1
WGU
WGU D116 PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED
(2024/2025) (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
An advanced practice registered nurse has diagnosed a 44-year-old
male with depression. A plan is developed to start treatment with
medication. The patient has a history of sexual dysfunction and is
concerned about taking medication that may worsen this
condition.
Which antidepressant has the benefit of enhancing libido? - ANS
✓YES Bupropion
Correct! Bupropion does not cause sexual dysfunction. This will
help the patient with a history of sexual dysfunction. This will
enhance the patient's libido, which will help with both depression
and sexual dysfunction.
A patient is wheezing and short of breath. The nurse assesses a
heart rate of 88 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 24 breaths
per minute, and a blood pressure of 124/78 mm Hg. The prescriber
orders a nonspecific beta-agonist medication.
Besides evaluating the patient for a reduction in respiratory
distress, the nurse should monitor for which side effect? - ANS
✓YES Tachycardia
Correct! Beta-agonists are used for asthma because of their beta2
effects on bronchial smooth muscle, causing dilation. Beta1 effects
cause tachycardia and hypertension. Beta receptors do not exert
effects on the bladder.
A patient is experiencing toxic side effects from atropine,
including delirium and hallucinations. Which medication should the
provider administer? - ANS ✓YES Physostigmine
WGU D116
, 2
WGU
Correct! Physostigmine is the drug of choice for treating poisoning
from atropine and other drugs that cause muscarinic blockade.
Donepezil is used to treat Alzheimer disease. Edrophonium is used
to distinguish between a myasthenic crisis and a cholinesterase
inhibitor overdose. Neostigmine does not cross the blood-brain
barrier and would not effectively treat this patient's central
nervous system (CNS) symptoms.
A patient brought to the emergency department requires sutures.
The prescriber orders a local anesthetic with epinephrine.
The epinephrine is ordered to ___________. - ANS ✓allow a reduced
dose of the anesthetic
Correct! Epinephrine prolongs absorption of the anesthetic
because it is an alpha1 agonist. It is frequently combined with a
local anesthetic for this purpose so the amount of anesthetic
required may be reduced. Local anesthetics do not induce
hypertension; therefore, epinephrine would not be needed to
prevent it. Epinephrine does not act as an antiemetic and would
not reduce anesthetic-induced nausea. Epinephrine is not used to
reduce the pain of an injection.
A patient has been diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) and
begins treatment with carbidopa. After several months of therapy,
the patient reports no change in symptoms.
As the provider, you should do which of the following? - ANS
✓Increase the dose of carbidopa
Discuss the "on-off" phenomenon
Reevaluate the diagnosis
NO Add a dopamine agonist
Incorrect. Adding a dopamine agonist is not indicated.
A patient who is taking oral contraceptives begins taking valproic
acid for seizures. After a week of therapy with valproic acid, the
patient tells the nurse that she is experiencing nausea.
WGU D116
, 3
WGU
What should the nurse do? - ANS ✓YES Ask the patient if she is taking
the valproic acid with food because taking the drug on an empty
stomach can cause gastrointestinal side effects
Correct! Gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, and
indigestion, are common with valproic acid and can be minimized
by taking the drug with food or using an enteric-coated product.
Hyperammonemia can occur when valproic acid is combined with
topiramate. Signs of pregnancy usually do not occur within a week,
so this is less likely. Hepatotoxicity is a rare adverse effect.
A patient with cerebral palsy who has been receiving baclofen via
gastrostomy tube for three months is admitted to the hospital for
evaluation of new-onset seizures.
What might you suspect to be the cause of these seizures? - ANS
✓YES Missed doses of baclofen
Correct! Baclofen does not appear to cause physical dependence,
but abrupt discontinuation has been associated with adverse
reactions. Abrupt withdrawal of oral baclofen can cause visual
hallucinations, paranoid ideation, and seizures and should be
considered when a patient develops these symptoms. Seizures are
not a symptom of baclofen toxicity.
A nurse is preparing a patient to go home from the emergency
department after receiving sutures for a laceration on one hand.
The provider used lidocaine with epinephrine as a local anesthetic.
