Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

Why is it crucial to document medication administration for a QMA?

1. To avoid running out of medications

2. To ensure accurate medication history

3. To track nursing staff hours

4. To manage inventory of supplies

The correct answer is: To ensure accurate medication history

Documenting medication administration is crucial for several reasons, and ensuring an accurate medication history is one of the primary reasons. When a Qualified Medication Aide (QMA) records the medications administered to a patient, it creates an official record of what has been given, the dosage, the time, and any observations noted during the process. An accurate medication history is vital for healthcare providers to assess the patient's ongoing treatment and to avoid medication errors, including omissions or duplications of doses. This history supports continuity of care, facilitating communication among healthcare professionals and ensuring that everyone involved in the patient's care is informed about their medication regimen. It can also help identify any potential adverse reactions or interactions with other medications. While avoiding running out of medications and managing inventory of supplies are important aspects of healthcare management, they do not directly relate to the individual patient's medication administration records. Tracking nursing staff hours does not pertain to medication administration and is unrelated to patient care in this context. Therefore, the most significant reason for documenting medication administration is to ensure that there is an accurate, thorough, and up-to-date medication history for each patient.