NUR 170 STUDY GUIDE FINAL EXAM 1 LATEST
UPDATED TEST WITH OVER 450 QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
2024/2025 UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A
Which patient would be the highest priority when providing nursing care to multiple patients?
a. A pt who would like to know if a newly prescribed drug is available in generic form
b. A pt. who has requested a laxative because he has not had a bowel movement in 2 days
c. A pt who received oral drugs 1 hour ago and has complained of tinging around his mouth
d. A pt who is prescribed a drug, the name of which the nurse does not recognize - ANSWER>>c. A pt
who received oral drugs 1 hour ago and has complained of tinging around his mouth
Which nursing action would best meet the therapeutic objective of drug therapy?
a. Assessing the patient for adverse effects of drug therapy
b. Prescribing a drug with the fewest adverse effects
c. Prescribing a drug with the fewest serious adverse effects
d. Recommending that a patient avoid taking drugs because there are possible adverse effects -
ANSWER>>a. Assessing the patient for adverse effects of drug therapy
Rationale: The other ones are not within the scope of nursing practice
The nurse is preparing to administer an antihypertensive drug (medication that lowers the blood
pressure). The nurse assesses the pts B/P at 110/70mm Hg. What action should the nurse take at this
time?
a. Administer the medication because the antihypertensive medication is prescribed
b. Assess the patient's baseline blood pressure and the blood pressure before and after the last dose of
this medication to determine if the medication should be administered
c. Call the prescriber, report the current blood pressure, and ask if the medication should be administered
d. Withhold the medication because the patient's blood pressure is too low to administer an
antihypertensive drug - ANSWER>>b. Assess the patient's baseline blood pressure and the blood
pressure before and after the last dose of this medication to determine if the medication should be
administered
The nurse should withhold the drug and contact the prescriber if the patient reported an allergy to the
drug with which symptoms occurring shortly after the last time the drug was taken?
a. Constipation
b. Dry mouth
c. Vesicular rash
d. Wheezing - ANSWER>>d. Wheezing
,Rationale: suggests possible anaphylactic reaction
Which postoperative patient assessment would warrant withholding an opiate analgesic that depresses
the CNS?
a. Blood pressure 150/92 mmHg
b. Pulse 110 bpm
c. Respirations 9/min
d. Temperature 102.2 F (39 C) - ANSWER>>c. Respirations 9/min
A patient who is admitted to the nursing unity from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is moaning in
pain. The patient is due for another dose of pain medication. What is the nursing priority at this time?
a. Administer prescribed pain-relieving drugs
b. Assess the patient's vital signs, tubes, and surgical site
c. Obtain the patient's pain rating on a scale of 1-10
d. Review the patient's allergy history - ANSWER>>b. Assess the patient's vital signs, tubes, and surgical
site
Rationale: these assessments are a priority and are needed to determine if prescribed pain medication
can be administered safely
When preparing discharge instructions for a patient, what should the nurse do?
a. Ask the patient which name he or she uses for the drug and use only that name in discharge teaching
b. Explain the generic name only so the patient does not become confused
c. Explain the trade name only because it is easier for the patient to remember
d. Review the prescriptions written for discharge and include the stated trade name and generic name in
discharge teaching - ANSWER>>d. Review the prescriptions written for discharge and include the stated
trade name and generic name in discharge teaching
A patient has been taking a brand-name drug for a chronic condition for several years. Recent changes in
his insurance plan require the use of generic drugs whenever they are available. The patient asks the
nurse if he should pay out of pocket to continue receiving the brand-name drug. The nurse's response
should be based on which fact(s)? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)
a. That continuing to use the brand-name drug will prevent confusion
b. That drugs requiring monitoring of blood levels should have levels checked when changing from brand-
name to generic drugs
c. That generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts
d. That generic drugs are usually not absorbed at the same rate as brand-name drugs
e. That brand-name drugs contain different active ingredients than generic drugs - ANSWER>>b. That
drugs requiring monitoring of blood levels should have levels checked when changing from brand-name
to generic drugs
c. That generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts
The nurse is teaching a patient about tamsulosin (Flomax), which has been prescribed for difficulty
voiding due to enlarged prostate. Because the patient travels extensively and not all countries require
prescriptions to get drugs, what is it important for the nurse to teach the patient?
