MSN 571 PHARM UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma
management. The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking
the medication, and does not feel that the medication is always effective.
Which action will the provider take to best minimize patient risks and
maximize medication effectiveness?
Answer: Auscultate the patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant
vital signs.
●● A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which
patient history finding would be most concerning to the provider?
Answer: The patient drinks two glasses of wine every night.
●● The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes
for hospital discharge. Which action by the provider will best support the
patient's ability to effectively manage medication therapy?
Answer: Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and
administer insulin
,●● A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine
headaches is not working. Which action is the prescriber's priority when
addressing the patient's concern?
Answer: Ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets
taken.
●● The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk
for hepatotoxicity. Which action is most important when prescribing this
medication to an 80-year-old patient?
Answer: Obtaining baseline liver function studies
●● A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which
action is most important for the provider to take in order to determine if
the therapeutic level is maintained?
Answer: Order periodic laboratory testing.
●● Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority
for both advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician
assistants (PAs)?
Answer: More patients will have access to health care.
●● A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis
reports new onset of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest
and neck. Which action is most important for the provider to take to
minimize this patient's risk for injury?
,Answer: Discontinue the ampicillin.
●● Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's
commitment to adherence to any type of medication therapy?
Answer: Providing medication education that the patient can easily
understand
●● Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's
nonadherence with their medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with
the therapy?
Answer: "I've been taking this medication for well over a week and I lost
only a half a pound."
●● How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist
improve positive outcomes for patients?
Answer: Pharmacists have additional information on drug interactions.
The pharmacist can suggest adequate medication dosing. Pharmacists
have firsthand knowledge of the facility formulary.
●● Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an
understanding of effective medication education?
Answer: "This medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3
tablets daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner." "You
need to take the medication as we discussed until all the tablets are
gone." "Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing any
itching, headache, or difficulty breathing."
, ●● The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of
bipolar disorder asks why blood tests are required on a regular basis.
Which provider responses demonstrate an understanding of why the
patient requires a variety of laboratory tests?
Answer: "We need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We
need to monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This
medication can cause you to lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium
levels."
●● When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease
the risk of developing muscle toxicity?
Answer: Substitute grapefruit juice with orange juice
●● When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what
intervention does the provider take to decrease risk to the patient?
Answer: Monitor the patient's plasma drug levels at regular intervals.
●● A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates
symptoms. What process informs the provider's response to the patient's
concerns?
Answer: Desensitization of receptor sites results from continual
exposure to the drug.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma
management. The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking
the medication, and does not feel that the medication is always effective.
Which action will the provider take to best minimize patient risks and
maximize medication effectiveness?
Answer: Auscultate the patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant
vital signs.
●● A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which
patient history finding would be most concerning to the provider?
Answer: The patient drinks two glasses of wine every night.
●● The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes
for hospital discharge. Which action by the provider will best support the
patient's ability to effectively manage medication therapy?
Answer: Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and
administer insulin
,●● A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine
headaches is not working. Which action is the prescriber's priority when
addressing the patient's concern?
Answer: Ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets
taken.
●● The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk
for hepatotoxicity. Which action is most important when prescribing this
medication to an 80-year-old patient?
Answer: Obtaining baseline liver function studies
●● A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which
action is most important for the provider to take in order to determine if
the therapeutic level is maintained?
Answer: Order periodic laboratory testing.
●● Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority
for both advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician
assistants (PAs)?
Answer: More patients will have access to health care.
●● A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis
reports new onset of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest
and neck. Which action is most important for the provider to take to
minimize this patient's risk for injury?
,Answer: Discontinue the ampicillin.
●● Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's
commitment to adherence to any type of medication therapy?
Answer: Providing medication education that the patient can easily
understand
●● Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's
nonadherence with their medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with
the therapy?
Answer: "I've been taking this medication for well over a week and I lost
only a half a pound."
●● How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist
improve positive outcomes for patients?
Answer: Pharmacists have additional information on drug interactions.
The pharmacist can suggest adequate medication dosing. Pharmacists
have firsthand knowledge of the facility formulary.
●● Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an
understanding of effective medication education?
Answer: "This medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3
tablets daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner." "You
need to take the medication as we discussed until all the tablets are
gone." "Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing any
itching, headache, or difficulty breathing."
, ●● The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of
bipolar disorder asks why blood tests are required on a regular basis.
Which provider responses demonstrate an understanding of why the
patient requires a variety of laboratory tests?
Answer: "We need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We
need to monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This
medication can cause you to lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium
levels."
●● When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease
the risk of developing muscle toxicity?
Answer: Substitute grapefruit juice with orange juice
●● When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what
intervention does the provider take to decrease risk to the patient?
Answer: Monitor the patient's plasma drug levels at regular intervals.
●● A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates
symptoms. What process informs the provider's response to the patient's
concerns?
Answer: Desensitization of receptor sites results from continual
exposure to the drug.
