ICHS PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM/ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS/GRADE A+ ASSURED
Question 1
In addition to treating primary growth failure, somatropin has therapeutic uses in which
situations? (Select all that apply.)
A) Growth failure caused by chronic renal failure
B) Cachexia or wasting with AIDS
C) Growth failure caused by untreated thyroid hormone deficiency
D) In cases in which an anti-aging drug is desired
E) Growth enhancement in children with Turner syndrome
Correct Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: Somatropin is approved for growth failure associated with chronic renal failure and
Turner syndrome. It is also used to treat cachexia in patients with AIDS. It is not an anti-aging
drug, and it is ineffective if growth failure is due to an uncorrected thyroid deficiency.
Question 2
The nurse administers intravenous desmopressin at 0730. During which time frame would the
nurse anticipate the drug's effects to wear off, potentially requiring another dose?
A) 0830 to 1030
B) 1000 to 1200
C) 1530 to 1930
D) 0730 the next day
Correct Answer: C) 1530 to 1930
Rationale: The duration of action for IV desmopressin is typically 8 to 12 hours. Therefore, 8 to
12 hours after the 0730 dose would be between 1530 and 1930.
Question 3
Octreotide should be used with caution in patients with which pre-existing disorders? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Asthma
B) Heart failure
,C) Hypothyroidism
D) Hepatic impairment
E) Chronic kidney disease
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale: Octreotide can cause cardiac conduction abnormalities, making it risky for patients
with heart failure. Because it is metabolized and excreted by the liver and kidneys, it must be
used with caution in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.
Question 4
A child is receiving somatropin for growth failure. During follow-up visits, which data is essential
for the nurse to monitor? (Select all that apply.)
A) Blood glucose level for hypoglycemia
B) Serial changes on a height and weight chart
C) Blood calcium levels for hypocalcemia
D) Presence of anti-recombinant human growth hormone (anti-rhGH) antibodies
E) Thyroid levels for hypothyroidism
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale: The primary goal is growth, so height and weight are essential. The development of
antibodies can render the drug ineffective. Somatropin can suppress thyroid function, leading
to hypothyroidism, which would also impede growth. Somatropin can cause hyperglycemia,
not hypoglycemia.
Question 5
In the pediatric clinic, a 17-year-old boy whose epiphyseal plates have closed asks about
receiving growth hormone to increase his height for basketball. How should the nurse respond?
A) "We'll need to draw labs first to see if you need growth hormones."
B) "That is a possibility, but you need to see the health care provider."
C) "Growth hormones have significant side effects and would not be safe for you."
D) "Growth hormone is only effective at increasing height before the growth plates in your long
bones have closed."
Correct Answer: D) "Growth hormone is only effective at increasing height before the growth
,plates in your long bones have closed."
Rationale: Somatropin stimulates linear growth only when the epiphyseal plates are open.
Once they have fused (closed), the drug cannot increase height and is contraindicated for this
purpose.
Question 6
The spouse of a patient receiving desmopressin calls the clinic to report that her husband is
nauseated, listless, and confused. Which action is the nurse's priority?
A) Reassure the spouse that these are temporary side effects.
B) Instruct the spouse to bring the patient to the clinic or emergency department for evaluation.
C) Tell the spouse to hold the medication for a day and then resume therapy.
D) Encourage the spouse to have the patient drink an electrolyte solution and rest.
Correct Answer: B) Instruct the spouse to bring the patient to the clinic or emergency
department for evaluation.
Rationale: These are signs of severe water intoxication and hyponatremia, a life-threatening
adverse effect of desmopressin. The patient requires immediate medical assessment and
intervention.
Question 7
What assessment finding indicates to the nurse that vasopressin has been effective for a patient
with diabetes insipidus?
A) Increased urine specific gravity
B) Decreased serum albumin
C) Decreased adrenocorticotropic hormone levels
D) Decreased reports of pain
Correct Answer: A) Increased urine specific gravity
Rationale: Vasopressin (an antidiuretic hormone) causes decreased water excretion in the
renal tubule, leading to more concentrated urine. An increase in urine specific gravity shows
that the drug is effectively concentrating the urine and correcting the polyuria of diabetes
insipidus.
, Question 8
Which hormones are produced by the anterior pituitary gland? (Select all that apply.)
A) Thyroxine
B) Aldosterone
C) Growth hormone (GH)
D) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
E) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Correct Answer: C, D, E
Rationale: Growth hormone (GH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are all produced by the anterior pituitary. Thyroxine is
from the thyroid, and aldosterone is from the adrenal cortex.
Question 9
Which hypothalamic hormone is responsible for inhibiting the release of growth hormone (GH)
from the anterior pituitary?
A) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
B) Somatostatin
C) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
D) Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
E) Dopamine
Correct Answer: B) Somatostatin
Rationale: Somatostatin is the primary inhibitory hormone from the hypothalamus that acts
on the anterior pituitary to suppress the release of GH. Octreotide is a synthetic analog of
somatostatin.
Question 10
A patient with acromegaly is being evaluated. The nurse knows that administration of
somatropin (Humatrope) would be contraindicated in this patient because:
A) It would not be effective.
B) It would cause severe hypertension.
C) It is contraindicated in patients whose epiphyseal plates have already closed.
