NURS 3550 H Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
The nurse is caring for a patient who begins to complain of shortness of breath. The nurse
assesses the patient and notes 3+ pitting edema bilaterally in the lower extremities. Which
medication taken by the patient causes the most concern?
a.
Epoetin alfa
b.
Filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor)
c.
Oprelvekin (interleukin-11)
d.
Sargramostim (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor)
c.
Oprelvekin (interleukin-11) - Answers c
A patient asks the nurse what type of medications would be most effective for treating seasonal
and perennial rhinitis. Which response by the nurse is correct?
a.
Pseudoephedrine [Sudafed]
b.
Fluticasone propionate [Fluticasone]
c.
Loratadine [Claritin]
d.
Intranasal cromolyn sodium [Atrovent] - Answers B
A patient who has a viral upper respiratory infection reports having a runny nose and a cough
that prevents sleep and asks the nurse to recommend an over-the-counter medication. Which
medication will the nurse recommend?
,a.
Diphenhydramine [Benadryl]
b.
Fexofenadine/pseudoephedrine [Allegra-D]
c.
Guaifenesin [Mucinex]
d.
Phenylephrine drops - Answers a
A patient who is receiving intravenous ciprofloxacin for pneumonia develops diarrhea. A stool
culture is positive for Clostridium difficile. The nurse will expect the provider to:
a.
add metronidazole [Flagyl].
b.
increase the dose of ciprofloxacin.
c.
restrict dairy products.
d.
switch to gemifloxacin. - Answers a
The nurse is caring for an older adult patient after a right hip open reduction internal fixation
(ORIF). The patient is taking an opioid every 6 hours as needed for pain. The nurse discusses
obtaining an order from the prescriber for which medication?
a.
Docusate sodium [Colace]
b.
GoLYTELY
c.
Lactulose
,d.
Polyethylene glycol [MiraLax] - Answers a
A patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse has been admitted to the unit with cirrhosis.
Upon review of the patient's laboratory test results, the nurse notes that the patient's ammonia
level is elevated at 218 mcg/dL. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
a.
0.9% NS
b.
Docusate sodium [Colace]
c.
Lactulose
d.
Polyethylene glycol [MiraLax] - Answers c
A patient asks the nurse what can be given to alleviate severe, chronic pain of several months'
duration. The patient has been taking oxycodone [OxyContin] and states that it is no longer
effective. The nurse will suggest discussing which medication with the provider?
a.
Fentanyl [Duragesic] transdermal patch
b.
Hydrocodone [Vicodin] PO
c.
Meperidine [Demerol] PO
d.
Pentazocine [Talwin] PO - Answers a
A patient with moderate to severe chronic pain has been taking oxycodone [OxyContin] 60 mg
every 6 hours PRN for several months and tells the nurse that the medication is not as effective
as before. The patient asks if something stronger can be taken. The nurse will contact the
provider to discuss:
, a.
administering a combination opioid analgesic/acetaminophen preparation.
b.
changing the medication to a continued-release preparation.
c.
confronting the patient about drug-seeking behaviors.
d.
withdrawing the medication, because physical dependence has occurred. - Answers b
A patient who takes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for arthritis asks a nurse
what can be done to prevent ulcers. The nurse will recommend asking the provider about using
which medication?
a.
Antibiotics
b.
Histamine-2 receptor antagonists
c.
Proton pump inhibitors
d.
Mucosal protectants - Answers c
A patient who reports regular consumption of two or three alcoholic beverages per day asks
about taking acetaminophen when needed for occasional recurrent pain. What will the nurse tell
the patient?
a.
"Do not take more than 2 gm of acetaminophen a day."
b.
"Do not take more than 3 gm of acetaminophen a day."
c.
The nurse is caring for a patient who begins to complain of shortness of breath. The nurse
assesses the patient and notes 3+ pitting edema bilaterally in the lower extremities. Which
medication taken by the patient causes the most concern?
a.
Epoetin alfa
b.
Filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor)
c.
Oprelvekin (interleukin-11)
d.
Sargramostim (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor)
c.
Oprelvekin (interleukin-11) - Answers c
A patient asks the nurse what type of medications would be most effective for treating seasonal
and perennial rhinitis. Which response by the nurse is correct?
a.
Pseudoephedrine [Sudafed]
b.
Fluticasone propionate [Fluticasone]
c.
Loratadine [Claritin]
d.
Intranasal cromolyn sodium [Atrovent] - Answers B
A patient who has a viral upper respiratory infection reports having a runny nose and a cough
that prevents sleep and asks the nurse to recommend an over-the-counter medication. Which
medication will the nurse recommend?
,a.
Diphenhydramine [Benadryl]
b.
Fexofenadine/pseudoephedrine [Allegra-D]
c.
Guaifenesin [Mucinex]
d.
Phenylephrine drops - Answers a
A patient who is receiving intravenous ciprofloxacin for pneumonia develops diarrhea. A stool
culture is positive for Clostridium difficile. The nurse will expect the provider to:
a.
add metronidazole [Flagyl].
b.
increase the dose of ciprofloxacin.
c.
restrict dairy products.
d.
switch to gemifloxacin. - Answers a
The nurse is caring for an older adult patient after a right hip open reduction internal fixation
(ORIF). The patient is taking an opioid every 6 hours as needed for pain. The nurse discusses
obtaining an order from the prescriber for which medication?
a.
Docusate sodium [Colace]
b.
GoLYTELY
c.
Lactulose
,d.
Polyethylene glycol [MiraLax] - Answers a
A patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse has been admitted to the unit with cirrhosis.
Upon review of the patient's laboratory test results, the nurse notes that the patient's ammonia
level is elevated at 218 mcg/dL. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
a.
0.9% NS
b.
Docusate sodium [Colace]
c.
Lactulose
d.
Polyethylene glycol [MiraLax] - Answers c
A patient asks the nurse what can be given to alleviate severe, chronic pain of several months'
duration. The patient has been taking oxycodone [OxyContin] and states that it is no longer
effective. The nurse will suggest discussing which medication with the provider?
a.
Fentanyl [Duragesic] transdermal patch
b.
Hydrocodone [Vicodin] PO
c.
Meperidine [Demerol] PO
d.
Pentazocine [Talwin] PO - Answers a
A patient with moderate to severe chronic pain has been taking oxycodone [OxyContin] 60 mg
every 6 hours PRN for several months and tells the nurse that the medication is not as effective
as before. The patient asks if something stronger can be taken. The nurse will contact the
provider to discuss:
, a.
administering a combination opioid analgesic/acetaminophen preparation.
b.
changing the medication to a continued-release preparation.
c.
confronting the patient about drug-seeking behaviors.
d.
withdrawing the medication, because physical dependence has occurred. - Answers b
A patient who takes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for arthritis asks a nurse
what can be done to prevent ulcers. The nurse will recommend asking the provider about using
which medication?
a.
Antibiotics
b.
Histamine-2 receptor antagonists
c.
Proton pump inhibitors
d.
Mucosal protectants - Answers c
A patient who reports regular consumption of two or three alcoholic beverages per day asks
about taking acetaminophen when needed for occasional recurrent pain. What will the nurse tell
the patient?
a.
"Do not take more than 2 gm of acetaminophen a day."
b.
"Do not take more than 3 gm of acetaminophen a day."
c.
