D441 Pharmacology Exam 2 Practice Questions 2026 |WGU
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
metformin. Which of the following side effects should the nurse include?
A. Weight gain
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Peripheral edema
D. Gastrointestinal distress
Answer: D
Rationale: Metformin commonly causes GI distress, such as nausea and diarrhea,
especially when starting the medication. Unlike sulfonylureas, it rarely causes
hypoglycemia and often leads to weight loss or maintenance rather than gain.
2. A client is prescribed levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
A. Take the medication with a high-calcium snack.
B. Expect the full effects of the drug within 24 hours.
C. Take the medication only when feeling fatigued.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach in the morning.
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, usually 30-60 minutes
before breakfast, to ensure optimal absorption. It takes several weeks to reach therapeutic
levels.
,3. A nurse is reviewing the lab results for a client taking furosemide. Which of
the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Calcium 9.5 mg/dL
C. Glucose 110 mg/dL
D. Potassium 3.2 mEq/L
Answer: D
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium. A level of
3.2 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia (normal range: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L).
4. A client is prescribed captopril for hypertension. The nurse should monitor for
which of the following adverse effects?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Gingival hyperplasia
C. Dry cough
D. Tachycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: ACE inhibitors like captopril commonly cause a persistent, dry, nonproductive
cough due to the accumulation of bradykinin.
5. Which of the following medications is the antidote for heparin-induced
toxicity?
A. Vitamin K
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Flumazenil
Answer: C
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific antagonist used to reverse the anticoagulant
effects of heparin.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is taking digoxin. Which
finding suggests digoxin toxicity?
A. Heart rate of 100/min
B. Visual disturbances like yellow-green halos
C. Increased appetite
D. Constipation
Answer: B
Rationale: Visual disturbances, including yellow-green halos, blurred vision, or diplopia,
are classic signs of digoxin toxicity.
7. A client with asthma is prescribed propranolol for hypertension. Why is this
medication contraindicated?
A. It causes excessive mucus production.
B. It can trigger bronchoconstriction.
C. It increases the risk of respiratory infection.
D. It reduces the effectiveness of albuterol.
Answer: B
Rationale: Propranolol is a non-selective beta-blocker. Blocking beta-2 receptors in the
lungs can lead to bronchoconstriction, which is dangerous for patients with asthma.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. What
should be included in the teaching?
A. Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve.
B. Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
C. Store the tablets in a clear plastic container.
D. Take the tablet only if the chest pain lasts more than 30 minutes.
Answer: A
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin must be dissolved under the tongue for rapid
absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the first-pass metabolism.
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
metformin. Which of the following side effects should the nurse include?
A. Weight gain
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Peripheral edema
D. Gastrointestinal distress
Answer: D
Rationale: Metformin commonly causes GI distress, such as nausea and diarrhea,
especially when starting the medication. Unlike sulfonylureas, it rarely causes
hypoglycemia and often leads to weight loss or maintenance rather than gain.
2. A client is prescribed levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
A. Take the medication with a high-calcium snack.
B. Expect the full effects of the drug within 24 hours.
C. Take the medication only when feeling fatigued.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach in the morning.
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, usually 30-60 minutes
before breakfast, to ensure optimal absorption. It takes several weeks to reach therapeutic
levels.
,3. A nurse is reviewing the lab results for a client taking furosemide. Which of
the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Calcium 9.5 mg/dL
C. Glucose 110 mg/dL
D. Potassium 3.2 mEq/L
Answer: D
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium. A level of
3.2 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia (normal range: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L).
4. A client is prescribed captopril for hypertension. The nurse should monitor for
which of the following adverse effects?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Gingival hyperplasia
C. Dry cough
D. Tachycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: ACE inhibitors like captopril commonly cause a persistent, dry, nonproductive
cough due to the accumulation of bradykinin.
5. Which of the following medications is the antidote for heparin-induced
toxicity?
A. Vitamin K
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Flumazenil
Answer: C
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific antagonist used to reverse the anticoagulant
effects of heparin.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is taking digoxin. Which
finding suggests digoxin toxicity?
A. Heart rate of 100/min
B. Visual disturbances like yellow-green halos
C. Increased appetite
D. Constipation
Answer: B
Rationale: Visual disturbances, including yellow-green halos, blurred vision, or diplopia,
are classic signs of digoxin toxicity.
7. A client with asthma is prescribed propranolol for hypertension. Why is this
medication contraindicated?
A. It causes excessive mucus production.
B. It can trigger bronchoconstriction.
C. It increases the risk of respiratory infection.
D. It reduces the effectiveness of albuterol.
Answer: B
Rationale: Propranolol is a non-selective beta-blocker. Blocking beta-2 receptors in the
lungs can lead to bronchoconstriction, which is dangerous for patients with asthma.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. What
should be included in the teaching?
A. Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve.
B. Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
C. Store the tablets in a clear plastic container.
D. Take the tablet only if the chest pain lasts more than 30 minutes.
Answer: A
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin must be dissolved under the tongue for rapid
absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the first-pass metabolism.
