapeutic effect and monitor side effects.

Question 40

What nursing assessments are performed before medication?

Answer 40

Subjective: meds taken, allergies, interactions. Objective: vitals, labs, physical status.

Question 41

What are examples of med-specific assessments before giving meds?

Answer 41

BP for antihypertensives, glucose for insulin, pain score for analgesics.

Question 42

When do you assess after administering a PO med?

Answer 42

Around 30 minutes post-administration.

Question 43

When do you assess after IV med administration?

Answer 43

Within 5–15 minutes.

Question 44

What should a nurse evaluate after giving meds?

Answer 44

Effectiveness, adverse effects, and need for further interventions.

Question 45

What are some common medication errors?

Answer 45

Wrong drug, dose, route, patient, time, or giving expired or discontinued meds.

Question 46

When should an incident report be filed?

Answer 46

Immediately after a medication error is discovered—even if no harm occurred.

Question 47

What is Medication Reconciliation?

Answer 47

Comparing patient’s home meds with current orders to avoid interactions or omissions.

Question 48

What tech tools help prevent med errors?

Answer 48

Barcode scanning, smart pumps, electronic MARs, and computerized order entry.

Question 49

What is "Tall Man Lettering"?

Answer 49

Capitalizing portions of look-alike drug names to prevent mix-ups (e.g., DOBUTamine vs. DOPamine).

Question 50

Why should you avoid trailing zeros in dosages?

Answer 50

A trailing zero can cause a 10x overdose (e.g., 2.0mL mistaken for 20mL).

Question 51

Why should you use a leading zero for decimals?

Answer 51

Without it, a dose of .5mL can be misread as 5mL.

Question 52

What abbreviations are error-prone?

Answer 52

QD (daily), QID (4x/day), HS (bedtime or half strength), DC (discharge or discontinue).

Question 53

Give examples of look-alike/sound-alike drugs.

Answer 53

Keppra vs. Keflex, Lantus vs. Lente, Metronidazole vs. Metformin.

Question 54

What are the top causes of medication errors according to nurses?

Answer 54

Lack of med knowledge, fatigue, high workload, and interruptions.