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NR 341 Pharmacology CJE Exam Bundle | Updated
Study Guide & Practice Test PDF
Summarized Exam Coverage
This comprehensive pharmacology exam covers essential concepts including geriatric and
pediatric medication considerations, pregnancy and lactation drug safety, medication
administration rights and error management, antidotes and reversal agents, adverse drug
reactions and events, therapeutic index significance, respiratory medications (bronchodilators,
anticholinergics, xanthine derivatives, leukotriene receptor antagonists, corticosteroids),
cardiovascular medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, cardiac glycosides, nitrates,
calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, diuretics, statins,
antihypertensives), and specific monitoring parameters, side effects, and nursing implications for
each drug category.
✓ 1 . A 78-year-old patient with multiple chronic conditions is taking eight different
medications daily. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to address the risks
associated with this situation?
A. Recommend discontinuing all over-the-counter medications immediately
B. Schedule a comprehensive medication reconciliation with the pharmacy and provider
C. Instruct the patient to take all medications at the same time each morning
D. Suggest switching to herbal supplements to reduce the number of prescriptions
B. Schedule a comprehensive medication reconciliation with the pharmacy and
provider
Polypharmacy in elderly patients requires careful review of all medications including
prescriptions, OTC drugs, and supplements to identify potential interactions,
duplications, and unnecessary medications while ensuring therapeutic benefits are
maintained.
✓ 2. An 82-year-old patient reports experiencing dizziness and nearly fainting when
standing up from a seated position. Which age-related physiological change is most likely
,2
contributing to this symptom?
A. Increased cardiac output leading to hypertension
B. Enhanced baroreceptor sensitivity causing rapid heart rate changes
C. Decreased cardiac output and reduced blood flow adaptation
D. Increased blood volume from decreased kidney function
C. Decreased cardiac output and reduced blood flow adaptation
Age-related cardiovascular changes include decreased cardiac output and reduced
ability to compensate for positional changes, making elderly patients particularly
susceptible to orthostatic hypotension and dizziness upon standing.
✓ 3. A 75-year-old patient prescribed a new medication asks why the dose seems lower than
what their younger friend takes for the same condition. What physiological change in
elderly patients best explains this dosing difference?
A. Increased gastric acid production enhancing drug absorption
B. Decreased body water and increased fat content altering drug distribution
C. Enhanced liver metabolism requiring higher initial doses
D. Increased glomerular filtration rate eliminating drugs more quickly
B. Decreased body water and increased fat content altering drug distribution
Age-related changes in body composition include decreased total body water and
increased adipose tissue, which affects the volume of distribution for both water-
soluble and lipid-soluble medications, often necessitating dose adjustments.
✓ 4. A nursing student is preparing to administer a medication to a 6-month-old infant.
Which pharmacological consideration is most critical for this pediatric patient?
A. The infant's weight must be used for accurate dose calculation
B. Oral medications should be given with full-strength juice for palatability
C. Intramuscular injections absorb more slowly in infants than adults
D. The blood-brain barrier is fully developed and protective in infants
A. The infant's weight must be used for accurate dose calculation
Pediatric dosing is primarily weight-based because limited studies exist for this
population, and physiological differences significantly affect drug absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and elimination compared to adults.
,3
✓ 5. A 2-year-old child is prescribed a medication that is primarily excreted through the
kidneys. What age-related factor should the nurse consider when evaluating this child's
response to the medication?
A. Renal blood flow is increased compared to adults
B. Glomerular filtration rate reaches adult levels by 6 months of age
C. Immature kidney function results in decreased drug excretion
D. Kidney function is mature at birth in full-term infants
C. Immature kidney function results in decreased drug excretion
Pediatric patients have decreased renal perfusion and immature kidney function,
which leads to reduced drug excretion and potential accumulation of renally
eliminated medications, requiring careful dose monitoring.
✓ 6. A pregnant patient at 12 weeks gestation asks about the safety of a medication that has
been prescribed. The drug is classified as Category B. What does this classification
indicate to the nurse?
