NURSING REVISION MASTER SERIES
PHARMACOLOGY REVISION
Pharmacology • Drug Classes, Safe Administration & Clinical Judgment
150 Multiple-Choice Questions
Four options per question • Correct answer highlighted in green • Rationale highlighted in blue
Designed for BSN-level revision, clinical judgment, and exam practice
How to use this guide
Try each question before looking at the answer. Read every rationale, including for items you answered correctly. Use your
course materials and current clinical guidelines to verify local protocols, drug doses, and policy-dependent procedures. This
resource supports study and does not replace clinical supervision or institutional guidance.
Contents
• Medication safety
• Cardiovascular drugs
• Endocrine drugs
• Antimicrobials
• Analgesia and emergency agents
• Mental health medications
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 1
,Question 1 | Anticoagulation
A patient taking warfarin asks which food pattern is safest.
A. Avoid all foods containing vitamin K.
B. Keep vitamin K intake reasonably consistent from week to week.
C. Double the dose after eating leafy greens.
D. Take aspirin daily to prevent clots.
Correct answer: B. Keep vitamin K intake reasonably consistent from week to week.
Rationale: Consistency in vitamin K intake helps maintain a stable warfarin effect. Sudden major changes and
unapproved aspirin use can increase risk.
Question 2 | Cardiovascular
Which assessment is the priority before giving digoxin?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Hand grip strength
C. Pupil size
D. Apical pulse for a full minute
Correct answer: D. Apical pulse for a full minute
Rationale: Digoxin can slow the heart rate. Assess the apical pulse for a full minute and follow prescribed hold
parameters; also monitor potassium and toxicity symptoms.
Question 3 | Cardiovascular
A patient receiving furosemide is at greatest risk for which electrolyte change?
A. Hypernatremia in every case
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct answer: D. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase urinary potassium loss. Monitor electrolytes, blood pressure, renal function, and
dehydration.
Question 4 | Cardiovascular
Which instruction is most important for a patient prescribed an ACE inhibitor?
A. Use potassium salt substitutes freely.
B. Stop the medicine as soon as blood pressure improves.
C. Expect a persistent dry cough or report it if bothersome.
D. Take extra doses for headaches.
Correct answer: C. Expect a persistent dry cough or report it if bothersome.
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can cause cough, hyperkalemia, hypotension, and rarely angioedema. Potassium products
should be discussed with the prescriber.
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 2
,Question 5 | Cardiovascular
A patient taking a beta blocker should be taught to:
A. Stop it abruptly if tired.
B. Expect severe tachycardia as the desired effect.
C. Take extra doses when anxious.
D. Check pulse and follow hold instructions.
Correct answer: D. Check pulse and follow hold instructions.
Rationale: Beta blockers lower heart rate and blood pressure. Abrupt withdrawal can provoke rebound effects; follow the
prescribed monitoring plan.
Question 6 | Analgesia
Which finding may indicate opioid toxicity?
A. Respiratory rate of 7/min and difficult arousal
B. Urine pale yellow
C. Increased appetite
D. Mild dry mouth
Correct answer: A. Respiratory rate of 7/min and difficult arousal
Rationale: Marked sedation and respiratory depression are emergencies. Support airway/breathing, call for help, and
administer naloxone per protocol.
Question 7 | Antimicrobials
What is the priority monitoring for a patient receiving IV vancomycin?
A. Daily visual acuity only
B. No monitoring is required
C. Hearing/renal function and ordered drug-level monitoring
D. Serum amylase only
Correct answer: C. Hearing/renal function and ordered drug-level monitoring
Rationale: Vancomycin can cause nephrotoxicity and, less commonly, ototoxicity. Follow renal labs, infusion guidance,
and drug-monitoring orders.
Question 8 | Antimicrobials
A patient develops wheezing, facial swelling, and hypotension after an antibiotic. What is the priority?
A. Offer oral fluids.
B. Document and reassess in one hour.
C. Ask the patient to walk.
D. Treat as anaphylaxis and activate emergency response.
Correct answer: D. Treat as anaphylaxis and activate emergency response.
Rationale: Airway compromise and hypotension suggest anaphylaxis. Activate emergency response and give IM
epinephrine promptly per protocol.
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 3
, Question 9 | Antimicrobials
Which teaching is appropriate for oral antibiotics?
A. Take exactly as prescribed and report serious reactions.
B. Stop once fever resolves.
C. Save doses for a future illness.
D. Share remaining tablets with family.
Correct answer: A. Take exactly as prescribed and report serious reactions.
Rationale: Use antibiotics only as prescribed, complete the prescribed course unless the prescriber changes it, and never
share or save them.
Question 10 | Endocrine
Which insulin is rapid-acting?
A. Glargine
B. Detemir
C. Lispro
D. NPH
Correct answer: C. Lispro
Rationale: Insulin lispro is rapid-acting and is coordinated with meals according to the prescribed regimen. Glargine and
detemir are long-acting; NPH is intermediate-acting.
Question 11 | Endocrine
A conscious patient with diabetes has sweating, tremor, and a glucose of 54 mg/dL. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Restrict all carbohydrates for 4 hours.
B. Give scheduled insulin.
C. Encourage exercise.
D. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes.
Correct answer: D. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes.
Rationale: For an alert patient able to swallow, use the 15-15 approach: 15 g rapid carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes,
repeat if still low. Use emergency protocol if unable to swallow.
