Pharm Final- Test Bank Exam Questions
with Verified Answers Latest Update
A mother brings her 3-year-old child to the emergency department telling the nurse
the child has eaten a bottle of baby aspirin. The mother cannot tell the nurse how
many tablets were in the bottle. What dose of salicylate would be toxic in a child?
A) 2g
B) 3g
C) 4g
D) 5g - Answer-ANS: C
A patient arrives at the emergency department brought by his or her friends. The
friends tell the nurse that the patient has taken a whole bottle of aspirin. Blood work
for salicylate toxicity is run. What does the nurse expect the results to be?
A) >5 g
B) >10 g
C) >15 g
D) >20 g - Answer-ANS: D
Antipyretic drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) often are used to alleviate
the discomforts of fever and to protect vulnerable organs, such as the brain, from
extreme elevations in body temperature. However, the use of aspirin in children is
limited due to the possibility of what disease?
A) Munchausen's syndrome
B) Guillain-Barré syndrome
C) Angelman's syndrome
D) Reye's syndrome - Answer-AND: D
A patient presents at the emergency department complaining of dizziness, mental
confusion, and difficulty hearing. What should the nurse suspect is wrong with the
patient?
A) Anakinra toxicity
B) Ibuprofen toxicity
C) Salicylism
D) Acetaminophen toxicity - Answer-ANS: C
The nurse is caring for a patient who reports taking 800 mg of ibuprofen three times
a day for relief of menstrual cramps. What lab results will the nurse find most
significant in assessing this patient?
A) Complete blood count
B) White blood cell differential
C) Arterial blood gas
D) Cholesterol and triglyceride profile - Answer-ANS: A
When nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are combined with loop
diuretics, there is a potential for what?
A) Decreased antihypertensive effect
,B) Decreased diuretic effect
C) Lithium toxicity
D) Anaphylactoid reactions - Answer-ANS: B
A nurse is presenting an educational event for a group of new parents. One topic
that the nurse addresses is the overuse of acetaminophen, which can cause liver
toxicity. What would the nurse tell the parents it is important to do?
A) Do not give acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless you receive a doctor's order.
B) Check the label of over-the-counter (OTC) medications carefully to watch for
inclusions of acetaminophen in the ingredients.
C) Monitor their child's temperature carefully and regulate the Tylenol dose based on
the fever.
D) Mix OTC children's medications to get the best coverage for their child's
symptoms. - Answer-ANS: B
A mother asks the nurse how acetaminophen works. What statement best describes
the therapeutic action of acetaminophen?
A) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) works by blocking the increase of interleukin-1.
B) Acetaminophen reacts with free-floating tumor necrosis (TNF) factor released by
active leukocytes.
C) Acetaminophen acts directly on the hypothalamus to cause vasodilation and
sweating.
D) Acetaminophen is taken up by macrophages, thus inhibiting phagocytosis and
release of lysosomal enzymes. - Answer-ANS: C
A mother has brought her 6-year-old child to the clinic. The child has a fever of
102.8oF and is diagnosed with the flu. What medication will the nurse suggest for
this child?
A) Etanercept (Enbrel)
B) Penicillamine (Depen)
C) Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
D) Aspirin (Bayer) - Answer-ANS: C
A patient explains to a nurse that he had been taking amitriptyline (Elavil) for
depression and that his physician changed his medication to clomipramine
(Anafranil). The patient is confused and does not understand why his medication
was changed. The nurse's best response to the patient would be what?
A) These drugs are similar but some patients respond better to one drug than
another.
B) Did you take the amitriptyline like you should have?
C) Maybe the old medicine wasn't working anymore.
D) Clomipramine is newer and will be much better for you. - Answer-ANS: A
The nurse is working on the telemetry unit and has noted that many postmyocardial-
infarction (MI) patients experience depression. What medication would the nurse
question if ordered for one of these patients?
A. Amitriptyline
B. Escitalopram
C. Fluoxetine
D. Fluvoxamine - Answer-ANS: A
,The patient has been severely depressed since her father died 6 months ago. The
physician has prescribed amitriptyline. The nurse reviews the patient's chart before
administering the medication. What preexisting condition would require cautious use
of this drug?
