,NURS 6203 Final Exam Advanced Pharmacology Questions And
Answers | 2026/2027 Capella University
Q1. Which medication class exerts a positive inotropic effect by
increasing the force of myocardial contraction?
A) ACE inhibitors
B) Cardiac glycosides
C) Calcium channel blockers
D) Beta blockers
Correct Answer: B) Cardiac glycosides
Rationale: Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin increase myocardial
contractility and can improve cardiac output in selected patients with heart
failure.
Q2. Which medication requires assessment of the apical pulse
before administration because it can cause bradycardia?
A) Digoxin
B) Albuterol
C) Amoxicillin
D) Metformin
Correct Answer: A) Digoxin
Rationale: Digoxin slows atrioventricular conduction and can produce
bradycardia, so the apical pulse should be assessed before administration.
Q3. Which finding may indicate digoxin toxicity?
A) Yellow-green visual disturbances
B) Increased appetite
C) Hypertension
D) Polyuria
Correct Answer: A) Yellow-green visual disturbances
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity may cause gastrointestinal symptoms,
dysrhythmias, and visual disturbances such as blurred or yellow-green vision.
Q4. Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk of digoxin
toxicity?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hypernatremia
, C) Hyperchloremia
D) Hyperphosphatemia
Correct Answer: A) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Low potassium increases the binding of digoxin to cardiac sodium-
potassium ATPase receptors and increases toxicity risk.
Q5. Which laboratory test is most useful for evaluating the safety of
digoxin therapy?
A) Serum potassium
B) Hemoglobin A1c only
C) INR only
D) Serum amylase
Correct Answer: A) Serum potassium
Rationale: Potassium abnormalities, particularly hypokalemia, increase the
risk of digoxin toxicity.
Q6. Which anticoagulant acts as a vitamin K antagonist?
A) Heparin
B) Warfarin
C) Apixaban
D) Dabigatran
Correct Answer: B) Warfarin
Rationale: Warfarin inhibits vitamin K recycling and decreases production of
vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
Q7. Which laboratory test is used routinely to monitor warfarin
therapy?
A) INR
B) aPTT
C) Troponin
D) Creatine kinase
Correct Answer: A) INR
Rationale: INR standardizes prothrombin-time measurements and is used to
monitor warfarin's anticoagulant effect.
Q8. Which medication reverses the anticoagulant effect of heparin?
Answers | 2026/2027 Capella University
Q1. Which medication class exerts a positive inotropic effect by
increasing the force of myocardial contraction?
A) ACE inhibitors
B) Cardiac glycosides
C) Calcium channel blockers
D) Beta blockers
Correct Answer: B) Cardiac glycosides
Rationale: Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin increase myocardial
contractility and can improve cardiac output in selected patients with heart
failure.
Q2. Which medication requires assessment of the apical pulse
before administration because it can cause bradycardia?
A) Digoxin
B) Albuterol
C) Amoxicillin
D) Metformin
Correct Answer: A) Digoxin
Rationale: Digoxin slows atrioventricular conduction and can produce
bradycardia, so the apical pulse should be assessed before administration.
Q3. Which finding may indicate digoxin toxicity?
A) Yellow-green visual disturbances
B) Increased appetite
C) Hypertension
D) Polyuria
Correct Answer: A) Yellow-green visual disturbances
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity may cause gastrointestinal symptoms,
dysrhythmias, and visual disturbances such as blurred or yellow-green vision.
Q4. Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk of digoxin
toxicity?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hypernatremia
, C) Hyperchloremia
D) Hyperphosphatemia
Correct Answer: A) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Low potassium increases the binding of digoxin to cardiac sodium-
potassium ATPase receptors and increases toxicity risk.
Q5. Which laboratory test is most useful for evaluating the safety of
digoxin therapy?
A) Serum potassium
B) Hemoglobin A1c only
C) INR only
D) Serum amylase
Correct Answer: A) Serum potassium
Rationale: Potassium abnormalities, particularly hypokalemia, increase the
risk of digoxin toxicity.
Q6. Which anticoagulant acts as a vitamin K antagonist?
A) Heparin
B) Warfarin
C) Apixaban
D) Dabigatran
Correct Answer: B) Warfarin
Rationale: Warfarin inhibits vitamin K recycling and decreases production of
vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
Q7. Which laboratory test is used routinely to monitor warfarin
therapy?
A) INR
B) aPTT
C) Troponin
D) Creatine kinase
Correct Answer: A) INR
Rationale: INR standardizes prothrombin-time measurements and is used to
monitor warfarin's anticoagulant effect.
Q8. Which medication reverses the anticoagulant effect of heparin?
