Ultimate Comprehensive Kaplan Pharmacology
Assessment Study Guide for Nursing Students: 200
Practice Questions with 100% Verified A+ Answers and
Detailed In-Depth Rationales, Updated Per Latest 2026
NCLEX Guidelines, Covering Pharmacokinetics,
Cardiovascular, Anti-infectives, Endocrine, CNS, Adverse
Effects, and Safe Nursing Monitoring.
Questions 1–20: Core Pharmacology & Safe Medication
Administration
Question 1
A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient with heart
failure. Before administration, the nurse checks the
patient's heart rate and finds it to be 52 beats per
minute. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Administer the dose and monitor closely
B. Administer the dose and notify the physician
C. Hold the dose and notify the physician
D. Double the dose to compensate for low heart rate
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: C
Rationale: Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic index and
can cause bradycardia. The standard guideline is to hold
,the dose if the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute in
adults and notify the physician for further evaluation.
Question 2
Which of the following is the primary mechanism of
action of beta-blockers in treating hypertension?
A. Increasing cardiac output
B. Blocking sympathetic stimulation of the heart
C. Increasing renin release
D. Direct vasodilation of peripheral arteries
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Beta-blockers work by blocking beta-
adrenergic receptors, which inhibits sympathetic
stimulation of the heart, reducing heart rate and cardiac
output, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Question 3
A patient is prescribed warfarin for deep vein thrombosis.
Which laboratory test must the nurse monitor regularly?
,A. Serum creatinine
B. Prothrombin time (PT) and INR
C. Complete blood count
D. Liver function tests
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant that affects the
coagulation cascade. PT and INR are the standard tests to
monitor warfarin efficacy and prevent bleeding
complications.
Question 4
A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient with heart
failure. The patient's serum digoxin level is 2.4 ng/mL.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
C. Document the finding and continue monitoring
D. Give potassium supplement before next dose
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
, Rationale: Normal digoxin therapeutic range is 0.5–2.0
ng/mL. A level of 2.4 ng/mL indicates digoxin toxicity,
which requires immediate provider notification to
prevent life-threatening complications such as severe
arrhythmias.
Question 5
Which medication class should the nurse avoid
administering to a patient with COPD?
A. Beta-2 agonists
B. Non-selective beta-blockers
C. Anticholinergics
D. Corticosteroids
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Non-selective beta-blockers block both beta-1
and beta-2 receptors, causing bronchoconstriction by
inhibiting beta-2 mediated bronchodilation. This can
worsen COPD symptoms.
Assessment Study Guide for Nursing Students: 200
Practice Questions with 100% Verified A+ Answers and
Detailed In-Depth Rationales, Updated Per Latest 2026
NCLEX Guidelines, Covering Pharmacokinetics,
Cardiovascular, Anti-infectives, Endocrine, CNS, Adverse
Effects, and Safe Nursing Monitoring.
Questions 1–20: Core Pharmacology & Safe Medication
Administration
Question 1
A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient with heart
failure. Before administration, the nurse checks the
patient's heart rate and finds it to be 52 beats per
minute. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Administer the dose and monitor closely
B. Administer the dose and notify the physician
C. Hold the dose and notify the physician
D. Double the dose to compensate for low heart rate
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: C
Rationale: Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic index and
can cause bradycardia. The standard guideline is to hold
,the dose if the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute in
adults and notify the physician for further evaluation.
Question 2
Which of the following is the primary mechanism of
action of beta-blockers in treating hypertension?
A. Increasing cardiac output
B. Blocking sympathetic stimulation of the heart
C. Increasing renin release
D. Direct vasodilation of peripheral arteries
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Beta-blockers work by blocking beta-
adrenergic receptors, which inhibits sympathetic
stimulation of the heart, reducing heart rate and cardiac
output, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Question 3
A patient is prescribed warfarin for deep vein thrombosis.
Which laboratory test must the nurse monitor regularly?
,A. Serum creatinine
B. Prothrombin time (PT) and INR
C. Complete blood count
D. Liver function tests
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant that affects the
coagulation cascade. PT and INR are the standard tests to
monitor warfarin efficacy and prevent bleeding
complications.
Question 4
A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient with heart
failure. The patient's serum digoxin level is 2.4 ng/mL.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
C. Document the finding and continue monitoring
D. Give potassium supplement before next dose
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
, Rationale: Normal digoxin therapeutic range is 0.5–2.0
ng/mL. A level of 2.4 ng/mL indicates digoxin toxicity,
which requires immediate provider notification to
prevent life-threatening complications such as severe
arrhythmias.
Question 5
Which medication class should the nurse avoid
administering to a patient with COPD?
A. Beta-2 agonists
B. Non-selective beta-blockers
C. Anticholinergics
D. Corticosteroids
Correct ☑VERIFIED ANSWER: B
Rationale: Non-selective beta-blockers block both beta-1
and beta-2 receptors, causing bronchoconstriction by
inhibiting beta-2 mediated bronchodilation. This can
worsen COPD symptoms.
