Chapter 30 Adrenergic Agonists Test
Bank Final Exam Questions and
Actual Answers 2025.
1. A patient is admitted to the emergency department in shock. Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is
administered. What would the nurse expect the effect of the isoproterenol to be?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Decreased blood pressure
C) Increased body temperature
D) Decreased heart rate - Answer Ans:
A Feedback: Isoproterenol stimulates beta-adrenergic receptors. Blood pressure is increased
and heart rate is increased. Body temperature should not be affected.
2. What action do sympathomimetic drugs have in the body?
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Decreased blood pressure
C) Increased respirations
D) Increased intraocular pressure - Answer Ans:
C Feedback: Sympathomimetic drugs increase respirations. Heart rate and blood pressure are
also increased and intraocular pressure is decreased.
3. An 80-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in shock. The patient
is receiving dopamine (Intropin). What potentially serious adverse effect will the nurse monitor
for?
A) Blood dyscrasia
B) Cardiac arrhythmia
C) Hepatic toxicity
D) Renal insufficiency - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Dopamine therapy can result in cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life threatening.
Older patients are more likely to experience the adverse effects associated with adrenergic
agonists and should be started on lower doses and monitored closely for arrhythmias and blood
pressure changes. Blood dyscrasias, hepatic toxicity, and renal insufficiency are not commonly
associated with dopamine use. In fact, at lower doses, dopamine increases renal perfusion
, B) Ephedrine (generic)
C) Dopamine (Intropin)
D) Norepinephrine (Levophed) - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Ephedrine has been used to treat seasonal rhinitis by stimulating the release of
norepinephrine from nerve endings and directly acting on adrenergic receptor sites. Although
ephedrine was formerly used for situations ranging from the treatment of shock to chronic
management of asthma and allergic rhinitis, its use in many areas is declining because of the
availability of less toxic drugs with more predictable onset and action. Dobutamine is used to
treat congestive heart failure. Dopamine and norepinephrine are used to treat shock.
5. The patient is taking midodrine (ProAmatine). What is the most important nursing action to
include in the plan of care for this patient?
A) Monitor urine output.
B) Monitor blood pressure.
C) Monitor heart rate.
D) Monitor respirations - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Midodrine is an oral drug used to treat orthostatic hypotension in patients who do
not respond to traditional therapy. It activates alpha-adrenergic receptors, leading to peripheral
vasoconstriction and an increase in vascular tone and blood pressure. This effect can cause
serious supine hypertension. Patients should be monitored in the standing, sitting, and supine
positions to determine whether this will be a problem. It is also important to monitor heart
rate, respirations, and urine output in this patient. However, assessing for supine hypertension
would pose the greatest threat to the patient and would take priority.
6. The nurse is planning discharge teaching for a patient who is taking clonidine (Catapres).
What would
be most important for the nurse to include when teaching about adverse effects?
A) Pupil constriction
B) Strange dreams
C) Increased urine output
D) Increased appetite - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Central nervous system effects from clonidine therapy include feelings of anxiety,
restlessness, depression, fatigue, strange dreams, and personality changes. However, bad
dreams would be the most upsetting and stressful effect for the patient. Pupil dilation,
decreased urine output, and anorexia are all adverse effects of clonidine.
Bank Final Exam Questions and
Actual Answers 2025.
1. A patient is admitted to the emergency department in shock. Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is
administered. What would the nurse expect the effect of the isoproterenol to be?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Decreased blood pressure
C) Increased body temperature
D) Decreased heart rate - Answer Ans:
A Feedback: Isoproterenol stimulates beta-adrenergic receptors. Blood pressure is increased
and heart rate is increased. Body temperature should not be affected.
2. What action do sympathomimetic drugs have in the body?
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Decreased blood pressure
C) Increased respirations
D) Increased intraocular pressure - Answer Ans:
C Feedback: Sympathomimetic drugs increase respirations. Heart rate and blood pressure are
also increased and intraocular pressure is decreased.
3. An 80-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in shock. The patient
is receiving dopamine (Intropin). What potentially serious adverse effect will the nurse monitor
for?
A) Blood dyscrasia
B) Cardiac arrhythmia
C) Hepatic toxicity
D) Renal insufficiency - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Dopamine therapy can result in cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life threatening.
Older patients are more likely to experience the adverse effects associated with adrenergic
agonists and should be started on lower doses and monitored closely for arrhythmias and blood
pressure changes. Blood dyscrasias, hepatic toxicity, and renal insufficiency are not commonly
associated with dopamine use. In fact, at lower doses, dopamine increases renal perfusion
, B) Ephedrine (generic)
C) Dopamine (Intropin)
D) Norepinephrine (Levophed) - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Ephedrine has been used to treat seasonal rhinitis by stimulating the release of
norepinephrine from nerve endings and directly acting on adrenergic receptor sites. Although
ephedrine was formerly used for situations ranging from the treatment of shock to chronic
management of asthma and allergic rhinitis, its use in many areas is declining because of the
availability of less toxic drugs with more predictable onset and action. Dobutamine is used to
treat congestive heart failure. Dopamine and norepinephrine are used to treat shock.
5. The patient is taking midodrine (ProAmatine). What is the most important nursing action to
include in the plan of care for this patient?
A) Monitor urine output.
B) Monitor blood pressure.
C) Monitor heart rate.
D) Monitor respirations - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Midodrine is an oral drug used to treat orthostatic hypotension in patients who do
not respond to traditional therapy. It activates alpha-adrenergic receptors, leading to peripheral
vasoconstriction and an increase in vascular tone and blood pressure. This effect can cause
serious supine hypertension. Patients should be monitored in the standing, sitting, and supine
positions to determine whether this will be a problem. It is also important to monitor heart
rate, respirations, and urine output in this patient. However, assessing for supine hypertension
would pose the greatest threat to the patient and would take priority.
6. The nurse is planning discharge teaching for a patient who is taking clonidine (Catapres).
What would
be most important for the nurse to include when teaching about adverse effects?
A) Pupil constriction
B) Strange dreams
C) Increased urine output
D) Increased appetite - Answer Ans:
B Feedback: Central nervous system effects from clonidine therapy include feelings of anxiety,
restlessness, depression, fatigue, strange dreams, and personality changes. However, bad
dreams would be the most upsetting and stressful effect for the patient. Pupil dilation,
decreased urine output, and anorexia are all adverse effects of clonidine.
