NSG 3250 EXAM 2
Comprehensive Practice Examination 2026
1. A patient diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is prescribed famciclovir. The nurse
should include which statement in patient teaching regarding this medication?
A. "This medication will cure your herpes infection completely."
B. "Famiciclovir treats the symptoms but does not cure the infection."
C. "You will need to take this medication for the rest of your life."
D. "This medication works by destroying the herpes virus in your body."
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Famciclovir is an antiviral that treats symptoms and reduces viral shedding but does not
cure herpes infections. The virus remains dormant in nerve cells.
B: Correct. Famciclovir is an antiviral drug that helps treat HSV-1, HSV-2, and herpes zoster by
suppressing viral replication, but it cannot eliminate the virus from the body.
C: Incorrect. Famciclovir is typically prescribed for acute outbreaks or as suppressive therapy, but not
necessarily for life. Treatment duration depends on the patient's condition and recurrence pattern.
D: Incorrect. Famciclovir inhibits viral DNA polymerase and replication but does not destroy the virus
itself. The virus remains latent in the body.
,2. A patient with severe psoriasis is prescribed methotrexate. The nurse understands that this
medication works primarily by:
A. Increasing skin cell proliferation
B. Suppressing the immune system
C. Enhancing topical steroid absorption
D. Reducing bacterial growth on the skin
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Methotrexate does not increase skin cell proliferation. It actually works by decreasing the
rapid cell turnover seen in psoriasis.
B: Correct. Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic agent that suppresses the immune system by inhibiting
dihydrofolate reductase, which reduces inflammation and slows the rapid growth of skin cells in
psoriasis.
C: Incorrect. Methotrexate is not used to enhance topical steroid absorption; it is a systemic medication.
D: Incorrect. Methotrexate has antibacterial properties at high doses, but this is not its primary
mechanism of action in treating psoriasis.
3. A nurse is teaching a patient about topical retinoid therapy for acne. Which statement indicates the
patient understands the medication's action?
A. "This medication will kill the bacteria causing my acne."
B. "Topical retinoids work by drying out my skin to reduce acne."
C. "This medication will prevent scarring from my acne."
D. "Topical retinoids are a first-line treatment for severe cystic acne."
,ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Topical retinoids do not directly kill bacteria. They work by normalizing follicular
keratinization and reducing comedone formation.
B: Correct. Topical retinoids help treat acne by drying out the skin, promoting cell turnover, and
preventing the formation of comedones.
C: Incorrect. While retinoids can help improve the appearance of skin, they are not specifically indicated
for preventing scarring.
D: Incorrect. Topical retinoids are used for mild to moderate acne and are not typically first-line for
severe cystic acne, which may require systemic therapy.
4. A patient with asthma is prescribed a beta-adrenergic agonist inhaler. The nurse should instruct the
patient that this medication is primarily used as a:
A. Maintenance medication to prevent asthma attacks
B. Rescue medication for acute asthma symptoms
C. Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce airway swelling
D. Medication to treat underlying asthma causes
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Beta-adrenergic agonists are not maintenance medications; they are used for acute
symptom relief.
B: Correct. Beta-adrenergic agonists are smooth muscle relaxers that act as rescue medications to
quickly relieve bronchospasm during acute asthma attacks.
, C: Incorrect. Beta-adrenergic agonists do not have significant anti-inflammatory properties. They work
by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle.
D: Incorrect. These medications treat symptoms but do not address the underlying causes of asthma.
5. A patient is prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler for asthma management. The nurse should monitor
the patient for which side effect?
A. Hypertension
B. Oral candidiasis
C. Tachycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. While systemic corticosteroids can cause hypertension, inhaled corticosteroids have
minimal systemic effects when used appropriately.
B: Correct. Oral candidiasis (thrush) is a common side effect of corticosteroid inhalers due to local
immunosuppression in the oral cavity. Patients should rinse their mouth after use.
C: Incorrect. Tachycardia is more commonly associated with beta-adrenergic agonists, not corticosteroid
inhalers.
D: Incorrect. Corticosteroids can cause hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia.
6. The nurse is teaching a patient about corticosteroid inhaler use. Which statement indicates the
patient needs further teaching?
