Focus on Nursing Pharmacology
Practice Exam 100% Well Answered
Graded To Pass.
A nurse is planning patient teaching about a newly prescribed drug. What is a priority teaching
point included by the nurse to improve compliance and safety? - Answer If a patient is aware
of certain adverse effects and how to alleviate or decrease the discomfort, he or she is more
likely to continue taking the medication. A list of pharmacies can be useful information but will
not improve safety or compliance. Knowing the cost of the brand name versus the generic form
could also be helpful to the patient. However, a substitution may not be allowable and the cost
of a drug does not improve patient safety. Most patients are not concerned with the statistics
related to drug testing and it would not improve compliance or safety even if the patient was
interested in the information.
A patient presents at the clinic complaining of vaginal itching and a clear discharge. The patient
reports to the nurse that she has been taking an oral antibiotic for 10 days. The nurse is aware
that the patient is experiencing what? - Answer Superinfections often occur with antibiotic use
because the drug kills normal bacterial flora. This is not a result of toxic levels of the antibiotic,
but rather an effect of the medication that has killed normal flora, which it is designed to do.
Vaginal itching and a clear discharge are not considered adverse effects of an antibiotic. An
overdose of a drug that damages more than one body systems is considered drug poisoning
A 42-year-old male patient is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. The patient
is in distress. The nurse suspects an anaphylactic reaction resulting from taking oral penicillin.
What assessment findings are important in making this diagnosis? - Answer An anaphylactic
reaction is an immune reaction that causes a massive release of histamine, which results in
edema and swelling that can lead to respiratory distress and increased blood pressure. A
decreased hematocrit and decreased urine output suggests a cytotoxic reaction. An increased
temperature and swollen joints could suggest serum sickness. Profuse sweating and decreased
blood pressure may indicate cardiac-related issues.
A patient with seasonal allergies is taking an antihistamine to relieve itchy, watery eyes, and a
runny nose. When planning teaching for this patient, the nurse would include what teaching
point? - Answer An adverse effect of antihistamines is drowsiness, so that injury to the patient
or others can occur if driving or operating machinery. An increase in fluids would be indicated to
help keep nasal membranes moist. It is common for dreams to occur when taking medication
and it is not necessary to report them. Dietary fat should not interfere with the drug
metabolism of antihistamines.
, skin and sclera. Dark red papules appearing on limbs are characteristic of Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, a potentially fatal erythema multiforme exudativum, which should be reported but is
not due to liver damage.
The pharmacology instructor is talking to the nursing students about potassium-sparing
diuretics and how they can lead to hyperkalemia, indicated by what assessment finding? -
Answer The normal range of serum potassium for an adult is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. A level higher
than 5.0 mEq/L can indicate hyperkalemia. Normal urinary output is between 1,500 and 2,000
cc per day. Urinary output below 1,000 mL per day would include oliguria and would indicate
hyperkalemia. A decrease in blood pressure and pulse can indicate hypokalemia. Hyperkalemia
refers to an elevated potassium level and not an elevated calcium level.
An 80-year-old patient presents at the clinic for a follow-up appointment. She is taking a
macrolide antibiotic and is experiencing tinnitus. The nurse is talking with family members
about home care for the patient. What should the nurse include in her instructions regarding
home care? - Answer Macrolide antibiotics can cause severe auditory nerve damage, which
can cause dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and loss of balance and hearing. The patient
would be at high risk for injury due to falls. Usually a person who is dizzy is unable to lie flat and
needs to recline with the head elevated. Salt and sunlight are not a component of this patient's
presenting complaint.
Oral antidiabetic drugs can cause alterations in glucose metabolism. Patients who are taking
these drugs would need to be observed for what? - Answer Antidiabetic medications decrease
blood glucose levels. If levels fall too low, symptoms of hypoglycemia would include confusion
and lack of coordination. Elevated blood glucose levels can occur when the patient does not
take the medications. With inadequate dosage, hyperglycemia can occur, resulting in increased
urination in an attempt to eliminate serum glucose, deep Kussmaul's respirations to reduce
blood pH by eliminating carbon dioxide, thirst, and hot or flushed skin.
A patient is taking chloroquine (Aralen) for rheumatoid arthritis. What problem reported by the
patient would the nurse suspect may be an adverse reaction of the medication? - Answer
Chloroquine (Aralen) can cause ocular toxicity with blurring of vision, color vision changes,
corneal damage, and blindness. Increased urination, tingling, and numbness are signs of
hyperkalemia and hypokalemia. Loss of balance can be caused by auditory damage due to drug
toxicity.
A 68-year-old patient who must take antihistamines for severe allergies is planning a vacation to
Mexico. The nurse will encourage the patient to do what? - Answer Antihistamines can cause
anticholinergic effects, which would result in decreased sweating and place the patient at high
risk for heat stroke. Avoiding the hottest part of the day will help prevent dehydration and heat
prostration. Extreme restlessness could indicate Parkinson-like syndrome not usually associated
Practice Exam 100% Well Answered
Graded To Pass.
