NURS 251 Module 6 Exam V3 | NURS 251
Module 6 Exam – Pharmacology | Portage |
Q&A with Rationale (Portage NURS 251
Module 6 Exam)
1. A patient is prescribed Insulin Lispro (Humalog) to be administered before breakfast.
Which of the following is the most appropriate time for the nurse to administer this
medication?
A. 30 to 45 minutes before the meal
B. 1 hour after the meal
C. 15 minutes before the meal
D. At bedtime
Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of action within 15
minutes. It is critical that the patient has food immediately available to prevent rapid-onset
hypoglycemia. Administering it 30-45 minutes early would be appropriate for short-acting
regular insulin, not Lispro.
2. When teaching a patient about the storage of unopened insulin vials, which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. Keep unopened vials in the refrigerator until the expiration date
,B. Store unopened vials in the freezer for long-term use
C. Keep unopened vials in a warm, dark cabinet
D. Shake the vial vigorously before placing it in the refrigerator
Answer: A
Rationale: Unopened insulin vials should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain their
potency until the expiration date. Freezing insulin will destroy the protein and make it
ineffective for glucose management. Once a vial is opened, it can usually be kept at room
temperature for up to 28 days depending on the manufacturer.
3. A patient is receiving Insulin Glargine (Lantus). Which characteristic of this insulin should
the nurse keep in mind?
A. It has a peak effect occurring 2 hours after administration
B. It provides a steady blood level over 24 hours with no peak
C. It is a short-acting insulin used for sliding scales
D. It can be mixed in the same syringe with NPH insulin
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin Glargine is a long-acting insulin designed to provide a basal rate of
insulin over a 24-hour period. Because it has no pronounced peak, it carries a lower risk of
hypoglycemic episodes compared to other insulins. It should never be mixed with any
, other insulin in the same syringe because the low pH of the solution can cause
precipitation.
4. A nurse is preparing to mix NPH and Regular insulin in the same syringe. What is the
correct sequence of actions?
A. Draw up the NPH insulin first, then the Regular insulin
B. The sequence does not matter as long as the total dose is correct
C. Draw up the Regular insulin first, then the NPH insulin
D. Mix them in a separate medicine cup before drawing them into the syringe
Answer: C
Rationale: The correct procedure is to draw up the clear (Regular) insulin before the
cloudy (NPH) insulin to prevent contamination of the short-acting vial with the
intermediate-acting protein. This mnemonic ‘clear before cloudy’ ensures the purity of the
faster-acting insulin. Mixing should be done gently by rolling vials and then drawing the
exact units required.
5. Which of the following is the most common side effect of metformin (Glucophage)
therapy?
A. Severe hypoglycemia
B. Weight gain
C. Peripheral edema
Module 6 Exam – Pharmacology | Portage |
Q&A with Rationale (Portage NURS 251
Module 6 Exam)
1. A patient is prescribed Insulin Lispro (Humalog) to be administered before breakfast.
Which of the following is the most appropriate time for the nurse to administer this
medication?
A. 30 to 45 minutes before the meal
B. 1 hour after the meal
C. 15 minutes before the meal
D. At bedtime
Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of action within 15
minutes. It is critical that the patient has food immediately available to prevent rapid-onset
hypoglycemia. Administering it 30-45 minutes early would be appropriate for short-acting
regular insulin, not Lispro.
2. When teaching a patient about the storage of unopened insulin vials, which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. Keep unopened vials in the refrigerator until the expiration date
,B. Store unopened vials in the freezer for long-term use
C. Keep unopened vials in a warm, dark cabinet
D. Shake the vial vigorously before placing it in the refrigerator
Answer: A
Rationale: Unopened insulin vials should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain their
potency until the expiration date. Freezing insulin will destroy the protein and make it
ineffective for glucose management. Once a vial is opened, it can usually be kept at room
temperature for up to 28 days depending on the manufacturer.
3. A patient is receiving Insulin Glargine (Lantus). Which characteristic of this insulin should
the nurse keep in mind?
A. It has a peak effect occurring 2 hours after administration
B. It provides a steady blood level over 24 hours with no peak
C. It is a short-acting insulin used for sliding scales
D. It can be mixed in the same syringe with NPH insulin
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin Glargine is a long-acting insulin designed to provide a basal rate of
insulin over a 24-hour period. Because it has no pronounced peak, it carries a lower risk of
hypoglycemic episodes compared to other insulins. It should never be mixed with any
, other insulin in the same syringe because the low pH of the solution can cause
precipitation.
4. A nurse is preparing to mix NPH and Regular insulin in the same syringe. What is the
correct sequence of actions?
A. Draw up the NPH insulin first, then the Regular insulin
B. The sequence does not matter as long as the total dose is correct
C. Draw up the Regular insulin first, then the NPH insulin
D. Mix them in a separate medicine cup before drawing them into the syringe
Answer: C
Rationale: The correct procedure is to draw up the clear (Regular) insulin before the
cloudy (NPH) insulin to prevent contamination of the short-acting vial with the
intermediate-acting protein. This mnemonic ‘clear before cloudy’ ensures the purity of the
faster-acting insulin. Mixing should be done gently by rolling vials and then drawing the
exact units required.
5. Which of the following is the most common side effect of metformin (Glucophage)
therapy?
A. Severe hypoglycemia
B. Weight gain
C. Peripheral edema