a. That a drug labeled Flomax may have different active ingredients in different countries
b. That drugs purchased in countries other than the U.S. and Canada are usually safe
c. That Flomax is not available anywhere except the U.S. and Canada
,d. That doses of Flomax in countries that use the metric system are different than doses of drugs in the
U.S. - ANSWER>>a. That a drug labeled Flomax may have different active ingredients in different
countries
Rationale: "products with the identical brand names may have different active ingredients, depending on
where you buy the drug. As a result, when a prescription for a brand-name product is filled in another
country, the patient may receive the wrong drug" (Lehne, pg 21)
Which resource(s) most likely provide(s) current, complete positive and negative information about a
drug? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)
a. Drug sales representatives
b. Drug facts and comparisons
c. Pharmacists
d. DailyMed - ANSWER>>b. Drug facts and comparisons
c. Pharmacists
d. DailyMed
Rationale: "Drug facts and comparisons is a comprehensive reference that [provides information] on drug
actions... adverse reactions" (Lehne pg. 23)
"DailyMed is a U.S. government website that provides FDA-approved drug labeling... for both generic and
brand name drugs" (Lehne pg. 23)
Cell membranes are composed of fat with phosphate
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: "The cell membrane consists primarily of a double layer of phospholipid molecules" (Lehne pg
26)
Most drugs enter cells through channels or pores
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: "very few drugs cross membranes via channels or pores" (Lehne pg. 25). "for most drugs,
movement throughout the body is dependent on the ability to penetrate membranes directly" (Lehne pg.
26)
P-glycoprotein transports many drugs out of cells
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: "PGP is a transmembrane protein that transports a wide variety of drugs out of cells" (Lehne
pg. 26)
A transport mechanism is needed for a water-soluble drug to enter a cell
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: "to directly penetrate membranes, a drug must be lipid soluble" (Lehne, pg 26)
, Thus, drugs that are water soluble are unable to directly enter a cell, and need a transport mechanism
Ionization is a process that allows a drug to enter a cell
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: Ionization is "the process of an acid giving up a proton or a base accepting a proton
[converting] the acid or base into a charged particle (ion)" (Lehne, pg. 27). "Except for very small
molecules, ions are unable to cross membranes" (Lehne pg. 26)
Therefore, if a drug goes through ionization and becomes an ion, it will be unable to cross the cell
membrane for the most part
If a quaternary ammonium compound drug is injected into a vein it will produce effects, but it will not if
taken orally
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: a quaternary ammonium compound "cannot cross membranes, and therefore cannot be
absorbed from the intestine" (Lehne pg. 27)
Aspirin, like most drugs, is primarily absorbed in the small intestine
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: "when aspirin is in the stomach (an acidic environment), most of the aspirin molecules remain
nonionized. Because aspirin molecules are nonionized in the stomach, they can be absorbed across the
membranes that separate the stomach from the bloodstream" (Lehne pg. 28)
Enteric drugs should not be crushed because crushing these preparations can cause stomach distress or
cause the acid in the stomach to alter the drug
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: enteric preparations are employed to "1. Protect drugs from acid and pepsin in the stomach
and 2. to protect the stomach from drugs that can cause gastric discomfort" (Lehne pg. 32)
A depot intramuscular (IM) injection of an antibiotic to treat syphilis will be completely effective within 24
hours after administration
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: a depot preparation "releases the drug slowly and steadily" (Lehne pg. 31)
Essentially, the formula slowly gets released and is meant to have its effects persist for days, weeks, or
even months
The protein-bound portion of a drug in circulation is not able to exert its action
UPDATED TEST WITH OVER 450 QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
2024/2025 UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A
Which patient would be the highest priority when providing nursing care to multiple patients?
