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NR565 Week 8 Final Exam
Section 1: Complex Pharmacology & High-Risk Medications
1. An NP prescribes linezolid (Zyvox) for a patient with vancomycin-
resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) bacteremia. The NP must counsel the
patient to avoid which class of over-the-counter medications due to the risk of
serotonin syndrome?
A. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen)
B. Antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine)
C. Decongestants containing pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine
D. Laxatives (e.g., docusate)
Rationale: Linezolid is a weak, reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
Concurrent use with sympathomimetic amines (like pseudoephedrine) can cause a
hypertensive crisis. More critically, linezolid combined with serotonergic agents
(e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, certain opioids) can precipitate serotonin syndrome, but the
question specifically asks about OTC medications, making decongestants the most
dangerous OTC class.
2. A 68-year-old female with osteoporosis is starting teriparatide (Forteo). The
NP understands which of the following is a Black Box Warning for this
medication?
A. Risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw
B. Risk of atypical femoral fractures
C. Risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
,D. Risk of hypocalcemia
Rationale: Teriparatide, a recombinant parathyroid hormone, carries a Black Box
Warning based on rat studies showing an increased risk of osteosarcoma. It is
contraindicated in patients with an increased baseline risk of osteosarcoma (e.g.,
Paget's disease, prior radiation therapy to the skeleton, unexplained elevated
alkaline phosphatase).
3. When prescribing clozapine (Clozaril), which laboratory monitoring
is absolutely mandatory before dispensing each prescription?
A. Lipid panel
B. Liver function tests (LFTs)
C. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
D. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Rationale: Clozapine has an absolute risk of agranulocytosis. The Clozapine REMS
Program requires a baseline ANC, weekly monitoring for the first 6 months, then
biweekly. The pharmacy cannot dispense the medication without a current,
acceptable ANC result on file.
4. A patient on warfarin (Coumadin) with a stable INR of 2.5 is started on
ciprofloxacin for a UTI. The NP should:
A. Continue warfarin at the same dose; no interaction exists.
B. Monitor INR more frequently (within 3-5 days) and anticipate a possible need
to reduce the warfarin dose.
C. Immediately increase the warfarin dose to prevent clotting.
D. Stop warfarin temporarily while on the antibiotic.
*Rationale: Ciprofloxacin is a CYP1A2 inhibitor and can also reduce vitamin K-
producing gut flora. Both mechanisms can increase warfarin's effect, raising the
INR and bleeding risk. Frequent INR monitoring (within a few days) is required,
and the warfarin dose will likely need temporary reduction.*
5. For a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who has failed methotrexate
monotherapy, the NP considers adding a biologic DMARD. Which agent requires
pre-treatment screening for latent tuberculosis (TB) with a tuberculin skin test
(TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA)?
A. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
B. Sulfasalazine
,C. Adalimumab (Humira)
D. Leflunomide (Arava)
Rationale: All TNF-alpha inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, etc.)
carry a significant risk of reactivating latent tuberculosis. Screening for latent TB
(with either TST or IGRA) and, if positive, initiating treatment for latent
TB before starting the biologic is a mandatory safety measure.
Section 2: Cardiology & Endocrinology Management
6. According to the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guidelines, what is the first-
line pharmacologic therapy for a 55-year-old Black male with no comorbidities
and a blood pressure of 150/95 mm Hg?
A. ACE inhibitor (e.g., lisinopril)
B. Beta-blocker (e.g., metoprolol)
C. Thiazide diuretic (e.g., chlorthalidone) or Calcium Channel Blocker (e.g.,
amlodipine)
D. Alpha-blocker (e.g., doxazosin)
Rationale: The guidelines recommend a thiazide diuretic or CCB as first-line for
most Black patients with hypertension, as clinical trials show they are more
effective in this population than ACE inhibitors or ARBs when used as
monotherapy. Beta-blockers are not preferred first-line for uncomplicated
hypertension.
7. A patient with Type 2 DM and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease (ASCVD) should be started on which medication class to reduce major
adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), regardless of their HbA1c?
A. SGLT2 inhibitor (e.g., empagliflozin) or GLP-1 receptor agonist with proven CV
benefit (e.g., liraglutide, semaglutide)
B. Sulfonylurea (e.g., glipizide)
C. DPP-4 inhibitor (e.g., sitagliptin)
D. Basal insulin
*Rationale: Current guidelines mandate that for patients with T2DM and ASCVD,
an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 RA with proven cardiovascular outcome trial (CVOT)
benefits should be incorporated into the treatment regimen to reduce MACE.
This decision is independent of glucose-lowering needs and is based on
cardioprotective and renal protective properties.*
, 8. A patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is being started on dofetilide
(Tikosyn). Where must the initial doses of this medication be administered?
A. At the patient's home
B. In an outpatient clinic with a crash cart available
C. In a hospital or facility with continuous cardiac monitoring for at least 3 days
D. In a pharmacy with a pharmacist's observation
Rationale: Dofetilide is a Class III antiarrhythmic with a known risk of inducing
torsades de pointes. Due to its proarrhythmic potential, it requires hospital
initiation with continuous ECG monitoring for a minimum of 3 days (or for at
least 12 hours after electrical or pharmacological cardioversion) to monitor for
QTc prolongation.
9. In a patient with hypertriglyceridemia (TG >500 mg/dL), the primary goal of
initial drug therapy is to:
A. Increase HDL cholesterol
B. Lower triglyceride levels to reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis
C. Lower LDL cholesterol as the primary target
D. Promote weight loss only
*Rationale: When triglycerides are severely elevated (>500 mg/dL), the
immediate therapeutic goal is pancreatitis prevention. First-line agents
include fibrates (e.g., fenofibrate) or prescription-grade omega-3 fatty acids
(icosapent ethyl). LDL lowering becomes a secondary concern until TG are
controlled.*
10. For a post-MI patient also diagnosed with depression, which antidepressant
is generally considered safest from a cardiovascular perspective?
A. Tricyclic antidepressant (e.g., amitriptyline)
B. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (e.g., sertraline)
C. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine)
D. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (e.g., venlafaxine at high doses)
Rationale: SSRIs (particularly sertraline and citalopram) have the best-studied
and most favorable cardiac safety profiles in post-MI patients. They are not
associated with arrhythmia risk (unlike TCAs) or significant effects on blood
pressure (unlike SNRIs at higher doses).
Section 3: Infectious Disease & Antimicrobial Stewardship