• ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL
EXAM OBJECTIVE ASSEMENT & PRE-ASSESMENT
700 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
. A client taking linezolid at home for an infected foot ulcer calls the home care nurse to report the onset of
watery diarrhea. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Schedule appointments to obtain blood samples for drug peak and trough levels.
B. Reassure the client that this is an expected side effect that will resolve in a few days.
C. Instruct the client to obtain a stool specimen to be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
P 1
, • ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
D. Advise the client to begin taking an over-the-counter antidiarrheal agent. - Correct Answer :C. Instruct the
client to obtain a stool specimen to be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
Antibiotics, such as linezolid, can cause pseudomembranous colitis, resulting in severe watery diarrhea. The
prescriber should be notified, and a stool specimen should be obtained and analyzed for this complication.
Severe diarrhea is not an indication of drug toxicity, so option A is not warranted. Although gastrointestinal
disturbance can be an adverse effect of linezolid, a stool specimen should be obtained because the client
reports the diarrhea is severe. Antidiarrheal medications are contraindicated in the presence of this colitis and
should not be started until this potential complication is ruled out.
Dopamine, 5 mcg/kg/min, is prescribed for a client who weighs 105 kg. The nurse mixes 400 mg of dopamine in
250 mL D5W for IV administration via an infusion pump. What is the hourly rate that the nurse should set on the
pump?
A. 5 mL/hr
B. 10 mL/hr
C. 15 mL/hr
D. 20 mL/hr - Correct Answer :D. 20 mL/hr
400 mg/250 mL equals 1.6 mg/mL, or 1600 mcg/mL. The prescription for 5 mcg/kg/min would result in 31,500
mcg/hr. Delivery of that dose would be achieved by administering 20 mL/hr, which would deliver 5.07
mcg/kg/min. Options A, B, and C are not accurate hourly rates for this infusion.
A client receiving a continuous infusion of heparin IV starts to hemorrhage from an arterial access site. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering to prevent further heparin-induced hemorrhaging?
A. Vitamin K1
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Warfarin sodium
D. Prothrombin - Correct Answer :B. Protamine sulfate
P 2
, • ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
Protamine sulfate is the antagonist for heparin and is given for episodes of acute hemorrhage. Options A, C, and
D are not heparin antagonists.
Which parameter is most important for the nurse to check prior to administering a subcutaneous injection of
heparin?
A. Heart rate
B. Urinary output
C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D. Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) - Correct Answer :C. Activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT)
The laboratory value that measures heparin's therapeutic anticoagulation time is the aPTT. Option A should be
checked before the administration of digoxin. Option B is valuable information but not a parameter measured
for heparin therapy. Option D is evaluated during anticoagulation therapy using sodium warfarin.
The nurse is assessing a stuporous client in the emergency department who is suspected of overdosing with
opioids. Which agent should the nurse prepare to administer if the client becomes comatose?
A. Naloxone hydrochloride
B. Atropine sulfate
C. Vitamin K
D. Flumazenil - Correct Answer :A. Naloxone hydrochloride
Naloxone is an opioid antidote used in opioid overdose to reverse CNS and respiratory depression. Atropine is
used for bradycardia, intestinal hypertonicity and hypermotility, muscarinic agonist poisoning, peptic ulcer
disease, and biliary colic. Vitamin K is used to manage warfarin overdose and vitamin K deficiency in newborns.
Flumazenil reduces the sedative effects of benzodiazepines following general anesthesia or overdose.
P 3
, • ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
To evaluate whether the administration of an antihypertensive medication has caused a therapeutic effect,
which action should the nurse implement?
A. Ask the client about the onset of any dizziness since taking the medication.
B. Measure the client's blood pressure while the client is lying, sitting, and then standing.
C. Compare the client's blood pressure before and after the client takes the medication.
D. Interview the client about any past or recent history of high blood pressure. - Correct Answer :C. Compare
the client's blood pressure before and after the client takes the medication.
Therapeutic effects are the expected or predictable physiologic responses to a medication. An antihypertensive
medication is administered to lower blood pressure, so to determine if the therapeutic effect has been achieved,
the nurse should compare the client's blood pressure before and after the client takes the medication. Options A
and B provide data related to the side effect of hypotension, which may occur following the administration of an
antihypertensive medication. Option D provides useful data but does not evaluate the medication's
effectiveness.
During the initial nursing assessment history, a client tells the nurse that he is taking tetracycline hydrochloride
for urethritis. The nurse is most concerned if the client reports taking which medication concurrently?
A. Sucralfate
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Acetaminophen
D. Phenytoin - Correct Answer :A. Sucralfate
Sucralfate is used to treat duodenal ulcers and will bind with tetracycline hydrochloride, inhibiting this antibiotic's
absorption. Options B, C, and D have no drug interaction properties that prohibit concurrent use with
tetracycline hydrochloride.
The health care provider prescribes oral contraceptives for a client who wants to prevent pregnancy. Which
information is the most important for the nurse to provide to this client?
