6521 Advanced Pharmacology
Final EXAM LATEST
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
An older adult patient who is to begin taking imipramine [Tofranil] asks the nurse when the drug
should be taken. The nurse will instruct the patient to: - CORRECT ANSWER-divide the daily
dose into two equal doses 12 hours apart.
A patient has been taking an SSRI antidepressant for major depression and reports having
headaches and jaw pain. What will the nurse tell the patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-Discuss
these symptoms with a dentist.
A neonate is born to a patient who reports taking venlafaxine [Effexor XR]. The nurse caring for
the infant will observe the infant for: - CORRECT ANSWER-irritability, tremor, and respiratory
distress.
A patient is brought to the emergency department after taking a handful of TCA pills. The nurse
will expect to provide what when caring for this patient? Select all that apply. - CORRECT
ANSWER-Cardiac monitoring
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Gastric lavage and activated charcoal
,A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking an
antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the nurse that
the drug is not working. The nurse will counsel this patient to ask the provider about: -
CORRECT ANSWER-using nondrug therapies to augment the medication.
Which patients are candidates for MAOIs? Select all that apply. - CORRECT ANSWER-Patients
who have not responded to SSRIs and TCAs
Patients with atypical depression
Patients with bulimia nervosa
A patient whose spouse has died recently reports feeling down most of every day for the past 2
months. On further questioning, the nurse learns that the patient has quit participating in
church and social activities, has difficulty falling asleep, and has lost 5 pounds. The patient
reports feeling tired and confused all the time but does not have suicidal thoughts. What does
the nurse suspect? - CORRECT ANSWER-Major depression
A patient taking an MAOI is seen in the clinic with a blood pressure of 170/96 mm Hg. What will
the nurse ask this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-To list all foods eaten that day
A patient taking fluoxetine [Prozac] complains of decreased sexual interest. A prescriber orders
a "drug holiday." What teaching by the nurse would best describe a drug holiday? - CORRECT
ANSWER-"Don't take the medication on Friday and Saturday."
A patient with bipolar disorder who wants to minimize the need for drug therapy asks the nurse
what else can be done to treat the disorder. The nurse will recommend which measures? Select
all that apply. - CORRECT ANSWER-Psychotherapy
Regular sleep and exercise
Using a chart to monitor mood changes
,A patient with bipolar disorder who is taking divalproex sodium [Valproate] has just been
admitted to the hospital. During the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse about
recent suicidal ideation. The nurse observes several areas of bruising over soft tissue areas and
notes a weight gain of 10 pounds since the last admission 1 year ago. What will the nurse do? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Contact the provider to report these findings.
A patient with bipolar disorder takes lamotrigine [Lamictal]. Which statement by the patient
would prompt the nurse to hold the drug and notify the prescriber for further assessment? -
CORRECT ANSWER-"I've broken out in a rash on my chest and back."
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine [Equetro] for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Reassure the patient that these effects occur early in treatment and will resolve over time.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time symptoms of mania and is
exhibiting euphoric mania. Which medication will the provider order? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Lithium [Lithobid]
A patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years. The patient
has developed a goiter, and serum tests reveal hypothyroidism. What will the nurse expect the
provider to order for this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-Administration of levothyroxine
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a hospitalized patient who has been taking
lithium [Lithobid] for 3 days. The patient is complaining of mild nausea and abdominal bloating.
The patient's lithium level is 0.8 mEq/L. What will the nurse do? - CORRECT ANSWER-Administer
the dose and tell the patient that the side effects are temporary.
A patient recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The patient, who has a history of
seasonal allergies, is an athlete who participates in track. The nurse is teaching the patient
about lithium [Lithobid], which the prescriber has just ordered. Which statement by the patient
indicates the need for further teaching? - CORRECT ANSWER-"I can continue to use ibuprofen as
needed for muscle pain."
, A patient with bipolar disorder is admitted to the hospital. The patient has been taking lithium
[Lithobid] for several years and has not been evaluated by a provider for over a year. Besides
obtaining a lithium level, the nurse caring for this patient will anticipate orders for which
laboratory tests? Select all that apply. - CORRECT ANSWER-Calcium level
Renal function tests
Thyroid function tests
The spouse of a patient with bipolar disorder (BPD) tells the nurse that the patient will not stay
on the lithium ordered by the provider longer than 1 or 2 months at a time. The nurse
understands that adherence to medication regimens in patients with BPD is problematic and
will tell the spouse: - CORRECT ANSWER-"During manic episodes, many patients don't see the
benefit of prophylactic medications."
A patient with bipolar disorder has frequent manic episodes alternating with depressive
episodes. The prescriber orders risperidone [Risperdal] in addition to the lithium [Lithobid] that
the patient is already taking. The patient asks the nurse why another drug is needed. The nurse
will tell the patient that the risperidone is used to: - CORRECT ANSWER-help control symptoms
during manic episodes.
A patient with a new-onset seizure disorder receives a prescription for phenobarbital. The
patient reports being concerned about the sedative side effects of this drug. Which response by
the nurse is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER-"Phenobarbital doses for seizures are nonsedating."
A patient who travels frequently for business reports occasional instances of being unable to fall
asleep. The patient tells the nurse that job demands require staying up late and then getting up
early for meetings. The nurse expects that the provider will prescribe which medication for this
patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-Zaleplon [Sonata]
A patient who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal is given a benzodiazepine. The nurse
understands that this drug is effective because: - CORRECT ANSWER-the patient has a cross-
dependence to the benzodiazepine.
