# VATI Pharmacology – Verified Questions &
Comprehensive Nursing Exam Study Guide
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**1.** A nurse is administering IV furosemide to a client with acute pulmonary edema. Which finding
indicates the medication is having the desired therapeutic effect?
A) Decreased blood pressure
B) Increased urinary output
C) Decreased heart rate
D) Increased crackles on auscultation
💡 RATIONALE -- Furosemide (loop diuretic) promotes excretion of water and sodium, reducing preload
and pulmonary congestion. Increased urine output and decreased crackles indicate effectiveness.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Increased urinary output
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**2.** A client is prescribed warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which laboratory test should the nurse
monitor to evaluate therapeutic effect?
A) aPTT
B) INR
C) Platelet count
D) Bleeding time
💡 RATIONALE -- Warfarin is monitored using the INR (international normalized ratio). Target INR for
atrial fibrillation is typically 2‑3.
,✔️ ANSWER -- B) INR
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**3.** A client with heart failure is prescribed digoxin. Which finding should the nurse report as a sign of
digoxin toxicity?
A) Heart rate 72 beats per minute
B) Nausea and yellow vision
C) Weight gain of 1 kg in 24 hours
D) Increased appetite
💡 RATIONALE -- Digoxin toxicity manifests with nausea, vomiting, anorexia, bradycardia, and visual
disturbances (yellow/green halos).
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Nausea and yellow vision
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**4.** A nurse is teaching a client about the use of sublingual nitroglycerin for angina. Which instruction
is correct?
A) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
B) "Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water."
C) "Store the tablets in the bathroom medicine cabinet."
D) "Use the tablet daily to prevent angina."
💡 RATIONALE -- Sublingual nitroglycerin is taken at the onset of chest pain: one tablet every 5 minutes
for up to 3 doses. Call 911 if pain not relieved after first dose.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
,---
**5.** A client is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) "Take this medication 30 minutes before meals."
B) "Expect immediate lowering of blood glucose."
C) "Report any muscle pain or weakness."
D) "Take this medication with food to reduce GI upset."
💡 RATIONALE -- Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, diarrhea), which can
be minimized by taking with meals. It does not cause hypoglycemia alone.
✔️ ANSWER -- D) "Take this medication with food to reduce GI upset."
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**6.** A client taking lisinopril reports a persistent dry cough. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Instruct the client to take the medication with food
B) Notify the provider for possible medication change
C) Administer an antitussive medication
D) Reassure the client that this is a harmless side effect
💡 RATIONALE -- Dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors but may be intolerable. The
provider may switch to an ARB (e.g., losartan), which does not cause cough.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Notify the provider for possible medication change
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**7.** A client is prescribed albuterol via metered‑dose inhaler. Which adverse effect should the nurse
instruct the client to report?
, A) Dry mouth
B) Palpitations and tremors
C) Drowsiness
D) Constipation
💡 RATIONALE -- Albuterol (beta‑2 agonist) can cause beta‑1 effects including tachycardia, palpitations,
and tremors. Report severe or persistent symptoms.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Palpitations and tremors
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**8.** A client is receiving IV heparin. Which laboratory value indicates a therapeutic dose has been
achieved?
A) INR 2.5
B) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
C) Platelet count 150,000/mm³
D) Bleeding time 8 minutes
💡 RATIONALE -- Therapeutic heparin is monitored by aPTT, maintained at 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal
control value.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
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**9.** A nurse is administering IV vancomycin. The client reports flushing and rash on the face and
neck. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Stop the infusion
B) Slow the infusion rate
Comprehensive Nursing Exam Study Guide
---
**1.** A nurse is administering IV furosemide to a client with acute pulmonary edema. Which finding
indicates the medication is having the desired therapeutic effect?
A) Decreased blood pressure
B) Increased urinary output
C) Decreased heart rate
D) Increased crackles on auscultation
💡 RATIONALE -- Furosemide (loop diuretic) promotes excretion of water and sodium, reducing preload
and pulmonary congestion. Increased urine output and decreased crackles indicate effectiveness.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Increased urinary output
---
**2.** A client is prescribed warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which laboratory test should the nurse
monitor to evaluate therapeutic effect?
A) aPTT
B) INR
C) Platelet count
D) Bleeding time
💡 RATIONALE -- Warfarin is monitored using the INR (international normalized ratio). Target INR for
atrial fibrillation is typically 2‑3.
,✔️ ANSWER -- B) INR
---
**3.** A client with heart failure is prescribed digoxin. Which finding should the nurse report as a sign of
digoxin toxicity?
A) Heart rate 72 beats per minute
B) Nausea and yellow vision
C) Weight gain of 1 kg in 24 hours
D) Increased appetite
💡 RATIONALE -- Digoxin toxicity manifests with nausea, vomiting, anorexia, bradycardia, and visual
disturbances (yellow/green halos).
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Nausea and yellow vision
---
**4.** A nurse is teaching a client about the use of sublingual nitroglycerin for angina. Which instruction
is correct?
A) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
B) "Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water."
C) "Store the tablets in the bathroom medicine cabinet."
D) "Use the tablet daily to prevent angina."
💡 RATIONALE -- Sublingual nitroglycerin is taken at the onset of chest pain: one tablet every 5 minutes
for up to 3 doses. Call 911 if pain not relieved after first dose.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
,---
**5.** A client is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A) "Take this medication 30 minutes before meals."
B) "Expect immediate lowering of blood glucose."
C) "Report any muscle pain or weakness."
D) "Take this medication with food to reduce GI upset."
💡 RATIONALE -- Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, diarrhea), which can
be minimized by taking with meals. It does not cause hypoglycemia alone.
✔️ ANSWER -- D) "Take this medication with food to reduce GI upset."
---
**6.** A client taking lisinopril reports a persistent dry cough. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Instruct the client to take the medication with food
B) Notify the provider for possible medication change
C) Administer an antitussive medication
D) Reassure the client that this is a harmless side effect
💡 RATIONALE -- Dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors but may be intolerable. The
provider may switch to an ARB (e.g., losartan), which does not cause cough.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Notify the provider for possible medication change
---
**7.** A client is prescribed albuterol via metered‑dose inhaler. Which adverse effect should the nurse
instruct the client to report?
, A) Dry mouth
B) Palpitations and tremors
C) Drowsiness
D) Constipation
💡 RATIONALE -- Albuterol (beta‑2 agonist) can cause beta‑1 effects including tachycardia, palpitations,
and tremors. Report severe or persistent symptoms.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Palpitations and tremors
---
**8.** A client is receiving IV heparin. Which laboratory value indicates a therapeutic dose has been
achieved?
A) INR 2.5
B) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
C) Platelet count 150,000/mm³
D) Bleeding time 8 minutes
💡 RATIONALE -- Therapeutic heparin is monitored by aPTT, maintained at 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal
control value.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
---
**9.** A nurse is administering IV vancomycin. The client reports flushing and rash on the face and
neck. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Stop the infusion
B) Slow the infusion rate