A) Osteosarcoma
B) Cardiovascular disorders
C) Closed head injury
D) Bleeding ulcer - Answer-ANS: B
The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking amitriptyline for depression. What
teaching will the nurse include in the teaching plan to help the patient monitor for
adverse effects?
A) If chest pain occurs an over-the-counter pain reliever will help.
B) Nasal congestion indicates a respiratory virus is beginning.
C) Measure and record your blood pressure daily.
D) Adverse effects will subside as you adjust to the medication. - Answer-ANS: C
A patient with severe depression has been hospitalized and the physician has
ordered amitriptyline. What common adverse effect will the nurse monitor and
assess the patient for? (Select all that apply.)
A) Fever
B) Myocardial Infarction
C) Stroke
D) Dry mouth
E) Gynecomastia - Answer-ANS: B, C, D
A patient comes to the mental health clinic for a regular appointment. The patient
tells the nurse he has been taking oral fluoxetine (Prozac) 20 mg daily for the past 3
weeks and that he has lost 3 pounds during that time due to a loss of appetite. What
action should the nurse take?
A) Teaching the patient about healthy eating to maintain weight
B) Congratulating the patient on his weight loss and commenting how well he looks
C) Encouraging the patient to increase fluid intake to avoid further weight loss
D) Reassuring the patient that a decrease in weight is a common adverse effect with
this medication - Answer-ANS: D
A patient has been taking Prozac (fluoxetine) for the past 3 years for depression.
She is seeing her gynecologist for premenopausal symptoms and during the
interview with the nurse she says that she would like to try Sarafem because her
friend is taking it and she says it works great. The nurse's best response is what?
A) Sarafem and Prozac are different brand names for the same generic medication.
B) Before changing drugs it is important to consider how well you responded to
Prozac.
C) You cannot take both drugs at the same time so it will be important to decide
which is best.
D) When taking both of these drugs, it is best to take one in the morning and one at
night. - Answer-ANS: A
, The nurse evaluates the patient's serum phenytoin (Dilantin) level and determines
the level is therapeutic when it is within what range?
A) Between 5 and 12 mcg/mL
B) Between 10 and 20 mcg/mL
C) Between 15 and 50 mcg/mL
D) Between 40 and 100 mcg/mL - Answer-ANS: B
A nurse is teaching a patient about his or her newly prescribed drug, phenytoin
(Dilantin) for a seizure disorder. What will the nurse alert the patient to as a serious
adverse effect of this drug?
A) Drowsiness
B) Fatigue
C) Rash
D) Lethargy - Answer-ANS: C
An 8-year-old child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder and phenytoin
(Dilantin) has been prescribed for him or her. What nursing diagnosis would be
appropriate if the child demonstrated adverse effects to the drug?
A) Deficient fluid volume
B) Impaired skin integrity related to dermatological effects C) Noncompliance for
drug therapy
D) Sleep deprivation - Answer-ANS: B
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe recurrent convulsive
seizures. What drug would the nurse expect to be ordered for use in emergency
control of status epilepticus?
A) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
B) Diazepam (Valium)
C) Phenobarbital (Luminal)
D) Ethosuximide (Zarontin) - Answer-ANS: C
A patient is brought into the emergency department in status epilepticus. The nurse
administers phenobarbital 320 mg IV according to protocol. Family members ask the
nurse how long it will take to stop the seizures. What is the nurse's best response?
A) The onset of action for the medication is 5 minutes.
B) We should see results in about 10 minutes.
C) It will probably take about 30 minutes before the seizures begin to subside.
D) It may be an hour before the seizures stop. - Answer-ANS: A
A patient is brought to the emergency department in the midst of an active clonic
tonic seizure. What is the most appropriate antiseizure drug for the nurse to
administer intravenously to terminate acute convulsive seizures?
