Pharmacology Final Exam Questions and Answers, Exams of Nursing

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NUR 242 PHARM FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH

ANSWERS LATEST 2023/2024 UPDATES

1. Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?

c. Oral analgesics

2. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid

drug action. Which form of the medication will the nurse administer? c. Liquid suspension

3. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription

for an enteric- coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? c. “I should expect a delay in onset of the drug’s effects after taking the tablet.”

4. A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin

must be given by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.

5. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The

nurse understands that this drug b. requires active transport for absorption.

6. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic

environment. How will the nurse give the drug? c. With food

7. The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid

absorption. How will the nurse give this medication? a. IM into the deltoid muscle

8. The nurse is reviewing medication information with a nursing student prior to

administering an oral drug and notes that the drug has extensive first-pass effects. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further teaching about this medication? a. “The first-pass effect means the drug may be absorbed into systemic circulation from the intestinal lumen.”

9. The nurse prepares to change a patient’s medication from an intravenous to an oral

form and notes that the oral form is ordered in a higher dose. The nurse understands that this is due to differences in a. bioavailability.

10. The nurse is preparing to administer a drug and learns that it binds to protein at a rate

of 90%. The patient’s serum albumin level is low. The nurse will observe the patient for d. increased drug effects.

11. The nurse is administering two drugs to a patient and learns that both drugs are

highly protein- bound. The nurse may expect d. increased risk of adverse effects.

12. A patient has been taking a drug that has a protein-binding effect of 75%. The provider

adds a new medication that has a protein-binding effect of 90%. The nurse will expect c. increased drug effects of the first drug.

13. The nurse gives a medication to a patient with a history of liver disease. The nurse will

monitor this patient for b. increased drug effects.

14. The nurse gives 800 mg of a drug that has a half-life of 8 hours. How much drug will

be left in the body in 24 hours if no additional drug is given? c. 100 mg

15. If a drug has a half-life of 12 hours and is given twice daily starting at 0800 on a

Monday, when will a steady state be achieved? b. 0800 on Wednesday

16. The nurse is preparing to administer a drug that is ordered to be given twice daily.

The nurse reviews the medication information and learns that the drug has a half-life of 24 hours. What will the nurse do next? b. Contact the provider to discuss daily dosing.

17. The nurse is caring for a patient who has taken an overdose of aspirin several

hours prior. The provider orders sodium bicarbonate to be given. The nurse understands that this drug is given for which purpose? c. To increase the excretion of the aspirin

18. The nurse is preparing to administer a drug that is eliminated through the kidneys.

The nurse reviews the patient’s chart and notes that the patient has increased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The nurse will perform which action? d. Notify the provider and discuss giving a lower dose.

19. The nurse understands that the length of time needed for a drug to reach the

minimum effective concentration (MEC) is the b. onset of action.

20. The nurse administers albuterol to a patient who has asthma. The albuterol acts by

stimulating beta2-adrenergic receptors to cause bronchodilation. The nurse understands that albuterol is a beta- adrenergic a. agonist.

21. The nurse is explaining to the patient why a nonspecific drug has so many side

effects. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching? d. “Nonspecific drugs require higher doses than specific drugs to be effective.”

d. Methamphetamine

10. The nurse is teaching a patient who has completed detoxification for alcohol abuse

who will be discharged home with a prescription for disulfiram (Antabuse). Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? a. “Even topical products containing alcohol can have serious adverse effects while I am taking this drug.”

11. A patient who has a long history of alcohol abuse is admitted to the hospital for

detoxification. In addition to medications needed to treat withdrawal symptoms, the nurse will anticipate giving intravenous d. thiamine to treat nutritional deficiency.

12. A patient arrives in the emergency department in an acute state of alcohol intoxication

and reports chronic consumption of “several six packs” of beer every day for the past year. The nurse anticipates administering which medication or treatment? a. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

13. A patient who is unconscious arrives in the emergency department with clammy skin

and constricted pupils. The nurse assesses a respiratory rate of 8 to 10 breaths per minute. The paramedics report obvious signs of drug abuse in the patient’s home. The nurse suspects that this patient has had an overdose of which substance? c. An opioid

14. A patient is brought to the emergency department after ingesting an overdose

of lorazepam (Ativan) several hours prior. The patient has a respiratory rate of 6 to 10 breaths per minute and is unconscious. The nurse will prepare to perform which action? b. Give flumazenil (Romazicon).

