NURSING MSN 571 FINAL EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM FULL QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma
management. The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when
taking the medication, and does not feel that the medication is
always effective. Which action will the provider take to best
minimize patient risks and maximize medication effectiveness?
Answer: Auscultate the patient's lung sounds and obtain other
relevant vital signs.
◉ A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis.
Which patient history finding would be most concerning to the
provider? Answer: The patient drinks two glasses of wine every
night.
◉ The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1
diabetes for hospital discharge. Which action by the provider will
best support the patient's ability to effectively manage medication
therapy? Answer: Asking the patient to demonstrate how to
measure and administer insulin
◉ A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent
migraine headaches is not working. Which action is the prescriber's
,priority when addressing the patient's concern? Answer: Ask the
patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken.
◉ The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased
risk for hepatotoxicity. Which action is most important when
prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old patient? Answer:
Obtaining baseline liver function studies
◉ A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which
action is most important for the provider to take in order to
determine if the therapeutic level is maintained? Answer: Order
periodic laboratory testing.
◉ Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive
authority for both advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and
physician assistants (PAs)? Answer: More patients will have access
to health care.
◉ A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal
pharyngitis reports new onset of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular
rash on the chest and neck. Which action is most important for the
provider to take to minimize this patient's risk for injury? Answer:
Discontinue the ampicillin.
◉ Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the
patient's commitment to adherence to any type of medication
,therapy? Answer: Providing medication education that the patient
can easily understand
◉ Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the
patient's nonadherence with their medication plan is related to
dissatisfaction with the therapy? Answer: "I've been taking this
medication for well over a week and I lost only a half a pound."
◉ How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist
improve positive outcomes for patients? Answer: Pharmacists have
additional information on drug interactions. The pharmacist can
suggest adequate medication dosing. Pharmacists have firsthand
knowledge of the facility formulary.
◉ Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an
understanding of effective medication education? Answer: "This
medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets
daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner." "You need
to take the medication as we discussed until all the tablets are gone."
"Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing any itching,
headache, or difficulty breathing."
◉ The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of
bipolar disorder asks why blood tests are required on a regular
basis. Which provider responses demonstrate an understanding of
why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? Answer: "We
need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We need to
, monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This medication
can cause you to lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium levels."
◉ When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to
decrease the risk of developing muscle toxicity? Answer: Substitute
grapefruit juice with orange juice
◉ When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what
intervention does the provider take to decrease risk to the patient?
Answer: Monitor the patient's plasma drug levels at regular
intervals.
◉ A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates
symptoms. What process informs the provider's response to the
patient's concerns? Answer: Desensitization of receptor sites results
from continual exposure to the drug.
◉ A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y
tablets of the same amount of the same drug. Which statement
informs the prescriber's response when explaining this
phenomenon to the patient? Answer: Inactive ingredients used in
composition can result in differing rates of dissolution, which can
alter the drug's onset of action.
◉ A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug
level. The prescriber confirms that the dosing is correct. Which
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM FULL QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma
management. The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when
taking the medication, and does not feel that the medication is
always effective. Which action will the provider take to best
minimize patient risks and maximize medication effectiveness?
Answer: Auscultate the patient's lung sounds and obtain other
relevant vital signs.
◉ A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis.
Which patient history finding would be most concerning to the
provider? Answer: The patient drinks two glasses of wine every
night.
◉ The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1
diabetes for hospital discharge. Which action by the provider will
best support the patient's ability to effectively manage medication
therapy? Answer: Asking the patient to demonstrate how to
measure and administer insulin
◉ A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent
migraine headaches is not working. Which action is the prescriber's
,priority when addressing the patient's concern? Answer: Ask the
patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken.
◉ The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased
risk for hepatotoxicity. Which action is most important when
prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old patient? Answer:
Obtaining baseline liver function studies
◉ A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which
action is most important for the provider to take in order to
determine if the therapeutic level is maintained? Answer: Order
periodic laboratory testing.
◉ Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive
authority for both advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and
physician assistants (PAs)? Answer: More patients will have access
to health care.
◉ A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal
pharyngitis reports new onset of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular
rash on the chest and neck. Which action is most important for the
provider to take to minimize this patient's risk for injury? Answer:
Discontinue the ampicillin.
◉ Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the
patient's commitment to adherence to any type of medication
,therapy? Answer: Providing medication education that the patient
can easily understand
◉ Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the
patient's nonadherence with their medication plan is related to
dissatisfaction with the therapy? Answer: "I've been taking this
medication for well over a week and I lost only a half a pound."
◉ How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist
improve positive outcomes for patients? Answer: Pharmacists have
additional information on drug interactions. The pharmacist can
suggest adequate medication dosing. Pharmacists have firsthand
knowledge of the facility formulary.
◉ Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an
understanding of effective medication education? Answer: "This
medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets
daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner." "You need
to take the medication as we discussed until all the tablets are gone."
"Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing any itching,
headache, or difficulty breathing."
◉ The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of
bipolar disorder asks why blood tests are required on a regular
basis. Which provider responses demonstrate an understanding of
why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? Answer: "We
need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We need to
, monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This medication
can cause you to lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium levels."
◉ When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to
decrease the risk of developing muscle toxicity? Answer: Substitute
grapefruit juice with orange juice
◉ When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what
intervention does the provider take to decrease risk to the patient?
Answer: Monitor the patient's plasma drug levels at regular
intervals.
◉ A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates
symptoms. What process informs the provider's response to the
patient's concerns? Answer: Desensitization of receptor sites results
from continual exposure to the drug.
◉ A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y
tablets of the same amount of the same drug. Which statement
informs the prescriber's response when explaining this
phenomenon to the patient? Answer: Inactive ingredients used in
composition can result in differing rates of dissolution, which can
alter the drug's onset of action.
◉ A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug
level. The prescriber confirms that the dosing is correct. Which
