Pharmacology NCLEX
Questions with Correct Answers
Graded A+ (Rationale for Each
Choice)
The spouse of a phobic client confides in the nurse that he is concerned by his wife's sudden fear
of elevators. He asks the nurse what to do when his wife becomes frightened. The nurse
encourages the husband to FIRST take which of the following actions?
1. Ride on the elevator with his wife.
2. Encourage his wife to get into the elevator.
3. Allow his wife to avoid the elevator.
4. Encourage his wife to discuss her fears. - Correct Answer: 1) should acknowledge wife's
concerns
2) do not attempt to remove the defense mechanism
3) CORRECT— while allowing wife to avoid elevator, husband will not increase client's
apprehension and anger
4) more important to allow client to avoid elevator
The nurse cares for a client 24 hours post surgery after a thyroidectomy. Which of the following
statements if made by the client to the nurse requires an immediate intervention?
,1. "I have been having some muscle spasms in my legs and my lips are tingling."
2. "I think I am getting a cold because I have been coughing and sneezing all night."
3. "I am still having pain around the incision."
4. "My voice is still hoarse." - Correct Answer: Strategy: "Immediate intervention" indicates a
complication.
1) CORRECT— client is at risk for hypocalcemia, which may be manifested by tetany and result
in airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, cardiac dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest
2) though the nurse should reinforce the need to protect the suture line and possibly obtain an
order for medication, circulation takes precedence over the surgical incision
3) though it is important to offer effective pain management, it is not unusual for a patient to
experience pain 24 hours post surgery; hypocalcemia takes precedence over pain
4) not uncommon for a patient to experience hoarseness post surgery and is initially likely
secondary to edema or the use of an endotracheal tube. If the hoarseness was persistent it could
indicate laryngeal nerve damage, but is not likely a concern 24 ho
The nurse evaluates care for an elderly client diagnosed with disseminated herpes zoster. The
nurse should intervene if which of the following is observed?
1. A nursing assistant wears an N-95 mask when entering the room.
2. The phlebotomist leaves the door open when leaving the room.
3. The client is placed in a room with negative air pressure.
4. The LPN/LVN removes the gown before leaving the client's room. - Correct Answer:
Strategy: Think about each answer.
1) appropriate action; disseminated herpes zoster requires both airborne and contact precautions
,2) CORRECT— keep door closed at all times
3) appropriate action for airborne precautions
4) appropriate action
The nurse completes postop teaching for a patient scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy.
Which of the following statements, if made by the patient to the nurse, indicates the need for
further teaching?
1. "I will call my doctor if I have a temperature greater than 100.0°F (38°C)."
2. "I will use sanitary pads until the bleeding stops."
3. "I will report any problems with urination to my nurse as soon as possible."
4. "I will avoid any activity for the first 24 to 48 hours after my surgery." - Correct Answer:
Strategy: "Further teaching needed" indicates an incorrect response
1) appropriate action, indicates possible infection
2) appropriate action; avoid the use of tampons
3) will have a Foley catheter for the first 24 hours or less; may have urinary retention after
catheter is removed
4) CORRECT— should be encouraged to perform early ambulation to prevent
thromboembolism; cough and deep breath, incentive spirometry, avoid heavy lifting or strenuous
activity
A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The patient
verbalizes to the nurse, "Someone wants to kill me tonight." Which of the following responses by
the nurse is BEST?
, 1. "No one wants to kill you."
2. "Why do you think that?"
3. "Someone does not know you have been admitted."
4. "It must feel frightening to think someone is trying to hurt you." - Correct Answer: Strategy:
Remember therapeutic communication.
1) will make the patient defensive
2) do not ask "why" questions, will make the patient defensive
3) delusions are persistent false beliefs; do not encourage discussion about delusions
4) CORRECT— focus on the feelings the delusions generate; avoid arguing about the content of
the delusion; once a patient describes the delusion, do not dwell on it
The nurse at the community mental health center screens new members for the biweekly widow
and widowers support group. The nurse determines which of the following clients would NOT
benefit from participation in this group?
1. An elderly male whose estranged wife, living in another state, died from heart disease 3
months ago.
2. An elderly female whose husband died 3 years ago in a car accident.
3. A middle-aged female who started drinking after the sudden death of her husband 6 months
ago.
4. A young male with two children whose wife died 1 year ago due to breast cancer. - Correct
Answer: Strategy: Think about each answer.
