NSG 3250 Exam 4 Final Questions and
ANSWERs
Medication Management and Pharmacology
2026
1. An 82-year-old patient takes multiple medications for various chronic conditions. Which nursing
intervention is most important to promote medication safety in this older adult?
A) Instruct the patient to take all medications with grapefruit juice to enhance absorption
B) Encourage the patient to use different pharmacies to compare prices
C) Recommend using the same pharmacy for all prescriptions
D) Advise the patient to split pills in half to reduce costs
ANSWER: C) Recommend using the same pharmacy for all prescriptions
Rationale: Using a single pharmacy allows for comprehensive medication reconciliation and reduces the
risk of drug interactions. The pharmacist can maintain a complete medication profile and identify
potential interactions. Option A is incorrect because grapefruit juice can interfere with many
medications. Option B increases the risk of medication errors and incomplete records. Option D is
unsafe as splitting pills can alter dosing and some medications cannot be split.
2. An older adult patient is prescribed finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which laboratory
value should the nurse monitor as a priority?
A) Serum creatinine
B) Complete blood count
,C) Serum PSA
D) Liver function tests
ANSWER: C) Serum PSA
Rationale: Finasteride decreases serum PSA levels, which is a known effect of the medication.
Monitoring PSA is important to establish a new baseline for prostate cancer screening. Option A is
incorrect because finasteride does not directly affect creatinine. Option B is not the primary monitoring
parameter. Option D is not the priority lab value for finasteride monitoring.
3. A patient taking multiple medications for chronic conditions reports that their medications "don't
seem to be working." What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Increase the medication dosage immediately
B) Ask the patient how they are taking the medications and if they miss doses
C) Discontinue all medications and restart them
D) Change the medication schedule to every other day
ANSWER: B) Ask the patient how they are taking the medications and if they miss doses
Rationale: Assessing medication adherence and administration technique is the first step when
medications appear ineffective. Patients may be taking medications incorrectly, skipping doses, or not
understanding the regimen. Option A is unsafe without proper assessment. Option C could cause
withdrawal or adverse effects. Option D would likely worsen the problem.
4. An older adult is taking multiple herbal supplements along with prescribed medications. What is the
nurse's primary concern?
A) The supplements are too expensive
B) Potential drug-herb interactions
C) The supplements are ineffective
D) The patient is wasting money
,ANSWER: B) Potential drug-herb interactions
Rationale: Herbal supplements can interact with prescription medications, leading to altered drug
effectiveness, toxicity, or adverse effects. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to polypharmacy
and age-related changes in drug metabolism. Option A is not the primary clinical concern. Option C is
not accurate as some herbs have pharmacological effects. Option D is not the priority nursing concern.
5. Which laboratory values are most important to monitor for medication toxicity in older adults?
A) Hemoglobin and hematocrit
B) BUN and creatinine
C) Serum glucose and electrolytes
D) White blood cell count and platelets
ANSWER: B) BUN and creatinine
Rationale: BUN and creatinine reflect renal function, which is crucial for medication clearance in older
adults. Impaired renal function can lead to drug accumulation and toxicity. Options A, C, and D are
important but do not directly reflect the drug elimination capacity of the kidneys.
6. An older adult patient is prescribed a new medication. The patient states they cannot afford all of
their medications. What is the nurse's best response?
A) "You should stop taking the least important one"
B) "Let's discuss this with your healthcare provider to find affordable options"
C) "You can skip doses to make them last longer"
D) "There are no options for medication assistance"
ANSWER: B) "Let's discuss this with your healthcare provider to find affordable options"
, Rationale: Advocating for the patient and exploring cost-effective options while maintaining medication
safety is essential. Options A and C could lead to therapeutic failure or adverse effects. Option D is not
accurate as various assistance programs exist.
7. The nurse is teaching a patient about medication management. Which statement indicates the
patient understands the teaching?
A) "I will keep all my medications in one bottle to save space"
B) "I will use a pill organizer and keep an updated medication list"
C) "I will take my medications whenever I remember them"
D) "I will stop taking medications that make me feel bad"
ANSWER: B) "I will use a pill organizer and keep an updated medication list"
Rationale: Using a pill organizer and maintaining an updated medication list are safe medication
management strategies. Option A increases the risk of errors. Option C can lead to missed or double
doses. Option D is unsafe without healthcare provider consultation.
8. A patient on paclitaxel for ovarian cancer develops a low white blood cell count. Which condition
should the nurse monitor for?
A) Hyperglycemia
B) Hypertension
C) Neutropenia
D) Hyperkalemia
ANSWER: C) Neutropenia
Rationale: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent that causes myelosuppression, particularly
leukopenia/neutropenia. The patient is at increased risk for infection. Options A, B, and D are not the
primary side effects associated with paclitaxel.
