NSG 1540 PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS
EXAM COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE NEWEST
2026 |NSG 1540 TEST BANK | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED RATIONALES |
2026 EDITION
Question
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which two unique identifiers should be
used to verify the right patient?
A) Room number and bed number
B) Name and date of birth
C) Diagnosis and admitting physician
D) Age and gender
Expert Rationale: The "Right Patient" requires verification using at least two unique
identifiers, such as the patient's full name and date of birth. Room number, bed number,
diagnosis, and physician are not considered unique identifiers. A medical record number or
a barcode scan may also be used. This prevents misidentification and medication errors.
Question
A nurse is reviewing the rights of medication administration. Which of the following is one
of the six core rights?
A) Right assessment
B) Right education
C) Right to refuse
D) Right route
Expert Rationale: The six core rights of medication administration are: Right patient, Right
medication, Right dose, Right route, Right time, and Right documentation. Right
assessment, Right education, and Right to refuse are additional rights. The core rights form
the foundation of safe medication administration practice.
,Question
Which additional right of medication administration includes checking for allergies and
contraindications before giving a drug?
A) Right assessment
B) Right evaluation
C) Right education
D) Right to refuse
Expert Rationale: Right assessment includes pre-administration checks such as allergies,
indications, lab values, vital signs, and contraindications. This ensures the medication is
safe for the patient at that time. Right education involves teaching the patient about the
drug; Right evaluation involves monitoring the response; Right to refuse is the patient's right
to decline the medication.
Question
A client is prescribed a medication that requires trough level monitoring. Which drug
typically requires this?
A) Vancomycin
B) Penicillin
C) Metformin
D) Lisinopril
Expert Rationale: Vancomycin and aminoglycosides require trough level monitoring to
ensure therapeutic efficacy and prevent toxicity. The trough level is the lowest
concentration measured just before the next dose. Penicillin, metformin, and lisinopril do
not require routine trough level monitoring. Therapeutic drug monitoring is essential for
narrow therapeutic index drugs.
Question
A client receives a vaccination and develops long-lasting immunity. This is an example of:
A) Passive immunity
B) Active immunity
C) Natural immunity
D) Herd immunity
, Expert Rationale: Active immunity occurs when the body produces its own antibodies in
response to an antigen, either through natural infection or vaccination. It is usually long-
lasting. Passive immunity involves receiving ready-made antibodies (e.g.,
immunoglobulins, maternal antibodies) and provides immediate but temporary protection.
Vaccines are a key method of inducing active immunity.
Question
A pregnant client receives a vaccine during pregnancy. Which vaccine is specifically
recommended during every pregnancy?
A) Influenza vaccine
B) Tdap vaccine
C) MMR vaccine
D) Varicella vaccine
Expert Rationale: Tdap vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy, preferably
between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation, to protect the newborn against pertussis (whooping
cough). Inactivated influenza vaccine is also safe and recommended, but Tdap is
specifically indicated each pregnancy. MMR and varicella are live vaccines and are
contraindicated during pregnancy.
Question
A client is prescribed methotrexate for autoimmune disease. Which patient teaching is
most important?
A) Take with a full glass of milk
B) Avoid alcohol completely
C) Take on an empty stomach
D) Increase intake of green leafy vegetables
Expert Rationale: Methotrexate can cause hepatotoxicity, and alcohol potentiates this
risk. Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol completely. Methotrexate is typically
taken with folic acid supplementation to reduce side effects. Green leafy vegetables
contain folate and may affect methotrexate activity; consistent intake is recommended.
Question
A client is prescribed doxycycline. Which instruction should the nurse include?
EXAM COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE NEWEST
2026 |NSG 1540 TEST BANK | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED RATIONALES |
2026 EDITION
Question
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which two unique identifiers should be
used to verify the right patient?
A) Room number and bed number
B) Name and date of birth
C) Diagnosis and admitting physician
D) Age and gender
Expert Rationale: The "Right Patient" requires verification using at least two unique
identifiers, such as the patient's full name and date of birth. Room number, bed number,
diagnosis, and physician are not considered unique identifiers. A medical record number or
a barcode scan may also be used. This prevents misidentification and medication errors.
Question
A nurse is reviewing the rights of medication administration. Which of the following is one
of the six core rights?
A) Right assessment
B) Right education
C) Right to refuse
D) Right route
Expert Rationale: The six core rights of medication administration are: Right patient, Right
medication, Right dose, Right route, Right time, and Right documentation. Right
assessment, Right education, and Right to refuse are additional rights. The core rights form
the foundation of safe medication administration practice.
,Question
Which additional right of medication administration includes checking for allergies and
contraindications before giving a drug?
A) Right assessment
B) Right evaluation
C) Right education
D) Right to refuse
Expert Rationale: Right assessment includes pre-administration checks such as allergies,
indications, lab values, vital signs, and contraindications. This ensures the medication is
safe for the patient at that time. Right education involves teaching the patient about the
drug; Right evaluation involves monitoring the response; Right to refuse is the patient's right
to decline the medication.
Question
A client is prescribed a medication that requires trough level monitoring. Which drug
typically requires this?
A) Vancomycin
B) Penicillin
C) Metformin
D) Lisinopril
Expert Rationale: Vancomycin and aminoglycosides require trough level monitoring to
ensure therapeutic efficacy and prevent toxicity. The trough level is the lowest
concentration measured just before the next dose. Penicillin, metformin, and lisinopril do
not require routine trough level monitoring. Therapeutic drug monitoring is essential for
narrow therapeutic index drugs.
Question
A client receives a vaccination and develops long-lasting immunity. This is an example of:
A) Passive immunity
B) Active immunity
C) Natural immunity
D) Herd immunity
, Expert Rationale: Active immunity occurs when the body produces its own antibodies in
response to an antigen, either through natural infection or vaccination. It is usually long-
lasting. Passive immunity involves receiving ready-made antibodies (e.g.,
immunoglobulins, maternal antibodies) and provides immediate but temporary protection.
Vaccines are a key method of inducing active immunity.
Question
A pregnant client receives a vaccine during pregnancy. Which vaccine is specifically
recommended during every pregnancy?
A) Influenza vaccine
B) Tdap vaccine
C) MMR vaccine
D) Varicella vaccine
Expert Rationale: Tdap vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy, preferably
between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation, to protect the newborn against pertussis (whooping
cough). Inactivated influenza vaccine is also safe and recommended, but Tdap is
specifically indicated each pregnancy. MMR and varicella are live vaccines and are
contraindicated during pregnancy.
Question
A client is prescribed methotrexate for autoimmune disease. Which patient teaching is
most important?
A) Take with a full glass of milk
B) Avoid alcohol completely
C) Take on an empty stomach
D) Increase intake of green leafy vegetables
Expert Rationale: Methotrexate can cause hepatotoxicity, and alcohol potentiates this
risk. Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol completely. Methotrexate is typically
taken with folic acid supplementation to reduce side effects. Green leafy vegetables
contain folate and may affect methotrexate activity; consistent intake is recommended.
Question
A client is prescribed doxycycline. Which instruction should the nurse include?