(1.) still in the mourning stage, may have unresolved issues; would benefit from support group
Questions with Correct Answers
Graded A+ (Rationale for Each
Choice)
The spouse of a phobic client confides in the nurse that he is concerned by his wife's sudden fear
of elevators. He asks the nurse what to do when his wife becomes frightened. The nurse
encourages the husband to FIRST take which of the following actions?
1. Ride on the elevator with his wife.
2. Encourage his wife to get into the elevator.
3. Allow his wife to avoid the elevator.
4. Encourage his wife to discuss her fears. - Correct Answer: 1) should acknowledge wife's
concerns
2) do not attempt to remove the defense mechanism
3) CORRECT— while allowing wife to avoid elevator, husband will not increase client's
apprehension and anger
4) more important to allow client to avoid elevator
The nurse cares for a client 24 hours post surgery after a thyroidectomy. Which of the following
statements if made by the client to the nurse requires an immediate intervention?
,1. "I have been having some muscle spasms in my legs and my lips are tingling."
2. "I think I am getting a cold because I have been coughing and sneezing all night."
3. "I am still having pain around the incision."
4. "My voice is still hoarse." - Correct Answer: Strategy: "Immediate intervention" indicates a
complication.
1) CORRECT— client is at risk for hypocalcemia, which may be manifested by tetany and result
in airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, cardiac dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest
2) though the nurse should reinforce the need to protect the suture line and possibly obtain an
order for medication, circulation takes precedence over the surgical incision
3) though it is important to offer effective pain management, it is not unusual for a patient to
experience pain 24 hours post surgery; hypocalcemia takes precedence over pain
4) not uncommon for a patient to experience hoarseness post surgery and is initially likely
secondary to edema or the use of an endotracheal tube. If the hoarseness was persistent it could
indicate laryngeal nerve damage, but is not likely a concern 24 ho
The nurse evaluates care for an elderly client diagnosed with disseminated herpes zoster. The
nurse should intervene if which of the following is observed?
1. A nursing assistant wears an N-95 mask when entering the room.
2. The phlebotomist leaves the door open when leaving the room.
3. The client is placed in a room with negative air pressure.
4. The LPN/LVN removes the gown before leaving the client's room. - Correct Answer:
Strategy: Think about each answer.
1) appropriate action; disseminated herpes zoster requires both airborne and contact precautions
,2) CORRECT— keep door closed at all times
3) appropriate action for airborne precautions
4) appropriate action
The nurse completes postop teaching for a patient scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy.
Which of the following statements, if made by the patient to the nurse, indicates the need for
further teaching?
1. "I will call my doctor if I have a temperature greater than 100.0°F (38°C)."
2. "I will use sanitary pads until the bleeding stops."
3. "I will report any problems with urination to my nurse as soon as possible."
4. "I will avoid any activity for the first 24 to 48 hours after my surgery." - Correct Answer:
Strategy: "Further teaching needed" indicates an incorrect response
1) appropriate action, indicates possible infection
2) appropriate action; avoid the use of tampons
3) will have a Foley catheter for the first 24 hours or less; may have urinary retention after
catheter is removed
4) CORRECT— should be encouraged to perform early ambulation to prevent
thromboembolism; cough and deep breath, incentive spirometry, avoid heavy lifting or strenuous
activity
A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The patient
verbalizes to the nurse, "Someone wants to kill me tonight." Which of the following responses by
the nurse is BEST?
, 1. "No one wants to kill you."
2. "Why do you think that?"
3. "Someone does not know you have been admitted."
4. "It must feel frightening to think someone is trying to hurt you." - Correct Answer: Strategy:
Remember therapeutic communication.
1) will make the patient defensive
2) do not ask "why" questions, will make the patient defensive
3) delusions are persistent false beliefs; do not encourage discussion about delusions
4) CORRECT— focus on the feelings the delusions generate; avoid arguing about the content of
the delusion; once a patient describes the delusion, do not dwell on it
The nurse at the community mental health center screens new members for the biweekly widow
and widowers support group. The nurse determines which of the following clients would NOT
benefit from participation in this group?
1. An elderly male whose estranged wife, living in another state, died from heart disease 3
months ago.
2. An elderly female whose husband died 3 years ago in a car accident.
3. A middle-aged female who started drinking after the sudden death of her husband 6 months
ago.
4. A young male with two children whose wife died 1 year ago due to breast cancer. - Correct
Answer: Strategy: Think about each answer.
(1.) still in the mourning stage, may have unresolved issues; would benefit from support group
