Unlock your nursing potential with this NCLEX-style prep and student
success resource. Pass exams with confidence using this complete
nursing study guide and practice pack.
---
# Pharmacology Nursing Success Pack: Complete NCLEX-Style Prep
Guide – 2025/2026 Edition | Ultimate Revision Notes & Practice
Questions Bundle
---
1. A client is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. The nurse should monitor the client for which early sign
of digoxin toxicity?
A. Tachycardia
B. Anorexia and nausea
C. Hyperactivity
D. Increased appetite
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting are early signs of digoxin
toxicity. Option A is incorrect as digoxin toxicity often causes bradycardia, not tachycardia. Option C is
wrong as toxicity can cause confusion and fatigue. Option D is incorrect because digoxin is more likely to
cause a loss of appetite. This is a critical pharmacology nursing study guide point for student success in
NCLEX-style prep and nursing exam practice.
2. A client is prescribed warfarin. The nurse should instruct the client to avoid which over-the-counter
medication?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
,C. Diphenhydramine
D. Calcium carbonate
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Ibuprofen is an NSAID that increases the risk of bleeding
when taken with warfarin. Option A is incorrect as acetaminophen is generally considered safer, though
it should be used in moderation. Option C is wrong as diphenhydramine is an antihistamine and does
not significantly increase bleeding risk. Option D is incorrect as calcium carbonate does not directly
interfere with warfarin. This is a key pharmacology revision note and a frequent topic in nursing exam
prep.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about the administration of sublingual nitroglycerin. Which instruction is
correct?
A. "Take one tablet every 15 minutes for up to three doses."
B. "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to three doses."
C. "Chew the tablet for rapid absorption."
D. "Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water."
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. The standard protocol is to take one tablet every 5 minutes
for up to three doses. Option A is incorrect as the interval is 5 minutes, not 15. Option C is wrong as
nitroglycerin should be dissolved under the tongue, not chewed. Option D is incorrect as it is a
sublingual medication. This is a key patient teaching point in cardiovascular pharmacology and a
common question in nursing study guides.
4. A client is prescribed an ACE inhibitor. The nurse should monitor the client for which side effect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. ACE inhibitors can cause hyperkalemia by reducing
aldosterone secretion. Option A is incorrect as they do not cause hypokalemia. Option C is wrong as they
can cause hyponatremia but hyperkalemia is more specific. Option D is incorrect as they do not affect
calcium levels. This is a key adverse effect in pharmacology and a vital concept for nursing exam
practice.
5. A client is prescribed an opioid analgesic for postoperative pain. Which side effect should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Diarrhea
B. Constipation
C. Tachypnea
D. Hypertension
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Constipation is a common and persistent side effect of
opioid analgesics. Option A is incorrect as opioids slow gastrointestinal motility. Option C is wrong as
respiratory depression is a side effect, not tachypnea. Option D is incorrect as hypotension can occur.
This is a key pharmacology side effect and a common topic in nursing study guides for student success.
6. A client is prescribed a beta-blocker. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which side
effect?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bronchospasm
C. Hypotension
D. Hyperglycemia
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is C. Beta-blockers can cause hypotension and bradycardia.
Option A is incorrect as they cause bradycardia. Option B is wrong as bronchospasm can occur,
especially with non-selective beta-blockers, but it is not the primary side effect to monitor. Option D is
incorrect as they can mask hypoglycemia. This is a key adverse effect in cardiovascular pharmacology
and a frequent question in NCLEX-style prep.
, 7. A client is prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for GERD. The nurse should instruct the client to
take the medication:
A. With food.
B. On an empty stomach.
C. At bedtime.
D. With a full glass of milk.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. PPIs should be taken on an empty stomach, typically 30-60
minutes before a meal. Option A is incorrect as food reduces absorption. Option C is wrong as it is
usually taken in the morning. Option D is incorrect as milk is not recommended. This is a key teaching
point in gastrointestinal pharmacology and a common question in nursing exam prep.
8. A client is prescribed an anticoagulant. The nurse should monitor the client for which sign of
bleeding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypotension
C. Hyperthermia
D. Tachycardia
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Hypotension can be a sign of internal bleeding. Options A, C,
and D are not specific signs of bleeding. This is a key monitoring point in anticoagulant therapy and a
vital concept for nursing revision notes.