15. A patient with a history of opioid abuse will be discharged home with

buprenorphine to help prevent relapse. Which product will the nurse anticipate the provider to order? a. Buprenex

16. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with naltrexone (ReVia)

after treatment for opioid addiction. What information will the nurse include in the teaching for this patient? c. “ReVia blocks the pleasurable effects of opioids.”

1. A family member expresses concern that a patient is taking several herbal remedies and worries that they may be unsafe. The nurse will respond by saying that herbs d. should be discussed with the patient’s provider in conjunction with other medications.

2. A pregnant woman tells the nurse that she is taking ginger to reduce morning

sickness. What will the nurse tell this patient? d. “Ginger may be taken in low doses for up to 4 days.”

3. A patient asks the nurse about an herbal supplement and reports that it has a USP seal

of approval. The nurse explains that this indicates a. identity, potency, purity, and labeling accuracy.

4. A woman reports using aloe vera to treat constipation. Which response by the nurse is

correct? b. “Please tell me if you are taking cardiac medications or diuretics.”

5. A woman who is experiencing hot flashes associated with menopause asks the

nurse about using black cohosh. Which response by the nurse is correct? c. “Black cohosh may interact with antihypertensive drugs.”

6. A patient who has HIV asks the nurse about taking echinacea to improve immune

function. What will the nurse tell this patient? b. “This use is currently being studied in patients who have HIV.”

7. The nurse is counseling a female patient who reports taking feverfew to treat

premenstrual syndrome and migraines. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? b. “I should not take feverfew if I get pregnant.”

8. The nurse is providing preoperative education to a patient who will have surgery in

several weeks. The patient denies taking anticoagulant medications but reports using herbal supplements. Which herb would cause the nurse to be concerned? b. Ginkgo biloba

9. The nurse provides counseling to a patient who reports taking kava to treat

anxiety-related symptoms. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? c. “I should avoid alcohol while taking kava.”

10. The spouse of a patient who is an alcoholic asks the nurse about dietary

supplements that may help prevent liver disease. Which herb will the nurse suggest the patient discuss with a provider who has prescriptive authority? c. Milk thistle

11. A patient reports taking St. John’s wort to treat symptoms of depression and asks

the nurse how to use this product safely and effectively. Which response by the nurse is correct? a. “Apply sunscreen while taking St. John’s wort.”

12. A man is diagnosed with benign prostatic hypertrophy and wants to avoid surgery.

He asks the nurse about using saw palmetto. What information will the nurse include when teaching this patient about this herb? d. “You should stop taking the herb 1 to 2 weeks prior to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing.”

13. A patient is taking valerian, or “herbal valium,” to induce sleep. What will the

nurse teach this patient about this herb? c. Liver function tests must be monitored with long-term use.

14. A patient asks the nurse about the safety of herbal products in general. Which

response by the nurse is correct? a. “Consumers should research products and their manufacturers before taking.”

15. Which information can consumers expect to be included in labeling of herbal products?

c. Scientific name of the product

1. Which herbal remedies are often used for gastrointestinal disorders? (Select all that apply.) a. Chamomile e. Ginger f. Peppermint

12. The nurse is teaching a patient about sublingual nitroglycerin administration. What

information will the nurse include when teaching this patient? d. Take the first tablet while sitting or lying down.

13. A patient who uses transdermal nitroglycerin reports having headaches. The nurse will

counsel the patient to perform which action? d. Take acetaminophen as needed.

14. A patient is ordered to receive a nitrate to relieve stable angina. What side effect(s)

will the nurse anticipate in a patient receiving this medication? d. Pounding headache

15. A patient asks the nurse why nitroglycerin is given sublingually. The nurse will

explain that nitroglycerin is administered by this route for which reason? b. To increase absorption

16. A patient who has been taking nitroglycerin for angina has developed variant angina,

and the provider has added verapamil (Calan) to the patient’s regimen. The nurse will explain that verapamil is given for which purpose? d. To relax coronary arteries

17. A patient who has begun taking nifedipine (Procardia) to treat variant angina has

had a recurrent blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg or less. The nurse will anticipate that the provider will d. switch to diltiazem (Cardizem).

