Medication Administration Self-Study Course

Pharmacology and medication administration is a key role and responsibility in the scope of practice for Licensed Practical Nurses. This role includes assessment and monitoring of the client, safe medication administration, health teaching and coaching about medications, and continuous evaluation and documentation of the client’s response to the medication. Medication administration also includes identifying risks and precautions and being able to respond to adverse events appropriately and in a timely manner.

The purpose of this self-study course is to provide Licensed Practical Nurses with a review of pharmacology, the role of medication management and the various components of medication administration in Alberta. This course will be of interest to any nurse – newly graduated or experienced – who want to benefit from an opportunity to refresh their knowledge.

This course consists of a Medication Administration Study Guide, several practice quizzes and several other resources. To access a learning activity, simply click on the Link. After you have completed an activity, return to this page to proceed to the next one.

NOTE: This self-study course is intended to support the continuing education of Alberta's Licensed Practical Nurses. Key legislation and resources relate to agencies and services provided in the province of Alberta, Canada.

Quick Links: Additional Resources | Final Exam | Medication Drug Calculation Course

Course Modules and Exercises

Module 1: Authorization for Medication Administration

1. Read Introduction and Module 1 in the Study Guide ( PDF | Digital )
2. Do Knowledge Check quiz for Module 1 (15 questions randomly selected from 31)

Module 2: Pharmacology

1. Read Module 2 in the Study Guide ( PDF | Digital )
2. Do Knowledge Check quiz for Module 2 (15 questions from 46)

Module 3: Medication Management

1. Read Module 3 in the Study Guide ( PDF | Digital )
2. Do Knowledge Check quiz for Module 3 (15 questions from 74)

Module 4: Safety Considerations

1. Read Module 4 in the Study Guide ( PDF | Digital )
2. Do Knowledge Check quiz for Module 4 (15 questions from 29)

Study Guide Resources

1. Medication Administation Study Guide ( PDF | Digital ) – The complete Study Guide for this course.
2. Glossary ( PDF | Digital ) – Definitions of the key words used in this course.
3. Medication Management Practice Guideline.

Final Examination

Final Examination – This final exam consists of 75 randomly selected questions from a pool of 176 items. A printable CLPNA Certificate of Completion is available upon passing this exam with a score of 80% or better. If you are an Alberta LPN, please enter your Registration Number when requested. Everyone else, leave in the default number. If you want a copy of the Final Exam Results e-mailed to yourself (or anyone else), enter the appropriate e-mail address. Otherwise, leave it blank. (Results are ONLY e-mailed if you have passed the exam).

Module Evaluation

Medication Administration Module Evaluation – Please complete this online survey after finishing this Module. Your feedback and comments will greatly assist CLPNA in developing and delivering effective, quality nursing educational resources.

Medication Administration Practice Quizzes

Medication Abbreviations – This quiz is designed to assess and refresh your knowledge regarding the medical abbreviations used in prescriptions, administration of medications, clinical notes and health records. (25 questions selected from 80 items). (PDF/PRINT Versions: Quiz 1 | Quiz 2)

Safe Medications Principles – This quiz tests and reviews your knowledge of safe medication principles.(25 questions selected from 65 items). (PDF/PRINT Versions: Quiz 1 | Quiz 2)

Medication Errors – Test and refresh your knowledge of the most common causes of medication errors. (25 questions selected from 45 items). (PDF/PRINT Versions: Quiz 1 | Quiz 2)

Drug Classifications – Assess and refresh your knowledge of the classifications / classes of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and the applications of each in preventing and treating symptoms and diseases. (25 questions randomly selected from 104 items). (PDF/PRINT Versions: Quiz 1 | Quiz 2 | Quiz 3 | Quiz 4)

Drug Categories – This quiz tests your knowledge of the categories / subcategories and their applications of the top 100 generic drugs used in Canada. (25 questions randomly selected from 103 items). (PDF/PRINT Versions: Quiz 1 | Quiz 2 | Quiz 3 | Quiz 4)

Drug Indications – Assess and refresh your knowledge of the applications / indications of the top 100 drugs used in Canada. (25 questions randomly selected from 100 items). (PDF/PRINT Versions: Quiz 1 | Quiz 2 | Quiz 3 | Quiz 4)

Medication Administration Learning Games

Medical Abbreviations I – A drag and drop game that tests your knowledge of the medical abbreviations used in prescriptions, clinical notes and medical records. (10 questions randomly selected from 60 items).