A) Diazepam (Valium)
B) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
C) Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
D) Gabapentin (Neurontin) - Answer-ANS: A
A patient, newly diagnosed with a seizure disorder, has been prescribed valproic
acid. What is one adverse effect of valproic acid that the nurse should include in the
medication teaching plan?
with Verified Answers Latest Update
A mother brings her 3-year-old child to the emergency department telling the nurse
the child has eaten a bottle of baby aspirin. The mother cannot tell the nurse how
many tablets were in the bottle. What dose of salicylate would be toxic in a child?
A) 2g
B) 3g
C) 4g
D) 5g - Answer-ANS: C
A patient arrives at the emergency department brought by his or her friends. The
friends tell the nurse that the patient has taken a whole bottle of aspirin. Blood work
for salicylate toxicity is run. What does the nurse expect the results to be?
A) >5 g
B) >10 g
C) >15 g
D) >20 g - Answer-ANS: D
Antipyretic drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) often are used to alleviate
the discomforts of fever and to protect vulnerable organs, such as the brain, from
extreme elevations in body temperature. However, the use of aspirin in children is
limited due to the possibility of what disease?
A) Munchausen's syndrome
B) Guillain-Barré syndrome
C) Angelman's syndrome
D) Reye's syndrome - Answer-AND: D
A patient presents at the emergency department complaining of dizziness, mental
confusion, and difficulty hearing. What should the nurse suspect is wrong with the
patient?
A) Anakinra toxicity
B) Ibuprofen toxicity
C) Salicylism
D) Acetaminophen toxicity - Answer-ANS: C
The nurse is caring for a patient who reports taking 800 mg of ibuprofen three times
a day for relief of menstrual cramps. What lab results will the nurse find most
significant in assessing this patient?
A) Complete blood count
B) White blood cell differential
C) Arterial blood gas
D) Cholesterol and triglyceride profile - Answer-ANS: A
When nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are combined with loop
diuretics, there is a potential for what?
A) Decreased antihypertensive effect
,B) Decreased diuretic effect
C) Lithium toxicity
D) Anaphylactoid reactions - Answer-ANS: B
A nurse is presenting an educational event for a group of new parents. One topic
that the nurse addresses is the overuse of acetaminophen, which can cause liver
toxicity. What would the nurse tell the parents it is important to do?
A) Do not give acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless you receive a doctor's order.
B) Check the label of over-the-counter (OTC) medications carefully to watch for
inclusions of acetaminophen in the ingredients.
C) Monitor their child's temperature carefully and regulate the Tylenol dose based on
the fever.
D) Mix OTC children's medications to get the best coverage for their child's
symptoms. - Answer-ANS: B
A mother asks the nurse how acetaminophen works. What statement best describes
the therapeutic action of acetaminophen?
A) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) works by blocking the increase of interleukin-1.
B) Acetaminophen reacts with free-floating tumor necrosis (TNF) factor released by
active leukocytes.
C) Acetaminophen acts directly on the hypothalamus to cause vasodilation and
sweating.
D) Acetaminophen is taken up by macrophages, thus inhibiting phagocytosis and
release of lysosomal enzymes. - Answer-ANS: C
A mother has brought her 6-year-old child to the clinic. The child has a fever of
102.8oF and is diagnosed with the flu. What medication will the nurse suggest for
this child?
A) Etanercept (Enbrel)
B) Penicillamine (Depen)
C) Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
D) Aspirin (Bayer) - Answer-ANS: C
A patient explains to a nurse that he had been taking amitriptyline (Elavil) for
depression and that his physician changed his medication to clomipramine
(Anafranil). The patient is confused and does not understand why his medication
was changed. The nurse's best response to the patient would be what?
A) These drugs are similar but some patients respond better to one drug than
another.
B) Did you take the amitriptyline like you should have?
C) Maybe the old medicine wasn't working anymore.
D) Clomipramine is newer and will be much better for you. - Answer-ANS: A
The nurse is working on the telemetry unit and has noted that many postmyocardial-
infarction (MI) patients experience depression. What medication would the nurse
question if ordered for one of these patients?
A. Amitriptyline
B. Escitalopram
C. Fluoxetine
D. Fluvoxamine - Answer-ANS: A
,The patient has been severely depressed since her father died 6 months ago. The
physician has prescribed amitriptyline. The nurse reviews the patient's chart before
administering the medication. What preexisting condition would require cautious use
of this drug?
