INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
NURS711 — Pharmacotherapies Exam 2 2026–2027
NURS 711 | Pharmacotherapies for Nursing Practice
Institution / scope: University of South Carolina
Contents: 100 independently authored educational practice questions with one keyed answer and a rationale per question;
quick answer key at the end.
Original practice questions
Endocrine
1. A patient with diabetes is unable to swallow and has severe hypoglycemia. What is the appropriate priority?
A. Administer extra rapid insulin
B. Force oral juice into the mouth
C. Wait for spontaneous improvement without assessment
D. Activate emergency treatment with IV dextrose or glucagon as available and ordered
Correct Answer: D — Activate emergency treatment with IV dextrose or glucagon as available and ordered
Rationale: An unconscious or unable-to-swallow patient needs parenteral rescue and airway protection, not oral
intake.
GI
2. A patient with melena and dizziness is taking an anticoagulant. What is the priority?
A. Give an additional anticoagulant dose
B. Delay assessment until routine discharge
C. Offer only routine constipation teaching
D. Assess for significant bleeding and urgently escalate
Correct Answer: D — Assess for significant bleeding and urgently escalate
Rationale: Melena with hemodynamic symptoms may indicate serious GI bleeding.
3. What is a safety concern with long-term NSAID use?
A. Elimination of all hypertension
B. Guaranteed preservation of kidney function
C. Gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury
D. Permanent immunity to ulcers
Correct Answer: C — Gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury
Rationale: NSAIDs can damage gastric mucosa and reduce renal perfusion, especially in at-risk patients.
4. A patient on theophylline has persistent vomiting, tremor, and tachyarrhythmia. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Definite low serum drug level
B. Possible theophylline toxicity
C. Successful antibiotic treatment
D. Expected harmless response
Correct Answer: B — Possible theophylline toxicity
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 1
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
Rationale: Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic index and toxicity can affect gastrointestinal, neurologic, and
cardiac systems.
5. A patient reports vomiting dark blood after several days of high-dose OTC ibuprofen use. Which action is most
important?
A. Urgent evaluation for GI bleeding
B. Recommend higher ibuprofen doses
C. Assume all dark material is harmless
D. Advise delaying care for a month
Correct Answer: A — Urgent evaluation for GI bleeding
Rationale: NSAIDs can cause ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
6. A patient taking a hormonal contraceptive has repeated vomiting. What is important to discuss?
A. Possible impaired absorption and product-specific missed-pill or backup guidance
B. Guaranteed increase in absorption
C. An antibiotic to treat contraception failure
D. No need for any change in counseling
Correct Answer: A — Possible impaired absorption and product-specific missed-pill or backup guidance
Rationale: Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
7. A patient taking ibuprofen reports vomiting blood. What action is needed?
A. Prompt evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding
B. Switch to aspirin at the same dose without review
C. Double the dose with food
D. Continue without assessment
Correct Answer: A — Prompt evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding
Rationale: NSAIDs can cause ulcers and bleeding; hematemesis is a red flag.
8. A patient taking theophylline develops vomiting, tremor and tachyarrhythmia. Which action is appropriate?
A. Assume an ordinary response and do nothing
B. Take additional stimulants
C. Double the next dose
D. Hold medication and urgently assess for toxicity
Correct Answer: D — Hold medication and urgently assess for toxicity
Rationale: Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic index and toxicity can cause arrhythmias and seizures.
9. A patient using valproate develops severe abdominal pain and vomiting. What serious effect must be considered?
A. Seasonal rhinitis
B. Treatment of reflux
C. Expected gastric adaptation
D. Pancreatitis
Correct Answer: D — Pancreatitis
Rationale: Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 2
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
10. Rationale check — consider this prescribing decision: A patient taking a hormonal contraceptive has repeated
vomiting. What is important to discuss? Which rationale best supports the safest clinical decision?