18. The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient who has a serum digoxin

level of 2.5 ng/mL. The patient takes 0.25 mg of digoxin per day. What action will the nurse take? b. Notify the provider of digoxin toxicity.

19. A patient who has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is given intravenous adenosine

(Adenocard). The nurse will explain that the medication is effective because it d. prolongs repolarization.

20. The nurse provides teaching for a patient who has a ventricular dysrhythmia

who is prescribed acebutolol (Spectral) 200 mg twice daily. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? d. “I should not stop taking this drug abruptly to avoid palpitations.”

1. A patient has congestive heart failure and has been taking digoxin (Lanoxin) for 9

years. The patient is admitted with signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity. Which signs and symptoms are associated with digoxin toxicity? (Select all that apply.) b. Vomiting d. Yellow haloes in the visual field e. Diarrhea

1. When the nurse practices the “5-plus-5” rights of medication administration, what does

it ensure? d. Safe administration of medications

2. In order to ensure that a medication is given to the right patient, the nurse must

perform which action? d. Verify the patient using two identifiers.

3. A health care provider calls a nursing unit to leave a telephone order for a PRN

antipyretic medication for a child. The provider tells the nurse to “give PO acetaminophen for a fever greater than 101° F per protocol.” What will the nurse do next? a. Ask the provider to verify how many mg per kg per dose and how frequently to give the medication.

4. The pediatric nurse reviews a hand-written medication order which reads,

“09/16/2013, acetaminophen 160 mg (5 mL) PO q4h for fever.” What will the nurse do next? c. Clarify the nursing assessments necessary for giving a dose.

5. The nurse is caring for a 20-kg child who is ordered to receive amoxicillin 400 mg PO

TID for 10 days. The nurse reviews the drug information and notes that the correct dose of amoxicillin is 40 to 50 mg/kg/day in two to three divided doses. Which action by the nurse is correct? d. Contact the provider and ask whether the drug should be given BID instead of TID.

6. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication from a unit-dose system. The nurse

verifies that the medication, dose, and time are correct and that the expiration date was the day prior. Which action is correct? c. Return the medication to the pharmacy to be replaced.

7. The nurse is preparing to administer a chewable tablet to a preschool-age child. The

child’s parent reports always crushing the tablet and mixing it with pudding when giving it at home. What is the nurse’s next action? a. Ask the pharmacist if the drug may be crushed.

8. The nurse is caring for a patient who will have surgery that morning. The patient

usually takes an antihypertensive medication every morning. The patient has been NPO since midnight. What action will the nurse perform? c. Consult the provider and surgeon about giving the medication.

9. The nurse is caring for a patient who has asthma. The provider has ordered an

albuterol metered- dose inhaler (MDI), 2 puffs q4 to 6h PRN wheezing. The patient’s last dose was 4 hours ago. What is the nurse’s next action? b. Auscultate the patient’s lung sounds.

10. The nurse assumes care of a patient who had surgery that morning. The provider

has ordered hydrocodone (Lortab) every 4 hours for mild to moderate pain and morphine sulfate for moderate to severe pain. The nurse reviews the patient’s record and notes the patient has received two doses of hydrocodone 4 hours apart for a pain level of 7 to 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and has reported a decrease in pain to a level of 6 to 7 after 30 minutes. It has been 4 hours since the last dose, and the patient reports a pain level of 7. What will the nurse do? b. Administer morphine.

11. The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin taking a thiazide diuretic to treat

hypertension. The patient says, “I know this will lower my blood pressure, but how does it work?” How will the nurse respond?

drug to treat this condition? a. An anticholinergic

10. The nurse is teaching a patient about the use of an anticholinergic medication. What

information will the nurse include when teaching this patient about this medication? d. “Use gum or lozenges to decrease dry mouth caused by this drug.”

11. Which cholinesterase inhibitor would be prescribed for a patient who has

Alzheimer’s disease?c. Donepezil HCl (Aricept)12. The nurse is teaching a patient who is going on a cruise about the use of transdermal scopolamine. What information will the nurse include when teaching this patient? c. “Change the patch every 3 days.”

