FRANDSEN CHAPTER 38 TEST BANK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | FRANDSEN
CHAPTER 38 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
1. What is a nonpharmacologic measure that is effective in treating nausea and vomiting in
pregnant women?
A. Ginkgo biloba
B. Ginger
C. Garlic
D. Ginseng - ANS ✔✔ANS: B
Rationale: Ginger 250 mg four times per day is a nonpharmacologic treatment supported by
limited scientific evidence. Ginkgo biloba, garlic, and ginseng are not recommended.
2. A client prescribed promethazine for nausea and vomiting should be monitored for which
adverse effect?
A. Urinary incontinence
B. Tachycardia
C. Taste alteration
D. Confusion - ANS ✔✔ANS: D
Rationale: Confusion is an adverse effects of promethazine. Urinary retention is an adverse
effect, not urinary incontinence. Tachycardia and taste alteration are not an adverse effects
of promethazine.
3. A client who has been prescribed an antihistamine for nausea should be monitored for which
adverse effect of this classification of medication?
A. Diarrhea
B. Prolonged QRS complex
C. Urinary retention
D. Inverted T wave - ANS ✔✔ANS: C
Rationale: Adverse anticholinergic effects of antihistamines are dizziness, confusion, dry
mouth, and urinary retention. Urinary incontinence, prolonged QRS complex, and inverted
T wave are not adverse effects of antihistamines.
4. A client is administered a phenothiazine for nausea and vomiting. What is the action of
phenothiazine?
A. Increases gastric motility
B. Antagonizes dopamine receptors
C. Blocks histamine receptors
D. Antagonizes serotonin receptors - ANS ✔✔ANS: B
Rationale: Phenothiazines act on the chemoreceptor trigger zone CTZ and vomiting center
by blocking dopamine. They do not increase gastric motility, block histamine receptors, or
antagonize serotonin receptors.
5. What is the recommended treatment of nausea and vomiting when caring for a child
prescribed pediatric chemotherapy agents?
A. Corticosteroids and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists
B. Phenothiazines and benzodiazepines
, C. Proton pump inhibitors and antacids
D. Prokinetic agents and antihistamines - ANS ✔✔ANS: A
Rationale: 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and corticosteroids are used to treat nausea and
vomiting in pediatric oncology clients. None of the remaining options are prescribed for
nausea and vomiting triggered by pediatric chemotherapy.
6. A postoperative school-age pediatric client is experiencing nausea and vomiting. What is the
antiemetic drug of choice in children?
A. Promethazine
B. Benzquinamide
C. Buclizine
D. Cyclizine - ANS ✔✔ANS: A
Rationale: Promethazine is the preferred phenothiazine because its action is more like that
of the antihistamines than the phenothiazines. Benzquinamide, buclizine, and cyclizine are
not the drugs of choice for antiemetic effects in children.
7. An older adult client is administered dimenhydrinate. Which is the priority nursing
intervention for this client?
A. Encourage fluids with this client.
B. Have the client void after administration.
C. Maintain IV access.
D. Protect from injury. - ANS ✔✔ANS: D
Rationale: Dimenhydrinate causes drowsiness, especially in older adults, and therefore
should be used cautiously. The nurse should protect the client from injury. There is no
indication that fluids should be forced. The client will not require IV access unless fluid
replacement is prescribed.
8. A pregnant client is experiencing morning sickness. Which should be considered as a
first-line treatment for the management of morning sickness?
A. Vitamin B6
B. Promethazine
C. Vitamin E
D. Diphenhydramine - ANS ✔✔ANS: A
Rationale: For pregnant women, taking pyridoxine (vitamin B6) 30 to 75 mg daily in three
divided doses with or without the antihistamine doxylamine 12.5 mg every 8 hours as
needed is considered a first-line treatment option that is safe and effective. Promethazine is
not a first-line treatment for morning sickness. Neither diphenhydramine nor vitamin E is
used to treat nausea.
9. A client diagnosed with Parkinson's disease develops nausea and vomiting. Promethazine
may be contraindicated because it depletes levels of what neurotransmitter?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. Adenosine - ANS ✔✔ANS: C
Rationale: Promethazine and other phenothiazines have widespread effects on the body. The
therapeutic effects in nausea and vomiting are attributed to their ability to block dopamine
from receptor sites in the brain and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). This blockage of
CHAPTER 38 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
1. What is a nonpharmacologic measure that is effective in treating nausea and vomiting in
pregnant women?