Which symptom in this patient causes the most concern? - ANS
✓YES Nervousness and tachycardia
Correct! Absorption of the vasoconstrictor can cause systemic
effects, including nervousness and tachycardia. If severe, alpha-
and beta-adrenergic antagonists can be given. Local anesthetics
are nonselective modifiers of neuronal function and can block
motor neurons, so it is expected that patients may have difficulty
with movement. The sensation of pressure also is affected and is
an expected effect. As the local anesthetic wears off, the sensation
of pain will return.
WGU D116
, 4
WGU
A patient who has recurrent migraine headaches is prescribed
sumatriptan. Which aspect of this patient's history is of concern
when taking this drug? - ANS ✓Coronary artery disease
Adverse events include coronary vasospasm.
Incorrect. There is no contraindication for asthma, diabetes, or
renal disease.
A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) for depression for several months tells the provider that
the medication has not helped with symptoms. You plan to switch
the patient to an SSRI.
What should you instruct the nurse to teach this patient? - ANS
✓YES "Stop taking the MAOI two weeks before starting the SSRI."
Correct! MAOIs increase serotonin receptor (5-HT) availability, thus
greatly increasing the risk of serotonin syndrome. MAOIs should
be withdrawn at least 14 days before an SSRI is started. An SSRI
should never be given at the same time as an MAOI. It is not
necessary to wait five weeks before starting an SSRI.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time
symptoms of mania and is exhibiting euphoric mania.
Which medication should you order? - ANS ✓YES Lithium
Correct! In almost all cases of mania, divalproex sodium is the
drug of choice, except for euphoric mania symptoms. Lithium is
used to treat euphoric mania. Olanzapine and risperidone are used
to treat other symptoms that are associated with borderline
personality disorder (BPD).
A patient is brought to the emergency department with shortness
of breath, a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute, intercostal
retractions, and frothy, pink sputum.
Which drug should the provider administer for this patient? - ANS
✓YES Furosemide
Correct! Furosemide, a potent diuretic, is used when rapid or
massive mobilization of fluids is needed. This patient shows
severe signs of congestive heart failure with respiratory distress
WGU D116
WGU
WGU D116 PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED
(2024/2025) (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
An advanced practice registered nurse has diagnosed a 44-year-old
male with depression. A plan is developed to start treatment with
medication. The patient has a history of sexual dysfunction and is
concerned about taking medication that may worsen this
condition.
Which antidepressant has the benefit of enhancing libido? - ANS
✓YES Bupropion
Correct! Bupropion does not cause sexual dysfunction. This will
help the patient with a history of sexual dysfunction. This will
enhance the patient's libido, which will help with both depression
and sexual dysfunction.
A patient is wheezing and short of breath. The nurse assesses a
heart rate of 88 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 24 breaths
per minute, and a blood pressure of 124/78 mm Hg. The prescriber
orders a nonspecific beta-agonist medication.
Besides evaluating the patient for a reduction in respiratory
distress, the nurse should monitor for which side effect? - ANS
✓YES Tachycardia
Correct! Beta-agonists are used for asthma because of their beta2
effects on bronchial smooth muscle, causing dilation. Beta1 effects
cause tachycardia and hypertension. Beta receptors do not exert
effects on the bladder.
A patient is experiencing toxic side effects from atropine,
including delirium and hallucinations. Which medication should the
provider administer? - ANS ✓YES Physostigmine
WGU D116
, 2
WGU
Correct! Physostigmine is the drug of choice for treating poisoning
from atropine and other drugs that cause muscarinic blockade.
Donepezil is used to treat Alzheimer disease. Edrophonium is used
to distinguish between a myasthenic crisis and a cholinesterase
inhibitor overdose. Neostigmine does not cross the blood-brain
barrier and would not effectively treat this patient's central
nervous system (CNS) symptoms.
A patient brought to the emergency department requires sutures.
The prescriber orders a local anesthetic with epinephrine.
The epinephrine is ordered to ___________. - ANS ✓allow a reduced
dose of the anesthetic
Correct! Epinephrine prolongs absorption of the anesthetic
because it is an alpha1 agonist. It is frequently combined with a
local anesthetic for this purpose so the amount of anesthetic
required may be reduced. Local anesthetics do not induce
hypertension; therefore, epinephrine would not be needed to
prevent it. Epinephrine does not act as an antiemetic and would
not reduce anesthetic-induced nausea. Epinephrine is not used to
reduce the pain of an injection.
