NURS 242 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is the primary mechanism of action for opioid drugs? - Answers They are
synthetic drugs that bind to opiate receptors to relieve pain.
List three strong opioid agonists. - Answers Morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone,
meperidine, fentanyl, or methadone.
Besides pain relief, what are three other clinical indications for opioid use? - Answers
Cough center suppression, treatment of diarrhea, and balanced anesthesia.
Which patient populations require extreme caution when using opioids? - Answers
Patients with respiratory insufficiency, elevated intracranial pressure, morbid obesity,
sleep apnea, paralytic ileus, or pregnancy.
What is the most serious adverse effect of opioid analgesics? - Answers Respiratory
depression.
What is the drug of choice for reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression? -
Answers Naloxone (Narcan).
What nursing advice should be given to patients experiencing opioid-induced
constipation? - Answers Encourage increased fluid and fiber intake.
What are the primary therapeutic effects of acetaminophen? - Answers Analgesic and
antipyretic effects.
What is the primary risk associated with acetaminophen overdose? - Answers
Hepatic necrosis (hepatotoxicity).
What is the recommended antidote for acetaminophen toxicity? - Answers
Acetylcysteine regimen.
What is the antidote for benzodiazepine toxicity? - Answers Flumazenil.
What is a common, unique side effect associated with the nonbenzodiazepine
hypnotic zolpidem? - Answers Somnambulation (sleep walking).
Where is the primary site of action for the majority of muscle relaxants? - Answers
The central nervous system (centrally acting).
Muscle relaxants are most effective when used in conjunction with what other
therapy? - Answers Physical therapy.
What are the primary contraindications for the use of valproic acid? - Answers Liver
impairment and urea cycle disorders.
What specific lab values should be monitored in patients taking valproic acid due to
the risk of hepatotoxicity? - Answers AST and ALT levels.
What is the most important patient education point regarding antiepileptic drug
adherence? - Answers Must adhere closely to dose and frequency; take at the same
time every day to maintain therapeutic blood levels.
How should a patient be instructed to take antiepileptic medications to minimize GI
upset? - Answers Take with food and 6-8 oz of water.
What is the primary difference between benzodiazepines and buspirone regarding
their clinical use? - Answers Buspirone lacks sedative properties and dependency
potential (non-habit forming).
What is the mechanism of action for antipsychotic drugs? - Answers They block
dopamine receptors in the brain, specifically in the limbic system and basal ganglia.
What is a potentially life-threatening adverse effect associated with antipsychotic
medications? - Answers Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
What are two hematologic adverse effects associated with antipsychotics? - Answers
Agranulocytosis and hemolytic anemia.
, What happens if a patient misses a dose of an antiepileptic drug? - Answers The
provider must be notified immediately due to the increased risk of seizure activity.
Why should benzodiazepines be used with caution when a patient is taking oral
contraceptives or azole antifungals? - Answers These drugs cause impaired hepatic
elimination of the benzodiazepine, leading to enhanced sedative effects.
What are the primary symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome? - Answers Delirium,
agitation, tachycardia, sweating, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, shivering, and coarse
tremors.
Why must SSRIs be tapered rather than stopped abruptly? - Answers To avoid
withdrawal syndrome.
What is the primary goal of using Methadone in opioid dependence treatment? -
Answers To reduce the patient's dosage gradually so they can eventually live drug-
free.
What is the treatment of choice for ethanol withdrawal? - Answers Benzodiazepines
(e.g., Diazepam, lorazepam, or chlordiazepoxide).
What are the common vitamin deficiencies associated with chronic alcohol use? -
Answers B vitamins and thiamine.
What is a major contraindication for thyroid replacement drugs? - Answers A recent
myocardial infarction (MI).
What is the most significant adverse effect of thyroid replacement drugs? - Answers
Cardiac dysrhythmia.
What is the most standardized and widely used drug for hypothyroidism? - Answers
Levothyroxine.
What are the administration guidelines for Levothyroxine? - Answers It should be
taken in the morning on an empty stomach, and it is dosed in micrograms (mcg), not
milligrams (mg).
What are the two main methods for treating hyperthyroidism? - Answers Radioactive
iodine (to destroy the gland) or surgery (to remove all or part of the gland).
What is the first-line oral drug for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes? - Answers
Metformin (Glucophage).
What is a rare but lethal adverse effect of Metformin? - Answers Lactic acidosis.
Does Metformin cause hypoglycemia? - Answers No, it does not.
What is the clinical definition of hypoglycemia? - Answers Abnormally low blood
glucose level below 50 mg/dL.
What are three examples of glucose-elevating drugs used for hypoglycemia? -
Answers Oral concentrated glucose, 50% dextrose in water (D50W), and Glucagon.
What nursing action should be taken if a patient is NPO for a procedure and is on
antidiabetic medication? - Answers Consult the primary care provider to clarify
orders for antidiabetic drug therapy.
How do penicillins function to kill bacteria? - Answers They bind to penicillin-
binding proteins inside the cell wall, disrupting cell wall synthesis and causing cell
lysis.
Which patients should not receive cephalosporins due to a penicillin allergy? -
Answers Patients with a history of throat swelling or hives from penicillin.
What are common adverse effects of SSRIs? - Answers Bleeding, insomnia, weight
gain, and sexual dysfunction.
What are the symptoms of severe ethanol withdrawal? - Answers Elevated blood
pressure, pulse rate, and temperature, insomnia, tremors, and agitation.
LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is the primary mechanism of action for opioid drugs? - Answers They are
synthetic drugs that bind to opiate receptors to relieve pain.
List three strong opioid agonists. - Answers Morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone,
meperidine, fentanyl, or methadone.
Besides pain relief, what are three other clinical indications for opioid use? - Answers
Cough center suppression, treatment of diarrhea, and balanced anesthesia.
Which patient populations require extreme caution when using opioids? - Answers
Patients with respiratory insufficiency, elevated intracranial pressure, morbid obesity,
sleep apnea, paralytic ileus, or pregnancy.
What is the most serious adverse effect of opioid analgesics? - Answers Respiratory
depression.
What is the drug of choice for reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression? -
Answers Naloxone (Narcan).
What nursing advice should be given to patients experiencing opioid-induced
constipation? - Answers Encourage increased fluid and fiber intake.
What are the primary therapeutic effects of acetaminophen? - Answers Analgesic and
antipyretic effects.
What is the primary risk associated with acetaminophen overdose? - Answers
Hepatic necrosis (hepatotoxicity).
What is the recommended antidote for acetaminophen toxicity? - Answers
Acetylcysteine regimen.
What is the antidote for benzodiazepine toxicity? - Answers Flumazenil.
What is a common, unique side effect associated with the nonbenzodiazepine
hypnotic zolpidem? - Answers Somnambulation (sleep walking).
Where is the primary site of action for the majority of muscle relaxants? - Answers
The central nervous system (centrally acting).
Muscle relaxants are most effective when used in conjunction with what other
therapy? - Answers Physical therapy.
What are the primary contraindications for the use of valproic acid? - Answers Liver
impairment and urea cycle disorders.
What specific lab values should be monitored in patients taking valproic acid due to
the risk of hepatotoxicity? - Answers AST and ALT levels.
What is the most important patient education point regarding antiepileptic drug
adherence? - Answers Must adhere closely to dose and frequency; take at the same
time every day to maintain therapeutic blood levels.
How should a patient be instructed to take antiepileptic medications to minimize GI
upset? - Answers Take with food and 6-8 oz of water.
What is the primary difference between benzodiazepines and buspirone regarding
their clinical use? - Answers Buspirone lacks sedative properties and dependency
potential (non-habit forming).
What is the mechanism of action for antipsychotic drugs? - Answers They block
dopamine receptors in the brain, specifically in the limbic system and basal ganglia.
What is a potentially life-threatening adverse effect associated with antipsychotic
medications? - Answers Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
What are two hematologic adverse effects associated with antipsychotics? - Answers
Agranulocytosis and hemolytic anemia.
, What happens if a patient misses a dose of an antiepileptic drug? - Answers The
provider must be notified immediately due to the increased risk of seizure activity.
Why should benzodiazepines be used with caution when a patient is taking oral
contraceptives or azole antifungals? - Answers These drugs cause impaired hepatic
elimination of the benzodiazepine, leading to enhanced sedative effects.
What are the primary symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome? - Answers Delirium,
agitation, tachycardia, sweating, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, shivering, and coarse
tremors.
Why must SSRIs be tapered rather than stopped abruptly? - Answers To avoid
withdrawal syndrome.
What is the primary goal of using Methadone in opioid dependence treatment? -
Answers To reduce the patient's dosage gradually so they can eventually live drug-
free.
What is the treatment of choice for ethanol withdrawal? - Answers Benzodiazepines
(e.g., Diazepam, lorazepam, or chlordiazepoxide).
What are the common vitamin deficiencies associated with chronic alcohol use? -
Answers B vitamins and thiamine.
What is a major contraindication for thyroid replacement drugs? - Answers A recent
myocardial infarction (MI).
What is the most significant adverse effect of thyroid replacement drugs? - Answers
Cardiac dysrhythmia.
What is the most standardized and widely used drug for hypothyroidism? - Answers
Levothyroxine.
What are the administration guidelines for Levothyroxine? - Answers It should be
taken in the morning on an empty stomach, and it is dosed in micrograms (mcg), not
milligrams (mg).
What are the two main methods for treating hyperthyroidism? - Answers Radioactive
iodine (to destroy the gland) or surgery (to remove all or part of the gland).
What is the first-line oral drug for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes? - Answers
Metformin (Glucophage).
What is a rare but lethal adverse effect of Metformin? - Answers Lactic acidosis.
Does Metformin cause hypoglycemia? - Answers No, it does not.
What is the clinical definition of hypoglycemia? - Answers Abnormally low blood
glucose level below 50 mg/dL.
What are three examples of glucose-elevating drugs used for hypoglycemia? -
Answers Oral concentrated glucose, 50% dextrose in water (D50W), and Glucagon.
What nursing action should be taken if a patient is NPO for a procedure and is on
antidiabetic medication? - Answers Consult the primary care provider to clarify
orders for antidiabetic drug therapy.
How do penicillins function to kill bacteria? - Answers They bind to penicillin-
binding proteins inside the cell wall, disrupting cell wall synthesis and causing cell
lysis.
Which patients should not receive cephalosporins due to a penicillin allergy? -
Answers Patients with a history of throat swelling or hives from penicillin.
What are common adverse effects of SSRIs? - Answers Bleeding, insomnia, weight
gain, and sexual dysfunction.
What are the symptoms of severe ethanol withdrawal? - Answers Elevated blood
pressure, pulse rate, and temperature, insomnia, tremors, and agitation.
