NU 150 Exam 2 / NU 150 Pharmacology Exam 2 Newest
Practice Test Bank with 200+ Questions and Correct
Answers/ NU150 Exam 2 prep (Latest 2026-2027)
A patient with a history of hypertension is admitted for a procedure. If the patient's
arterial pressure decreases, which clinical manifestation would the nurse expect to
see?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased heart rate
C. Decreased blood pressure
D. Syncope - ANSWER-Correct: B
When arterial pressure decreases, the vasoconstrictor center causes constriction of
nearly all arterioles, leading to an increase in peripheral resistance, constriction of
veins, increasing venous return, and subsequent acceleration of the heart rate. A
decrease in arterial pressure would not cause a decrease in the heart rate or blood
pressure, nor would it cause syncope.
Chapter 43
A nursing student asks the nurse why multi-drug therapy is often used to treat
hypertension. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "Multi-drug therapy often means that drugs may be given in lower doses."
B. "Some agents are used to offset adverse effects of other agents."
C. "Treatment of hypertension via different mechanisms increases success."
D. "Two or more drugs will lower blood pressure more quickly." - ANSWER-
Correct: D
Multi-drug therapy does not lower blood pressure more quickly. Using more than
one drug often means that doses can be decreased. Some agents can offset adverse
1
,effects of other agents. Treatment via different mechanisms increases the
likelihood of success.
Chapter 47
A patient with a recent onset of nephrosclerosis has been taking an ACE inhibitor
and a thiazide diuretic. The patient's initial blood pressure was 148/100 mm Hg.
After 1 month of drug therapy, the patient's blood pressure is 130/90 mm Hg. The
nurse will contact the provider to discuss:
A. adding a calcium channel blocker to this patient's drug regimen.
B. lowering doses of the antihypertensive medications.
C. ordering a high potassium diet.
D. adding spironolactone to the drug regimen. - ANSWER-Correct: A
In patients with renal disease, the goal of antihypertensive therapy is to lower the
blood pressure to 130/80 mm Hg or less. Adding a third medication is often
indicated. Lowering the dose of the medications is not indicated because the
patient's blood pressure is not in the target range. Adding potassium to the diet and
using a potassium-sparing diuretic are contraindicated.
Chapter 47
A nurse is teaching a nursing student how blood can return to the heart when
pressure in the venous capillary beds is very low. Which statement by the student
indicates a need for further teaching? Skeletal muscle contraction, along with one-
way venous valves, help create an "auxiliary" venous pump that helps drive blood
toward the heart.
A. "Constriction of small muscles in the venous wall increases venous pressure."
B. "Negative pressure in the left atrium draws blood toward the heart."
C. "Skeletal muscles relax to allow the free flow of blood."
D. "Venous valves help prevent the backflow of blood." - ANSWER-Correct: C
Constriction of small muscles in venous walls helps increase venous pressure.
Negative pressure in the left atrium sucks blood toward the heart. Valves, which
2
,are one-way, work with the contraction of skeletal muscles to create a venous
pump.
Chapter 43
A nurse is assessing a patient with heart failure. The patient complains of shortness
of breath, and the nurse auscultates crackles in both lungs. The nurse understands
that these symptoms are the result of:
A. decreased force of ventricular contraction.
B. increased force of ventricular contraction.
C. decreased ventricular filling.
D. increased ventricular filling. - ANSWER-Correct: A
In the failing heart Starling's law breaks down, and the force of contraction no
longer increases in proportion to the amount of ventricular filling. The result is the
backup of blood into the lungs and the symptoms of shortness of breath and
crackles caused by fluid. Increased ventricular contraction would not result in a
backup of blood into the lungs. Changes in ventricular filling are not the direct
cause of this symptom.
Chapter 43
A patient with hypertension is admitted to the hospital. On admission the patient's
heart rate is 72 beats per minute, and the blood pressure is 140/95 mm Hg. After
administering an antihypertensive medication, the nurse notes a heart rate of 85
beats per minute and a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg. What does the nurse
expect to occur?
