NURS 167 - Exam 3 Review All Questions With
Accurate Answers
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) for diabetes
insipidus. Which of the following is an adverse effect of this medication?
1. Insomnia
2. Drowsiness
3. Weight loss
4. Increased urination - Answer 2. Drowsiness Rationale: Water intoxication, or
hyponatremia, is an adverse effect of desmopressin. Early symptoms include
drowsiness, listlessness, and headache. Other symptoms that may be seen in water
intoxication include decreased urination, rapid weight gain, confusion, seizures, and
coma.
A patient is receiving Vasopressin for diabetes insipidus. He is describing drowsiness,
lightheadedness, and headache. The nurse suspects he is experiencing which of the
following?
A. An allergic reaction
B. Dehydration
C. Depression
D. Water intoxication - Answer D. Water intoxication
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is taking levothyroxine (Synthroid). The
nurse teaches the client to take the medication:
1. With food
2. At lunchtime
3. On an empty stomach
4. Bedtime with a snack - Answer On an empty stomach Rationale:Oral doses of
levothyroxine (Synthroid) are best taken on an empty stomach to increase absorption.
,Doses must be given in the morning before breakfast. *Note that options 1, 2, and 4 are
similar or the same in that these options address taking the medication with food.
A nurse reinforces medication instructions to a client who is taking levothyroxine
(Synthroid). The nurse instructs the client to notify the HCP if which of the following
occurs?
1. Fatigue
2. Tremors
3. Cold intolerance
4. Excessively dry skin - Answer Tremors
Rationale: Overdosage of levothyroxine (Synthroid) will cause signs and symptoms of
hyperthyroidism. These include tachycardia, chest pain, tremors, nervousness,
insomnia, hyperthermia, heat intolerance, and sweating. The client should be taught to
report these to the HCP if they occur. Options 1, 3, and 4 are signs of hypothyroidism.
A nurse is caring for a client with hyperparathyroidism and the client's serum calcium
level is 13 mg/dL. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer as ordered
to the client?
1. Calcium chloride
2. Calcium gluconate
3. Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
4. Large doses of vitamin D - Answer 3. Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
Rationale: The normal serum calcium level is 8.6 to 10.0 mg/dL. This client has
hypercalcemia. Calcium gluconate and calcium chloride medications are used to treat
tetany, which results from acute hypocalcemia. In hypercalcemia the client should avoid
large doses of vitamin D. Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone that lowers the plasma calcium
level by inhibiting bone resorption and decreasing the serum calcium level.
A nurse is caring for a client post-thyroidectomy who has an order for calcium
gluconate. The nurse understands this medication has been ordered for the client for
the following purpose:
1. To treat thyroid storm.
,2. To prevent cardiac irritability
3. To treat hypocalcemic tetany.
4. To stimulate the release of parathyroid hormone. - Answer Treat hypocalcemic
tetany.
Rationale: Hypocalcemia may result from thyroidectomy if the parathyroid glands are
accidentally excised or injured during the course of the surgery. Symptoms may
manifest within 1 to 7 days after surgery. The client is called immediately if the client
demonstrates numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingers, or toes or if muscle
spasms or twitching occur. Calcium gluconate is kept at the client's bedside.
The nurse admitting a patient with acromegaly will expect to administer the following
medication?
desmopressin (DDAVP)
corticotropin (Acthar)
somatropin (Nutropin)
octreotide (Sandostatin) - Answer octreotide (Sandostatin)
For a patient with which disorder would the nurse question an order for steroids?
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Septic shock
Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - Answer Uncontrolled
diabetes mellitus
The nurse is providing care for a patient after a non-accidental traumatic brain injury.
The patient has subsequently developed diabetes insipidus as a result of the injury.
Which of the following medications is most commonly utilized to treat diabetes
insipidus?
desmopressin (DDAVP)
, corticotrophin (Acthar)
octreotide (Sandostatin)
somatropin (Humatrope) - Answer desmopressin (DDAVP)
A patient is receiving vasopressin. For which of these symptoms would you immediately
call the primary health care provider? Select all that apply.
1 Diarrhea
2 Pale skin
3 Yellow eyes
4 Hypertension
5 Abdominal cramping - Question 1 Diarrhea
4 Hypertension
5 Abdominal cramping
According to the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocol, which medication is
given to treat pulseless cardiac arrest?
1 Somatropin
2 Vasopressin
3 Desmopressin
4 Luteinizing hormone - Question 2 Vasopressin
Which of the following medications causes increased water retention when taken with
desmopressin?