A nurse is planning patient teaching about a newly prescribed drug. What is a priority teaching
point included by the nurse to improve compliance and safety? - Answer If a patient is aware
of certain adverse effects and how to alleviate or decrease the discomfort, he or she is more
likely to continue taking the medication. A list of pharmacies can be useful information but will
not improve safety or compliance. Knowing the cost of the brand name versus the generic form
could also be helpful to the patient. However, a substitution may not be allowable and the cost
of a drug does not improve patient safety. Most patients are not concerned with the statistics
related to drug testing and it would not improve compliance or safety even if the patient was
interested in the information.
A patient presents at the clinic complaining of vaginal itching and a clear discharge. The patient
reports to the nurse that she has been taking an oral antibiotic for 10 days. The nurse is aware
that the patient is experiencing what? - Answer Superinfections often occur with antibiotic use
because the drug kills normal bacterial flora. This is not a result of toxic levels of the antibiotic,
but rather an effect of the medication that has killed normal flora, which it is designed to do.
Vaginal itching and a clear discharge are not considered adverse effects of an antibiotic. An
overdose of a drug that damages more than one body systems is considered drug poisoning
A 42-year-old male patient is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. The patient
is in distress. The nurse suspects an anaphylactic reaction resulting from taking oral penicillin.
What assessment findings are important in making this diagnosis? - Answer An anaphylactic
reaction is an immune reaction that causes a massive release of histamine, which results in
edema and swelling that can lead to respiratory distress and increased blood pressure. A
decreased hematocrit and decreased urine output suggests a cytotoxic reaction. An increased
temperature and swollen joints could suggest serum sickness. Profuse sweating and decreased
blood pressure may indicate cardiac-related issues.
A patient with seasonal allergies is taking an antihistamine to relieve itchy, watery eyes, and a
runny nose. When planning teaching for this patient, the nurse would include what teaching
point? - Answer An adverse effect of antihistamines is drowsiness, so that injury to the patient
or others can occur if driving or operating machinery. An increase in fluids would be indicated to
help keep nasal membranes moist. It is common for dreams to occur when taking medication
and it is not necessary to report them. Dietary fat should not interfere with the drug
metabolism of antihistamines.
, skin and sclera. Dark red papules appearing on limbs are characteristic of Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, a potentially fatal erythema multiforme exudativum, which should be reported but is
not due to liver damage.
The pharmacology instructor is talking to the nursing students about potassium-sparing
diuretics and how they can lead to hyperkalemia, indicated by what assessment finding? -
Answer The normal range of serum potassium for an adult is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. A level higher
than 5.0 mEq/L can indicate hyperkalemia. Normal urinary output is between 1,500 and 2,000
cc per day. Urinary output below 1,000 mL per day would include oliguria and would indicate
hyperkalemia. A decrease in blood pressure and pulse can indicate hypokalemia. Hyperkalemia
refers to an elevated potassium level and not an elevated calcium level.
An 80-year-old patient presents at the clinic for a follow-up appointment. She is taking a
macrolide antibiotic and is experiencing tinnitus. The nurse is talking with family members
about home care for the patient. What should the nurse include in her instructions regarding
home care? - Answer Macrolide antibiotics can cause severe auditory nerve damage, which
can cause dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and loss of balance and hearing. The patient
would be at high risk for injury due to falls. Usually a person who is dizzy is unable to lie flat and
needs to recline with the head elevated. Salt and sunlight are not a component of this patient's
presenting complaint.
Oral antidiabetic drugs can cause alterations in glucose metabolism. Patients who are taking
these drugs would need to be observed for what? - Answer Antidiabetic medications decrease
blood glucose levels. If levels fall too low, symptoms of hypoglycemia would include confusion
and lack of coordination. Elevated blood glucose levels can occur when the patient does not
take the medications. With inadequate dosage, hyperglycemia can occur, resulting in increased
urination in an attempt to eliminate serum glucose, deep Kussmaul's respirations to reduce
blood pH by eliminating carbon dioxide, thirst, and hot or flushed skin.
A patient is taking chloroquine (Aralen) for rheumatoid arthritis. What problem reported by the
patient would the nurse suspect may be an adverse reaction of the medication? - Answer
Chloroquine (Aralen) can cause ocular toxicity with blurring of vision, color vision changes,
corneal damage, and blindness. Increased urination, tingling, and numbness are signs of
hyperkalemia and hypokalemia. Loss of balance can be caused by auditory damage due to drug
toxicity.
A 68-year-old patient who must take antihistamines for severe allergies is planning a vacation to
Mexico. The nurse will encourage the patient to do what? - Answer Antihistamines can cause
anticholinergic effects, which would result in decreased sweating and place the patient at high
risk for heat stroke. Avoiding the hottest part of the day will help prevent dehydration and heat
prostration. Extreme restlessness could indicate Parkinson-like syndrome not usually associated