Comprehensive Practice Examination 2026
1. A patient diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is prescribed famciclovir. The nurse
should include which statement in patient teaching regarding this medication?
A. "This medication will cure your herpes infection completely."
B. "Famiciclovir treats the symptoms but does not cure the infection."
C. "You will need to take this medication for the rest of your life."
D. "This medication works by destroying the herpes virus in your body."
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Famciclovir is an antiviral that treats symptoms and reduces viral shedding but does not
cure herpes infections. The virus remains dormant in nerve cells.
B: Correct. Famciclovir is an antiviral drug that helps treat HSV-1, HSV-2, and herpes zoster by
suppressing viral replication, but it cannot eliminate the virus from the body.
C: Incorrect. Famciclovir is typically prescribed for acute outbreaks or as suppressive therapy, but not
necessarily for life. Treatment duration depends on the patient's condition and recurrence pattern.
D: Incorrect. Famciclovir inhibits viral DNA polymerase and replication but does not destroy the virus
itself. The virus remains latent in the body.
,2. A patient with severe psoriasis is prescribed methotrexate. The nurse understands that this
medication works primarily by:
A. Increasing skin cell proliferation
B. Suppressing the immune system
C. Enhancing topical steroid absorption
D. Reducing bacterial growth on the skin
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Methotrexate does not increase skin cell proliferation. It actually works by decreasing the
rapid cell turnover seen in psoriasis.
B: Correct. Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic agent that suppresses the immune system by inhibiting
dihydrofolate reductase, which reduces inflammation and slows the rapid growth of skin cells in
psoriasis.
C: Incorrect. Methotrexate is not used to enhance topical steroid absorption; it is a systemic medication.
D: Incorrect. Methotrexate has antibacterial properties at high doses, but this is not its primary
mechanism of action in treating psoriasis.
3. A nurse is teaching a patient about topical retinoid therapy for acne. Which statement indicates the
patient understands the medication's action?
A. "This medication will kill the bacteria causing my acne."
B. "Topical retinoids work by drying out my skin to reduce acne."
C. "This medication will prevent scarring from my acne."
D. "Topical retinoids are a first-line treatment for severe cystic acne."
,ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Topical retinoids do not directly kill bacteria. They work by normalizing follicular
keratinization and reducing comedone formation.
B: Correct. Topical retinoids help treat acne by drying out the skin, promoting cell turnover, and
preventing the formation of comedones.
C: Incorrect. While retinoids can help improve the appearance of skin, they are not specifically indicated
for preventing scarring.
D: Incorrect. Topical retinoids are used for mild to moderate acne and are not typically first-line for
severe cystic acne, which may require systemic therapy.
4. A patient with asthma is prescribed a beta-adrenergic agonist inhaler. The nurse should instruct the
patient that this medication is primarily used as a:
A. Maintenance medication to prevent asthma attacks
B. Rescue medication for acute asthma symptoms
C. Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce airway swelling
D. Medication to treat underlying asthma causes
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. Beta-adrenergic agonists are not maintenance medications; they are used for acute
symptom relief.
B: Correct. Beta-adrenergic agonists are smooth muscle relaxers that act as rescue medications to
quickly relieve bronchospasm during acute asthma attacks.
, C: Incorrect. Beta-adrenergic agonists do not have significant anti-inflammatory properties. They work
by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle.
D: Incorrect. These medications treat symptoms but do not address the underlying causes of asthma.
5. A patient is prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler for asthma management. The nurse should monitor
the patient for which side effect?
A. Hypertension
B. Oral candidiasis
C. Tachycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
A: Incorrect. While systemic corticosteroids can cause hypertension, inhaled corticosteroids have
minimal systemic effects when used appropriately.
B: Correct. Oral candidiasis (thrush) is a common side effect of corticosteroid inhalers due to local
immunosuppression in the oral cavity. Patients should rinse their mouth after use.
C: Incorrect. Tachycardia is more commonly associated with beta-adrenergic agonists, not corticosteroid
inhalers.
D: Incorrect. Corticosteroids can cause hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia.
6. The nurse is teaching a patient about corticosteroid inhaler use. Which statement indicates the
patient needs further teaching?
