PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
Pharmacology Final Exam questions and
answers (2026) 100% complete pass
A patient about to receive his morning dose of digoxin has an apical pulse of 70 beats per minute. What
will the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose.
B. Administer the dose and notify the physician.
C. Check the radial pulse for 1 full minute.
D. Withhold the dose and notify the
A. Administer the dose.
In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows that what condition
can predispose a patient to digitalis toxicity?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
A. Hypokalemia; control ventricular response to atrial fibrillation and a derived from foxglove. Digoxin
is the only available cardiac glycoside---positive inotropic---inhibits sodium potassium pump
(adenosine tripphophatase) Sodium and calcium rise. Cholinergic stimulation via the vagus nerve of
Parasympathetic nervous system. ---Negative chronotropic---Negative Dromotropic effect
1/14/2026
While assessing a patient who is receiving intravenous digitalis, the nurse recognizes that the drug has a
negative chronotropic effect. How would this drug effect be evident in the patient?
1
, PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Decreased conduction
D. Increased ectopic beats
B. Decreased heart rate
A patient has been taking digoxin at home but has taken an accidental overdose and has developed
toxicity. He has been admitted to the telemetry unit where the physician has ordered digoxin immune
Fab (Digibind). The patient asks the nurse why the medication is ordered. What is the nurse's best
response?
A. "It works faster than digoxin."
B. "It is safer than digoxin and can be taken orally."
C. "It helps to convert the irregular heart rhythm to a more normal rhythm."
D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels."
D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels." (severe bradycardia,
advanced heart block, ventricularr tachycardia, fibrillation, and hyperkalemia); available in parental
form. Clinical signs and symptoms are monitored NOT serum levels----used for systolic heart failure
and atrial fibrillation.
5. A patient has been placed on a milrinone infusion as part of the therapy for end-stage heart failure.
What risks involved with this drug will the nurse keep in mind while assessing this patient during the
infusion?
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias (contraindictated with ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation) used for
treatment of atrial fibrillation. Available in Oral and injection form.
1/14/2026
2
, PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
6. A patient with atrial fibrillation was started on digoxin, and 1 week later a digoxin level was drawn.
Which result is within normal therapeutic levels for digoxin?
A. 0.4 ng/mL
B. 0.7 ng/mL
C. 2.1 ng/mL
D. 2.6 ng/mL or higher
B. 0.7 ng/mL (normal 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
7. When reviewing the list of medications taken by a patient who will be receiving a new prescription for
digoxin, the nurse would be concerned about which medication that may interact with the digoxin?
A. aspirin
B. acetaminophen (Tylenol)
C. furosemide (Lasix)
D. vitamin K
C. furosemide (Lasix); (loop Diuretics); numerous ones on page 341
8. The nurse is reviewing discharge teaching for a patient who will be taking digoxin (Lanoxin) therapy.
The patient should be taught to avoid which foods when taking the digoxin?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Dairy products
C. Grapefruit juice
D. Bran muffins
D. Bran muffins
9. In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows that which lab
1/14/2026
result can increase the toxicity of the drug?
A. Potassium level 2.8 mEq/L
3
, PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
B. Potassium level 4.9 mEq/L
C. Sodium level 140 mEq/L
D. Calcium level 10 mg/dL
A. Potassium level 2.8 mEq/L (low potassium normal is 3.5 to 5.0)
10. The nurse administering the phosphodiesterase inhibitor inamrinone recognizes that this drug
should have a positive inotropic effect. This effect will result in increased
A. heart rate.
B. blood vessel dilation.
C. force of cardiac contraction.
D. conduction of electrical impulses across the heart.
C. force of cardiac contraction. (increase cAMP) positive inotropic (by more calcium available in
SR)effect and vasodilation, (inodilators)---positive chornotropic effect); USED IN ICU; ADVERSE
EFFECT...thrombocytopenia, dysrhythmia, ventricular, hypotension and angina, hypokalemia, tremor.
11. The nurse notes in a patient's medical record that nesiritide has been ordered. Based on this order,
the nurse interprets that the patient has which disorder?
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Acutely decompensated heart failure with dyspnea at rest
C. Systolic heart failure
D. Long-term treatment of heart failure.
B. Acutely decompensated heart failure with dyspnea at rest
SELECT ALL THAT APPLY:
1/14/2026
1. When a patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity, which clinical situation would necessitate the use of
digoxin immune Fab (Digibind)? Select all that apply.
