Medication and drug calculations: RCSI aptitude test practice questions

Sample questions from this topic

1. Question 1

   How does the NMBI guidance say the "right patient" should be confirmed?

   1. AWristband, photo, or name and date of birth against the chart
   2. BRecognise the patient from earlier in the shift and check the bed number
   3. CAsk the patient to confirm their name with a nod before each medicine
   4. DCheck the bed number matches the chart
   Show answer

   Answer: A. NMBI 2020 guidance: verify the right patient by checking the identification wristband, photograph, or asking the patient to state their name and date of birth, and matching these against the medication administration chart. Bed numbers and recognition are unsafe.

   Source: NMBI Guidance on Medication Administration (2020), 4.1

2. Question 2

   Which of the following is one of NMBI’s 10 rights of medication administration?

   1. ARight response
   2. BRight pharmacy
   3. CRight prescriber
   4. DRight cost
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Right response means monitoring the patient for an adverse reaction and assessing whether the desired effect was achieved. The others are not on the NMBI list.

   Source: NMBI Guidance on Medication Administration (2020), 4.10

3. Question 3

   When should the nurse sign the medication administration chart?

   1. AWhen the medicine is left at the bedside
   2. BBefore preparing, to save time
   3. CAt the end of the shift for all doses
   4. DOnce administration has been witnessed
   Show answer

   Answer: D. NMBI: sign the medication administration chart only once the medication administration has been witnessed, that is, the patient has actually taken it. Signing before or in bulk risks recording a dose that was never taken.

   Source: NMBI Guidance on Medication Administration (2020), 4.9

The practice above shuffles the options each time and keeps your score. 30 more free questions across the paper, with a PDF.

Documents behind these questions

Every fact was checked against the public document named on the answer. This topic draws on:

• NMBI Guidance on Medication Administration (2020), guiding principle 4
• IMSN Safety Alert: Time Critical Medicines (2025)
• RCSI repository: Introduction of Drug Round Tabard and Checklist to Reduce Interruptions and Error in Medication Administration (Uko-Udom, 2014