NUR 210 EXAM 3
Pharmacology (2026-2027) Actual
Questions & Answers Graded A+
A patient is taking furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg daily for heart failure and hypertension. It is most important
for the nurse to assess the patient for the development of which of the following?
A. Low serum potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and elevated calcium.
B. Low serum potassium and sodium and elevated magnesium and calcium.
C. Low serum potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
D. Low serum potassium and sodium, with magnesium and calcium remaining normal.
Correct Answer: C. Low serum potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
Expert Rationale: Loop diuretics such as furosemide increase urinary losses of sodium, potassium,
magnesium, and calcium. Therefore, the nurse should monitor for depletion of these electrolytes.
. Which statement will the nurse include when teaching a patient about loop (high-ceiling) diuretics?
A. Take the medication at bedtime.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
C. Rise slowly from a lying or sitting to standing position to prevent dizziness.
D. Avoid fruit and vegetables in the diet.
Correct Answer: C. Rise slowly from a lying or sitting to standing position to prevent dizziness.
Expert Rationale: Loop diuretics can cause orthostatic hypotension. Patients should rise slowly to reduce
dizziness and the risk of falls. The medication is generally taken in the morning, and potassium-rich
foods may be recommended because loop diuretics can cause potassium loss.
,. A patient is admitted to the intensive care unit with increased intracranial pressure. The nurse would
anticipate administering which medication?
A. Furosemide (Lasix)
B. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
C. Triamterene (Dyrenium)
D. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
Correct Answer: B. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
Expert Rationale: Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic used to draw water into the renal tubules and promote
its excretion. It is used clinically to reduce increased intracranial pressure and intraocular pressure.
. A patient is receiving furosemide (Lasix). It is most important for the nurse to monitor the patient for
the development of which condition?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Expert Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting loop diuretic. Hypokalemia is an important adverse
effect to monitor for.
. A patient with congestive heart failure gains 5 pounds in 1 week. This most likely indicates a fluid
weight gain of:
A. ½ L
B. 1 L
C. 2 L
D. 3 L
,Correct Answer: C. 2 L
Expert Rationale: Approximately 2.2 lb (1 kg) of weight gain corresponds to about 1 L of retained fluid. A
5-lb increase therefore represents approximately 2 L of excess fluid.
Before administering spironolactone, it is most important for the nurse to determine if the patient is
also receiving:
A. Digoxin (Lanoxin)
B. Potassium chloride (K-Dur)
C. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
D. Doxazosin (Cardura)
Correct Answer: B. Potassium chloride (K-Dur)
Expert Rationale: Spironolactone is potassium-sparing and can cause hyperkalemia. Combining it with
potassium supplements can further increase serum potassium.
Which statement about aldosterone does the nurse identify as being true? Aldosterone:
A. Promotes sodium excretion.
B. Is a mineralocorticoid hormone.
C. Promotes potassium retention.
D. Is secreted by the pancreas.
Correct Answer: B. Is a mineralocorticoid hormone.
Expert Rationale: Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone that promotes sodium and water
retention while promoting potassium excretion.
. An elderly patient will be taking a vasodilator for hypertension. Which adverse effect is of most concern
for the older adult patient?
A. Dry mouth
B. Restlessness
, C. Hypotension
D. Constipation
Correct Answer: C. Hypotension
Expert Rationale: Older adults may be particularly susceptible to blood-pressure-lowering effects.
Hypotension can cause dizziness, syncope, and falls.
The nurse is administering a beta-blocker to a patient. Which is the most important assessment to
perform before administration?
A. Potassium level
B. Urine output
C. Serum level of medication
D. Apical pulse
Correct Answer: D. Apical pulse
Expert Rationale: Beta-blockers decrease heart rate. The apical pulse should be assessed before
administration, and significant bradycardia should be reported.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been prescribed amlodipine. Which patient should cause
concern?
A. A patient with a history of depression.
B. A patient with a blood pressure of 144/82.
C. A patient on ibuprofen for arthritis.
D. A patient who is prescribed lisinopril for elevated blood pressure.
Correct Answer: C. A patient on ibuprofen for arthritis.
Expert Rationale: NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can interact with antihypertensive therapy and may reduce
antihypertensive effects or contribute to renal problems.