A. A decrease in the heart rate back to baseline in 1 to 2 days
B. An increase in the blood pressure within a few days
C. An increase in potassium retention in 1 to 2 days
D. A decrease in fluid retention within a week - ANSWER-Correct: A
When blood pressure drops, the baroreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus
sense this and relay information to the vasoconstrictor center of the medulla; this
3
, causes constriction of arterioles and veins and increased sympathetic impulses to
the heart, resulting in an increased heart rate. After 1 to 2 days, this system resets
to the new pressure, and the heart rate returns to normal. The blood pressure will
not increase when this system resets. Increased potassium retention will not occur.
Over time, the body will retain more fluid to increase the blood pressure.
Chapter 43
A patient is taking a drug that interferes with venous constriction. The nurse will
tell the patient to:
A. ask for assistance when getting out of bed.
B. expect bradycardia for a few days.
C. notify the provider if headache occurs.
D. report shortness of breath. - ANSWER-Correct: A
A drop in venous pressure reduces venous return to the heart, and as blood pools in
the extremities, orthostatic hypotension can occur. Patients taking drugs that
reduce venous constriction should be cautioned to ask for assistance when getting
out of bed. Bradycardia, headache, and shortness of breath are not expected effects.
Chapter 43
A nurse is administering a vasodilator that dilates resistance vessels. The nurse
understands that this drug will have which effect on the patient?
A. Decreased cardiac preload
B. Decreased cardiac output
C. Increased tissue perfusion
D. Increased ventricular contraction - ANSWER-Correct: C
Vasodilators that dilate resistance vessels, or arterioles, cause a decrease in
afterload, which allows cardiac output and tissue perfusion to increase. A decrease
in preload would be the result of dilation of capacitance vessels, or veins. Dilation
of arterioles increases cardiac output. Ventricular contraction results when preload
is increased.
4
Practice Test Bank with 200+ Questions and Correct
Answers/ NU150 Exam 2 prep (Latest 2026-2027)
A patient with a history of hypertension is admitted for a procedure. If the patient's
arterial pressure decreases, which clinical manifestation would the nurse expect to
see?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased heart rate
C. Decreased blood pressure
D. Syncope - ANSWER-Correct: B
When arterial pressure decreases, the vasoconstrictor center causes constriction of
nearly all arterioles, leading to an increase in peripheral resistance, constriction of
veins, increasing venous return, and subsequent acceleration of the heart rate. A
decrease in arterial pressure would not cause a decrease in the heart rate or blood
pressure, nor would it cause syncope.
Chapter 43
A nursing student asks the nurse why multi-drug therapy is often used to treat
hypertension. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "Multi-drug therapy often means that drugs may be given in lower doses."
B. "Some agents are used to offset adverse effects of other agents."
C. "Treatment of hypertension via different mechanisms increases success."
D. "Two or more drugs will lower blood pressure more quickly." - ANSWER-
Correct: D
Multi-drug therapy does not lower blood pressure more quickly. Using more than
one drug often means that doses can be decreased. Some agents can offset adverse
1
,effects of other agents. Treatment via different mechanisms increases the
likelihood of success.
Chapter 47
A patient with a recent onset of nephrosclerosis has been taking an ACE inhibitor
and a thiazide diuretic. The patient's initial blood pressure was 148/100 mm Hg.
After 1 month of drug therapy, the patient's blood pressure is 130/90 mm Hg. The
nurse will contact the provider to discuss:
A. adding a calcium channel blocker to this patient's drug regimen.
B. lowering doses of the antihypertensive medications.
C. ordering a high potassium diet.
D. adding spironolactone to the drug regimen. - ANSWER-Correct: A
In patients with renal disease, the goal of antihypertensive therapy is to lower the
blood pressure to 130/80 mm Hg or less. Adding a third medication is often
indicated. Lowering the dose of the medications is not indicated because the
patient's blood pressure is not in the target range. Adding potassium to the diet and
using a potassium-sparing diuretic are contraindicated.