ANSWERs
Medication Management and Pharmacology
2026
1. An 82-year-old patient takes multiple medications for various chronic conditions. Which nursing
intervention is most important to promote medication safety in this older adult?
A) Instruct the patient to take all medications with grapefruit juice to enhance absorption
B) Encourage the patient to use different pharmacies to compare prices
C) Recommend using the same pharmacy for all prescriptions
D) Advise the patient to split pills in half to reduce costs
ANSWER: C) Recommend using the same pharmacy for all prescriptions
Rationale: Using a single pharmacy allows for comprehensive medication reconciliation and reduces the
risk of drug interactions. The pharmacist can maintain a complete medication profile and identify
potential interactions. Option A is incorrect because grapefruit juice can interfere with many
medications. Option B increases the risk of medication errors and incomplete records. Option D is
unsafe as splitting pills can alter dosing and some medications cannot be split.
2. An older adult patient is prescribed finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which laboratory
value should the nurse monitor as a priority?
A) Serum creatinine
B) Complete blood count
,C) Serum PSA
D) Liver function tests
ANSWER: C) Serum PSA
Rationale: Finasteride decreases serum PSA levels, which is a known effect of the medication.
Monitoring PSA is important to establish a new baseline for prostate cancer screening. Option A is
incorrect because finasteride does not directly affect creatinine. Option B is not the primary monitoring
parameter. Option D is not the priority lab value for finasteride monitoring.
3. A patient taking multiple medications for chronic conditions reports that their medications "don't
seem to be working." What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Increase the medication dosage immediately
B) Ask the patient how they are taking the medications and if they miss doses
C) Discontinue all medications and restart them
D) Change the medication schedule to every other day
ANSWER: B) Ask the patient how they are taking the medications and if they miss doses
Rationale: Assessing medication adherence and administration technique is the first step when
medications appear ineffective. Patients may be taking medications incorrectly, skipping doses, or not
understanding the regimen. Option A is unsafe without proper assessment. Option C could cause
withdrawal or adverse effects. Option D would likely worsen the problem.
4. An older adult is taking multiple herbal supplements along with prescribed medications. What is the
nurse's primary concern?
A) The supplements are too expensive
B) Potential drug-herb interactions
C) The supplements are ineffective
D) The patient is wasting money
,ANSWER: B) Potential drug-herb interactions
Rationale: Herbal supplements can interact with prescription medications, leading to altered drug
effectiveness, toxicity, or adverse effects. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to polypharmacy
and age-related changes in drug metabolism. Option A is not the primary clinical concern. Option C is
not accurate as some herbs have pharmacological effects. Option D is not the priority nursing concern.
5. Which laboratory values are most important to monitor for medication toxicity in older adults?
A) Hemoglobin and hematocrit
B) BUN and creatinine
C) Serum glucose and electrolytes
D) White blood cell count and platelets
ANSWER: B) BUN and creatinine
Rationale: BUN and creatinine reflect renal function, which is crucial for medication clearance in older
adults. Impaired renal function can lead to drug accumulation and toxicity. Options A, C, and D are
important but do not directly reflect the drug elimination capacity of the kidneys.
6. An older adult patient is prescribed a new medication. The patient states they cannot afford all of
their medications. What is the nurse's best response?
A) "You should stop taking the least important one"
B) "Let's discuss this with your healthcare provider to find affordable options"
C) "You can skip doses to make them last longer"
D) "There are no options for medication assistance"
ANSWER: B) "Let's discuss this with your healthcare provider to find affordable options"
, Rationale: Advocating for the patient and exploring cost-effective options while maintaining medication
safety is essential. Options A and C could lead to therapeutic failure or adverse effects. Option D is not
accurate as various assistance programs exist.
7. The nurse is teaching a patient about medication management. Which statement indicates the
patient understands the teaching?
A) "I will keep all my medications in one bottle to save space"
B) "I will use a pill organizer and keep an updated medication list"
C) "I will take my medications whenever I remember them"
D) "I will stop taking medications that make me feel bad"
ANSWER: B) "I will use a pill organizer and keep an updated medication list"
Rationale: Using a pill organizer and maintaining an updated medication list are safe medication
management strategies. Option A increases the risk of errors. Option C can lead to missed or double
doses. Option D is unsafe without healthcare provider consultation.
8. A patient on paclitaxel for ovarian cancer develops a low white blood cell count. Which condition
should the nurse monitor for?
A) Hyperglycemia
B) Hypertension
C) Neutropenia
D) Hyperkalemia
ANSWER: C) Neutropenia
Rationale: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent that causes myelosuppression, particularly
leukopenia/neutropenia. The patient is at increased risk for infection. Options A, B, and D are not the
primary side effects associated with paclitaxel.
