LPN Pharmacology and Medical-Surgical I Midterm Examination
2026/2027 UPDATE
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure.
Which of the following assessments is most important before administration?
A. Monitor blood pressure
B. Assess for pedal edema
C. Measure respiratory rate
D. Check the apical pulse for one full minute
Answer: D
Rationale: The apical pulse must be checked for 1 full minute prior to administering
digoxin. If the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute, the medication should be
withheld and the provider notified.
2. Which laboratory value is most critical for the nurse to monitor for a patient
receiving furosemide (Lasix)?
A. Serum potassium
B. Serum sodium
C. Serum calcium
D. Serum glucose
Answer: A
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium.
Hypokalemia is a significant risk, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
,3. A patient is scheduled for surgery. The nurse knows that the primary purpose
of the ‘Time Out’ in the operating room is to:
A. Confirm the correct patient, site, and procedure
B. Allow the surgeon to greet the family
C. Check if the anesthesia equipment is working
D. Ensure the surgical consent is signed
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘Time Out’ is a mandatory safety procedure to verify the correct patient,
correct surgical site, and correct procedure to prevent medical errors.
4. What is the first-line medication used to treat an acute asthma attack?
A. Albuterol
B. Salmeterol
C. Prednisone
D. Fluticasone
Answer: A
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) that provides rapid
bronchodilation for acute symptoms.
5. Which of the following is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors such as
lisinopril?
A. Tachycardia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Dry, persistent cough
D. Constipation
Answer: C
Rationale: A dry, nonproductive cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors due to the
accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative day 1. Which
intervention is most effective in preventing respiratory complications like
pneumonia?
A. Restricting fluid intake
B. Administering pain medication every 4 hours
C. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer
D. Maintaining a supine position
Answer: C
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps
prevent atelectasis and subsequent pneumonia.
7. A patient is receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory test should the nurse
monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication?
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Platelet count
D. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Answer: D
Rationale: The aPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of unfractionated heparin. PT and
INR are used to monitor warfarin therapy.
8. What is the antidote for a warfarin (Coumadin) overdose?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K
C. Naloxone
D. Atropine
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin K is the reversal agent for warfarin. Protamine sulfate is the antidote
for heparin.
2026/2027 UPDATE
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure.
Which of the following assessments is most important before administration?
A. Monitor blood pressure
B. Assess for pedal edema
C. Measure respiratory rate
D. Check the apical pulse for one full minute
Answer: D
Rationale: The apical pulse must be checked for 1 full minute prior to administering
digoxin. If the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute, the medication should be
withheld and the provider notified.
2. Which laboratory value is most critical for the nurse to monitor for a patient
receiving furosemide (Lasix)?
A. Serum potassium
B. Serum sodium
C. Serum calcium
D. Serum glucose
Answer: A
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium.
Hypokalemia is a significant risk, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.
,3. A patient is scheduled for surgery. The nurse knows that the primary purpose
of the ‘Time Out’ in the operating room is to:
A. Confirm the correct patient, site, and procedure
B. Allow the surgeon to greet the family
C. Check if the anesthesia equipment is working
D. Ensure the surgical consent is signed
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘Time Out’ is a mandatory safety procedure to verify the correct patient,
correct surgical site, and correct procedure to prevent medical errors.
4. What is the first-line medication used to treat an acute asthma attack?
A. Albuterol
B. Salmeterol
C. Prednisone
D. Fluticasone
Answer: A
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) that provides rapid
bronchodilation for acute symptoms.
5. Which of the following is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors such as
lisinopril?
A. Tachycardia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Dry, persistent cough
D. Constipation
Answer: C
Rationale: A dry, nonproductive cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors due to the
accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative day 1. Which
intervention is most effective in preventing respiratory complications like
pneumonia?
A. Restricting fluid intake
B. Administering pain medication every 4 hours
C. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer
D. Maintaining a supine position
Answer: C
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps
prevent atelectasis and subsequent pneumonia.
7. A patient is receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory test should the nurse
monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication?
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Platelet count
D. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Answer: D
Rationale: The aPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of unfractionated heparin. PT and
INR are used to monitor warfarin therapy.
8. What is the antidote for a warfarin (Coumadin) overdose?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K
C. Naloxone
D. Atropine
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin K is the reversal agent for warfarin. Protamine sulfate is the antidote
for heparin.
