Which of the following is one of the five controlled acts nurses are authorized to perform under the Nursing Act, 1991?

• A. Administering a substance by injection or inhalation
• B. Inserting an instrument beyond the external ear canal
• C. Prescribing, dispensing or compounding a drug
• D. Administering a substance by mouth to a patient

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing which actions are designated as controlled acts that nurses may perform under the Nursing Act, 1991. Administering a substance by injection or inhalation is one of those five controlled acts because it involves delivering a medication into the body and carries significant risk, so it requires appropriate training, assessment, and authorization. This is why it is allowed for nurses within their scope when properly prepared and supervised.

The other options describe actions that either fall outside the five controlled acts typically authorized to nurses or require different professional authorization. In practice, things like prescribing, dispensing or compounding a drug are generally reserved for other professionals, and inserting instruments beyond certain body openings or administering medications by other routes are not among the acts nurses perform autonomously without specific delegation or broader scope.