A) Osteosarcoma
B) Cardiovascular disorders
C) Closed head injury
D) Bleeding ulcer - Answer-ANS: B
The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking amitriptyline for depression. What
teaching will the nurse include in the teaching plan to help the patient monitor for
adverse effects?
A) If chest pain occurs an over-the-counter pain reliever will help.
B) Nasal congestion indicates a respiratory virus is beginning.
C) Measure and record your blood pressure daily.
D) Adverse effects will subside as you adjust to the medication. - Answer-ANS: C
A patient with severe depression has been hospitalized and the physician has
ordered amitriptyline. What common adverse effect will the nurse monitor and
assess the patient for? (Select all that apply.)
A) Fever
B) Myocardial Infarction
C) Stroke
D) Dry mouth
E) Gynecomastia - Answer-ANS: B, C, D
A patient comes to the mental health clinic for a regular appointment. The patient
tells the nurse he has been taking oral fluoxetine (Prozac) 20 mg daily for the past 3
weeks and that he has lost 3 pounds during that time due to a loss of appetite. What
action should the nurse take?
A) Teaching the patient about healthy eating to maintain weight
B) Congratulating the patient on his weight loss and commenting how well he looks
C) Encouraging the patient to increase fluid intake to avoid further weight loss
D) Reassuring the patient that a decrease in weight is a common adverse effect with
this medication - Answer-ANS: D
A patient has been taking Prozac (fluoxetine) for the past 3 years for depression.
She is seeing her gynecologist for premenopausal symptoms and during the
interview with the nurse she says that she would like to try Sarafem because her
friend is taking it and she says it works great. The nurse's best response is what?
A) Sarafem and Prozac are different brand names for the same generic medication.
B) Before changing drugs it is important to consider how well you responded to
Prozac.
C) You cannot take both drugs at the same time so it will be important to decide
which is best.
D) When taking both of these drugs, it is best to take one in the morning and one at
night. - Answer-ANS: A
, The nurse evaluates the patient's serum phenytoin (Dilantin) level and determines
the level is therapeutic when it is within what range?
A) Between 5 and 12 mcg/mL
B) Between 10 and 20 mcg/mL
C) Between 15 and 50 mcg/mL
D) Between 40 and 100 mcg/mL - Answer-ANS: B
A nurse is teaching a patient about his or her newly prescribed drug, phenytoin
(Dilantin) for a seizure disorder. What will the nurse alert the patient to as a serious
adverse effect of this drug?
A) Drowsiness
B) Fatigue
C) Rash
D) Lethargy - Answer-ANS: C
An 8-year-old child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder and phenytoin
(Dilantin) has been prescribed for him or her. What nursing diagnosis would be
appropriate if the child demonstrated adverse effects to the drug?
A) Deficient fluid volume
B) Impaired skin integrity related to dermatological effects C) Noncompliance for
drug therapy
D) Sleep deprivation - Answer-ANS: B
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe recurrent convulsive
seizures. What drug would the nurse expect to be ordered for use in emergency
control of status epilepticus?
A) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
B) Diazepam (Valium)
C) Phenobarbital (Luminal)
D) Ethosuximide (Zarontin) - Answer-ANS: C
A patient is brought into the emergency department in status epilepticus. The nurse
administers phenobarbital 320 mg IV according to protocol. Family members ask the
nurse how long it will take to stop the seizures. What is the nurse's best response?
A) The onset of action for the medication is 5 minutes.
B) We should see results in about 10 minutes.
C) It will probably take about 30 minutes before the seizures begin to subside.
D) It may be an hour before the seizures stop. - Answer-ANS: A
A patient is brought to the emergency department in the midst of an active clonic
tonic seizure. What is the most appropriate antiseizure drug for the nurse to
administer intravenously to terminate acute convulsive seizures?
A) Diazepam (Valium)
B) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
C) Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
D) Gabapentin (Neurontin) - Answer-ANS: A
A patient, newly diagnosed with a seizure disorder, has been prescribed valproic
acid. What is one adverse effect of valproic acid that the nurse should include in the
medication teaching plan?