a. A pt who would like to know if a newly prescribed drug is available in generic form
b. A pt. who has requested a laxative because he has not had a bowel movement in 2 days
c. A pt who received oral drugs 1 hour ago and has complained of tinging around his mouth
d. A pt who is prescribed a drug, the name of which the nurse does not recognize - ANSWER>>c. A pt
who received oral drugs 1 hour ago and has complained of tinging around his mouth
Which nursing action would best meet the therapeutic objective of drug therapy?
a. Assessing the patient for adverse effects of drug therapy
b. Prescribing a drug with the fewest adverse effects
c. Prescribing a drug with the fewest serious adverse effects
d. Recommending that a patient avoid taking drugs because there are possible adverse effects -
ANSWER>>a. Assessing the patient for adverse effects of drug therapy
Rationale: The other ones are not within the scope of nursing practice
The nurse is preparing to administer an antihypertensive drug (medication that lowers the blood
pressure). The nurse assesses the pts B/P at 110/70mm Hg. What action should the nurse take at this
time?
a. Administer the medication because the antihypertensive medication is prescribed
b. Assess the patient's baseline blood pressure and the blood pressure before and after the last dose of
this medication to determine if the medication should be administered
c. Call the prescriber, report the current blood pressure, and ask if the medication should be administered
d. Withhold the medication because the patient's blood pressure is too low to administer an
antihypertensive drug - ANSWER>>b. Assess the patient's baseline blood pressure and the blood
pressure before and after the last dose of this medication to determine if the medication should be
administered
The nurse should withhold the drug and contact the prescriber if the patient reported an allergy to the
drug with which symptoms occurring shortly after the last time the drug was taken?
a. Constipation
b. Dry mouth
c. Vesicular rash
d. Wheezing - ANSWER>>d. Wheezing
,Rationale: suggests possible anaphylactic reaction
Which postoperative patient assessment would warrant withholding an opiate analgesic that depresses
the CNS?
a. Blood pressure 150/92 mmHg
b. Pulse 110 bpm
c. Respirations 9/min
d. Temperature 102.2 F (39 C) - ANSWER>>c. Respirations 9/min
A patient who is admitted to the nursing unity from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is moaning in
pain. The patient is due for another dose of pain medication. What is the nursing priority at this time?
a. Administer prescribed pain-relieving drugs
b. Assess the patient's vital signs, tubes, and surgical site
c. Obtain the patient's pain rating on a scale of 1-10
d. Review the patient's allergy history - ANSWER>>b. Assess the patient's vital signs, tubes, and surgical
site
Rationale: these assessments are a priority and are needed to determine if prescribed pain medication
can be administered safely
When preparing discharge instructions for a patient, what should the nurse do?
a. Ask the patient which name he or she uses for the drug and use only that name in discharge teaching
b. Explain the generic name only so the patient does not become confused
c. Explain the trade name only because it is easier for the patient to remember
d. Review the prescriptions written for discharge and include the stated trade name and generic name in
discharge teaching - ANSWER>>d. Review the prescriptions written for discharge and include the stated
trade name and generic name in discharge teaching
A patient has been taking a brand-name drug for a chronic condition for several years. Recent changes in
his insurance plan require the use of generic drugs whenever they are available. The patient asks the
nurse if he should pay out of pocket to continue receiving the brand-name drug. The nurse's response
should be based on which fact(s)? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)
a. That continuing to use the brand-name drug will prevent confusion
b. That drugs requiring monitoring of blood levels should have levels checked when changing from brand-
name to generic drugs
c. That generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts
d. That generic drugs are usually not absorbed at the same rate as brand-name drugs
e. That brand-name drugs contain different active ingredients than generic drugs - ANSWER>>b. That
drugs requiring monitoring of blood levels should have levels checked when changing from brand-name
to generic drugs
c. That generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts
The nurse is teaching a patient about tamsulosin (Flomax), which has been prescribed for difficulty
voiding due to enlarged prostate. Because the patient travels extensively and not all countries require
prescriptions to get drugs, what is it important for the nurse to teach the patient?