1 Thioridazine
2 Carbamazepine
3 Acetaminophen
4 Norepinephrine - Question 2 Carbamazepine
Accurate Answers
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) for diabetes
insipidus. Which of the following is an adverse effect of this medication?
1. Insomnia
2. Drowsiness
3. Weight loss
4. Increased urination - Answer 2. Drowsiness Rationale: Water intoxication, or
hyponatremia, is an adverse effect of desmopressin. Early symptoms include
drowsiness, listlessness, and headache. Other symptoms that may be seen in water
intoxication include decreased urination, rapid weight gain, confusion, seizures, and
coma.
A patient is receiving Vasopressin for diabetes insipidus. He is describing drowsiness,
lightheadedness, and headache. The nurse suspects he is experiencing which of the
following?
A. An allergic reaction
B. Dehydration
C. Depression
D. Water intoxication - Answer D. Water intoxication
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is taking levothyroxine (Synthroid). The
nurse teaches the client to take the medication:
1. With food
2. At lunchtime
3. On an empty stomach
4. Bedtime with a snack - Answer On an empty stomach Rationale:Oral doses of
levothyroxine (Synthroid) are best taken on an empty stomach to increase absorption.
,Doses must be given in the morning before breakfast. *Note that options 1, 2, and 4 are
similar or the same in that these options address taking the medication with food.
A nurse reinforces medication instructions to a client who is taking levothyroxine
(Synthroid). The nurse instructs the client to notify the HCP if which of the following
occurs?
1. Fatigue
2. Tremors
3. Cold intolerance
4. Excessively dry skin - Answer Tremors
Rationale: Overdosage of levothyroxine (Synthroid) will cause signs and symptoms of
hyperthyroidism. These include tachycardia, chest pain, tremors, nervousness,
insomnia, hyperthermia, heat intolerance, and sweating. The client should be taught to
report these to the HCP if they occur. Options 1, 3, and 4 are signs of hypothyroidism.
A nurse is caring for a client with hyperparathyroidism and the client's serum calcium
level is 13 mg/dL. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer as ordered
to the client?
1. Calcium chloride
2. Calcium gluconate
3. Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
4. Large doses of vitamin D - Answer 3. Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
Rationale: The normal serum calcium level is 8.6 to 10.0 mg/dL. This client has
hypercalcemia. Calcium gluconate and calcium chloride medications are used to treat
tetany, which results from acute hypocalcemia. In hypercalcemia the client should avoid
large doses of vitamin D. Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone that lowers the plasma calcium
level by inhibiting bone resorption and decreasing the serum calcium level.
A nurse is caring for a client post-thyroidectomy who has an order for calcium
gluconate. The nurse understands this medication has been ordered for the client for
the following purpose:
1. To treat thyroid storm.
,2. To prevent cardiac irritability
3. To treat hypocalcemic tetany.
4. To stimulate the release of parathyroid hormone. - Answer Treat hypocalcemic
tetany.
Rationale: Hypocalcemia may result from thyroidectomy if the parathyroid glands are
accidentally excised or injured during the course of the surgery. Symptoms may
manifest within 1 to 7 days after surgery. The client is called immediately if the client
demonstrates numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingers, or toes or if muscle
spasms or twitching occur. Calcium gluconate is kept at the client's bedside.
The nurse admitting a patient with acromegaly will expect to administer the following
medication?
desmopressin (DDAVP)
corticotropin (Acthar)
somatropin (Nutropin)
octreotide (Sandostatin) - Answer octreotide (Sandostatin)
For a patient with which disorder would the nurse question an order for steroids?
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Septic shock
Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - Answer Uncontrolled
diabetes mellitus
The nurse is providing care for a patient after a non-accidental traumatic brain injury.
The patient has subsequently developed diabetes insipidus as a result of the injury.
Which of the following medications is most commonly utilized to treat diabetes
insipidus?
desmopressin (DDAVP)
, corticotrophin (Acthar)
octreotide (Sandostatin)
somatropin (Humatrope) - Answer desmopressin (DDAVP)
A patient is receiving vasopressin. For which of these symptoms would you immediately
call the primary health care provider? Select all that apply.
1 Diarrhea
2 Pale skin
3 Yellow eyes
4 Hypertension
5 Abdominal cramping - Question 1 Diarrhea
4 Hypertension
5 Abdominal cramping
According to the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocol, which medication is
given to treat pulseless cardiac arrest?
1 Somatropin
2 Vasopressin
3 Desmopressin
4 Luteinizing hormone - Question 2 Vasopressin
Which of the following medications causes increased water retention when taken with
desmopressin?
1 Thioridazine
2 Carbamazepine
3 Acetaminophen
4 Norepinephrine - Question 2 Carbamazepine
