EDMUNDS PHARMACOLOGY FOR THE
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS VERIFIED STUDY
RESOURCE
●● The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high dose aspirin therapy
for an 88-year-old client with arthritis. The client reports that she can't
hear the nurse's questions because her ears are ringing. What action
should the nurse implement?
Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam.
Answer: Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
●● A client is admitted to the hospital for diagnostic testing for possible
myasthenia gravis. The nurse prepares for intravenous administration of
edrophonium chloride (Tensilon). What is the expected outcome for this
client following administration of this pharmacologic agent?
Progressive difficulty with swallowing.
,Decreased respiratory effort.
Improvement in generalized fatigue.
Decreased muscle weakness.
Answer: Decreased muscle weakness.
●● A 43-year-old female client is receiving thyroid replacement
hormone following a thyroidectomy. What adverse effects associated
with thyroid hormone toxicity should the nurse instruct the client to
report promptly to the healthcare provider?
Tinnitus and dizziness.
Tachycardia and chest pain.
Dry skin and intolerance to cold.
Weight gain and increased appetite.
Answer: Tachycardia and chest pain.
●● A client with osteoarthritis receives a new prescription for celecoxib
(Celebrex) orally for symptom management. The nurse notes the client
is allergic to sulfa. Which action is most important for the nurse to
implement prior to administering the first dose?
Review the client's hemoglobin results.
Notify the healthcare provider.
Inquire about the reaction to sulfa.
,Record the client's vital signs.
Answer: Notify the healthcare provider.
●● The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) pump with a client in the immediate postoperative period. The
client will receive morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate with 1 mg IV
every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally per hour. What
assessment has the highest priority before initiating the PCA pump?
The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
The client's subjective and objective signs of pain.
Answer: The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
●● A client is receiving methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) 40 mg IV
daily. The nurse anticipates an increase in which laboratory value as the
result of this medication?
Serum glucose.
Serum calcium.
Red blood cells.
Serum potassium.
Answer: Serum glucose.
, ●● In evaluating the effects of lactulose (Cephulac), which outcome
would indicate that the drug is performing as intended?
An increase in urine output.
Two or three soft stools per day.
Watery, diarrhea stools.
Increased serum bilirubin.
Answer: Two or three soft stools per day.
●● A client is receiving ampicillin sodium (Omnipen) for a sinus
infection. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the healthcare
provider immediately if which symptom occurs?
Rash.
Nausea.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Answer: Rash.
●● The nurse is teaching a client with cancer about opioid management
for intractable pain and tolerance related side effects. The nurse should
prepare the client for which side effect that is most likely to persist
during long-term use of opioids?
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS VERIFIED STUDY
RESOURCE
●● The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high dose aspirin therapy
for an 88-year-old client with arthritis. The client reports that she can't
hear the nurse's questions because her ears are ringing. What action
should the nurse implement?
Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam.
Answer: Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
●● A client is admitted to the hospital for diagnostic testing for possible
myasthenia gravis. The nurse prepares for intravenous administration of
edrophonium chloride (Tensilon). What is the expected outcome for this
client following administration of this pharmacologic agent?
Progressive difficulty with swallowing.
,Decreased respiratory effort.
Improvement in generalized fatigue.
Decreased muscle weakness.
Answer: Decreased muscle weakness.
●● A 43-year-old female client is receiving thyroid replacement
hormone following a thyroidectomy. What adverse effects associated
with thyroid hormone toxicity should the nurse instruct the client to
report promptly to the healthcare provider?
Tinnitus and dizziness.
Tachycardia and chest pain.
Dry skin and intolerance to cold.
Weight gain and increased appetite.
Answer: Tachycardia and chest pain.
●● A client with osteoarthritis receives a new prescription for celecoxib
(Celebrex) orally for symptom management. The nurse notes the client
is allergic to sulfa. Which action is most important for the nurse to
implement prior to administering the first dose?
Review the client's hemoglobin results.
Notify the healthcare provider.
Inquire about the reaction to sulfa.
,Record the client's vital signs.
Answer: Notify the healthcare provider.
●● The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) pump with a client in the immediate postoperative period. The
client will receive morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate with 1 mg IV
every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally per hour. What
assessment has the highest priority before initiating the PCA pump?
The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
The client's subjective and objective signs of pain.
Answer: The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
●● A client is receiving methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) 40 mg IV
daily. The nurse anticipates an increase in which laboratory value as the
result of this medication?
Serum glucose.
Serum calcium.
Red blood cells.
Serum potassium.
Answer: Serum glucose.
, ●● In evaluating the effects of lactulose (Cephulac), which outcome
would indicate that the drug is performing as intended?
An increase in urine output.
Two or three soft stools per day.
Watery, diarrhea stools.
Increased serum bilirubin.
Answer: Two or three soft stools per day.
●● A client is receiving ampicillin sodium (Omnipen) for a sinus
infection. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the healthcare
provider immediately if which symptom occurs?
Rash.
Nausea.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Answer: Rash.
●● The nurse is teaching a client with cancer about opioid management
for intractable pain and tolerance related side effects. The nurse should
prepare the client for which side effect that is most likely to persist
during long-term use of opioids?