13. The nurse is preparing to administer benztropine (Cogentin) to a patient who has

Parkinson’s disease. When performing an assessment, which aspect of the patient’s history would cause the nurse to hold the medication and notify the provider? b. Glaucoma

14. The nurse is caring for a patient in the post-anesthesia recovery unit. The nurse

notes that the patient received atropine sulfate 2 mg 30 minutes prior to anesthesia induction. The patient has received 1,000 mL of intravenous fluids and has 700 mL of urine in the urinary catheter bag. The patient reports having a dry mouth. The nurse notes a heart rate of 82 beats per minute. What action will the nurse perform? c. Palpate the patient’s bladder.

15. A patient who has Parkinson’s disease will begin treatment with benztropine

(Cogentin). Which symptom of Parkinson’s disease would be a contraindication for this drug? d. Tardive dyskinesia16. A patient who is intubated develops bradycardia because of vagal stimulation. Which medication will the nurse anticipate administering to treat this symptom? a. Atropine sulfate (Atropine)

17. The nurse is preparing to administer tolterodine tartrate (Detrol LA) to a patient who has incontinence. Which symptom would be a contraindication for this drug? a. Decreased bowel sounds1. Cholinergic drugs have specific effects on the body. What are the actions of cholinergic medications? (Select all that apply.)b. Decrease heart rate c. Stimulate gastric muscle d. Dilate blood vesselsf. Increase salivation g. Constrict pupils

1. The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient. The nurse will anticipate

administering which medication to this patient to help prevent thrombus formation caused by slow venous blood flow? d. Low–molecular-weight heparin

2. A nursing student asks why the anticoagulant heparin is given to patients who have

disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and are at risk for excessive bleeding. The nurse will explain that heparin is used in this case for which reason? a. To decrease the risk of venous thrombosis

3. A patient has been receiving intravenous heparin. When laboratory tests are drawn,

the nurse has difficulty stopping bleeding at the puncture site. The patient has bloody

stools and is reporting abdominal pain.The nurse notes elevated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Which action will the nurse perform? b. Obtain an order for protamine sulfate.

4. A patient who has received heparin after previous surgeries will be given

enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox) after knee-replacement surgery. The patient asks how this drug is different from heparin. The nurse will explain that enoxaparin a. decreases the need for laboratory tests.

5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving warfarin (Coumadin) and notes

bruising and petechiae on the patient’s extremities. The nurse will request an order for which laboratory test? a. International normalized ratio (INR)

6. A patient who is taking warfarin has an international normalized ratio (INR) of 5.5.

The nurse will anticipate giving c. oral vitamin K.

7. The nurse is teaching a patient who will begin taking warfarin (Coumadin) for

atrial fibrillation. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? d. “I will tell my dentist that I am taking this medication.”

8. The nurse is assessing a patient who takes warfarin (Coumadin). The nurse notes a

heart rate of 92 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 88/78 mm Hg. To evaluate the reason for these vital signs, the nurse will assess the patient’s a. gums, nose, and skin.

9. A patient who has recently had a myocardial infarction (MI) will begin taking

clopidogrel (Plavix) to prevent a second MI. Which medication will the nurse expect the provider to order as adjunctive therapy for this patient? a. Aspirin

10. A patient is taking clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix). When teaching this patient

about dietary restrictions while taking this medication, the nurse will instruct the patient to avoid excessive consumption of which food? a. Garlic

11. A patient experiences a blood clot in one leg, and the provider has ordered a

thrombolytic medication. The patient learns that the medication is expensive and asks the nurse if it is necessary. Which response by the nurse is correct? a. “The drug will decrease the likelihood of permanent tissue damage.”

12. The nurse has just begun administering intravenous streptokinase (Streptase). The

nurse assesses vital signs and notes a temperature of 37° C, a heart rate of 70 beats per minute, and a blood pressure of 88/58 mm Hg. The nurse will contact the provider to

5. The nurse is preparing to administer a first dose of benztropine (Cogentin) to a

patient diagnosed with parkinsonism. The nurse would notify the patient’s provider if the patient had a history of which condition? b. Glaucoma

6. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving trihexyphenidyl (Artane) to treat

parkinsonism. The patient reports having a dry mouth, and the nurse notes a urine output of 300 mL in the past 8 hours. Which action will the nurse perform? c. Report the urine output to the provider.