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 4
PHARMACOLOGY REVISION
Pharmacology • Drug Classes, Safe Administration & Clinical Judgment
150 Multiple-Choice Questions
Four options per question • Correct answer highlighted in green • Rationale highlighted in blue
Designed for BSN-level revision, clinical judgment, and exam practice
How to use this guide
Try each question before looking at the answer. Read every rationale, including for items you answered correctly. Use your
course materials and current clinical guidelines to verify local protocols, drug doses, and policy-dependent procedures. This
resource supports study and does not replace clinical supervision or institutional guidance.
Contents
• Medication safety
• Cardiovascular drugs
• Endocrine drugs
• Antimicrobials
• Analgesia and emergency agents
• Mental health medications
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 1
,Question 1 | Anticoagulation
A patient taking warfarin asks which food pattern is safest.
A. Avoid all foods containing vitamin K.
B. Keep vitamin K intake reasonably consistent from week to week.
C. Double the dose after eating leafy greens.
D. Take aspirin daily to prevent clots.
Correct answer: B. Keep vitamin K intake reasonably consistent from week to week.
Rationale: Consistency in vitamin K intake helps maintain a stable warfarin effect. Sudden major changes and
unapproved aspirin use can increase risk.
Question 2 | Cardiovascular
Which assessment is the priority before giving digoxin?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Hand grip strength
C. Pupil size
D. Apical pulse for a full minute
Correct answer: D. Apical pulse for a full minute
Rationale: Digoxin can slow the heart rate. Assess the apical pulse for a full minute and follow prescribed hold
parameters; also monitor potassium and toxicity symptoms.
Question 3 | Cardiovascular
A patient receiving furosemide is at greatest risk for which electrolyte change?
A. Hypernatremia in every case
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct answer: D. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase urinary potassium loss. Monitor electrolytes, blood pressure, renal function, and
dehydration.
Question 4 | Cardiovascular
Which instruction is most important for a patient prescribed an ACE inhibitor?
A. Use potassium salt substitutes freely.
B. Stop the medicine as soon as blood pressure improves.
C. Expect a persistent dry cough or report it if bothersome.
D. Take extra doses for headaches.
Correct answer: C. Expect a persistent dry cough or report it if bothersome.
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can cause cough, hyperkalemia, hypotension, and rarely angioedema. Potassium products
should be discussed with the prescriber.
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 2
,Question 5 | Cardiovascular
A patient taking a beta blocker should be taught to:
A. Stop it abruptly if tired.
B. Expect severe tachycardia as the desired effect.
C. Take extra doses when anxious.
D. Check pulse and follow hold instructions.
Correct answer: D. Check pulse and follow hold instructions.
Rationale: Beta blockers lower heart rate and blood pressure. Abrupt withdrawal can provoke rebound effects; follow the
prescribed monitoring plan.
Question 6 | Analgesia
Which finding may indicate opioid toxicity?
A. Respiratory rate of 7/min and difficult arousal
B. Urine pale yellow
C. Increased appetite
D. Mild dry mouth
Correct answer: A. Respiratory rate of 7/min and difficult arousal
Rationale: Marked sedation and respiratory depression are emergencies. Support airway/breathing, call for help, and
administer naloxone per protocol.
Question 7 | Antimicrobials
What is the priority monitoring for a patient receiving IV vancomycin?
A. Daily visual acuity only
B. No monitoring is required
C. Hearing/renal function and ordered drug-level monitoring
D. Serum amylase only
Correct answer: C. Hearing/renal function and ordered drug-level monitoring
Rationale: Vancomycin can cause nephrotoxicity and, less commonly, ototoxicity. Follow renal labs, infusion guidance,
and drug-monitoring orders.
Question 8 | Antimicrobials
A patient develops wheezing, facial swelling, and hypotension after an antibiotic. What is the priority?
A. Offer oral fluids.
B. Document and reassess in one hour.
C. Ask the patient to walk.
D. Treat as anaphylaxis and activate emergency response.
Correct answer: D. Treat as anaphylaxis and activate emergency response.
Rationale: Airway compromise and hypotension suggest anaphylaxis. Activate emergency response and give IM
epinephrine promptly per protocol.
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 3
, Question 9 | Antimicrobials
Which teaching is appropriate for oral antibiotics?
A. Take exactly as prescribed and report serious reactions.
B. Stop once fever resolves.
C. Save doses for a future illness.
D. Share remaining tablets with family.
Correct answer: A. Take exactly as prescribed and report serious reactions.
Rationale: Use antibiotics only as prescribed, complete the prescribed course unless the prescriber changes it, and never
share or save them.
Question 10 | Endocrine
Which insulin is rapid-acting?
A. Glargine
B. Detemir
C. Lispro
D. NPH
Correct answer: C. Lispro
Rationale: Insulin lispro is rapid-acting and is coordinated with meals according to the prescribed regimen. Glargine and
detemir are long-acting; NPH is intermediate-acting.
Question 11 | Endocrine
A conscious patient with diabetes has sweating, tremor, and a glucose of 54 mg/dL. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Restrict all carbohydrates for 4 hours.
B. Give scheduled insulin.
C. Encourage exercise.
D. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes.
Correct answer: D. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes.
Rationale: For an alert patient able to swallow, use the 15-15 approach: 15 g rapid carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes,
repeat if still low. Use emergency protocol if unable to swallow.
BSN Nursing Revision • Educational study resource Page 4
