,NUR210/NUR 210 Exam 4 | Principles of Pharmacology
| Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
**1. A patient enters the emergency department with a draining wound. Once the patient is admitted
and assessed, which nursing intervention has the highest priority?**
A) Administer the ordered antibiotics immediately
B) Teach the patient about the ordered antibiotics
C) Culture the wound
D) Enforce droplet isolation precautions
Correct Answer: Culture the wound
Rationale: The priority nursing intervention is to obtain a culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing of the
infective organism (C&S) before initiating antibiotics. This ensures the correct antibiotic is selected
based on the specific pathogen and its sensitivities. Administering antibiotics before culture results can
lead to ineffective treatment and antibiotic resistance.
**2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking cefepime. Which nursing intervention has the highest
priority?**
A) Wait until culture results are received before initiating antibiotic therapy
B) Monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of superinfection
C) Administer the IV medication over 2 hours to prevent phlebitis
D) Instruct the patient to take the drug for 5 days only
Correct Answer: Monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of superinfection
Rationale: Superinfection is a common adverse effect of antibiotics, including cephalosporins. The nurse
should monitor for signs such as fever, new onset of diarrhea, or other infections. IV cephalosporins
should be administered over 30 to 45 minutes, not 2 hours. Cephalosporins are usually given for 10 days
for a full regimen.
,**3. A patient is prescribed a cephalosporin antibiotic. The nurse understands that this class of
antibiotics is most closely related to which other class?**
A) Penicillins
B) Macrolides
C) Tetracyclines
D) Aminoglycosides
Correct Answer: Penicillins
Rationale: Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics and are structurally and pharmacologically related
to penicillins. Patients with a known allergy to penicillin may also have a cross-sensitivity to
cephalosporins, requiring cautious use.
**4. The nurse is preparing to administer IV cefepime to a patient. Which action is correct regarding the
infusion rate?**
A) Administer the IV push over 2 minutes
B) Administer the IV over 30 to 45 minutes
C) Administer the IV over 2 hours
D) Administer the IV as a rapid bolus
Correct Answer: Administer the IV over 30 to 45 minutes
Rationale: IV cephalosporins should be administered over 30 to 45 minutes to prevent phlebitis and
ensure proper drug distribution. Administering too rapidly can cause adverse effects, and administering
too slowly may delay therapeutic effect.
**5. The nurse is teaching a patient about antibiotic therapy. Which statement by the patient indicates
correct understanding?**
A) "I can stop taking the antibiotic when I feel better."
B) "I should take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed until it is finished."
C) "I can share my antibiotic with my family member if they have the same symptoms."
, D) "I should take the antibiotic only when I have symptoms."
Correct Answer: "I should take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed until it is finished."
Rationale: Antibiotics should be taken exactly as prescribed for the full course of therapy, even if
symptoms improve. Stopping an antibiotic early can lead to relapse or the development of antibiotic
resistance.
**6. Which assessment finding in a patient taking an antibiotic requires immediate nursing action?**
A) Mild nausea
B) New onset of watery diarrhea
C) Headache
D) Fatigue
Correct Answer: New onset of watery diarrhea
Rationale: New onset of watery diarrhea, especially if accompanied by fever or abdominal cramping,
may indicate Clostridioides difficile infection, a serious complication of antibiotic therapy. This requires
immediate notification of the healthcare provider.
**7. A patient is prescribed an antibiotic. The nurse should teach the patient to report which sign of a
superinfection?**
A) Drowsiness
B) Oral thrush
C) Constipation
D) Dry mouth
Correct Answer: Oral thrush
| Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
**1. A patient enters the emergency department with a draining wound. Once the patient is admitted
and assessed, which nursing intervention has the highest priority?**
A) Administer the ordered antibiotics immediately
B) Teach the patient about the ordered antibiotics
C) Culture the wound
D) Enforce droplet isolation precautions
Correct Answer: Culture the wound
Rationale: The priority nursing intervention is to obtain a culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing of the
infective organism (C&S) before initiating antibiotics. This ensures the correct antibiotic is selected
based on the specific pathogen and its sensitivities. Administering antibiotics before culture results can
lead to ineffective treatment and antibiotic resistance.
**2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking cefepime. Which nursing intervention has the highest
priority?**
A) Wait until culture results are received before initiating antibiotic therapy
B) Monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of superinfection
C) Administer the IV medication over 2 hours to prevent phlebitis
D) Instruct the patient to take the drug for 5 days only
Correct Answer: Monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of superinfection
Rationale: Superinfection is a common adverse effect of antibiotics, including cephalosporins. The nurse
should monitor for signs such as fever, new onset of diarrhea, or other infections. IV cephalosporins
should be administered over 30 to 45 minutes, not 2 hours. Cephalosporins are usually given for 10 days
for a full regimen.
,**3. A patient is prescribed a cephalosporin antibiotic. The nurse understands that this class of
antibiotics is most closely related to which other class?**
A) Penicillins
B) Macrolides
C) Tetracyclines
D) Aminoglycosides
Correct Answer: Penicillins
Rationale: Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics and are structurally and pharmacologically related
to penicillins. Patients with a known allergy to penicillin may also have a cross-sensitivity to
cephalosporins, requiring cautious use.
**4. The nurse is preparing to administer IV cefepime to a patient. Which action is correct regarding the
infusion rate?**
A) Administer the IV push over 2 minutes
B) Administer the IV over 30 to 45 minutes
C) Administer the IV over 2 hours
D) Administer the IV as a rapid bolus
Correct Answer: Administer the IV over 30 to 45 minutes
Rationale: IV cephalosporins should be administered over 30 to 45 minutes to prevent phlebitis and
ensure proper drug distribution. Administering too rapidly can cause adverse effects, and administering
too slowly may delay therapeutic effect.
**5. The nurse is teaching a patient about antibiotic therapy. Which statement by the patient indicates
correct understanding?**
A) "I can stop taking the antibiotic when I feel better."
B) "I should take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed until it is finished."
C) "I can share my antibiotic with my family member if they have the same symptoms."
, D) "I should take the antibiotic only when I have symptoms."
Correct Answer: "I should take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed until it is finished."
Rationale: Antibiotics should be taken exactly as prescribed for the full course of therapy, even if
symptoms improve. Stopping an antibiotic early can lead to relapse or the development of antibiotic
resistance.
**6. Which assessment finding in a patient taking an antibiotic requires immediate nursing action?**
A) Mild nausea
B) New onset of watery diarrhea
C) Headache
D) Fatigue
Correct Answer: New onset of watery diarrhea
Rationale: New onset of watery diarrhea, especially if accompanied by fever or abdominal cramping,
may indicate Clostridioides difficile infection, a serious complication of antibiotic therapy. This requires
immediate notification of the healthcare provider.
**7. A patient is prescribed an antibiotic. The nurse should teach the patient to report which sign of a
superinfection?**
A) Drowsiness
B) Oral thrush
C) Constipation
D) Dry mouth
Correct Answer: Oral thrush