7. A nursing student asks the nurse why patients who have parkinsonism receive

a combination of carbidopa and levodopa. The nurse will explain that the combination product d. reduces peripheral side effects by inhibiting decarboxylase in the peripheral nervous system.

8. Which antiviral medication improves symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in some

patients? b. Amantadine HCl (Symmetrel)

9. A patient who has parkinsonism has been taking carbidopa-levodopa and has shown

improvement in symptoms but develops dystonic movements, nausea, and vomiting. Which medication will the nurse expect the provider to order for this patient to replace carbidopa- levodopa? c. Bromocriptine mesylate (Parlodel)

10. A patient who has parkinsonism will begin taking selegiline HCl (Eldepryl) to treat

symptoms. What information will the nurse include when teaching this patient about this drug? a. “Avoid consuming foods that are high in tyramine.”

11. A patient who has parkinsonism will begin taking carbidopa-levodopa. What

information will the nurse include when teaching this patient about this medication? b. “Rise slowly from your bed or your chair to avoid dizziness and falls.”

12. The nurse is teaching a patient who has Parkinson’s disease about the side effects

of carbidopa- levodopa. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching? d. “I should take the drug with food to increase absorption.”

13. A patient is taking entacapone (Comtan) along with carbidopa-levodopa to treat

parkinsonism. The nurse notes that the patient’s urine is orange in color. The nurse will b. reassure the patent that this is a harmless side effect.

14. The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient who has Alzheimer’s disease who will

begin taking rivastigmine (Exelon). What will the nurse include in the plan of care for this patient? b. Assist the patient to stand and walk.

15. The nurse is providing teaching for the family of a patient who has been newly

diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Which statement by the family member indicates understanding of the teaching?

a. “Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic, progressive condition.”

16. The nurse is teaching a family member about an elderly parent’s new prescription

for tacrine (Cognex) to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The family member asks what to expect from this drug. The nurse will respond that the patient will c. have decreased deterioration of cognition.

17. The nurse is helping to develop a plan of care for a patient who has advanced

Alzheimer’s disease. The patient will be taking a new medication. Which is a realistic goal for this patient? c. Receive appropriate assistance for care needs.

1. The nurse is caring for a patient who has increased intraocular pressure. The provider

has ordered a cholinergic agonist. The nurse will perform a thorough health history to make sure the patient does not have a history of which condition? a. Asthma

2. The nurse is performing a medication history on a patient who has glaucoma.

The patient cannot remember the name of the drug prescribed but tells the nurse that the drug causes light sensitivity. The nurse knows that the drug is among which class of medications? a. Alpha-adrenergic agonists

3. The nurse administers proparacaine HCl (Ophthaine) drops to a patient prior to an eye

examination. What sign will the nurse look for to determine when the examination can begin? a. Absence of the blink reflex

4. The nurse is administering timolol (Timoptic) eye drops to a patient who has

glaucoma. To prevent bradycardia, the nurse will perform which action? a. Apply pressure to the lacrimal ducts.

5. A patient has an infection of the eyelash follicles and in the gland on the eyelid

margin. The nurse recognizes these symptoms as being consistent with which condition? a. Blepharitisd. HordoleumANS: D

6. The nurse is preparing to administer dipivefrin (Propine) drops as a mydriatic

agent. Which assessment would cause the nurse to withhold the drug and notify the provider? a. Blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg

7. The nurse is preparing to administer olopatadine (Patanol) eyedrops to a patient who

has allergic conjunctivitis. The patient tells the nurse that the drops have caused burning and stinging. What action will the nurse take? a. Administer the drops and reassure the patient that this is a normal side effect.

8. The nurse is providing teaching for a patient who will begin using tobramycin

ointment (Nebcin) 0.5 inches 3 times daily. The patient currently uses pilocarpine HCl (Isopto Carpine) drops to treat glaucoma. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?d. “I should put the ointment on first and then instill the eyedrops.”

