,NU 150|NU 150 Exam 3 | pharmacology |
Galen College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient taking omeprazole. Which of the following is the best indication that the
medication is effective?
A) Decreased bowel sounds
B) The patient reports no gastric reflux or heartburn
C) Increased appetite and weight gain
D) Decreased urination frequency
Correct Answer: The patient reports no gastric reflux or heartburn
Rationale: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces gastric acid production. Symptom relief
—specifically, the absence of heartburn and gastric reflux—is the best indicator of therapeutic
effectiveness. Other options do not reflect the primary action of this medication.
2. A patient is being treated for a superinfection caused by prolonged antibiotic use. Which of the
following is the most likely explanation for the development of the superinfection?
A) The antibiotic dose was too low
B) Overgrowth of resistant organisms
C) The infection was viral, not bacterial
D) The patient did not rest adequately
Correct Answer: Overgrowth of resistant organisms
Rationale: Prolonged or broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy disrupts normal flora, allowing resistant
organisms such as *Clostridioides difficile* and *Candida* to overgrow and cause superinfection. This is
a well-known complication of antibiotic therapy.
3. Which statement indicates a patient needs further teaching about nitrofurantoin therapy?
A) "I will take the medication with food to decrease stomach upset."
,B) "My urine might turn brown while I am on this medication."
C) "I can stop taking the medication when I feel better."
D) "I should report any shortness of breath or cough."
Correct Answer: "I can stop taking the medication when I feel better."
Rationale: Nitrofurantoin should be taken for the full prescribed course to ensure eradication of the
infection. Stopping early can lead to recurrence and antibiotic resistance. Brown urine is a harmless side
effect, and taking it with food reduces GI upset.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient prescribed tetracycline. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include in patient teaching?
A) Take the medication with dairy products to reduce stomach upset
B) Avoid direct sunlight and wear protective clothing
C) Take the medication on an empty stomach only
D) Discontinue the medication if a rash develops
Correct Answer: Avoid direct sunlight and wear protective clothing
Rationale: Tetracycline can cause photosensitivity, making the skin more susceptible to sunburn.
Patients should be advised to avoid prolonged sun exposure and use sunscreen. Dairy products should
be avoided as they interfere with absorption.
5. A nurse is administering morphine to a patient for pain. Which of the following assessments is most
critical before administering the medication?
A) Pain level
B) Blood pressure
C) Respiratory rate
D) Level of consciousness
Correct Answer: Respiratory rate
, Rationale: Morphine is an opioid analgesic that can cause respiratory depression. Assessing the
respiratory rate before administration is critical to ensure the patient is not already experiencing
respiratory compromise.
6. A patient is prescribed sulfonamide for a urinary tract infection. Which nursing intervention is
appropriate to include in the care plan?
A) Encourage increased fluid intake
B) Restrict fluid intake to decrease urinary output
C) Administer the medication with grapefruit juice
D) Monitor for hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: Encourage increased fluid intake
Rationale: Sulfonamides can crystallize in the urine, leading to kidney damage. Encouraging increased
fluid intake helps maintain adequate urine output and prevent crystalluria.
7. A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which lab value should the nurse monitor?
A) aPTT
B) INR
C) Platelets
D) Bleeding time
Correct Answer: INR
Rationale: Warfarin affects the extrinsic pathway and vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. INR is the
standardized monitoring test for warfarin therapy. aPTT is used for heparin monitoring.
8. A patient on digoxin has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. What is the priority assessment?
A) Monitor for hypokalemia-induced digoxin toxicity
Galen College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient taking omeprazole. Which of the following is the best indication that the
medication is effective?
A) Decreased bowel sounds
B) The patient reports no gastric reflux or heartburn
C) Increased appetite and weight gain
D) Decreased urination frequency
Correct Answer: The patient reports no gastric reflux or heartburn
Rationale: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces gastric acid production. Symptom relief
—specifically, the absence of heartburn and gastric reflux—is the best indicator of therapeutic
effectiveness. Other options do not reflect the primary action of this medication.
2. A patient is being treated for a superinfection caused by prolonged antibiotic use. Which of the
following is the most likely explanation for the development of the superinfection?
A) The antibiotic dose was too low
B) Overgrowth of resistant organisms
C) The infection was viral, not bacterial
D) The patient did not rest adequately
Correct Answer: Overgrowth of resistant organisms
Rationale: Prolonged or broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy disrupts normal flora, allowing resistant
organisms such as *Clostridioides difficile* and *Candida* to overgrow and cause superinfection. This is
a well-known complication of antibiotic therapy.
3. Which statement indicates a patient needs further teaching about nitrofurantoin therapy?
A) "I will take the medication with food to decrease stomach upset."
,B) "My urine might turn brown while I am on this medication."
C) "I can stop taking the medication when I feel better."
D) "I should report any shortness of breath or cough."
Correct Answer: "I can stop taking the medication when I feel better."
Rationale: Nitrofurantoin should be taken for the full prescribed course to ensure eradication of the
infection. Stopping early can lead to recurrence and antibiotic resistance. Brown urine is a harmless side
effect, and taking it with food reduces GI upset.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient prescribed tetracycline. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include in patient teaching?
A) Take the medication with dairy products to reduce stomach upset
B) Avoid direct sunlight and wear protective clothing
C) Take the medication on an empty stomach only
D) Discontinue the medication if a rash develops
Correct Answer: Avoid direct sunlight and wear protective clothing
Rationale: Tetracycline can cause photosensitivity, making the skin more susceptible to sunburn.
Patients should be advised to avoid prolonged sun exposure and use sunscreen. Dairy products should
be avoided as they interfere with absorption.
5. A nurse is administering morphine to a patient for pain. Which of the following assessments is most
critical before administering the medication?
A) Pain level
B) Blood pressure
C) Respiratory rate
D) Level of consciousness
Correct Answer: Respiratory rate
, Rationale: Morphine is an opioid analgesic that can cause respiratory depression. Assessing the
respiratory rate before administration is critical to ensure the patient is not already experiencing
respiratory compromise.
6. A patient is prescribed sulfonamide for a urinary tract infection. Which nursing intervention is
appropriate to include in the care plan?
A) Encourage increased fluid intake
B) Restrict fluid intake to decrease urinary output
C) Administer the medication with grapefruit juice
D) Monitor for hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: Encourage increased fluid intake
Rationale: Sulfonamides can crystallize in the urine, leading to kidney damage. Encouraging increased
fluid intake helps maintain adequate urine output and prevent crystalluria.
7. A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which lab value should the nurse monitor?
A) aPTT
B) INR
C) Platelets
D) Bleeding time
Correct Answer: INR
Rationale: Warfarin affects the extrinsic pathway and vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. INR is the
standardized monitoring test for warfarin therapy. aPTT is used for heparin monitoring.
8. A patient on digoxin has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. What is the priority assessment?
A) Monitor for hypokalemia-induced digoxin toxicity