A. All hormonal and sexual-health therapies have identical eligibility criteria.
B. Pregnancy potential, vascular history, and interactions never affect drug choice.
C. Partner counseling and fertility goals are unrelated to prescribing.
D. Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
Correct Answer: D — Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
Rationale: This rationale accurately identifies the relevant pharmacologic mechanism, clinical risk, or prescribing
principle. Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
11. Rationale check — consider this prescribing decision: A patient using valproate develops severe abdominal pain
and vomiting. What serious effect must be considered? Which rationale best supports the safest clinical decision?
A. Antiseizure and migraine medicines have no drug interactions or contraindications.
B. New neurologic or cardiovascular symptoms do not warrant assessment.
C. Abrupt cessation never causes symptom recurrence.
D. Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
Correct Answer: D — Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
Rationale: This rationale accurately identifies the relevant pharmacologic mechanism, clinical risk, or prescribing
principle. Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
Infection
12. A patient receiving vancomycin needs what major monitoring consideration?
A. Only platelet size
B. Kidney function and exposure-based dosing when indicated
C. Only scalp temperature
D. Only serum glucose in all cases
Correct Answer: B — Kidney function and exposure-based dosing when indicated
Rationale: Vancomycin exposure and renal function monitoring help balance efficacy and toxicity.
13. Which finding during antibiotic treatment could signal a severe allergic reaction?
A. A single brief sneeze
B. Expected stool darkening with iron
C. Mild isolated nausea without other symptoms
D. Wheezing, throat tightness, urticaria, and hypotension
Correct Answer: D — Wheezing, throat tightness, urticaria, and hypotension
Rationale: Acute respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms after a drug may indicate anaphylaxis.
14. Why is dose timing important when administering time-dependent antibiotics?
A. All antimicrobials have identical pharmacodynamics
B. Sustained drug concentrations above an organism's MIC contribute to efficacy
C. Only peak concentration matters for every drug
D. Timing never affects antibiotic efficacy
Correct Answer: B — Sustained drug concentrations above an organism's MIC contribute to efficacy
Rationale: Time-dependent antibacterial activity depends on time above an inhibitory concentration.
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 3
NURS711 — Pharmacotherapies Exam 2 2026–2027
NURS 711 | Pharmacotherapies for Nursing Practice
Institution / scope: University of South Carolina
Contents: 100 independently authored educational practice questions with one keyed answer and a rationale per question;
quick answer key at the end.
Original practice questions
Endocrine
1. A patient with diabetes is unable to swallow and has severe hypoglycemia. What is the appropriate priority?
A. Administer extra rapid insulin
B. Force oral juice into the mouth
C. Wait for spontaneous improvement without assessment
D. Activate emergency treatment with IV dextrose or glucagon as available and ordered
Correct Answer: D — Activate emergency treatment with IV dextrose or glucagon as available and ordered
Rationale: An unconscious or unable-to-swallow patient needs parenteral rescue and airway protection, not oral
intake.
GI
2. A patient with melena and dizziness is taking an anticoagulant. What is the priority?
A. Give an additional anticoagulant dose
B. Delay assessment until routine discharge
C. Offer only routine constipation teaching
D. Assess for significant bleeding and urgently escalate
Correct Answer: D — Assess for significant bleeding and urgently escalate
Rationale: Melena with hemodynamic symptoms may indicate serious GI bleeding.
3. What is a safety concern with long-term NSAID use?
A. Elimination of all hypertension
B. Guaranteed preservation of kidney function
C. Gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury
D. Permanent immunity to ulcers
Correct Answer: C — Gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury
Rationale: NSAIDs can damage gastric mucosa and reduce renal perfusion, especially in at-risk patients.
4. A patient on theophylline has persistent vomiting, tremor, and tachyarrhythmia. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Definite low serum drug level
B. Possible theophylline toxicity
C. Successful antibiotic treatment
D. Expected harmless response
Correct Answer: B — Possible theophylline toxicity
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 1
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
Rationale: Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic index and toxicity can affect gastrointestinal, neurologic, and
cardiac systems.
5. A patient reports vomiting dark blood after several days of high-dose OTC ibuprofen use. Which action is most
important?