9. The nurse is counseling an adolescent patient who has recurrent otitis externa and

who works as a lifeguard in the summer about preventing this condition. The nurse will teach this patient toc. use a hair dryer to dry the ears after swimming

10. The nurse notes a blood pressure of 160/90 mm Hg in a patient taking a thiazide

diuretic. The patient reports taking an herbal medication that a friend recommended. Which herbal product is likely, given this patient’s blood pressure? a. Ginkgo

11. The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)

and digoxin (Lanoxin). Which potential electrolyte imbalance will the nurse monitor for in this patient? d. Hypokalemia

12. A patient has been taking spironolactone (Aldactone) to treat heart failure. The nurse

will monitor for a. hyperkalemia. 1 .The nurse is caring for a 55-year-old patient who has been HIV-infected for 15 years. The nurse understands that this patient d. may have comorbid illnesses that can complicate HIV.

2. A patient who is newly diagnosed with HIV infection after a recent exposure calls to

report fever, sore throat, myalgia, and night sweats. The nurse will notify the provider that this patient is most likely experiencing a. acute retroviral syndrome.

3. A patient with HIV infection has been receiving antiretroviral therapy for 2 months. At

the initiation of treatment, the patient had a viral load (VL) of 60 copies/mL and a CD count of 450 cells/mm3. Today’s lab results reveal a VL of 20 copies/mL and a CD4 cell count of 800 cells/mm3. How will the nurse interpret the patient’s results? b. The patient is progressing as expected.

4. A pregnant patient is HIV-positive. Which antiretroviral agent will the nurse expect

the patient’s provider to order? c. Lamivudine/zidovudine (Combivir)

5. A patient who is HIV-positive begins therapy with the fixed-dose combination

nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine) twice daily. The patient is in the clinic for follow-up 1 week after initiation of therapy and reports having nausea. The patient’s creatinine clearance is 40 mL/minute. Based on these findings, the nurse will perform which action? b. Notify the provider to discuss single-dose NRTI products.

6. A patient who has HIV infection will begin treatment with efavirenz. The nurse expects

this agent to be given in the combination product Atripla in order to c. reduce viral resistance.

7. A patient who is HIV-infected takes 800 mg of indinavir (Crixivan), a protease inhibitor

medication. The provider has ordered adding ritonavir (Norvir) to the regimen. The nurse will teach the patient that the addition of ritonavir a. allows decreasing the dosing from 3 times daily to twice daily.

8. A patient will begin taking the protease inhibitor combination Kaletra

(lopinavir/ritonavir). What information will the nurse include when teaching the patient

about dietary changes? a. Consume a low-cholesterol diet.

9. A patient who has recently begun antiretroviral therapy with a combination drug

develops immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) with mild symptoms. What does the nurse expect that the provider will order? d. Treating an underlying opportunistic infection

10. A patient who will begin antiretroviral therapy reports having trouble sticking with drug

regimens in the past. Which action will the nurse take? d. Offer written and verbal information about each drug’s purpose.

11. The nurse is caring for a patient who is HIV-positive and has been receiving

antiretroviral therapy for several months. The nurse experiences a needlestick injury resulting in exposure to the patient’s blood. The nurse asks the Occupational Health nurse if treatment is necessary. How will the Occupational Health nurse respond? c. “You will require 4 weeks of antiretroviral therapy.”

1. The nurse is caring for a patient who has asthma and administers a selective

beta2-adrenergic agonist to treat bronchospasm. The nurse will expect this drug to also cause which side effect? a. Increased blood glucose

2. A patient who has asthma is diagnosed with hypertension. The nurse understands

that which drug will be safe to give this patient? b. Metoprolol (Lopressor)

3. The nurse administers subcutaneous epinephrine to a patient who is experiencing an

anaphylactic reaction. The nurse should expect to monitor the patient for which symptom? b. Decreased urine output

4. An adult patient is brought to the emergency department for treatment of an asthma

exacerbation. The patient uses inhaled albuterol as needed to control wheezing. The nurse notes expiratory wheezing, tremors, restlessness, and a heart rate of 120 beats per minute. The nurse suspects that the patient has a. over-used the albuterol.

5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving intravenous dopamine (Intropin).

