Which of the following represents the correct "Six Rights" of medication administration?

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation. The Six Rights of medication administration are: Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, and Right Documentation. Each right must be verified before any medication is administered. This is a fundamental safety protocol that prevents medication errors.

At what angle should an intramuscular (IM) injection be administered?

90 degrees. Intramuscular (IM) injections are given at a 90-degree angle to ensure the medication reaches the muscle tissue. Intradermal (ID) injections are given at 10-15 degrees, and subcutaneous (SubQ) injections are given at 45 degrees. Common IM injection sites include the deltoid, vastus lateralis, and ventrogluteal muscles.

Which DEA schedule of controlled substances has the HIGHEST abuse potential with NO accepted medical use?

Schedule I. Schedule I controlled substances have the highest potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the United States. Examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Schedule II drugs (morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl) also have high abuse potential but DO have accepted medical uses with severe restrictions.

Basic Pharmacology — Free Study Guide 2026

Key Takeaways

Pharmacology encompasses pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body)
The "Six Rights" of medication administration are: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation
Drug classifications organize medications by their therapeutic effect: analgesics (pain), antibiotics (infection), antihypertensives (blood pressure), and many more
Common medication routes include oral (PO), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SubQ), intradermal (ID), intravenous (IV), sublingual (SL), and topical
Controlled substances are classified into Schedules I-V by the DEA based on abuse potential, with Schedule I having the highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use
Medical assistants must verify allergies, check medication expiration dates, and follow the three safety checks before administering any medication

Basic Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their effects on the body. Medical assistants must understand basic pharmacology principles to safely prepare and administer medications under physician direction. The CCMA exam tests your knowledge of drug classifications, routes of administration, safety protocols, and controlled substance regulations.

Pharmacokinetics: What the Body Does to the Drug

Pharmacokinetics describes how the body processes a drug through four phases:

Phase	Description	Key Factors
Absorption	Drug enters the bloodstream from the administration site	Route, formulation, food in stomach, blood flow to site
Distribution	Drug travels through the bloodstream to target tissues	Blood flow, protein binding, blood-brain barrier, body fat
Metabolism	Drug is chemically altered (primarily in the liver)	Liver function, age, genetics, drug interactions
Excretion	Drug and metabolites are eliminated from the body	Kidney function (primary), lungs, bile/feces, sweat

Key pharmacokinetic terms:

Half-life — Time for 50% of a drug to be eliminated from the body
Onset — Time from administration to first therapeutic effect
Peak — Time when drug reaches maximum concentration in the blood
Duration — Length of time the drug produces its therapeutic effect
Bioavailability — Percentage of drug that reaches systemic circulation (IV = 100%)

The Six Rights of Medication Administration

Every medication administration must verify these six rights:

Right	Verification
Right Patient	Check at least two identifiers (name + DOB; NOT room number)
Right Drug	Compare the drug label to the order three times
Right Dose	Verify the dose matches the order; perform calculations if needed
Right Route	Confirm the route matches the order (PO, IM, SubQ, etc.)
Right Time	Administer at the correct time per the order
Right Documentation	Record the medication, dose, route, time, site, and patient response

The Three Medication Checks:

First check: When retrieving the medication from storage
Second check: When preparing the medication
Third check: At the point of administration (before giving to the patient)

Drug Classifications

Classification	Purpose	Examples
Analgesics	Relieve pain	Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, morphine
Antibiotics	Treat bacterial infections	Amoxicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin
Antihypertensives	Lower blood pressure	Lisinopril, amlodipine, metoprolol
Antidiabetics	Control blood glucose	Metformin, insulin, glipizide
Anticoagulants	Prevent blood clots	Warfarin, heparin, enoxaparin
Bronchodilators	Open airways	Albuterol, ipratropium
Corticosteroids	Reduce inflammation	Prednisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone
Diuretics	Increase urine output	Furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide
Antiemetics	Prevent nausea/vomiting	Ondansetron, promethazine
Antidepressants	Treat depression	Sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram
Antihistamines	Treat allergies	Diphenhydramine, cetirizine, loratadine
Proton pump inhibitors	Reduce stomach acid	Omeprazole, pantoprazole
Statins	Lower cholesterol	Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin
Thyroid hormones	Treat hypothyroidism	Levothyroxine
Antianxiety	Treat anxiety	Alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam

Medication Routes of Administration

Route	Abbreviation	Description	Onset
Oral	PO	Swallowed by mouth	30-60 min
Sublingual	SL	Dissolved under the tongue	5-10 min
Buccal	—	Placed between cheek and gum	5-10 min
Intramuscular	IM	Injected into muscle tissue at 90° angle	10-20 min
Subcutaneous	SubQ	Injected into fatty tissue at 45° angle	15-30 min
Intradermal	ID	Injected into the dermis at 10-15° angle	Variable
Intravenous	IV	Injected directly into a vein	Immediate
Topical	TOP	Applied to the skin surface	Variable
Transdermal	TD	Absorbed through skin via a patch	Slow, sustained
Inhalation	INH	Breathed into the lungs	1-5 min
Rectal	PR	Inserted into the rectum	15-30 min
Ophthalmic	—	Applied to the eye	Minutes
Otic	—	Applied to the ear	Minutes
Nasal	—	Sprayed or dropped into the nose	Minutes

Injection Angle Reference:

Intradermal (ID): 10-15 degrees — bevel up, into the dermis (TB test, allergy testing)
Subcutaneous (SubQ): 45 degrees — into fatty tissue (insulin, heparin)
Intramuscular (IM): 90 degrees — into muscle (vaccines, antibiotics)

Controlled Substance Schedules (DEA Classification)

Schedule	Abuse Potential	Medical Use	Examples
Schedule I	Highest	No accepted medical use	Heroin, LSD, ecstasy, marijuana (federal)
Schedule II	High	Accepted with severe restrictions	Morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, Adderall, Ritalin
Schedule III	Moderate	Accepted	Codeine combinations, anabolic steroids, testosterone
Schedule IV	Lower	Accepted	Alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, tramadol, zolpidem
Schedule V	Lowest	Accepted	Cough preparations with codeine, pregabalin

Controlled substance handling requirements:

Must be stored in a double-locked cabinet or safe
Two authorized personnel must count controlled substances at shift changes
All dispensing must be documented in a controlled substance log
Discrepancies must be reported immediately to the supervisor and DEA if necessary
Only providers with a valid DEA number can prescribe controlled substances

Medication Safety

Common medication errors and prevention:

Error Type	Example	Prevention
Wrong patient	Giving medication to the wrong person	Always verify with two patient identifiers
Wrong dose	Giving 10 mg instead of 1.0 mg	Avoid trailing zeros; double-check calculations
Wrong route	Giving an IM medication orally	Read the complete order; verify route
Wrong drug	Look-alike/sound-alike drug confusion	Read the label three times; use tall man lettering
Allergic reaction	Giving a drug the patient is allergic to	Always check allergy status before administration
Expired medication	Administering an expired drug	Check expiration date during all three medication checks

Adverse Drug Reactions:

Side effect — Expected, often mild secondary effect (e.g., drowsiness from antihistamines)
Adverse reaction — Unexpected, harmful response requiring intervention
Drug interaction — One drug affecting the action of another drug
Allergic reaction — Immune-mediated response (rash, hives, anaphylaxis)
Anaphylaxis — Severe, life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate epinephrine

NHA CCMA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

1.3 Basic Pharmacology

Key Takeaways

Basic Pharmacology

Pharmacokinetics: What the Body Does to the Drug

The Six Rights of Medication Administration

Drug Classifications

Medication Routes of Administration

Controlled Substance Schedules (DEA Classification)

Medication Safety

NHA CCMA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

1Introduction: NHA CCMA Exam Overview

2Chapter 1: Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (10%)

3Chapter 2: Anatomy and Physiology (5%)

4Chapter 3: Clinical Patient Care (56%)

5Chapter 4: Patient Care Coordination and Education (8%)

6Chapter 5: Administrative Assisting (8%)

7Chapter 6: Communication and Customer Service (8%)

8Chapter 7: Medical Law and Ethics (5%)

1.3 Basic Pharmacology

Key Takeaways

Basic Pharmacology

Pharmacokinetics: What the Body Does to the Drug

The Six Rights of Medication Administration

Drug Classifications

Medication Routes of Administration

Controlled Substance Schedules (DEA Classification)

Medication Safety