Reviewed Hesi Pharmacology With Complete
Solutions
Graded A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What two medications can create a high risk of digoxin toxicity if taken long-term and
daily? ANSWER -Digoxin and Furosemide (Lasix)
What dangers can Lasix cause? ANSWER -Hypokalemia leading to digoxin toxicity
Normal Digoxin levels ANSWER -0.5 - 2 ng/ml
Normal serum potassium levels ANSWER -3.5 to 5 mEq/L
Low potassium or magnesium levels may increase risk for what toxicity? ANSWER -
Digoxin toxicity
Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity ANSWER -Anorexia, bradycardia, headache,
dizziness, confusion, nausea and visual disturbances (blurred vision, yellow vision and/or
halo vision)
1When should you hold the Labetolol and notify the prescriber? ANSWER -When the pt's
pulse rate too low
What are the side effects of Labetolol? ANSWER -Weight gain due to fluid retention
What is the best indication for fluid gain or loss? ANSWER -Monitoring pt's weight
How much weight should the patient be losing when taking Labetolol? ANSWER -1kg
(2.2 lb.) = 1,000 mL fluid gain or loss in 24 hours.
When should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch? ANSWER -At night
,Why should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? ANSWER -It can
produce tolerance when worn for 24 hours
How long should be without the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? ANSWER -8
hours
Can a patient take sublingual nitroglycerin when wearing the patch and is experiencing
chest pain? ANSWER -Yes
Why wear gloves when applying nitroglycerin paste or patch? ANSWER -Because it can
cause severe vasodilation, decrease blood pressure, intense headache to the administrator.
What can you give to a patient who is taken the nitroglycerin paste/patch and is
experiencing a headache? ANSWER -Acetaminophen
What action should you take when the patient is experiencing angina and is prescribed
nitro? ANSWER -If the vital signs are okay, leave the nitroglycerin patch and administer
the PRN sublingual nitro.
When a patient is in CCU/ICU and is on nitro drip what is expected? ANSWER -They
become hypotensive
What should you do when the patient on the nitro drip is experiencing hypotension?
ANSWER -Decrease the rate of the nitro drip.
What is the common ending for calcium channel blockers? ANSWER --dipine
What are the other two names for calcium channel blockers that do not end in -dipine?
ANSWER -Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)
"Dipines" affect only what? ANSWER -Vessels (vasodilation)
What are side effects of calcium channel blockers? ANSWER -Dizziness, facial flushing,
hypotension and edema.
,Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem) also affect what? ANSWER -The heart and
vessels
What should you monitor when the patient is taking calcium channel blocker? ANSWER -
Blood pressure and decrease heart rate.
What is another side effect in Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)? ANSWER -
Constipation
What is a beverage that you should avoid when taking calcium channel blockers?
ANSWER -Grapefruit juice
Aliskiren (Tekturna) is what kind of medication? ANSWER -Direct renin inhibitor
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) treat? ANSWER -Hypertension
What are some teaching interventions when taking Aliskiren (Tekturna)? ANSWER -
Don't take if pregnant (stop the drug immediately when the patient is pregnant). Don't take
with high fat meal.
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) increase and what should they avoid? ANSWER -They
increase potassium levels so don't take medications that increase potassium.
Furosemide (Lasix) is what kind of drug? ANSWER -Loop diuretic
Is furosemide (Lasix) slow or rapid acting? ANSWER -Rapid
What is the use for furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -Rapid diuresis in emergencies such as
pulmonary edema.
Furosemide (Lasix) may produce what kind of adverse effect? ANSWER -Hypokalemia
, What should you assess when you suspect patient of hypokalemia? ANSWER -Muscle
cramps and muscle weakness.
What also should you assess when patient is experiencing some adverse effects of
furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -Hypotension, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, and
dehydration.
What are the side effects of furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -Dizziness, headache, tinnitus,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low potassium levels, hyperglycemia, ototoxicity with
aminoglycosides (drugs that end in -mycin).
What is biggest side effect concern when patient taking furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -
Low potassium levels
When a patient needs potassium supplements what are some foods a patient can consume
that contain potassium? ANSWER -Dried fruits, fish, leafy veggies, squash, beans, meats,
nuts, bananas, potatoes, and diary products.
What is another name for IV potassium? ANSWER -KCl
What should you assess when the patient is on IV potassium? ANSWER -Overall
condition of the veins.
Which vein should you use when administering IV potassium? ANSWER -Large vein, like
the antecubital vein.
Why is venous access important when administering IV potassium? ANSWER -Because it
can irritate the skin.
What should you do when the patient is burning at the site during the IV potassium?