A. Controlled studies in humans have shown no risk to the fetus
B. Animal studies show no risk to the fetus but human studies are inadequate
C. Adverse effects have been demonstrated in animal fetuses
D. Fetal abnormalities have been reported in human studies
B. Animal studies show no risk to the fetus but human studies are inadequate
Pregnancy Category B indicates that animal reproduction studies have failed to
demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in
pregnant women, suggesting relative safety but with limited human data.
✓ 7. A lactating mother is concerned about taking a prescribed medication while
breastfeeding. What is the most accurate information the nurse should provide?
A. Medications are completely safe during lactation if taken at low doses
B. Only medications classified as Category A can be taken while breastfeeding
C. Risk is present for lactating mothers despite low medication concentration in breast
milk
D. All medications are contraindicated during breastfeeding to protect the infant
C. Risk is present for lactating mothers despite low medication concentration in breast
milk
, 4
Even though medication concentrations in breast milk are typically low, there is still
potential risk to the nursing infant, and each medication must be carefully evaluated
for its safety profile during lactation.
✓ 8. A nurse is preparing to administer medications and is verifying the "Seven Rights."
Which component is a newer addition to this traditional framework?
A. Right documentation
B. Right route
C. Right reason or indication
D. Right time
C. Right reason or indication
The traditional seven rights have been expanded to include right reason or indication,
emphasizing the importance of verifying that the medication is being given for the
correct therapeutic purpose and that the indication remains valid.
✓ 9. A medication error occurs when a nurse administers the wrong dose of a medication.
What is the nurse's priority action immediately following this error?
A. Complete an incident report and document it in the patient's medical record
B. Notify the healthcare provider and ensure client safety
C. Call the pharmacy to report the error and request a new prescription
D. Inform the patient's family members about what happened
B. Notify the healthcare provider and ensure client safety
The immediate priority after a medication error is ensuring patient safety and
assessing for any adverse effects, followed by notifying the healthcare provider and
implementing any necessary interventions to prevent harm.
✓ 10. A patient is brought to the emergency department with suspected opioid overdose
presenting with respiratory depression and pinpoint pupils. Which reversal agent should
the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine sulfate
B. Naloxone
NR 341 Pharmacology CJE Exam Bundle | Updated
Study Guide & Practice Test PDF
Summarized Exam Coverage
This comprehensive pharmacology exam covers essential concepts including geriatric and
pediatric medication considerations, pregnancy and lactation drug safety, medication
administration rights and error management, antidotes and reversal agents, adverse drug
reactions and events, therapeutic index significance, respiratory medications (bronchodilators,
anticholinergics, xanthine derivatives, leukotriene receptor antagonists, corticosteroids),
cardiovascular medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, cardiac glycosides, nitrates,
calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, diuretics, statins,
antihypertensives), and specific monitoring parameters, side effects, and nursing implications for
each drug category.
✓ 1 . A 78-year-old patient with multiple chronic conditions is taking eight different
medications daily. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention to address the risks
associated with this situation?
A. Recommend discontinuing all over-the-counter medications immediately
B. Schedule a comprehensive medication reconciliation with the pharmacy and provider
C. Instruct the patient to take all medications at the same time each morning
D. Suggest switching to herbal supplements to reduce the number of prescriptions
B. Schedule a comprehensive medication reconciliation with the pharmacy and
provider
Polypharmacy in elderly patients requires careful review of all medications including
prescriptions, OTC drugs, and supplements to identify potential interactions,
duplications, and unnecessary medications while ensuring therapeutic benefits are
maintained.
✓ 2. An 82-year-old patient reports experiencing dizziness and nearly fainting when
standing up from a seated position. Which age-related physiological change is most likely
,2
contributing to this symptom?
A. Increased cardiac output leading to hypertension
B. Enhanced baroreceptor sensitivity causing rapid heart rate changes
C. Decreased cardiac output and reduced blood flow adaptation
D. Increased blood volume from decreased kidney function
C. Decreased cardiac output and reduced blood flow adaptation
Age-related cardiovascular changes include decreased cardiac output and reduced
ability to compensate for positional changes, making elderly patients particularly
susceptible to orthostatic hypotension and dizziness upon standing.
