ATI Pharmacology Made Easy:
Introduction to Pharmacology Exam |
20 NCLEX-RN Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales |
Nursing Pharmacology Study Guide |
Medication Safety, Clinical Judgment &
NGN Review
Question 1
Clinical Scenario
A 72-year-old woman is admitted with community-acquired
pneumonia. Her medical history includes hypertension, type 2
diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (stage 3). During
admission, the nurse performs medication reconciliation. The
patient reports taking "a little white blood pressure pill," an
over-the-counter ibuprofen product for arthritis pain, and
,several herbal supplements but cannot recall all their names.
Her daughter is bringing the medication bottles from home.
Question Stem
Which nursing action is the highest priority before
administering newly prescribed medications?
A. Administer the prescribed medications immediately to avoid
delaying treatment.
B. Complete medication reconciliation by comparing the
patient's home medications with current prescriptions.
C. Ask the patient to estimate the doses of her home
medications.
D. Omit all home medications until discharge.
Correct Answer
Correct Answer: B. Complete medication reconciliation by
comparing the patient's home medications with current
prescriptions.
Detailed Rationale
Medication reconciliation is a critical safety process performed
whenever a patient transitions between care settings. The nurse
should compare the patient's home medications, over-the-
counter products, herbal supplements, and newly prescribed
medications to identify omissions, duplications, dosing errors,
,contraindications, and potential drug interactions. This patient
has chronic kidney disease and regularly uses ibuprofen, which
may worsen renal function and interact with antihypertensive
therapy. Identifying all medications before administration
reduces preventable medication errors.
Option A is incorrect because administering medications
without confirming the patient's medication history increases
the risk of adverse events and duplicate therapy.
Option C is inappropriate because patients frequently cannot
accurately recall medication names or dosages. Medication
bottles, pharmacy records, or caregiver confirmation provide
more reliable information.
Option D is also incorrect. Some chronic medications may need
to be continued during hospitalization, while others may
require modification. Automatically withholding all home
medications could result in therapeutic failure or withdrawal
effects.
Medication reconciliation is a shared responsibility among
nurses, pharmacists, and prescribers and is one of the most
effective strategies for preventing medication-related harm.
Learning Objectives
After completing this question, the learner should be able to:
• Describe the purpose of medication reconciliation.
, • Identify situations requiring medication reconciliation.
• Prioritize nursing actions to prevent medication errors.
• Recognize the importance of documenting OTC and herbal
products.
Medication Safety Focus: Medication Reconciliation
Question 2
Clinical Scenario
A nurse prepares to administer insulin to a hospitalized client
with diabetes mellitus. Before giving the medication, the nurse
verifies the client's identity using two approved identifiers,
compares the medication administration record (MAR) with the
medication label, confirms the prescribed dose, and checks the
client's blood glucose level.
Question Stem
Which medication administration principle is the nurse
demonstrating by completing these verification steps?
A. The rights of medication administration
B. Therapeutic drug monitoring
C. Medication tapering
D. Pharmacodynamic evaluation
Introduction to Pharmacology Exam |
20 NCLEX-RN Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales |
Nursing Pharmacology Study Guide |
Medication Safety, Clinical Judgment &
NGN Review
Question 1
Clinical Scenario
A 72-year-old woman is admitted with community-acquired
pneumonia. Her medical history includes hypertension, type 2
diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (stage 3). During
admission, the nurse performs medication reconciliation. The
patient reports taking "a little white blood pressure pill," an
over-the-counter ibuprofen product for arthritis pain, and
,several herbal supplements but cannot recall all their names.
Her daughter is bringing the medication bottles from home.
Question Stem
Which nursing action is the highest priority before
administering newly prescribed medications?
A. Administer the prescribed medications immediately to avoid
delaying treatment.
B. Complete medication reconciliation by comparing the
patient's home medications with current prescriptions.
C. Ask the patient to estimate the doses of her home
medications.
D. Omit all home medications until discharge.
Correct Answer
Correct Answer: B. Complete medication reconciliation by
comparing the patient's home medications with current
prescriptions.
Detailed Rationale
Medication reconciliation is a critical safety process performed
whenever a patient transitions between care settings. The nurse
should compare the patient's home medications, over-the-
counter products, herbal supplements, and newly prescribed
medications to identify omissions, duplications, dosing errors,
,contraindications, and potential drug interactions. This patient
has chronic kidney disease and regularly uses ibuprofen, which
may worsen renal function and interact with antihypertensive
therapy. Identifying all medications before administration
reduces preventable medication errors.
Option A is incorrect because administering medications
without confirming the patient's medication history increases
the risk of adverse events and duplicate therapy.
Option C is inappropriate because patients frequently cannot
accurately recall medication names or dosages. Medication
bottles, pharmacy records, or caregiver confirmation provide
more reliable information.
Option D is also incorrect. Some chronic medications may need
to be continued during hospitalization, while others may
require modification. Automatically withholding all home
medications could result in therapeutic failure or withdrawal
effects.
Medication reconciliation is a shared responsibility among
nurses, pharmacists, and prescribers and is one of the most
effective strategies for preventing medication-related harm.
Learning Objectives
After completing this question, the learner should be able to:
• Describe the purpose of medication reconciliation.
, • Identify situations requiring medication reconciliation.
• Prioritize nursing actions to prevent medication errors.
• Recognize the importance of documenting OTC and herbal
products.
Medication Safety Focus: Medication Reconciliation
Question 2
Clinical Scenario
A nurse prepares to administer insulin to a hospitalized client
with diabetes mellitus. Before giving the medication, the nurse
verifies the client's identity using two approved identifiers,
compares the medication administration record (MAR) with the
medication label, confirms the prescribed dose, and checks the
client's blood glucose level.
Question Stem
Which medication administration principle is the nurse
demonstrating by completing these verification steps?
A. The rights of medication administration
B. Therapeutic drug monitoring
C. Medication tapering
D. Pharmacodynamic evaluation