Medical Abbreviations II – A wordguess game about some of the common medical abbreviations used in nursing. (15 questions randomly selected from 110 items).

Meds Storeroom – A drag and drop simulation game requiring you to classify, sort and shelve commonly used generic name medications. (5 activities randomly selected from 15 items).

Medications Review – A flash-card type interactive exercise involving the top 80 drugs used in Canada. The review includes visual information, audio pronunciations, indications, and links to more information for each medication. (20 drugs randomly presented from a pool of 80).

Pharmacology Terms I – A wordguess game to test yourself to see how well you know the terminology used to describe the nature, effects and processes of medications prescribed to prevent and treat illnesses. (15 items selected from 50 questions).

Pharmacology Terms II – Another wordguess game on pharmacology related terms and concepts about the nature, effects and processes of medications prescribed to prevent and treat illnesses. (15 items selected from 65 questions).

Other Medication Administration Resources

Glossary of Drugs (Audio): A podcast version of the glossary of generic-name drugs and their applications. Click to listen, or right-click to download the audio file to listen off-line (18:21 minutes – 17 MB). Print off a copy of the Glossary to follow along.

Glossary of Drugs ( PDF | Digital ): This is a list of common generic-name drugs and their indications (PDF).

Top 100 Canadian Drugs ( PDF | Digital ): A table listing the generic names of the 100 most commonly used medications in Canada. The information provided includes rank, generic name, category, type and indications. (PDF)

Apps

e-Glossary of Drugs App: A multi-media app consisting of common generic-name drugs, indications, classifications, daily doses and links to more information. Use iSpring mobile app (see below) to download this e-Glossary to your smart phone or tablet for off-line use.

NurseCalcs - Jonsap (Android)

MediCalculator EN (Android)

MediCalculator EN (Apple)

MedCalc 3000 Pharmacology (Apple)

Continuing Education Resources

MacEwan University, NURS 0161 Basic Medication Administration

MacEwan University, NURS0164 Medication Administration and Calculations

NorQuest College, XHLT1530 – Pharmacology Therapeutics and Medication Administration

Vecova – Medication Administration

The Institute of Safe Medication Practices – ISMP.org – has a number of excellent resources on safe medication practices. These include:

• High Alert Medications List – These are drugs that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error.
• Confused Drug Name List – Contains look-alike and sound-alike drugs that have been involved in medication errors.
• Error-Prone Abbreviations List – These are abbreviations, symbols and dose designations that have been reported to be frequently misinterpreted and involved in harmful medicaiton errors.
• Do Not Crush Medications List – A list of oral dosage forms that should not be crushed and some of the risks of doing so.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has comprehensive information on prescription drugs, supplements and herbal remedies.

Information on Canadian prescription drugs is available through MediResource.

DrugWatch – provides information on thousands of prescription and over-the-counter medications. The information is continually updated with drug recall news, recent approvals, drug interactions, side effects and latest developments.

WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology – a searchable database of all drugs based on the the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) measuring unit.

The Practice Quizzes and Final Exam can be completed on regular browsers, tablets and smart phones. For iPhones and iPads, download and install the FREE iSpring viewer from the iTunes Store. For Android devices, iSpring Play is available here. The quizzes can also be downloaded and saved on your mobile device and completed off-line at your convenience.

The drag and drop games can be played on regular browsers, iPads/iPhones and Android devices. For best viewing on Apple's iPad/iPhone, download and install the FREE Articulate Apple Player App from the iTunes Store. If you are using an Android tablet, download and install the FREE Android Player App from Google Play. The games can also be downloaded to your tablet for off-line use.

The wordguess games are HTML5 and can be viewed in any browser, tablet or smart phone. No player apps are necessary. To view and download the PDF/PRINT documents requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

If you are using these quizzes / games / final exam for class assignments or continuing education credits, and want a copy of the Results for your records, enter your name when requested. Otherwise, use Guest and proceed with the quiz / game / exam. No results or scores are recorded or tracked!