NR 293 Pharmacology Week 5 Practice Questions 2026 |Chamberlain
College
1. A patient is prescribed rapid-acting insulin aspart (Novolog). When should the
nurse instruct the patient to administer this medication?
A. 30 to 45 minutes before a meal
B. Within 15 minutes of starting a meal
C. Only at bedtime
D. One hour after a meal
Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid-acting insulins like aspart have an onset of 15 minutes and should be
administered within 15 minutes of mealtime to prevent hypoglycemia.
2. Which laboratory value is the most important for the nurse to monitor in a
patient taking Metformin (Glucophage)?
A. Serum amylase
B. Hemoglobin
C. Creatinine clearance
D. Platelet count
Answer: C
Rationale: Metformin is excreted by the kidneys; impaired renal function can lead to lactic
acidosis, so monitoring renal function (Creatinine/GFR) is critical.
,3. A patient is being discharged with a prescription for Levothyroxine
(Synthroid). Which instruction is essential?
A. Take the medication with a full meal.
B. Double the dose if a day is missed.
C. Take the medication at bedtime with a glass of milk.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach 30-60 minutes before breakfast.
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach to enhance absorption
and prevent interference from food or other medications.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient receiving Prednisone. What is a common
adverse effect associated with long-term corticosteroid use?
A. Delayed wound healing
B. Weight loss
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune system and protein synthesis, leading to
delayed wound healing, hyperglycemia, and weight gain.
5. A patient is prescribed Albuterol (Proventil) for acute bronchospasm. Which
side effect should the nurse monitor for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Lethargy
C. Tachycardia
D. Hypotension
Answer: C
Rationale: Albuterol is a beta2-agonist that can cause sympathomimetic effects including
tachycardia, tremors, and palpitations.
, 6. Which medication is considered a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) and should
NOT be used for acute asthma attacks?
A. Epinephrine
B. Albuterol
C. Ipratropium
D. Salmeterol
Answer: D
Rationale: Salmeterol is a long-acting bronchodilator used for maintenance therapy, not
for rescue in acute attacks.
7. A patient is taking Omeprazole (Prilosec) for GERD. The nurse explains that
this medication works by:
A. Neutralizing gastric acid
B. Inhibiting the H+/K+ ATPase pump
C. Blocking H2 receptors
D. Coating the stomach lining
Answer: B
Rationale: Omeprazole is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) that works by irreversibly
blocking the enzyme system that secretes gastric acid.
8. What is the primary mechanism of action of Ondansetron (Zofran)?
A. Dopamine antagonist
B. Substance P antagonist
C. Serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist
D. Anticholinergic
Answer: C
Rationale: Ondansetron blocks serotonin receptors in the CTZ and on afferent vagal nerve
terminals to prevent nausea and vomiting.
College
1. A patient is prescribed rapid-acting insulin aspart (Novolog). When should the
nurse instruct the patient to administer this medication?
A. 30 to 45 minutes before a meal
B. Within 15 minutes of starting a meal
C. Only at bedtime
D. One hour after a meal
Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid-acting insulins like aspart have an onset of 15 minutes and should be
administered within 15 minutes of mealtime to prevent hypoglycemia.
2. Which laboratory value is the most important for the nurse to monitor in a
patient taking Metformin (Glucophage)?
A. Serum amylase
B. Hemoglobin
C. Creatinine clearance
D. Platelet count
Answer: C
Rationale: Metformin is excreted by the kidneys; impaired renal function can lead to lactic
acidosis, so monitoring renal function (Creatinine/GFR) is critical.
,3. A patient is being discharged with a prescription for Levothyroxine
(Synthroid). Which instruction is essential?
A. Take the medication with a full meal.
B. Double the dose if a day is missed.
C. Take the medication at bedtime with a glass of milk.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach 30-60 minutes before breakfast.
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach to enhance absorption
and prevent interference from food or other medications.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient receiving Prednisone. What is a common
adverse effect associated with long-term corticosteroid use?
A. Delayed wound healing
B. Weight loss
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune system and protein synthesis, leading to
delayed wound healing, hyperglycemia, and weight gain.
5. A patient is prescribed Albuterol (Proventil) for acute bronchospasm. Which
side effect should the nurse monitor for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Lethargy
C. Tachycardia
D. Hypotension
Answer: C
Rationale: Albuterol is a beta2-agonist that can cause sympathomimetic effects including
tachycardia, tremors, and palpitations.
, 6. Which medication is considered a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) and should
NOT be used for acute asthma attacks?
A. Epinephrine
B. Albuterol
C. Ipratropium
D. Salmeterol
Answer: D
Rationale: Salmeterol is a long-acting bronchodilator used for maintenance therapy, not
for rescue in acute attacks.
7. A patient is taking Omeprazole (Prilosec) for GERD. The nurse explains that
this medication works by:
A. Neutralizing gastric acid
B. Inhibiting the H+/K+ ATPase pump
C. Blocking H2 receptors
D. Coating the stomach lining
Answer: B
Rationale: Omeprazole is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) that works by irreversibly
blocking the enzyme system that secretes gastric acid.
8. What is the primary mechanism of action of Ondansetron (Zofran)?
A. Dopamine antagonist
B. Substance P antagonist
C. Serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist
D. Anticholinergic
Answer: C
Rationale: Ondansetron blocks serotonin receptors in the CTZ and on afferent vagal nerve
terminals to prevent nausea and vomiting.