a. That a drug labeled Flomax may have different active ingredients in different countries
b. That drugs purchased in countries other than the U.S. and Canada are usually safe
c. That Flomax is not available anywhere except the U.S. and Canada
,d. That doses of Flomax in countries that use the metric system are different than doses of drugs in the
U.S. - ANSWER>>a. That a drug labeled Flomax may have different active ingredients in different
countries
Rationale: "products with the identical brand names may have different active ingredients, depending on
where you buy the drug. As a result, when a prescription for a brand-name product is filled in another
country, the patient may receive the wrong drug" (Lehne, pg 21)
Which resource(s) most likely provide(s) current, complete positive and negative information about a
drug? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)
a. Drug sales representatives
b. Drug facts and comparisons
c. Pharmacists
d. DailyMed - ANSWER>>b. Drug facts and comparisons
c. Pharmacists
d. DailyMed
Rationale: "Drug facts and comparisons is a comprehensive reference that [provides information] on drug
actions... adverse reactions" (Lehne pg. 23)
"DailyMed is a U.S. government website that provides FDA-approved drug labeling... for both generic and
brand name drugs" (Lehne pg. 23)
Cell membranes are composed of fat with phosphate
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: "The cell membrane consists primarily of a double layer of phospholipid molecules" (Lehne pg
26)
Most drugs enter cells through channels or pores
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: "very few drugs cross membranes via channels or pores" (Lehne pg. 25). "for most drugs,
movement throughout the body is dependent on the ability to penetrate membranes directly" (Lehne pg.
26)
P-glycoprotein transports many drugs out of cells
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: "PGP is a transmembrane protein that transports a wide variety of drugs out of cells" (Lehne
pg. 26)
A transport mechanism is needed for a water-soluble drug to enter a cell
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: "to directly penetrate membranes, a drug must be lipid soluble" (Lehne, pg 26)
, Thus, drugs that are water soluble are unable to directly enter a cell, and need a transport mechanism
Ionization is a process that allows a drug to enter a cell
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: Ionization is "the process of an acid giving up a proton or a base accepting a proton
[converting] the acid or base into a charged particle (ion)" (Lehne, pg. 27). "Except for very small
molecules, ions are unable to cross membranes" (Lehne pg. 26)
Therefore, if a drug goes through ionization and becomes an ion, it will be unable to cross the cell
membrane for the most part
If a quaternary ammonium compound drug is injected into a vein it will produce effects, but it will not if
taken orally
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: a quaternary ammonium compound "cannot cross membranes, and therefore cannot be
absorbed from the intestine" (Lehne pg. 27)
Aspirin, like most drugs, is primarily absorbed in the small intestine
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: "when aspirin is in the stomach (an acidic environment), most of the aspirin molecules remain
nonionized. Because aspirin molecules are nonionized in the stomach, they can be absorbed across the
membranes that separate the stomach from the bloodstream" (Lehne pg. 28)
Enteric drugs should not be crushed because crushing these preparations can cause stomach distress or
cause the acid in the stomach to alter the drug
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>a. True
Rationale: enteric preparations are employed to "1. Protect drugs from acid and pepsin in the stomach
and 2. to protect the stomach from drugs that can cause gastric discomfort" (Lehne pg. 32)
A depot intramuscular (IM) injection of an antibiotic to treat syphilis will be completely effective within 24
hours after administration
a. True
b. False - ANSWER>>b. False
Rationale: a depot preparation "releases the drug slowly and steadily" (Lehne pg. 31)
Essentially, the formula slowly gets released and is meant to have its effects persist for days, weeks, or
even months
The protein-bound portion of a drug in circulation is not able to exert its action