ANSWER -Notify the nurse immediately
IV Potassium extravasation can cause what? ANSWER -Necrosis of the tissues
Solutions
Graded A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What two medications can create a high risk of digoxin toxicity if taken long-term and
daily? ANSWER -Digoxin and Furosemide (Lasix)
What dangers can Lasix cause? ANSWER -Hypokalemia leading to digoxin toxicity
Normal Digoxin levels ANSWER -0.5 - 2 ng/ml
Normal serum potassium levels ANSWER -3.5 to 5 mEq/L
Low potassium or magnesium levels may increase risk for what toxicity? ANSWER -
Digoxin toxicity
Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity ANSWER -Anorexia, bradycardia, headache,
dizziness, confusion, nausea and visual disturbances (blurred vision, yellow vision and/or
halo vision)
1When should you hold the Labetolol and notify the prescriber? ANSWER -When the pt's
pulse rate too low
What are the side effects of Labetolol? ANSWER -Weight gain due to fluid retention
What is the best indication for fluid gain or loss? ANSWER -Monitoring pt's weight
How much weight should the patient be losing when taking Labetolol? ANSWER -1kg
(2.2 lb.) = 1,000 mL fluid gain or loss in 24 hours.
When should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch? ANSWER -At night
,Why should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? ANSWER -It can
produce tolerance when worn for 24 hours
How long should be without the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? ANSWER -8
hours
Can a patient take sublingual nitroglycerin when wearing the patch and is experiencing
chest pain? ANSWER -Yes
Why wear gloves when applying nitroglycerin paste or patch? ANSWER -Because it can
cause severe vasodilation, decrease blood pressure, intense headache to the administrator.
What can you give to a patient who is taken the nitroglycerin paste/patch and is
experiencing a headache? ANSWER -Acetaminophen
What action should you take when the patient is experiencing angina and is prescribed
nitro? ANSWER -If the vital signs are okay, leave the nitroglycerin patch and administer
the PRN sublingual nitro.
When a patient is in CCU/ICU and is on nitro drip what is expected? ANSWER -They
become hypotensive
What should you do when the patient on the nitro drip is experiencing hypotension?
ANSWER -Decrease the rate of the nitro drip.
What is the common ending for calcium channel blockers? ANSWER --dipine
What are the other two names for calcium channel blockers that do not end in -dipine?
ANSWER -Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)
"Dipines" affect only what? ANSWER -Vessels (vasodilation)
What are side effects of calcium channel blockers? ANSWER -Dizziness, facial flushing,
hypotension and edema.
,Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem) also affect what? ANSWER -The heart and
vessels
What should you monitor when the patient is taking calcium channel blocker? ANSWER -
Blood pressure and decrease heart rate.
What is another side effect in Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)? ANSWER -
Constipation
What is a beverage that you should avoid when taking calcium channel blockers?
ANSWER -Grapefruit juice
Aliskiren (Tekturna) is what kind of medication? ANSWER -Direct renin inhibitor
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) treat? ANSWER -Hypertension
What are some teaching interventions when taking Aliskiren (Tekturna)? ANSWER -
Don't take if pregnant (stop the drug immediately when the patient is pregnant). Don't take
with high fat meal.
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) increase and what should they avoid? ANSWER -They
increase potassium levels so don't take medications that increase potassium.
Furosemide (Lasix) is what kind of drug? ANSWER -Loop diuretic
Is furosemide (Lasix) slow or rapid acting? ANSWER -Rapid
What is the use for furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -Rapid diuresis in emergencies such as
pulmonary edema.
Furosemide (Lasix) may produce what kind of adverse effect? ANSWER -Hypokalemia
, What should you assess when you suspect patient of hypokalemia? ANSWER -Muscle
cramps and muscle weakness.
What also should you assess when patient is experiencing some adverse effects of
furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -Hypotension, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, and
dehydration.
What are the side effects of furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -Dizziness, headache, tinnitus,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low potassium levels, hyperglycemia, ototoxicity with
aminoglycosides (drugs that end in -mycin).
What is biggest side effect concern when patient taking furosemide (Lasix)? ANSWER -
Low potassium levels
When a patient needs potassium supplements what are some foods a patient can consume
that contain potassium? ANSWER -Dried fruits, fish, leafy veggies, squash, beans, meats,
nuts, bananas, potatoes, and diary products.
What is another name for IV potassium? ANSWER -KCl
What should you assess when the patient is on IV potassium? ANSWER -Overall
condition of the veins.
Which vein should you use when administering IV potassium? ANSWER -Large vein, like
the antecubital vein.
Why is venous access important when administering IV potassium? ANSWER -Because it
can irritate the skin.
What should you do when the patient is burning at the site during the IV potassium?
ANSWER -Notify the nurse immediately
IV Potassium extravasation can cause what? ANSWER -Necrosis of the tissues