Chapter 47
A nurse is teaching a nursing student how blood can return to the heart when
pressure in the venous capillary beds is very low. Which statement by the student
indicates a need for further teaching? Skeletal muscle contraction, along with one-
way venous valves, help create an "auxiliary" venous pump that helps drive blood
toward the heart.
A. "Constriction of small muscles in the venous wall increases venous pressure."
B. "Negative pressure in the left atrium draws blood toward the heart."
C. "Skeletal muscles relax to allow the free flow of blood."
D. "Venous valves help prevent the backflow of blood." - ANSWER-Correct: C
Constriction of small muscles in venous walls helps increase venous pressure.
Negative pressure in the left atrium sucks blood toward the heart. Valves, which
2
,are one-way, work with the contraction of skeletal muscles to create a venous
pump.
Chapter 43
A nurse is assessing a patient with heart failure. The patient complains of shortness
of breath, and the nurse auscultates crackles in both lungs. The nurse understands
that these symptoms are the result of:
A. decreased force of ventricular contraction.
B. increased force of ventricular contraction.
C. decreased ventricular filling.
D. increased ventricular filling. - ANSWER-Correct: A
In the failing heart Starling's law breaks down, and the force of contraction no
longer increases in proportion to the amount of ventricular filling. The result is the
backup of blood into the lungs and the symptoms of shortness of breath and
crackles caused by fluid. Increased ventricular contraction would not result in a
backup of blood into the lungs. Changes in ventricular filling are not the direct
cause of this symptom.
Chapter 43
A patient with hypertension is admitted to the hospital. On admission the patient's
heart rate is 72 beats per minute, and the blood pressure is 140/95 mm Hg. After
administering an antihypertensive medication, the nurse notes a heart rate of 85
beats per minute and a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg. What does the nurse
expect to occur?
A. A decrease in the heart rate back to baseline in 1 to 2 days
B. An increase in the blood pressure within a few days
C. An increase in potassium retention in 1 to 2 days
D. A decrease in fluid retention within a week - ANSWER-Correct: A
When blood pressure drops, the baroreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus
sense this and relay information to the vasoconstrictor center of the medulla; this
3
, causes constriction of arterioles and veins and increased sympathetic impulses to
the heart, resulting in an increased heart rate. After 1 to 2 days, this system resets
to the new pressure, and the heart rate returns to normal. The blood pressure will
not increase when this system resets. Increased potassium retention will not occur.
Over time, the body will retain more fluid to increase the blood pressure.
Chapter 43
A patient is taking a drug that interferes with venous constriction. The nurse will
tell the patient to:
A. ask for assistance when getting out of bed.
B. expect bradycardia for a few days.
C. notify the provider if headache occurs.
D. report shortness of breath. - ANSWER-Correct: A
A drop in venous pressure reduces venous return to the heart, and as blood pools in
the extremities, orthostatic hypotension can occur. Patients taking drugs that
reduce venous constriction should be cautioned to ask for assistance when getting
out of bed. Bradycardia, headache, and shortness of breath are not expected effects.
Chapter 43
A nurse is administering a vasodilator that dilates resistance vessels. The nurse
understands that this drug will have which effect on the patient?
A. Decreased cardiac preload
B. Decreased cardiac output
C. Increased tissue perfusion
D. Increased ventricular contraction - ANSWER-Correct: C
Vasodilators that dilate resistance vessels, or arterioles, cause a decrease in
afterload, which allows cardiac output and tissue perfusion to increase. A decrease
in preload would be the result of dilation of capacitance vessels, or veins. Dilation
of arterioles increases cardiac output. Ventricular contraction results when preload
is increased.
4