A. Urgent evaluation for GI bleeding
B. Recommend higher ibuprofen doses
C. Assume all dark material is harmless
D. Advise delaying care for a month
Correct Answer: A — Urgent evaluation for GI bleeding
Rationale: NSAIDs can cause ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
6. A patient taking a hormonal contraceptive has repeated vomiting. What is important to discuss?
A. Possible impaired absorption and product-specific missed-pill or backup guidance
B. Guaranteed increase in absorption
C. An antibiotic to treat contraception failure
D. No need for any change in counseling
Correct Answer: A — Possible impaired absorption and product-specific missed-pill or backup guidance
Rationale: Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
7. A patient taking ibuprofen reports vomiting blood. What action is needed?
A. Prompt evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding
B. Switch to aspirin at the same dose without review
C. Double the dose with food
D. Continue without assessment
Correct Answer: A — Prompt evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding
Rationale: NSAIDs can cause ulcers and bleeding; hematemesis is a red flag.
8. A patient taking theophylline develops vomiting, tremor and tachyarrhythmia. Which action is appropriate?
A. Assume an ordinary response and do nothing
B. Take additional stimulants
C. Double the next dose
D. Hold medication and urgently assess for toxicity
Correct Answer: D — Hold medication and urgently assess for toxicity
Rationale: Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic index and toxicity can cause arrhythmias and seizures.
9. A patient using valproate develops severe abdominal pain and vomiting. What serious effect must be considered?
A. Seasonal rhinitis
B. Treatment of reflux
C. Expected gastric adaptation
D. Pancreatitis
Correct Answer: D — Pancreatitis
Rationale: Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 2
, INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NURS711 • 2026–2027
10. Rationale check — consider this prescribing decision: A patient taking a hormonal contraceptive has repeated
vomiting. What is important to discuss? Which rationale best supports the safest clinical decision?
A. All hormonal and sexual-health therapies have identical eligibility criteria.
B. Pregnancy potential, vascular history, and interactions never affect drug choice.
C. Partner counseling and fertility goals are unrelated to prescribing.
D. Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
Correct Answer: D — Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
Rationale: This rationale accurately identifies the relevant pharmacologic mechanism, clinical risk, or prescribing
principle. Gastrointestinal illness may reduce oral drug absorption; follow method-specific instructions.
11. Rationale check — consider this prescribing decision: A patient using valproate develops severe abdominal pain
and vomiting. What serious effect must be considered? Which rationale best supports the safest clinical decision?
A. Antiseizure and migraine medicines have no drug interactions or contraindications.
B. New neurologic or cardiovascular symptoms do not warrant assessment.
C. Abrupt cessation never causes symptom recurrence.
D. Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
Correct Answer: D — Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
Rationale: This rationale accurately identifies the relevant pharmacologic mechanism, clinical risk, or prescribing
principle. Valproate-associated pancreatitis can be serious and should prompt urgent evaluation.
Infection
12. A patient receiving vancomycin needs what major monitoring consideration?
A. Only platelet size
B. Kidney function and exposure-based dosing when indicated
C. Only scalp temperature
D. Only serum glucose in all cases
Correct Answer: B — Kidney function and exposure-based dosing when indicated
Rationale: Vancomycin exposure and renal function monitoring help balance efficacy and toxicity.
13. Which finding during antibiotic treatment could signal a severe allergic reaction?
A. A single brief sneeze
B. Expected stool darkening with iron
C. Mild isolated nausea without other symptoms
D. Wheezing, throat tightness, urticaria, and hypotension
Correct Answer: D — Wheezing, throat tightness, urticaria, and hypotension
Rationale: Acute respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms after a drug may indicate anaphylaxis.
14. Why is dose timing important when administering time-dependent antibiotics?
A. All antimicrobials have identical pharmacodynamics
B. Sustained drug concentrations above an organism's MIC contribute to efficacy
C. Only peak concentration matters for every drug
D. Timing never affects antibiotic efficacy
Correct Answer: B — Sustained drug concentrations above an organism's MIC contribute to efficacy
Rationale: Time-dependent antibacterial activity depends on time above an inhibitory concentration.
NURS711 | Original educational practice • 3