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS/GRADE A+ ASSURED
Question 1
In addition to treating primary growth failure, somatropin has therapeutic uses in which
situations? (Select all that apply.)
A) Growth failure caused by chronic renal failure
B) Cachexia or wasting with AIDS
C) Growth failure caused by untreated thyroid hormone deficiency
D) In cases in which an anti-aging drug is desired
E) Growth enhancement in children with Turner syndrome
Correct Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: Somatropin is approved for growth failure associated with chronic renal failure and
Turner syndrome. It is also used to treat cachexia in patients with AIDS. It is not an anti-aging
drug, and it is ineffective if growth failure is due to an uncorrected thyroid deficiency.
Question 2
The nurse administers intravenous desmopressin at 0730. During which time frame would the
nurse anticipate the drug's effects to wear off, potentially requiring another dose?
A) 0830 to 1030
B) 1000 to 1200
C) 1530 to 1930
D) 0730 the next day
Correct Answer: C) 1530 to 1930
Rationale: The duration of action for IV desmopressin is typically 8 to 12 hours. Therefore, 8 to
12 hours after the 0730 dose would be between 1530 and 1930.
Question 3
Octreotide should be used with caution in patients with which pre-existing disorders? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Asthma
B) Heart failure
,C) Hypothyroidism
D) Hepatic impairment
E) Chronic kidney disease
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale: Octreotide can cause cardiac conduction abnormalities, making it risky for patients
with heart failure. Because it is metabolized and excreted by the liver and kidneys, it must be
used with caution in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.
Question 4
A child is receiving somatropin for growth failure. During follow-up visits, which data is essential
for the nurse to monitor? (Select all that apply.)
A) Blood glucose level for hypoglycemia
B) Serial changes on a height and weight chart
C) Blood calcium levels for hypocalcemia
D) Presence of anti-recombinant human growth hormone (anti-rhGH) antibodies
E) Thyroid levels for hypothyroidism
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale: The primary goal is growth, so height and weight are essential. The development of
antibodies can render the drug ineffective. Somatropin can suppress thyroid function, leading
to hypothyroidism, which would also impede growth. Somatropin can cause hyperglycemia,
not hypoglycemia.
Question 5
In the pediatric clinic, a 17-year-old boy whose epiphyseal plates have closed asks about
receiving growth hormone to increase his height for basketball. How should the nurse respond?
A) "We'll need to draw labs first to see if you need growth hormones."
B) "That is a possibility, but you need to see the health care provider."
C) "Growth hormones have significant side effects and would not be safe for you."
D) "Growth hormone is only effective at increasing height before the growth plates in your long
bones have closed."
Correct Answer: D) "Growth hormone is only effective at increasing height before the growth
,plates in your long bones have closed."
Rationale: Somatropin stimulates linear growth only when the epiphyseal plates are open.
Once they have fused (closed), the drug cannot increase height and is contraindicated for this
purpose.
Question 6
The spouse of a patient receiving desmopressin calls the clinic to report that her husband is
nauseated, listless, and confused. Which action is the nurse's priority?
A) Reassure the spouse that these are temporary side effects.
B) Instruct the spouse to bring the patient to the clinic or emergency department for evaluation.
C) Tell the spouse to hold the medication for a day and then resume therapy.
D) Encourage the spouse to have the patient drink an electrolyte solution and rest.
Correct Answer: B) Instruct the spouse to bring the patient to the clinic or emergency
department for evaluation.
Rationale: These are signs of severe water intoxication and hyponatremia, a life-threatening
adverse effect of desmopressin. The patient requires immediate medical assessment and
intervention.
Question 7
What assessment finding indicates to the nurse that vasopressin has been effective for a patient
with diabetes insipidus?
A) Increased urine specific gravity
B) Decreased serum albumin
C) Decreased adrenocorticotropic hormone levels
D) Decreased reports of pain
Correct Answer: A) Increased urine specific gravity
Rationale: Vasopressin (an antidiuretic hormone) causes decreased water excretion in the
renal tubule, leading to more concentrated urine. An increase in urine specific gravity shows
that the drug is effectively concentrating the urine and correcting the polyuria of diabetes
insipidus.
, Question 8
Which hormones are produced by the anterior pituitary gland? (Select all that apply.)
A) Thyroxine
B) Aldosterone
C) Growth hormone (GH)
D) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
E) Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Correct Answer: C, D, E
Rationale: Growth hormone (GH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are all produced by the anterior pituitary. Thyroxine is
from the thyroid, and aldosterone is from the adrenal cortex.
Question 9
Which hypothalamic hormone is responsible for inhibiting the release of growth hormone (GH)
from the anterior pituitary?
A) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
B) Somatostatin
C) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
D) Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
E) Dopamine
Correct Answer: B) Somatostatin
Rationale: Somatostatin is the primary inhibitory hormone from the hypothalamus that acts
on the anterior pituitary to suppress the release of GH. Octreotide is a synthetic analog of
somatostatin.
Question 10
A patient with acromegaly is being evaluated. The nurse knows that administration of
somatropin (Humatrope) would be contraindicated in this patient because:
A) It would not be effective.
B) It would cause severe hypertension.
C) It is contraindicated in patients whose epiphyseal plates have already closed.
