NCLEX Medication Administration
Understanding Medication Administration for the NCLEX will help you ace the test so you can earn your nursing license. The NCLEX exam has 20 questions and allows 20 minutes to complete with one minute for each question. Both Registered and Practical nurses must take the NCLEX exam to ensure they can administer medications in a clinical setting. There are rigid guidelines associated with this test. However, they are necessary to ensure nurses can properly perform the medication administration process.
NCLEX and Medication Administration Protocols
There are several standards and protocols nurses must adhere to when distributing medications. The NCLEX practice exam presents different scenarios and requires the participant to answer each question with what they believe to be the correct answer. Not only do they have to know practical formulas for dispensing certain medications, they also have to know what steps a nurse must take before signing in and dispensing any medications.
These protocols are in place to protect the patient and ensure they are getting the proper medication in the proper dosage at the designated time. In addition to protecting patients by accurately documenting and dispensing medication, nurses must also know how to properly secure medications under lock and key when not in use. With the current opioid crisis in the US, medication control is more important than ever.
Note: Nurse practitioners who have prescribing authority must go through much more rigorous testing with AANPCB certification.
Questions and Answers
The questions and answers on the NCLEX practice exam represent real-life scenarios that nurses might face while they are working. Each scenario has an answer or rationalization that explains why that particular rationale was chosen. There are multiple practice exams students can use to prepare for the actual test. Every test has 20 random questions. Because of the strict nature of the test, participants only have one minute or less to complete the exam for a total of 20 minutes. After completing the test, participants can go back and review their answers. An explanation will be added if one is needed. The NCLEX practice questions on medication administration not only test the participant’s knowledge but also help them to identify in which areas they could improve their skills.
The Benefits Offered by the NCLEX Medication Administration Exam
The NCLEX Medication Administration practice exam offers many benefits and is extremely valuable in terms of evaluating a participant’s level of knowledge. A few of the more common benefits associated with the practice exam includes the following:
- Teach the client about their medication, including its purpose and dosage
- The ability to prepare and dispense medications
- Mix medications according to written protocols
- Destroy unused medications according to specific protocols
- Review and evaluate a patient’s medication
- Notate changes in dosage for medications
- Know how to properly secure medications under lock and key
These are just a few of the most common protocols that nurses or other practitioners must know. Nurses must be knowledgeable about every aspect of working with medications. From preparation to administration and dosage to destruction, the nurse must be able to handle any situation involving the dispensing or administration of the medication. The list of benefits and teaching points is extensive and encompasses every facet of medication administration.
Who Takes the NCLEX Practice Exam?
The NRB, or Nursing Regulatory Board, issues the Authorization to Test that is needed to take the NCLEX test. Individuals who have earned their LPN, RN, an ADN, or also a BSN in nursing are all eligible to take the NCLEX exam. Once the nurse graduates from college and has applied for the authorization to take the test, they must wait to receive verification. As soon as they receive their verification letter, they can schedule a time to take the NCLEX exam. Additionally, participants should study for the test by using the practice exams. The practice exams contain many of the same questions that are on the actual test. However, the questions on the actual test are randomly selected.
NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. Both the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN evaluate the knowledge and expertise of nurses who are eligible to take the test. The goal of taking the exam is to provide verification of their ability to use problem-solving skills to effectively manage tasks associated with medication administration.
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