Chapter 1: Prescriptive Authority Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. An APRN works in a urology clinic under the
supervision of a physician who does not restrict the types of
medications the APRN is allowed to prescribe. State law
does not require theAPRN to practice under physician
supervision. How would the APRN‘s prescriptive authority
bedescribed?
a. Full authority
b. Independent
c. Without limitation
d. Limited authority
ANS: B
The APRN has independent prescriptive authority because the regulating body does not require
that the APRN work under physician supervision. Full prescriptive authority gives the provider
the right to prescribe independently and without limitation. Limited authority places restrictions
on the types of drugs that can be prescribed .DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p.
1TOP: Nursing Process: I MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity:
Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. Which factors increase the need for APRNs to have full prescriptive authority?
a. More patients will have access to health care.
b. Enrollment in medical schools is predicted to decrease.
c. Physician‘s assistants are being utilized less often.
d. APRN education is more complex than education for physicians.
ANS: A
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of individuals with health
care coverage, and thus the number who have access to health care services. The increase in the
number of patients creates the need for more providers with prescriptive authority. APRNs can
fill this practice gap. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 2TOP: Nursing Process:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic
and Parenteral Therapies
MedC © 2022
,3. Which factors could be attributed to limited prescriptive authority for APRNs? Select all
that apply.
a. Inaccessibility of patient care
b. Higher health care costs
c. Higher quality medical treatment
d. Improved collaborative care
e. Enhanced health literacy
ANS: A , B
Limiting prescriptive authority for APRNs can create barriers to quality, affordable, and
accessible patient care. It may also lead to poor collaboration among providers and higher health
care costs. It would not directly impact patient‘s health literacy.DIF: Cognitive Level:
ComprehensionREF:
p. 2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic
Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
4. Which aspects support the APRN‘s provision for full prescriptive authority? Select all
that apply.
a. Clinical education includes prescription of medications and disease processes.
b. Federal regulations support the provision of full authority for APRNs.
c. National examinations provide validation of the APRN‘s ability to provide safecare.
d. Licensure ensures compliance with health care and safety standards.
e. Limiting provision can decrease health care affordability.
ANS: A , C , D
APRNs are educated to practice and prescribe independently without supervision. National
examinations validate the ability to provide safe and competent care. Licensure ensures
compliance with standards to promote public health and safety. Limited prescriptive authority
creates numerous barriers to quality, affordable, and accessible patient care.DIF: Cognitive
Level: ComprehensionREF: pp. 1-2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX
Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
5. Which aspects support the APRN‘s provision for full prescriptive authority? Select
MedC © 2022
,allthat apply.
a. Clinical education includes prescription of medications and disease processes.
b. Federal regulations support the provision of full authority for APRNs.
c. National examinations provide validation of the APRN‘s ability to provide safecare.
d. Licensure ensures compliance with health care and safety standards.
ANS: A , C , D
APRNs are educated to practice and prescribe independently without supervision. National
examinations validate the ability to provide safe and competent care. Licensure ensures
compliance with standards to promote public health and safety. Limited prescriptive authority
creates numerous barriers to quality, affordable, and accessible patient care.DIF: Cognitive
Level:
Comprehension REF: pp. 1-2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client
Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
6. A family nurse practitioner practicing in Maine is hired at a practice across state lines in
Virginia. Which aspect of practice may change for the APRN?
a. The APRN will have less prescriptive authority in the new position.
b. The APRN will have more prescriptive authority in the new position.
c. The APRN will have equal prescriptive authority in the new position.
d. The APRN‘s authority will depend on federal regulations.
ANS: A
Virginia allows limited prescriptive authority, while Maine gives full authority to certified nurse
practitioners. The federal government does not regulate prescriptive authority.DIF: Cognitive
Level: ComprehensionREF: p. 3TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client
Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
Rosenthal: Lehne's Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Providers, 2nd Ed.
Chapter 2: Rational Drug Selection and Prescription Writing
Test Bank Multiple Choice
MedC © 2022
, 7. How can collaboration with a pharmacist improve positive outcomes for patients? Select
all that apply.
a. Pharmacists can suggest foods that will help with the patient‘s condition.
b. Pharmacists have additional information on drug interactions.
c. The pharmacist can suggest adequate medication dosing.
d. Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility formulary.
e. Pharmacy can alter prescriptions when necessary to prevent patient harm.
ANS: B , C , D
Providers should collaborate with pharmacists because they will likely have additional
information on formulary, drug interactions, and suggestions for adequate medication dosing.
Dietitians can make foods recommendations to treat the patient‘s condition. The pharmacist can
contact the prescriber about questionable prescriptions, but cannot alter the prescription without
notification of and approval by the provider.DIF: Cognitive Level: ComprehensionREF: p.
9TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity:
Reduction of Risk Potential
8. A patient presents with deliriumtremens requiring Ativan administration. The provider
ofcare is not in the facility. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Obtain a telephone order.
b. Contact the on-call hospitalist.
c. Obtain an order from the charge nurse.
d. Wait for a written Ativan order.