A patient has been diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) and
begins treatment with carbidopa. After several months of therapy,
the patient reports no change in symptoms.
As the provider, you should do which of the following? - ANS
✓Increase the dose of carbidopa
Discuss the "on-off" phenomenon
Reevaluate the diagnosis
NO Add a dopamine agonist
Incorrect. Adding a dopamine agonist is not indicated.
A patient who is taking oral contraceptives begins taking valproic
acid for seizures. After a week of therapy with valproic acid, the
patient tells the nurse that she is experiencing nausea.
WGU D116
, 3
WGU
What should the nurse do? - ANS ✓YES Ask the patient if she is taking
the valproic acid with food because taking the drug on an empty
stomach can cause gastrointestinal side effects
Correct! Gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, and
indigestion, are common with valproic acid and can be minimized
by taking the drug with food or using an enteric-coated product.
Hyperammonemia can occur when valproic acid is combined with
topiramate. Signs of pregnancy usually do not occur within a week,
so this is less likely. Hepatotoxicity is a rare adverse effect.
A patient with cerebral palsy who has been receiving baclofen via
gastrostomy tube for three months is admitted to the hospital for
evaluation of new-onset seizures.
What might you suspect to be the cause of these seizures? - ANS
✓YES Missed doses of baclofen
Correct! Baclofen does not appear to cause physical dependence,
but abrupt discontinuation has been associated with adverse
reactions. Abrupt withdrawal of oral baclofen can cause visual
hallucinations, paranoid ideation, and seizures and should be
considered when a patient develops these symptoms. Seizures are
not a symptom of baclofen toxicity.
A nurse is preparing a patient to go home from the emergency
department after receiving sutures for a laceration on one hand.
The provider used lidocaine with epinephrine as a local anesthetic.
Which symptom in this patient causes the most concern? - ANS
✓YES Nervousness and tachycardia
Correct! Absorption of the vasoconstrictor can cause systemic
effects, including nervousness and tachycardia. If severe, alpha-
and beta-adrenergic antagonists can be given. Local anesthetics
are nonselective modifiers of neuronal function and can block
motor neurons, so it is expected that patients may have difficulty
with movement. The sensation of pressure also is affected and is
an expected effect. As the local anesthetic wears off, the sensation
of pain will return.
WGU D116
, 4
WGU
A patient who has recurrent migraine headaches is prescribed
sumatriptan. Which aspect of this patient's history is of concern
when taking this drug? - ANS ✓Coronary artery disease
Adverse events include coronary vasospasm.
Incorrect. There is no contraindication for asthma, diabetes, or
renal disease.
A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) for depression for several months tells the provider that
the medication has not helped with symptoms. You plan to switch
the patient to an SSRI.
What should you instruct the nurse to teach this patient? - ANS
✓YES "Stop taking the MAOI two weeks before starting the SSRI."
Correct! MAOIs increase serotonin receptor (5-HT) availability, thus
greatly increasing the risk of serotonin syndrome. MAOIs should
be withdrawn at least 14 days before an SSRI is started. An SSRI
should never be given at the same time as an MAOI. It is not
necessary to wait five weeks before starting an SSRI.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time
symptoms of mania and is exhibiting euphoric mania.
Which medication should you order? - ANS ✓YES Lithium
Correct! In almost all cases of mania, divalproex sodium is the
drug of choice, except for euphoric mania symptoms. Lithium is
used to treat euphoric mania. Olanzapine and risperidone are used
to treat other symptoms that are associated with borderline
personality disorder (BPD).
A patient is brought to the emergency department with shortness
of breath, a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute, intercostal
retractions, and frothy, pink sputum.
Which drug should the provider administer for this patient? - ANS
✓YES Furosemide
Correct! Furosemide, a potent diuretic, is used when rapid or
massive mobilization of fluids is needed. This patient shows
severe signs of congestive heart failure with respiratory distress
WGU D116