A. Ginkgo biloba
B. Ginger
C. Garlic
D. Ginseng - ANS ✔✔ANS: B
Rationale: Ginger 250 mg four times per day is a nonpharmacologic treatment supported by
limited scientific evidence. Ginkgo biloba, garlic, and ginseng are not recommended.
2. A client prescribed promethazine for nausea and vomiting should be monitored for which
adverse effect?
A. Urinary incontinence
B. Tachycardia
C. Taste alteration
D. Confusion - ANS ✔✔ANS: D
Rationale: Confusion is an adverse effects of promethazine. Urinary retention is an adverse
effect, not urinary incontinence. Tachycardia and taste alteration are not an adverse effects
of promethazine.
3. A client who has been prescribed an antihistamine for nausea should be monitored for which
adverse effect of this classification of medication?
A. Diarrhea
B. Prolonged QRS complex
C. Urinary retention
D. Inverted T wave - ANS ✔✔ANS: C
Rationale: Adverse anticholinergic effects of antihistamines are dizziness, confusion, dry
mouth, and urinary retention. Urinary incontinence, prolonged QRS complex, and inverted
T wave are not adverse effects of antihistamines.
4. A client is administered a phenothiazine for nausea and vomiting. What is the action of
phenothiazine?
A. Increases gastric motility
B. Antagonizes dopamine receptors
C. Blocks histamine receptors
D. Antagonizes serotonin receptors - ANS ✔✔ANS: B
Rationale: Phenothiazines act on the chemoreceptor trigger zone CTZ and vomiting center
by blocking dopamine. They do not increase gastric motility, block histamine receptors, or
antagonize serotonin receptors.
5. What is the recommended treatment of nausea and vomiting when caring for a child
prescribed pediatric chemotherapy agents?
A. Corticosteroids and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists
B. Phenothiazines and benzodiazepines
, C. Proton pump inhibitors and antacids
D. Prokinetic agents and antihistamines - ANS ✔✔ANS: A
Rationale: 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and corticosteroids are used to treat nausea and
vomiting in pediatric oncology clients. None of the remaining options are prescribed for
nausea and vomiting triggered by pediatric chemotherapy.
6. A postoperative school-age pediatric client is experiencing nausea and vomiting. What is the
antiemetic drug of choice in children?
A. Promethazine
B. Benzquinamide
C. Buclizine
D. Cyclizine - ANS ✔✔ANS: A
Rationale: Promethazine is the preferred phenothiazine because its action is more like that
of the antihistamines than the phenothiazines. Benzquinamide, buclizine, and cyclizine are
not the drugs of choice for antiemetic effects in children.
7. An older adult client is administered dimenhydrinate. Which is the priority nursing
intervention for this client?
A. Encourage fluids with this client.
B. Have the client void after administration.
C. Maintain IV access.
D. Protect from injury. - ANS ✔✔ANS: D
Rationale: Dimenhydrinate causes drowsiness, especially in older adults, and therefore
should be used cautiously. The nurse should protect the client from injury. There is no
indication that fluids should be forced. The client will not require IV access unless fluid
replacement is prescribed.
8. A pregnant client is experiencing morning sickness. Which should be considered as a
first-line treatment for the management of morning sickness?
A. Vitamin B6
B. Promethazine
C. Vitamin E
D. Diphenhydramine - ANS ✔✔ANS: A
Rationale: For pregnant women, taking pyridoxine (vitamin B6) 30 to 75 mg daily in three
divided doses with or without the antihistamine doxylamine 12.5 mg every 8 hours as
needed is considered a first-line treatment option that is safe and effective. Promethazine is
not a first-line treatment for morning sickness. Neither diphenhydramine nor vitamin E is
used to treat nausea.
9. A client diagnosed with Parkinson's disease develops nausea and vomiting. Promethazine
may be contraindicated because it depletes levels of what neurotransmitter?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. Adenosine - ANS ✔✔ANS: C
Rationale: Promethazine and other phenothiazines have widespread effects on the body. The
therapeutic effects in nausea and vomiting are attributed to their ability to block dopamine
from receptor sites in the brain and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). This blockage of