✓ 3. A 75-year-old patient prescribed a new medication asks why the dose seems lower than
what their younger friend takes for the same condition. What physiological change in
elderly patients best explains this dosing difference?
A. Increased gastric acid production enhancing drug absorption
B. Decreased body water and increased fat content altering drug distribution
C. Enhanced liver metabolism requiring higher initial doses
D. Increased glomerular filtration rate eliminating drugs more quickly
B. Decreased body water and increased fat content altering drug distribution
Age-related changes in body composition include decreased total body water and
increased adipose tissue, which affects the volume of distribution for both water-
soluble and lipid-soluble medications, often necessitating dose adjustments.
✓ 4. A nursing student is preparing to administer a medication to a 6-month-old infant.
Which pharmacological consideration is most critical for this pediatric patient?
A. The infant's weight must be used for accurate dose calculation
B. Oral medications should be given with full-strength juice for palatability
C. Intramuscular injections absorb more slowly in infants than adults
D. The blood-brain barrier is fully developed and protective in infants
A. The infant's weight must be used for accurate dose calculation
Pediatric dosing is primarily weight-based because limited studies exist for this
population, and physiological differences significantly affect drug absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and elimination compared to adults.
,3
✓ 5. A 2-year-old child is prescribed a medication that is primarily excreted through the
kidneys. What age-related factor should the nurse consider when evaluating this child's
response to the medication?
A. Renal blood flow is increased compared to adults
B. Glomerular filtration rate reaches adult levels by 6 months of age
C. Immature kidney function results in decreased drug excretion
D. Kidney function is mature at birth in full-term infants
C. Immature kidney function results in decreased drug excretion
Pediatric patients have decreased renal perfusion and immature kidney function,
which leads to reduced drug excretion and potential accumulation of renally
eliminated medications, requiring careful dose monitoring.
✓ 6. A pregnant patient at 12 weeks gestation asks about the safety of a medication that has
been prescribed. The drug is classified as Category B. What does this classification
indicate to the nurse?
A. Controlled studies in humans have shown no risk to the fetus
B. Animal studies show no risk to the fetus but human studies are inadequate
C. Adverse effects have been demonstrated in animal fetuses
D. Fetal abnormalities have been reported in human studies
B. Animal studies show no risk to the fetus but human studies are inadequate
Pregnancy Category B indicates that animal reproduction studies have failed to
demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in
pregnant women, suggesting relative safety but with limited human data.
✓ 7. A lactating mother is concerned about taking a prescribed medication while
breastfeeding. What is the most accurate information the nurse should provide?
A. Medications are completely safe during lactation if taken at low doses
B. Only medications classified as Category A can be taken while breastfeeding
C. Risk is present for lactating mothers despite low medication concentration in breast
milk
D. All medications are contraindicated during breastfeeding to protect the infant
C. Risk is present for lactating mothers despite low medication concentration in breast
milk
, 4
Even though medication concentrations in breast milk are typically low, there is still
potential risk to the nursing infant, and each medication must be carefully evaluated
for its safety profile during lactation.
✓ 8. A nurse is preparing to administer medications and is verifying the "Seven Rights."
Which component is a newer addition to this traditional framework?
A. Right documentation
B. Right route
C. Right reason or indication
D. Right time
C. Right reason or indication
The traditional seven rights have been expanded to include right reason or indication,
emphasizing the importance of verifying that the medication is being given for the
correct therapeutic purpose and that the indication remains valid.
✓ 9. A medication error occurs when a nurse administers the wrong dose of a medication.
What is the nurse's priority action immediately following this error?
A. Complete an incident report and document it in the patient's medical record
B. Notify the healthcare provider and ensure client safety
C. Call the pharmacy to report the error and request a new prescription
D. Inform the patient's family members about what happened
B. Notify the healthcare provider and ensure client safety
The immediate priority after a medication error is ensuring patient safety and
assessing for any adverse effects, followed by notifying the healthcare provider and
implementing any necessary interventions to prevent harm.
✓ 10. A patient is brought to the emergency department with suspected opioid overdose
presenting with respiratory depression and pinpoint pupils. Which reversal agent should
the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine sulfate
B. Naloxone