ANS: A
In an emergency situation, such as delirium tremens with seizure activity, it is acceptable to
provide a telephone order. Contacting the on-call hospitalist or waiting for a written order would
take more time than available for a patient with high seizure risk. Writing an order is outside the
scope of practice for the charge nurse.DIF: Cognitive Level: ApplicationREF: p. 7TOP: Nursing
Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity:
Reduction of Risk Potential
MedC © 2022
Multiple Choice
1. An APRN works in a urology clinic under the
supervision of a physician who does not restrict the types of
medications the APRN is allowed to prescribe. State law
does not require theAPRN to practice under physician
supervision. How would the APRN‘s prescriptive authority
bedescribed?
a. Full authority
b. Independent
c. Without limitation
d. Limited authority
ANS: B
The APRN has independent prescriptive authority because the regulating body does not require
that the APRN work under physician supervision. Full prescriptive authority gives the provider
the right to prescribe independently and without limitation. Limited authority places restrictions
on the types of drugs that can be prescribed .DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p.
1TOP: Nursing Process: I MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity:
Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. Which factors increase the need for APRNs to have full prescriptive authority?
a. More patients will have access to health care.
b. Enrollment in medical schools is predicted to decrease.
c. Physician‘s assistants are being utilized less often.
d. APRN education is more complex than education for physicians.
ANS: A
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of individuals with health
care coverage, and thus the number who have access to health care services. The increase in the
number of patients creates the need for more providers with prescriptive authority. APRNs can
fill this practice gap. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 2TOP: Nursing Process:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic
and Parenteral Therapies
MedC © 2022
,3. Which factors could be attributed to limited prescriptive authority for APRNs? Select all
that apply.
a. Inaccessibility of patient care
b. Higher health care costs
c. Higher quality medical treatment
d. Improved collaborative care
e. Enhanced health literacy
ANS: A , B
Limiting prescriptive authority for APRNs can create barriers to quality, affordable, and
accessible patient care. It may also lead to poor collaboration among providers and higher health
care costs. It would not directly impact patient‘s health literacy.DIF: Cognitive Level:
ComprehensionREF:
p. 2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic
Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
4. Which aspects support the APRN‘s provision for full prescriptive authority? Select all
that apply.
a. Clinical education includes prescription of medications and disease processes.
b. Federal regulations support the provision of full authority for APRNs.
c. National examinations provide validation of the APRN‘s ability to provide safecare.
d. Licensure ensures compliance with health care and safety standards.
e. Limiting provision can decrease health care affordability.
ANS: A , C , D
APRNs are educated to practice and prescribe independently without supervision. National
examinations validate the ability to provide safe and competent care. Licensure ensures
compliance with standards to promote public health and safety. Limited prescriptive authority
creates numerous barriers to quality, affordable, and accessible patient care.DIF: Cognitive
Level: ComprehensionREF: pp. 1-2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX
Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
5. Which aspects support the APRN‘s provision for full prescriptive authority? Select
MedC © 2022
,allthat apply.
a. Clinical education includes prescription of medications and disease processes.
b. Federal regulations support the provision of full authority for APRNs.
c. National examinations provide validation of the APRN‘s ability to provide safecare.
d. Licensure ensures compliance with health care and safety standards.
ANS: A , C , D
APRNs are educated to practice and prescribe independently without supervision. National
examinations validate the ability to provide safe and competent care. Licensure ensures
compliance with standards to promote public health and safety. Limited prescriptive authority
creates numerous barriers to quality, affordable, and accessible patient care.DIF: Cognitive
Level:
Comprehension REF: pp. 1-2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client
Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
6. A family nurse practitioner practicing in Maine is hired at a practice across state lines in
Virginia. Which aspect of practice may change for the APRN?
a. The APRN will have less prescriptive authority in the new position.
b. The APRN will have more prescriptive authority in the new position.
c. The APRN will have equal prescriptive authority in the new position.
d. The APRN‘s authority will depend on federal regulations.
ANS: A
Virginia allows limited prescriptive authority, while Maine gives full authority to certified nurse
practitioners. The federal government does not regulate prescriptive authority.DIF: Cognitive
Level: ComprehensionREF: p. 3TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client
Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
Rosenthal: Lehne's Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Providers, 2nd Ed.
Chapter 2: Rational Drug Selection and Prescription Writing
Test Bank Multiple Choice
MedC © 2022
, 7. How can collaboration with a pharmacist improve positive outcomes for patients? Select
all that apply.
a. Pharmacists can suggest foods that will help with the patient‘s condition.
b. Pharmacists have additional information on drug interactions.
c. The pharmacist can suggest adequate medication dosing.
d. Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility formulary.
e. Pharmacy can alter prescriptions when necessary to prevent patient harm.
ANS: B , C , D
Providers should collaborate with pharmacists because they will likely have additional
information on formulary, drug interactions, and suggestions for adequate medication dosing.
Dietitians can make foods recommendations to treat the patient‘s condition. The pharmacist can
contact the prescriber about questionable prescriptions, but cannot alter the prescription without
notification of and approval by the provider.DIF: Cognitive Level: ComprehensionREF: p.
9TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity:
Reduction of Risk Potential
8. A patient presents with deliriumtremens requiring Ativan administration. The provider
ofcare is not in the facility. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Obtain a telephone order.
b. Contact the on-call hospitalist.
c. Obtain an order from the charge nurse.
d. Wait for a written Ativan order.
ANS: A
In an emergency situation, such as delirium tremens with seizure activity, it is acceptable to
provide a telephone order. Contacting the on-call hospitalist or waiting for a written order would
take more time than available for a patient with high seizure risk. Writing an order is outside the
scope of practice for the charge nurse.DIF: Cognitive Level: ApplicationREF: p. 7TOP: Nursing
Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity:
Reduction of Risk Potential
MedC © 2022
