Pharmacology Final Review

Front 1

A nurse is caring for an intubated patient who is receiving pancuronium for neuromuscular blockade. The patient’s eyes are closed, and the patient is not moving any extremities. The heart rate is 76 beats per minute, and the blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg. The nurse caring for this patient will do what?

Back 1

Talk to the patient while giving care and explain all procedures.

Front 2

A nursing asks why albuterol, which is selective for beta2 receptors, causes an increased heart rate in some patients. How does the nurse respond?

Back 2

“Adrenergic agonists can lose their selectivity when given at higher doses.”

Front 3

A patient complains to the nurse that the clonidine (Catapres) recently prescribed for hypertension is causing drowsiness. Which response by the nurse to this concern is appropriate?

Back 3

“Drowsiness is a common side effect initially, but it will lessen with time”

Front 4

A nurse counsels a patient who is to begin taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for epilepsy. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?

Back 4

“I should brush and floss my teeth regularly.”

Front 5

A patient has localized muscle spasms after an injury. The prescriber has ordered Tizanidine (Zanaflex) to alleviate spasms. When obtaining the patient’s health history, the nurse should be concerned about which of the following as a possible reason for considering another drug?

Back 5

A history of hepatitis.

Front 6

A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine (Tegretol) for bipolar disorder reports having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

Back 6

Reassure the patient that these effects occur early in treatment and will resolve over time.

Front 7

A patient is taking a drug that has known toxic side effects. What will the nurse do?

Back 7

Monitor the function of all organs potentially affected by the drug.

Front 8

A psychiatric nurse is teaching a patient about an antidepressant medication. The nurse tells the patient that therapeutic effects may not occur for several weeks. The nurse understands that this is likely the result of:

Back 8

Changes in the brain as a result of prolonged drug exposure.

Front 9

A nurse is caring for an older adult man who has Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The patient’s daughter wants to know if testing can be done to determine her risk for developing the disease. What will the nurse tell her?

Back 9

Some biologic markers can be measured, but none is known to increase the risk.

Front 10

A patient who is taking digoxin is admitted to the hospital for treatment of congestive heat failure. The prescriber has ordered furosemide (Lasix). The nurse notes an irregular hear rate of 86 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, and a blood pressure of 130/82 mmHg. The nurse auscultates crackles in both lungs. Which laboratory value causes the nurse most concern?

Back 10

Potassium level of 3.5% mEq/L

Front 11

A child who ingested a handful of aspirin tablets from a medicine cabinet at home is brought to the emergency department. The nurse caring for the child notes a respiratory rate of 48 breaths per minute. The nurse understands that this child’s respiratory rate is the result of the body’s attempt to compensate for:

Back 11

Metabolic acidosis

Front 12

A patient begins taking an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and complains of a dry cough. What does the nurse correctly tell the patient about this symptom?

Back 12

It may be uncomfortable enough that the drug will need to be discontinued.

Front 13

A patient with variant angina wants to know why a beta-blocker cannot be used to treat the angina. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Back 13

“Beta blockers do not help relax coronary artery spasm.”

Front 14

A patient who has had cancer for 1 year uses a fentanyl transdermal patch for pain relief. The patient reports having three or four episode of pain (which she rates as 8 or 9 on a scale of 1 to 10) each day, and each episode lasts 15 to 30 minutes. The nurse will contact the provider to:

Back 14

Request a strong, short-acting opioid PRN

Front 15

A patient collapses after running a marathon on a hot day and is brought to the emergency department to be treated for dehydration. The nurse will expect to provide which therapy?

Back 15

Intravenous hypotonic fluids administered in stages

Front 16

A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving verapamil (Calan) for hypertension and digoxin (Lanoxin) for heart failure. The nurse will observe this patient for:

Back 16

AV blockade

Front 17

A nurse is caring for a patient with hemophilia A who has been admitted for bleeding into the knee joint. The prescriber has ordered intravenous factor VIIa (NovoSeven RT). A nursing student wants to know why this patient is not receiving factor VIII. Which statement by the nurse is correct?

Back 17

“Factor VIIa is used when patients develop antibodies against factor VIII.”

Front 18

A patient who is pregnant has a history of recurrent genital herpesvirus (HSV). The patient asks the nurse what will be done to suppress an outbreak when she is near term. The nurse will tell the patient that:

Back 18

Oral acyclovir (Zovirax) may be used during pregnancy.

Front 19

A 45-year-old patient with a family history of breast cancer is considering using tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for cancer prevention. The nurse performs a health history and learns that the woman had a child when she was 35-years-old that she has not had a hysterectomy, and that she experienced DVT when she was pregnant. What will the nurse tell the patient?

Back 19

Her history DVT outweighs any possible benefits she may have with this drug.

Front 20

A patient tells the nurse that she takes aspirin for menstrual cramps, but she does not feel that it works well. What will the nurse suggest?

Back 20

The patient should use a first-generation non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication instead.

Front 21

An 18-month-old child is seen in the clinic with a temperature of 40ᵒ C. The child’s parents tell the nurse that the child developed the fever that previous evening and was inconsolable during the night. The provider examines the child and notes a bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane. The nurse will expect to:

Back 21

Tell the parent to administer amoxicillin.

Front 22

The nurse is caring for a patient on a medical-surgical unit who has a fever of unknown origin. The prescriber has ordered a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Which intervention is the priority?

Back 22

Obtaining all cultures before the antibiotic is administered.

Front 23

A nurse educator is conducting a continuing education class on pharmacology. To evaluate the learning of teh nurses in the class, the nurse educator asks, "Which drug name is a generic drug name?" Which is the correct response?

Back 23

Acetaminophen

Front 24

A patient is being discharged after surgery. During the admission history, the nurse had learned that the patient normally consumes two or three glasses of wine each day. The prescriber has ordered hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Lortab) for pain. What will the nurse do?

Back 24

Tell the patient not to drink wine while taking the Lortab.

Front 25

A patient begins taking nifedipine (Procardia), along with a beta blocker, to treat hypertension. The nurse understands that the beta blocker is used to:

Back 25

Prevent reflex tachycardia

Front 26

A nurse assisting a nursing student with medications asks the student to describe how penicillins (PCNs) work to treat bacterial infections. The student is correct in responding that penicillins:

Back 26

Disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis

Front 27

A pregnant adolescent patient asks the nurse whether she should continue to take her prescription for tetracycline (Sumycin) to clear up her acne. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Back 27

"Tetracycline can be harmful to the baby's teeth and should be avoided."