4
Pharmacology Final Exam questions and
answers (2026) 100% complete pass
A patient about to receive his morning dose of digoxin has an apical pulse of 70 beats per minute. What
will the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose.
B. Administer the dose and notify the physician.
C. Check the radial pulse for 1 full minute.
D. Withhold the dose and notify the
A. Administer the dose.
In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows that what condition
can predispose a patient to digitalis toxicity?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
A. Hypokalemia; control ventricular response to atrial fibrillation and a derived from foxglove. Digoxin
is the only available cardiac glycoside---positive inotropic---inhibits sodium potassium pump
(adenosine tripphophatase) Sodium and calcium rise. Cholinergic stimulation via the vagus nerve of
Parasympathetic nervous system. ---Negative chronotropic---Negative Dromotropic effect
1/14/2026
While assessing a patient who is receiving intravenous digitalis, the nurse recognizes that the drug has a
negative chronotropic effect. How would this drug effect be evident in the patient?
1
, PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Decreased conduction
D. Increased ectopic beats
B. Decreased heart rate
A patient has been taking digoxin at home but has taken an accidental overdose and has developed
toxicity. He has been admitted to the telemetry unit where the physician has ordered digoxin immune
Fab (Digibind). The patient asks the nurse why the medication is ordered. What is the nurse's best
response?
A. "It works faster than digoxin."
B. "It is safer than digoxin and can be taken orally."
C. "It helps to convert the irregular heart rhythm to a more normal rhythm."
D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels."
D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels." (severe bradycardia,
advanced heart block, ventricularr tachycardia, fibrillation, and hyperkalemia); available in parental
form. Clinical signs and symptoms are monitored NOT serum levels----used for systolic heart failure
and atrial fibrillation.
5. A patient has been placed on a milrinone infusion as part of the therapy for end-stage heart failure.
What risks involved with this drug will the nurse keep in mind while assessing this patient during the
infusion?
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias (contraindictated with ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation) used for
treatment of atrial fibrillation. Available in Oral and injection form.
1/14/2026
2
, PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
6. A patient with atrial fibrillation was started on digoxin, and 1 week later a digoxin level was drawn.
Which result is within normal therapeutic levels for digoxin?
A. 0.4 ng/mL
B. 0.7 ng/mL
C. 2.1 ng/mL
D. 2.6 ng/mL or higher
B. 0.7 ng/mL (normal 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
7. When reviewing the list of medications taken by a patient who will be receiving a new prescription for
digoxin, the nurse would be concerned about which medication that may interact with the digoxin?
A. aspirin
B. acetaminophen (Tylenol)
C. furosemide (Lasix)
D. vitamin K
C. furosemide (Lasix); (loop Diuretics); numerous ones on page 341
8. The nurse is reviewing discharge teaching for a patient who will be taking digoxin (Lanoxin) therapy.
The patient should be taught to avoid which foods when taking the digoxin?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Dairy products
C. Grapefruit juice
D. Bran muffins
D. Bran muffins
9. In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows that which lab
1/14/2026
result can increase the toxicity of the drug?
A. Potassium level 2.8 mEq/L
3
, PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 01/14/2026
B. Potassium level 4.9 mEq/L
C. Sodium level 140 mEq/L
D. Calcium level 10 mg/dL
A. Potassium level 2.8 mEq/L (low potassium normal is 3.5 to 5.0)
10. The nurse administering the phosphodiesterase inhibitor inamrinone recognizes that this drug
should have a positive inotropic effect. This effect will result in increased
A. heart rate.
B. blood vessel dilation.
C. force of cardiac contraction.
D. conduction of electrical impulses across the heart.
C. force of cardiac contraction. (increase cAMP) positive inotropic (by more calcium available in
SR)effect and vasodilation, (inodilators)---positive chornotropic effect); USED IN ICU; ADVERSE
EFFECT...thrombocytopenia, dysrhythmia, ventricular, hypotension and angina, hypokalemia, tremor.
11. The nurse notes in a patient's medical record that nesiritide has been ordered. Based on this order,
the nurse interprets that the patient has which disorder?
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Acutely decompensated heart failure with dyspnea at rest
C. Systolic heart failure
D. Long-term treatment of heart failure.
B. Acutely decompensated heart failure with dyspnea at rest
SELECT ALL THAT APPLY:
1/14/2026
1. When a patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity, which clinical situation would necessitate the use of
digoxin immune Fab (Digibind)? Select all that apply.
4