P 4
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL
EXAM OBJECTIVE ASSEMENT & PRE-ASSESMENT
700 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
. A client taking linezolid at home for an infected foot ulcer calls the home care nurse to report the onset of
watery diarrhea. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Schedule appointments to obtain blood samples for drug peak and trough levels.
B. Reassure the client that this is an expected side effect that will resolve in a few days.
C. Instruct the client to obtain a stool specimen to be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
P 1
, • ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
D. Advise the client to begin taking an over-the-counter antidiarrheal agent. - Correct Answer :C. Instruct the
client to obtain a stool specimen to be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
Antibiotics, such as linezolid, can cause pseudomembranous colitis, resulting in severe watery diarrhea. The
prescriber should be notified, and a stool specimen should be obtained and analyzed for this complication.
Severe diarrhea is not an indication of drug toxicity, so option A is not warranted. Although gastrointestinal
disturbance can be an adverse effect of linezolid, a stool specimen should be obtained because the client
reports the diarrhea is severe. Antidiarrheal medications are contraindicated in the presence of this colitis and
should not be started until this potential complication is ruled out.
Dopamine, 5 mcg/kg/min, is prescribed for a client who weighs 105 kg. The nurse mixes 400 mg of dopamine in
250 mL D5W for IV administration via an infusion pump. What is the hourly rate that the nurse should set on the
pump?
A. 5 mL/hr
B. 10 mL/hr
C. 15 mL/hr
D. 20 mL/hr - Correct Answer :D. 20 mL/hr
400 mg/250 mL equals 1.6 mg/mL, or 1600 mcg/mL. The prescription for 5 mcg/kg/min would result in 31,500
mcg/hr. Delivery of that dose would be achieved by administering 20 mL/hr, which would deliver 5.07
mcg/kg/min. Options A, B, and C are not accurate hourly rates for this infusion.
A client receiving a continuous infusion of heparin IV starts to hemorrhage from an arterial access site. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering to prevent further heparin-induced hemorrhaging?
A. Vitamin K1
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Warfarin sodium
D. Prothrombin - Correct Answer :B. Protamine sulfate
P 2
, • ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
Protamine sulfate is the antagonist for heparin and is given for episodes of acute hemorrhage. Options A, C, and
D are not heparin antagonists.
Which parameter is most important for the nurse to check prior to administering a subcutaneous injection of
heparin?
A. Heart rate
B. Urinary output
C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D. Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) - Correct Answer :C. Activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT)
The laboratory value that measures heparin's therapeutic anticoagulation time is the aPTT. Option A should be
checked before the administration of digoxin. Option B is valuable information but not a parameter measured
for heparin therapy. Option D is evaluated during anticoagulation therapy using sodium warfarin.
The nurse is assessing a stuporous client in the emergency department who is suspected of overdosing with
opioids. Which agent should the nurse prepare to administer if the client becomes comatose?
A. Naloxone hydrochloride
B. Atropine sulfate
C. Vitamin K
D. Flumazenil - Correct Answer :A. Naloxone hydrochloride
Naloxone is an opioid antidote used in opioid overdose to reverse CNS and respiratory depression. Atropine is
used for bradycardia, intestinal hypertonicity and hypermotility, muscarinic agonist poisoning, peptic ulcer
disease, and biliary colic. Vitamin K is used to manage warfarin overdose and vitamin K deficiency in newborns.
Flumazenil reduces the sedative effects of benzodiazepines following general anesthesia or overdose.
P 3
, • ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY 09/18/2026
EXAM
To evaluate whether the administration of an antihypertensive medication has caused a therapeutic effect,
which action should the nurse implement?
A. Ask the client about the onset of any dizziness since taking the medication.
B. Measure the client's blood pressure while the client is lying, sitting, and then standing.
C. Compare the client's blood pressure before and after the client takes the medication.
D. Interview the client about any past or recent history of high blood pressure. - Correct Answer :C. Compare
the client's blood pressure before and after the client takes the medication.
Therapeutic effects are the expected or predictable physiologic responses to a medication. An antihypertensive
medication is administered to lower blood pressure, so to determine if the therapeutic effect has been achieved,
the nurse should compare the client's blood pressure before and after the client takes the medication. Options A
and B provide data related to the side effect of hypotension, which may occur following the administration of an
antihypertensive medication. Option D provides useful data but does not evaluate the medication's
effectiveness.
During the initial nursing assessment history, a client tells the nurse that he is taking tetracycline hydrochloride
for urethritis. The nurse is most concerned if the client reports taking which medication concurrently?
A. Sucralfate
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Acetaminophen
D. Phenytoin - Correct Answer :A. Sucralfate
Sucralfate is used to treat duodenal ulcers and will bind with tetracycline hydrochloride, inhibiting this antibiotic's
absorption. Options B, C, and D have no drug interaction properties that prohibit concurrent use with
tetracycline hydrochloride.
The health care provider prescribes oral contraceptives for a client who wants to prevent pregnancy. Which
information is the most important for the nurse to provide to this client?
P 4
