EXAM 1
(Nurse Pharmacology I)
Actual Questions w/Correct Answers
(NCLEX (NGN) style)
Northwest College (NWC)
What you Will Get:
• 50+ verified questions
• MCQ, SATA, Correct Answers, and Rationales
• Ideal for exam preparation and concept reinforcement.
,Question 1. A 50-year-old postmenopausal patient who has had a hysterectomy
has moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms and is discussing estrogen therapy
(ET) with the nurse. The patient is concerned about adverse effects of ET. The
nurse will tell her that:
A. Oral estrogen preparations have no systemic adverse effects.
B. Transdermal preparations have fewer side effects.
C. Estrogen therapy completely eliminates cardiovascular risk.
D. Progestin must always be added after hysterectomy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Transdermal estrogen avoids first-pass hepatic metabolism and may produce fewer
metabolic and thrombotic effects than oral estrogen. Because the patient has
undergone hysterectomy, estrogen alone may be used when appropriate.
Option A: Incorrect. Oral estrogen can cause systemic adverse effects and undergoes
first-pass hepatic metabolism.
Option C: Incorrect. Estrogen therapy does not eliminate cardiovascular or
thromboembolic risks.
Option D: Incorrect. Progestin is primarily added to protect the endometrium when the
uterus is present.
Question 2. A nurse is preparing a patient who will stop taking lorazepam [Ativan]
for anxiety and begin taking buspirone [Buspar]. Which statement by the patient
indicates a need for further teaching?
A. “I should stop taking the Ativan when I start taking the Buspar.”
B. “Buspirone may take time before I notice its full effect.”
C. “My lorazepam dose may need to be tapered gradually.”
D. “I should take buspirone as prescribed rather than only when anxiety occurs.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine and should not be discontinued abruptly after regular
use because withdrawal can produce severe anxiety, insomnia, tremors, and potentially
seizures. Buspirone has a delayed onset and does not prevent benzodiazepine
withdrawal.
,Option A: Correct as the statement requiring further teaching. Lorazepam should
generally be tapered.
Option B: Incorrect as a selection because the statement is accurate. Buspirone does
not provide immediate anxiolysis.
Option C: Incorrect as a selection because gradual tapering reduces withdrawal risk.
Option D: Incorrect as a selection because buspirone is intended for scheduled
administration.
Question 3. A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving both chemotherapy
and a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor. What would the nurse find concerning on
assessment?
A. Increased appetite
B. Mild thirst
C. Stomatitis
D. Increased urinary frequency after drinking fluids
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Stomatitis indicates inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa and may
occur with antineoplastic therapy. It may increase pain, impair nutrition, and
provide a portal for infection in an immunocompromised patient.
Option A: Incorrect. Increased appetite is not the major toxicity described.
Option B: Incorrect. Mild thirst alone is nonspecific.
Option D: Incorrect. Urinary frequency related to increased fluid intake is less
concerning than mucosal injury.
Question 4. A nurse educator is conducting a continuing education class on
pharmacology. To evaluate the learning of the nurses in the class, the nurse
educator asks, “Which drug name gives information about the drug’s
pharmacologic classification?” Which is the correct response?
A. Tylenol
B. Lasix
C. Amoxicillin
D. Coumadin
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale:
Amoxicillin is a generic drug name, and the suffix “-cillin” identifies it as a member of
the penicillin class of antibiotics.
Option A: Incorrect. Tylenol is a trade name for acetaminophen.
Option B: Incorrect. Lasix is a trade name for furosemide.
Option D: Incorrect. Coumadin is a trade name for warfarin.
Question 5. A nursing student asks the nurse why more is not known about the
teratogenic effects of maternal medication ingestion during pregnancy. Which
response by the nurse is correct?
A. “Pregnant patients metabolize all medications identically.”
B. “Clinical trials to assess this risk would put the fetus at risk.”
C. “Teratogenic effects occur only during labor.”
D. “Medications cannot cross the placenta.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Intentionally exposing pregnant patients and fetuses to potentially teratogenic
medications for experimental purposes would raise serious ethical and safety concerns.
Consequently, pregnancy safety data are often derived from observational studies,
registries, and postmarketing surveillance.
Option A: Incorrect. Medication metabolism varies among individuals and changes
during pregnancy.
Option C: Incorrect. Structural teratogenic effects are particularly important during
organogenesis.
Option D: Incorrect. Many medications cross the placenta.
Question 6. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about antibodies.
The nurse correctly explains that which type of response is triggered when
antigens bind to antibodies on mast cells or basophils?
A. Hypersensitivity reaction
B. Cell-mediated rejection only
C. Passive immunity
D. Hematopoiesis
Correct Answer: A