NUR 378 PHARMACOLOGY
EXAMS 1, 2, 3, AND FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
GRADED A+ LATEST
NUR 378 Pharmacology Exam 1
1. A patient is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which assessment finding
is most important to monitor before administering the medication?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: B. Heart rate
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse must check the apical pulse
before administration and withhold if it is below the prescribed threshold.
2. Which lab value should the nurse monitor in a patient receiving long-term
heparin therapy?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Platelet count
C. White blood cell count
D. Serum potassium
Answer: B. Platelet count
Rationale: Heparin can cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, making platelet
monitoring essential.
,3. A patient receiving furosemide reports muscle cramps. Which electrolyte
imbalance is most likely responsible?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: C. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide can cause significant potassium loss,
leading to muscle cramps and arrhythmias.
4. A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingually for angina. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. Swallow the tablet whole
B. Take one tablet every 2 hours as needed
C. Place under the tongue at the onset of chest pain
D. Apply a transdermal patch for immediate relief
Answer: C. Place under the tongue at the onset of chest pain
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin acts quickly to relieve acute angina by
vasodilation.
5. A patient has been prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. Which
assessment finding would indicate a need to hold the medication?
A. BP 140/90 mmHg
B. Apical pulse 52 bpm
C. Respiratory rate 20/min
D. Temperature 100°F
Answer: B. Apical pulse 52 bpm
Rationale: Beta-blockers can cause bradycardia. They should be held if the pulse
is below the provider’s threshold, usually <60 bpm.
,6. Which medication is most appropriate for reversing an opioid overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Epinephrine
Answer: A. Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses respiratory depression
caused by opioid overdose.
7. A patient receiving warfarin has an INR of 5.2. What is the nurse’s best
action?
A. Administer the scheduled dose
B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
C. Increase the next dose
D. Encourage the patient to eat more green vegetables
Answer: B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
Rationale: An INR above the therapeutic range increases bleeding risk. The
provider may adjust the dose or administer vitamin K.
8. A patient is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which statement
indicates the patient understands proper use?
A. “I should take it with meals to reduce gastrointestinal upset.”
B. “I can take it right before bedtime on an empty stomach.”
C. “I should double my dose if I miss one.”
D. “I can stop taking it once my blood sugar is normal.”
Answer: A. “I should take it with meals to reduce gastrointestinal upset.”
Rationale: Metformin should be taken with food to minimize GI side effects.
, 9. Which adverse effect is most concerning in a patient taking aminoglycoside
antibiotics?
A. Headache
B. Ototoxicity
C. Nausea
D. Rash
Answer: B. Ototoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can cause irreversible hearing loss. Monitoring for
tinnitus and vertigo is critical.
10. A patient is prescribed prednisone for an acute asthma exacerbation.
Which adverse effect requires immediate attention?
A. Increased appetite
B. Moon face appearance
C. Severe hyperglycemia
D. Insomnia
Answer: C. Severe hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids can cause significant hyperglycemia, particularly in
diabetic patients, and may require intervention.
11. Which nursing action is appropriate when administering a vesicant IV
medication?
A. Flush the IV line before administration
B. Administer the medication rapidly
C. Monitor for infiltration and extravasation
D. Massage the site after injection
Answer: C. Monitor for infiltration and extravasation
Rationale: Vesicants can cause tissue necrosis if extravasation occurs; careful
monitoring is necessary.
EXAMS 1, 2, 3, AND FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
GRADED A+ LATEST
NUR 378 Pharmacology Exam 1
1. A patient is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which assessment finding
is most important to monitor before administering the medication?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: B. Heart rate
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse must check the apical pulse
before administration and withhold if it is below the prescribed threshold.
2. Which lab value should the nurse monitor in a patient receiving long-term
heparin therapy?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Platelet count
C. White blood cell count
D. Serum potassium
Answer: B. Platelet count
Rationale: Heparin can cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, making platelet
monitoring essential.
,3. A patient receiving furosemide reports muscle cramps. Which electrolyte
imbalance is most likely responsible?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: C. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide can cause significant potassium loss,
leading to muscle cramps and arrhythmias.
4. A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingually for angina. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. Swallow the tablet whole
B. Take one tablet every 2 hours as needed
C. Place under the tongue at the onset of chest pain
D. Apply a transdermal patch for immediate relief
Answer: C. Place under the tongue at the onset of chest pain
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin acts quickly to relieve acute angina by
vasodilation.
5. A patient has been prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. Which
assessment finding would indicate a need to hold the medication?
A. BP 140/90 mmHg
B. Apical pulse 52 bpm
C. Respiratory rate 20/min
D. Temperature 100°F
Answer: B. Apical pulse 52 bpm
Rationale: Beta-blockers can cause bradycardia. They should be held if the pulse
is below the provider’s threshold, usually <60 bpm.
,6. Which medication is most appropriate for reversing an opioid overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Epinephrine
Answer: A. Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses respiratory depression
caused by opioid overdose.
7. A patient receiving warfarin has an INR of 5.2. What is the nurse’s best
action?
A. Administer the scheduled dose
B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
C. Increase the next dose
D. Encourage the patient to eat more green vegetables
Answer: B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
Rationale: An INR above the therapeutic range increases bleeding risk. The
provider may adjust the dose or administer vitamin K.
8. A patient is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which statement
indicates the patient understands proper use?
A. “I should take it with meals to reduce gastrointestinal upset.”
B. “I can take it right before bedtime on an empty stomach.”
C. “I should double my dose if I miss one.”
D. “I can stop taking it once my blood sugar is normal.”
Answer: A. “I should take it with meals to reduce gastrointestinal upset.”
Rationale: Metformin should be taken with food to minimize GI side effects.
, 9. Which adverse effect is most concerning in a patient taking aminoglycoside
antibiotics?
A. Headache
B. Ototoxicity
C. Nausea
D. Rash
Answer: B. Ototoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can cause irreversible hearing loss. Monitoring for
tinnitus and vertigo is critical.
10. A patient is prescribed prednisone for an acute asthma exacerbation.
Which adverse effect requires immediate attention?
A. Increased appetite
B. Moon face appearance
C. Severe hyperglycemia
D. Insomnia
Answer: C. Severe hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids can cause significant hyperglycemia, particularly in
diabetic patients, and may require intervention.
11. Which nursing action is appropriate when administering a vesicant IV
medication?
A. Flush the IV line before administration
B. Administer the medication rapidly
C. Monitor for infiltration and extravasation
D. Massage the site after injection
Answer: C. Monitor for infiltration and extravasation
Rationale: Vesicants can cause tissue necrosis if extravasation occurs; careful
monitoring is necessary.
