Nursing MSN 571 Pharmacology –
Midterm Exam Test Questions and
Correct Answers| Already Graded A+
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill.
Which action should the prescriber take initially? -CORRECTANSWER Arrange to
schedule an appointment with the patient.
A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma management. The patient
reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and does not feel that the
medication is always effective. Which action will the provider take to best minimiẓe
patient risks and maximiẓe medication effectiveness? -CORRECTANSWER Auscultate
the patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant vital signs.
A patient is prescribed metronidaẓole for bacterial vaginosis. Which patient history
finding would be most concerning to the provider? -CORRECTANSWER The patient
drinks two glasses of wine every night.
The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for hospital
discharge. Which action by the provider will best support the patient's ability to
,effectively manage medication therapy? -CORRECTANSWER Asking the patient to
demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine headaches is not
working. Which action is the prescriber's priority when addressing the patient's concern?
-CORRECTANSWER Ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken.
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for hepatotoxicity.
Which action is most important when prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old
patient? -CORRECTANSWER Obtaining baseline liver function studies
A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which action is most important
for the provider to take in order to determine if the therapeutic level is maintained? -
CORRECTANSWER Order periodic laboratory testing.
Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both advanced
practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)? -
CORRECTANSWER More patients will have access to health care.
A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis reports new onset
of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest and neck. Which action is most
important for the provider to take to minimiẓe this patient's risk for injury? -
CORRECTANSWER Discontinue the ampicillin.
,Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to
adherence to any type of medication therapy? -CORRECTANSWER Providing
medication education that the patient can easily understand
Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's nonadherence with
their medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with the therapy? -
CORRECTANSWER "I've been taking this medication for well over a week and I lost
only a half a pound."
How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist improve positive
outcomes for patients? -CORRECTANSWER Pharmacists have additional information
on drug interactions. The pharmacist can suggest adequate medication dosing.
Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility formulary.
Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an understanding of effective
medication education? -CORRECTANSWER "This medication needs to be stored in the
refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner."
"You need to take the medication as we discussed until all the tablets are gone." "Call
the office immediately if you begin experiencing any itching, headache, or difficulty
breathing."
, The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder asks
why blood tests are required on a regular basis. Which provider responses demonstrate
an understanding of why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? -
CORRECTANSWER "We need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We need to
monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This medication can cause you to
lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium levels."
When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease the risk of
developing muscle toxicity? -CORRECTANSWER Substitute grapefruit juice with
orange juice
When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what intervention does the
provider take to decrease risk to the patient? -CORRECTANSWER Monitor the patient's
plasma drug levels at regular intervals.
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What
process informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? -
CORRECTANSWER Desensitiẓation of receptor sites results from continual exposure
to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same
amount of the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when
explaining this phenomenon to the patient? -CORRECTANSWER Inactive ingredients
Midterm Exam Test Questions and
Correct Answers| Already Graded A+
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill.
Which action should the prescriber take initially? -CORRECTANSWER Arrange to
schedule an appointment with the patient.
A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma management. The patient
reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and does not feel that the
medication is always effective. Which action will the provider take to best minimiẓe
patient risks and maximiẓe medication effectiveness? -CORRECTANSWER Auscultate
the patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant vital signs.
A patient is prescribed metronidaẓole for bacterial vaginosis. Which patient history
finding would be most concerning to the provider? -CORRECTANSWER The patient
drinks two glasses of wine every night.
The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for hospital
discharge. Which action by the provider will best support the patient's ability to
,effectively manage medication therapy? -CORRECTANSWER Asking the patient to
demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine headaches is not
working. Which action is the prescriber's priority when addressing the patient's concern?
-CORRECTANSWER Ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken.
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for hepatotoxicity.
Which action is most important when prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old
patient? -CORRECTANSWER Obtaining baseline liver function studies
A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which action is most important
for the provider to take in order to determine if the therapeutic level is maintained? -
CORRECTANSWER Order periodic laboratory testing.
Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both advanced
practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)? -
CORRECTANSWER More patients will have access to health care.
A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis reports new onset
of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest and neck. Which action is most
important for the provider to take to minimiẓe this patient's risk for injury? -
CORRECTANSWER Discontinue the ampicillin.
,Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to
adherence to any type of medication therapy? -CORRECTANSWER Providing
medication education that the patient can easily understand
Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's nonadherence with
their medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with the therapy? -
CORRECTANSWER "I've been taking this medication for well over a week and I lost
only a half a pound."
How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist improve positive
outcomes for patients? -CORRECTANSWER Pharmacists have additional information
on drug interactions. The pharmacist can suggest adequate medication dosing.
Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility formulary.
Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an understanding of effective
medication education? -CORRECTANSWER "This medication needs to be stored in the
refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner."
"You need to take the medication as we discussed until all the tablets are gone." "Call
the office immediately if you begin experiencing any itching, headache, or difficulty
breathing."
, The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder asks
why blood tests are required on a regular basis. Which provider responses demonstrate
an understanding of why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? -
CORRECTANSWER "We need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We need to
monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This medication can cause you to
lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium levels."
When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease the risk of
developing muscle toxicity? -CORRECTANSWER Substitute grapefruit juice with
orange juice
When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what intervention does the
provider take to decrease risk to the patient? -CORRECTANSWER Monitor the patient's
plasma drug levels at regular intervals.
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What
process informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? -
CORRECTANSWER Desensitiẓation of receptor sites results from continual exposure
to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same
amount of the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when
explaining this phenomenon to the patient? -CORRECTANSWER Inactive ingredients