Final EXAM LATEST
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
An older adult patient who is to begin taking imipramine [Tofranil] asks the nurse when the drug
should be taken. The nurse will instruct the patient to: - CORRECT ANSWER-divide the daily
dose into two equal doses 12 hours apart.
A patient has been taking an SSRI antidepressant for major depression and reports having
headaches and jaw pain. What will the nurse tell the patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-Discuss
these symptoms with a dentist.
A neonate is born to a patient who reports taking venlafaxine [Effexor XR]. The nurse caring for
the infant will observe the infant for: - CORRECT ANSWER-irritability, tremor, and respiratory
distress.
A patient is brought to the emergency department after taking a handful of TCA pills. The nurse
will expect to provide what when caring for this patient? Select all that apply. - CORRECT
ANSWER-Cardiac monitoring
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Gastric lavage and activated charcoal
,A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking an
antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the nurse that
the drug is not working. The nurse will counsel this patient to ask the provider about: -
CORRECT ANSWER-using nondrug therapies to augment the medication.
Which patients are candidates for MAOIs? Select all that apply. - CORRECT ANSWER-Patients
who have not responded to SSRIs and TCAs
Patients with atypical depression
Patients with bulimia nervosa
A patient whose spouse has died recently reports feeling down most of every day for the past 2
months. On further questioning, the nurse learns that the patient has quit participating in
church and social activities, has difficulty falling asleep, and has lost 5 pounds. The patient
reports feeling tired and confused all the time but does not have suicidal thoughts. What does
the nurse suspect? - CORRECT ANSWER-Major depression
A patient taking an MAOI is seen in the clinic with a blood pressure of 170/96 mm Hg. What will
the nurse ask this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-To list all foods eaten that day
A patient taking fluoxetine [Prozac] complains of decreased sexual interest. A prescriber orders
a "drug holiday." What teaching by the nurse would best describe a drug holiday? - CORRECT
ANSWER-"Don't take the medication on Friday and Saturday."
A patient with bipolar disorder who wants to minimize the need for drug therapy asks the nurse
what else can be done to treat the disorder. The nurse will recommend which measures? Select
all that apply. - CORRECT ANSWER-Psychotherapy
Regular sleep and exercise
Using a chart to monitor mood changes
,A patient with bipolar disorder who is taking divalproex sodium [Valproate] has just been
admitted to the hospital. During the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse about
recent suicidal ideation. The nurse observes several areas of bruising over soft tissue areas and
notes a weight gain of 10 pounds since the last admission 1 year ago. What will the nurse do? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Contact the provider to report these findings.
A patient with bipolar disorder takes lamotrigine [Lamictal]. Which statement by the patient
would prompt the nurse to hold the drug and notify the prescriber for further assessment? -
CORRECT ANSWER-"I've broken out in a rash on my chest and back."
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine [Equetro] for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Reassure the patient that these effects occur early in treatment and will resolve over time.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time symptoms of mania and is
exhibiting euphoric mania. Which medication will the provider order? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Lithium [Lithobid]
A patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years. The patient
has developed a goiter, and serum tests reveal hypothyroidism. What will the nurse expect the
provider to order for this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-Administration of levothyroxine
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a hospitalized patient who has been taking
lithium [Lithobid] for 3 days. The patient is complaining of mild nausea and abdominal bloating.
The patient's lithium level is 0.8 mEq/L. What will the nurse do? - CORRECT ANSWER-Administer
the dose and tell the patient that the side effects are temporary.
A patient recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The patient, who has a history of
seasonal allergies, is an athlete who participates in track. The nurse is teaching the patient
about lithium [Lithobid], which the prescriber has just ordered. Which statement by the patient
indicates the need for further teaching? - CORRECT ANSWER-"I can continue to use ibuprofen as
needed for muscle pain."
, A patient with bipolar disorder is admitted to the hospital. The patient has been taking lithium
[Lithobid] for several years and has not been evaluated by a provider for over a year. Besides
obtaining a lithium level, the nurse caring for this patient will anticipate orders for which
laboratory tests? Select all that apply. - CORRECT ANSWER-Calcium level
Renal function tests
Thyroid function tests
The spouse of a patient with bipolar disorder (BPD) tells the nurse that the patient will not stay
on the lithium ordered by the provider longer than 1 or 2 months at a time. The nurse
understands that adherence to medication regimens in patients with BPD is problematic and
will tell the spouse: - CORRECT ANSWER-"During manic episodes, many patients don't see the
benefit of prophylactic medications."
A patient with bipolar disorder has frequent manic episodes alternating with depressive
episodes. The prescriber orders risperidone [Risperdal] in addition to the lithium [Lithobid] that
the patient is already taking. The patient asks the nurse why another drug is needed. The nurse
will tell the patient that the risperidone is used to: - CORRECT ANSWER-help control symptoms
during manic episodes.
A patient with a new-onset seizure disorder receives a prescription for phenobarbital. The
patient reports being concerned about the sedative side effects of this drug. Which response by
the nurse is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER-"Phenobarbital doses for seizures are nonsedating."
A patient who travels frequently for business reports occasional instances of being unable to fall
asleep. The patient tells the nurse that job demands require staying up late and then getting up
early for meetings. The nurse expects that the provider will prescribe which medication for this
patient? - CORRECT ANSWER-Zaleplon [Sonata]
A patient who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal is given a benzodiazepine. The nurse
understands that this drug is effective because: - CORRECT ANSWER-the patient has a cross-
dependence to the benzodiazepine.