Lisinopril has been ordered for a patient. The nurse should teach the patient that the most commonly
occurring side effect of an ACE inhibitor is:
Pharmacology (2026-2027) Actual
Questions & Answers Graded A+
A patient is taking furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg daily for heart failure and hypertension. It is most important
for the nurse to assess the patient for the development of which of the following?
A. Low serum potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and elevated calcium.
B. Low serum potassium and sodium and elevated magnesium and calcium.
C. Low serum potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
D. Low serum potassium and sodium, with magnesium and calcium remaining normal.
Correct Answer: C. Low serum potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
Expert Rationale: Loop diuretics such as furosemide increase urinary losses of sodium, potassium,
magnesium, and calcium. Therefore, the nurse should monitor for depletion of these electrolytes.
. Which statement will the nurse include when teaching a patient about loop (high-ceiling) diuretics?
A. Take the medication at bedtime.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
C. Rise slowly from a lying or sitting to standing position to prevent dizziness.
D. Avoid fruit and vegetables in the diet.
Correct Answer: C. Rise slowly from a lying or sitting to standing position to prevent dizziness.
Expert Rationale: Loop diuretics can cause orthostatic hypotension. Patients should rise slowly to reduce
dizziness and the risk of falls. The medication is generally taken in the morning, and potassium-rich
foods may be recommended because loop diuretics can cause potassium loss.
,. A patient is admitted to the intensive care unit with increased intracranial pressure. The nurse would
anticipate administering which medication?
A. Furosemide (Lasix)
B. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
C. Triamterene (Dyrenium)
D. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
Correct Answer: B. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
Expert Rationale: Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic used to draw water into the renal tubules and promote
its excretion. It is used clinically to reduce increased intracranial pressure and intraocular pressure.
. A patient is receiving furosemide (Lasix). It is most important for the nurse to monitor the patient for
the development of which condition?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Expert Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting loop diuretic. Hypokalemia is an important adverse
effect to monitor for.
. A patient with congestive heart failure gains 5 pounds in 1 week. This most likely indicates a fluid
weight gain of:
A. ½ L
B. 1 L
C. 2 L
D. 3 L
,Correct Answer: C. 2 L
Expert Rationale: Approximately 2.2 lb (1 kg) of weight gain corresponds to about 1 L of retained fluid. A
5-lb increase therefore represents approximately 2 L of excess fluid.
Before administering spironolactone, it is most important for the nurse to determine if the patient is
also receiving:
A. Digoxin (Lanoxin)
B. Potassium chloride (K-Dur)
C. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
D. Doxazosin (Cardura)
Correct Answer: B. Potassium chloride (K-Dur)
Expert Rationale: Spironolactone is potassium-sparing and can cause hyperkalemia. Combining it with
potassium supplements can further increase serum potassium.
Which statement about aldosterone does the nurse identify as being true? Aldosterone:
A. Promotes sodium excretion.
B. Is a mineralocorticoid hormone.
C. Promotes potassium retention.
D. Is secreted by the pancreas.
Correct Answer: B. Is a mineralocorticoid hormone.
Expert Rationale: Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone that promotes sodium and water
retention while promoting potassium excretion.
. An elderly patient will be taking a vasodilator for hypertension. Which adverse effect is of most concern
for the older adult patient?
A. Dry mouth
B. Restlessness
, C. Hypotension
D. Constipation
Correct Answer: C. Hypotension
Expert Rationale: Older adults may be particularly susceptible to blood-pressure-lowering effects.
Hypotension can cause dizziness, syncope, and falls.
The nurse is administering a beta-blocker to a patient. Which is the most important assessment to
perform before administration?
A. Potassium level
B. Urine output
C. Serum level of medication
D. Apical pulse
Correct Answer: D. Apical pulse
Expert Rationale: Beta-blockers decrease heart rate. The apical pulse should be assessed before
administration, and significant bradycardia should be reported.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been prescribed amlodipine. Which patient should cause
concern?
A. A patient with a history of depression.
B. A patient with a blood pressure of 144/82.
C. A patient on ibuprofen for arthritis.
D. A patient who is prescribed lisinopril for elevated blood pressure.
Correct Answer: C. A patient on ibuprofen for arthritis.
Expert Rationale: NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can interact with antihypertensive therapy and may reduce
antihypertensive effects or contribute to renal problems.
Lisinopril has been ordered for a patient. The nurse should teach the patient that the most commonly
occurring side effect of an ACE inhibitor is:
