Question 85

Unopened units-of-use returned from inpatients may be re-dispensed.

In the hospital setting, specific protocols allow for unopened units-of-use medications that are returned from inpatients to be re-dispensed, promoting efficient medication management and reducing waste.

A) Unlabeled medications may be dispensed by the nurse at discharge

This statement is incorrect as unlabeled medications cannot be legally dispensed due to safety regulations. Medications must always be properly labeled to ensure patient safety and proper identification.

B) Unopened units-of-use returned from outpatients may be re-dispensed

This statement is also incorrect. Unopened units-of-use returned from outpatients typically cannot be re-dispensed due to concerns about the integrity of the medication and regulations surrounding outpatient returns.

C) Unopened units-of-use returned from inpatients may be re-dispensed

This statement is correct as hospitals often have policies in place that allow for unopened medications returned from inpatients to be re-dispensed, thus minimizing waste and maximizing resource utilization.

D) Crediting of unused doses is not feasible

This statement is misleading. While some systems may find it challenging to credit unused doses, it is not universally true that it is infeasible. Many hospitals have mechanisms to track and credit unused doses appropriately.

Conclusion

The correct answer is C, as it aligns with hospital policies designed to enhance medication management while maintaining safety protocols. Options A and B are incorrect due to legal and safety standards governing medication dispensing. Option D misrepresents the feasibility of crediting unused doses, thus supporting C as the only accurate statement among the choices provided.