1. Which of the following is an example of a nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drug (NSAID)?
A. Prednisone
B. Ibuprofen
C. Acetaminophen
D. Hydrocodone
Answer: B) Ibuprofen
Rationale: Ibuprofen is an NSAID that reduces inflammation, pain,
and fever by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. Prednisone
is a corticosteroid, acetaminophen is an analgesic, and hydrocodone
is an opioid analgesic.
2. The nurse is administering morphine to a patient. Which of the
following is the most important assessment before giving this
medication?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Temperature
Answer: C) Respiratory rate
Rationale: Morphine is an opioid that can cause respiratory
depression, so it is essential to assess the respiratory rate before
administration. Monitoring blood pressure and heart rate is also
important but less critical than respiratory rate.
3. client has been prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. Which
of the following is the expected outcome of beta-blocker therapy?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Increased heart rate
D. Increased blood glucose levels
Answer: A) Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Beta-blockers work by blocking the effects of epinephrine,
which results in a decreased heart rate and lowered blood pressure.
4. Which of the following medications can cause a disulfiram-like
reaction when taken with alcohol
A. Metronidazole
B. Azithromycin
C. Amoxicillin
,D. Ciprofloxacin
Answer: A) Metronidazole
Rationale: Metronidazole, when taken with alcohol, can cause a
disulfiram-like reaction, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting,
flushing, and headache.
5. Which of the following is the most common side effect of
antihistamines?
A. Diarrhea
B. Drowsiness
C. Increased heart rate
D. Increased blood pressure
Answer: B) Drowsiness
Rationale: Many antihistamines, particularly first-generation agents
like diphenhydramine, cause drowsiness as they cross the blood-
brain barrier and block histamine receptors in the brain.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer warfarin to a patient. What
laboratory test will be most important to monitor during therapy?
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. Complete blood count (CBC)
C. Serum glucose
D. Electrolyte levels
Answer: A) Prothrombin time (PT)
Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant that affects clotting factors,
and the PT is used to assess the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.
7. Which of the following medications should be avoided in a patient
who is allergic to penicillin?
A. Azithromycin
B. Cephalexin
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Doxycycline
Answer: B) Cephalexin
Rationale: Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic that can have a
cross-reactivity risk in patients with a penicillin allergy.
8. Which of the following is a common side effect of the medication
digoxin?
A. Weight gain
B. Bradycardia
C. Hyperglycemia
, D. Hypotension
Answer: B) Bradycardia
Rationale: Digoxin is used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation,
and it can slow the heart rate, leading to bradycardia.
9. A nurse is teaching a patient who is prescribed lithium. Which of
the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You can take this medication with any over-the-counter
medications."
B. "Avoid sudden changes in sodium intake."
C. "You may need to limit your water intake."
D. "This medication should be stopped if you gain weight."
Answer: B) "Avoid sudden changes in sodium intake."
Rationale: Lithium levels are influenced by sodium intake. Low
sodium can increase the risk of lithium toxicity.
10. What is the primary action of angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors?
A. Block the effects of aldosterone
B. Block the renin-angiotensin system
C. Increase sodium and water retention
D. Decrease potassium levels
Answer: B) Block the renin-angiotensin system
Rationale: ACE inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to
angiotensin II, leading to vasodilation, reduced blood pressure, and
decreased aldosterone release.
11. A patient is taking warfarin and is about to undergo surgery.
Which of the following lab results will the nurse monitor most
closely before the surgery?
A. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
B. International normalized ratio (INR)
C. Complete blood count (CBC)
D. Serum potassium levels
Answer: B) International normalized ratio (INR)
Rationale: The INR is used to measure the anticoagulant effect of
warfarin. A high INR indicates a higher risk of bleeding.
12. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of statin
medications?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Muscle pain
inflammatory drug (NSAID)?
A. Prednisone
B. Ibuprofen
C. Acetaminophen
D. Hydrocodone
Answer: B) Ibuprofen
Rationale: Ibuprofen is an NSAID that reduces inflammation, pain,
and fever by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. Prednisone
is a corticosteroid, acetaminophen is an analgesic, and hydrocodone
is an opioid analgesic.
2. The nurse is administering morphine to a patient. Which of the
following is the most important assessment before giving this
medication?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Temperature
Answer: C) Respiratory rate
Rationale: Morphine is an opioid that can cause respiratory
depression, so it is essential to assess the respiratory rate before
administration. Monitoring blood pressure and heart rate is also
important but less critical than respiratory rate.
3. client has been prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. Which
of the following is the expected outcome of beta-blocker therapy?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Increased heart rate
D. Increased blood glucose levels
Answer: A) Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Beta-blockers work by blocking the effects of epinephrine,
which results in a decreased heart rate and lowered blood pressure.
4. Which of the following medications can cause a disulfiram-like
reaction when taken with alcohol
A. Metronidazole
B. Azithromycin
C. Amoxicillin
,D. Ciprofloxacin
Answer: A) Metronidazole
Rationale: Metronidazole, when taken with alcohol, can cause a
disulfiram-like reaction, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting,
flushing, and headache.
5. Which of the following is the most common side effect of
antihistamines?
A. Diarrhea
B. Drowsiness
C. Increased heart rate
D. Increased blood pressure
Answer: B) Drowsiness
Rationale: Many antihistamines, particularly first-generation agents
like diphenhydramine, cause drowsiness as they cross the blood-
brain barrier and block histamine receptors in the brain.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer warfarin to a patient. What
laboratory test will be most important to monitor during therapy?
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. Complete blood count (CBC)
C. Serum glucose
D. Electrolyte levels
Answer: A) Prothrombin time (PT)
Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant that affects clotting factors,
and the PT is used to assess the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.
7. Which of the following medications should be avoided in a patient
who is allergic to penicillin?
A. Azithromycin
B. Cephalexin
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Doxycycline
Answer: B) Cephalexin
Rationale: Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic that can have a
cross-reactivity risk in patients with a penicillin allergy.
8. Which of the following is a common side effect of the medication
digoxin?
A. Weight gain
B. Bradycardia
C. Hyperglycemia
, D. Hypotension
Answer: B) Bradycardia
Rationale: Digoxin is used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation,
and it can slow the heart rate, leading to bradycardia.
9. A nurse is teaching a patient who is prescribed lithium. Which of
the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You can take this medication with any over-the-counter
medications."
B. "Avoid sudden changes in sodium intake."
C. "You may need to limit your water intake."
D. "This medication should be stopped if you gain weight."
Answer: B) "Avoid sudden changes in sodium intake."
Rationale: Lithium levels are influenced by sodium intake. Low
sodium can increase the risk of lithium toxicity.
10. What is the primary action of angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors?
A. Block the effects of aldosterone
B. Block the renin-angiotensin system
C. Increase sodium and water retention
D. Decrease potassium levels
Answer: B) Block the renin-angiotensin system
Rationale: ACE inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to
angiotensin II, leading to vasodilation, reduced blood pressure, and
decreased aldosterone release.
11. A patient is taking warfarin and is about to undergo surgery.
Which of the following lab results will the nurse monitor most
closely before the surgery?
A. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
B. International normalized ratio (INR)
C. Complete blood count (CBC)
D. Serum potassium levels
Answer: B) International normalized ratio (INR)
Rationale: The INR is used to measure the anticoagulant effect of
warfarin. A high INR indicates a higher risk of bleeding.
12. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of statin
medications?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Muscle pain