The nurse notes erythema and swelling at the IV insertion site. What is the nurse’s initial action? d. Notify the provider of a need for phentolamine mesylate (Regitine)

6. The nurse is teaching a patient how to use phenylephrine HCl (Neo-Synephrine) nasal

spray to treat congestion from a viral upper respiratory infection. What instruction will the nurse give the patient? a. Stop using the medication after 3 days.

7. The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin taking atenolol (Tenormin). What

information will the nurse include when teaching the patient about taking this medication? b. The patient must rise slowly from a chair or bed.

a. Dilated pupils b. Increased heart rate f. Relaxed uterine muscles

1. A patient is diagnosed with epilepsy and asks the nurse what may have caused

this condition. The nurse explains that epilepsy is most often b. idiopathic in origin.

2. A patient who has epilepsy will begin an anticonvulsant medication. The patient asks

the nurse how long the medication will be necessary. How will the nurse respond? a. “The medication is usually taken for a lifetime.”

3. The nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 5-year-old child who will begin

taking phenytoin (Dilantin). What information will the nurse include when teaching these parents about their child’s medication? d. “Your child may need a higher dose than expected.”

4. The nurse is caring for a patient who has a seizure disorder. The nurse notes that

the patient has reddened gums that bleed when oral care is given. The nurse recognizes this finding as a. an adverse effect of the phenytoin.

5. The nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin (Dilantin) to a patient who has a

seizure disorder. The patient appears drowsy, and the nurse notes that the last random serum drug level was 18 mcg/mL. What action will the nurse take? a. Administer the dose since the patient is not toxic.

6. The nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin to an 80-year-old patient and notes

the following order: IVP phenytoin 50 mg. The nurse will perform which action? a. Administer the undiluted drug through a Y-tube over two minutes.

7. The nurse is preparing to assist with blood collection on a newly admitted patient who

has been taking phenytoin for several years. The provider has ordered a complete blood count and liver function tests. Which other blood test will the nurse discuss with the provider? a. Blood glucose

8. A patient who takes phenytoin reports regular alcohol consumption. The nurse might

expect a serum phenytoin level in this patient to be in which range? a. 5 to 10 mcg/mL

9. A patient has recently begun taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for a seizure disorder. The

nurse notes a reddish-brown color to the patient’s urine. Which action will the nurse take? b. Reassure the patient that this is a harmless side effect.

10. A female patient who takes phenytoin for epilepsy becomes pregnant. The

nurse will notify the patient’s provider and will anticipate that the provider will take which action? b. Change the medication to phenobarbital (Luminal).

11. The nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with petit mal

seizures. The nurse will anticipate teaching this patient about which antiepileptic medication? b. Ethosuximide (Zarontin)

12. An intubated child is brought to the emergency department while having a

seizure that has been progressing for 20 minutes. Which drug will the nurse anticipate administering to this patient? a. Diazepam (Valium)

13. A patient will begin taking the antiepileptic drug ethosuximide (Zarontin)

and asks the nurse whether to take the drug with or without food. The nurse will counsel the patient to take this medication d. with meals.

14. A patient has recently begun taking carbamazepine (Tegretol) as an adjunct

medication to treat refractory seizures. The patient has a serum carbamazepine level of 18 mcg/mL. What action will the nurse take? a. Ask the patient about usual dietary preferences.

15. The nurse is performing a health history on a patient who is ordered to begin

therapy with valproic acid (Depakote) to treat epilepsy. Which aspect of the patient’s medical history will cause the nurse to be concerned? c. Liver disease

16. A woman who is pregnant is taking an anticonvulsant medication to treat a

seizure disorder. The nurse will ensure that the patient takes which dietary supplement toward the end of her pregnancy? d. Vitamin K

17. A parent expresses concern that a 5-year-old child may develop

epilepsy because the child experienced a febrile seizure at age 18 months. What will the nurse tell this parent? b. “A small percentage of children who have febrile seizures develop epilepsy.”

18. A 25 year-old female patient will begin taking phenytoin for epilepsy. The

patient tells the nurse she is taking oral contraceptives (OCPs). Which response will the nurse give? b. “You should use a backup method of contraception along with OCPs.”

19. The nurse provides teaching for a patient who will begin taking phenytoin.