9. A client is prescribed a statin medication. The nurse should instruct the client to report which
symptom?
A. Muscle pain
B. Headache
C. Constipation
D. Dry mouth
success resource. Pass exams with confidence using this complete
nursing study guide and practice pack.
---
# Pharmacology Nursing Success Pack: Complete NCLEX-Style Prep
Guide – 2025/2026 Edition | Ultimate Revision Notes & Practice
Questions Bundle
---
1. A client is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. The nurse should monitor the client for which early sign
of digoxin toxicity?
A. Tachycardia
B. Anorexia and nausea
C. Hyperactivity
D. Increased appetite
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting are early signs of digoxin
toxicity. Option A is incorrect as digoxin toxicity often causes bradycardia, not tachycardia. Option C is
wrong as toxicity can cause confusion and fatigue. Option D is incorrect because digoxin is more likely to
cause a loss of appetite. This is a critical pharmacology nursing study guide point for student success in
NCLEX-style prep and nursing exam practice.
2. A client is prescribed warfarin. The nurse should instruct the client to avoid which over-the-counter
medication?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
,C. Diphenhydramine
D. Calcium carbonate
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Ibuprofen is an NSAID that increases the risk of bleeding
when taken with warfarin. Option A is incorrect as acetaminophen is generally considered safer, though
it should be used in moderation. Option C is wrong as diphenhydramine is an antihistamine and does
not significantly increase bleeding risk. Option D is incorrect as calcium carbonate does not directly
interfere with warfarin. This is a key pharmacology revision note and a frequent topic in nursing exam
prep.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about the administration of sublingual nitroglycerin. Which instruction is
correct?
A. "Take one tablet every 15 minutes for up to three doses."
B. "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to three doses."
C. "Chew the tablet for rapid absorption."
D. "Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water."
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. The standard protocol is to take one tablet every 5 minutes
for up to three doses. Option A is incorrect as the interval is 5 minutes, not 15. Option C is wrong as
nitroglycerin should be dissolved under the tongue, not chewed. Option D is incorrect as it is a
sublingual medication. This is a key patient teaching point in cardiovascular pharmacology and a
common question in nursing study guides.
4. A client is prescribed an ACE inhibitor. The nurse should monitor the client for which side effect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. ACE inhibitors can cause hyperkalemia by reducing
aldosterone secretion. Option A is incorrect as they do not cause hypokalemia. Option C is wrong as they
can cause hyponatremia but hyperkalemia is more specific. Option D is incorrect as they do not affect
calcium levels. This is a key adverse effect in pharmacology and a vital concept for nursing exam
practice.
5. A client is prescribed an opioid analgesic for postoperative pain. Which side effect should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Diarrhea
B. Constipation
C. Tachypnea
D. Hypertension
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Constipation is a common and persistent side effect of
opioid analgesics. Option A is incorrect as opioids slow gastrointestinal motility. Option C is wrong as
respiratory depression is a side effect, not tachypnea. Option D is incorrect as hypotension can occur.
This is a key pharmacology side effect and a common topic in nursing study guides for student success.
6. A client is prescribed a beta-blocker. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which side
effect?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bronchospasm
C. Hypotension
D. Hyperglycemia
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is C. Beta-blockers can cause hypotension and bradycardia.
Option A is incorrect as they cause bradycardia. Option B is wrong as bronchospasm can occur,
especially with non-selective beta-blockers, but it is not the primary side effect to monitor. Option D is
incorrect as they can mask hypoglycemia. This is a key adverse effect in cardiovascular pharmacology
and a frequent question in NCLEX-style prep.
, 7. A client is prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for GERD. The nurse should instruct the client to
take the medication:
A. With food.
B. On an empty stomach.
C. At bedtime.
D. With a full glass of milk.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. PPIs should be taken on an empty stomach, typically 30-60
minutes before a meal. Option A is incorrect as food reduces absorption. Option C is wrong as it is
usually taken in the morning. Option D is incorrect as milk is not recommended. This is a key teaching
point in gastrointestinal pharmacology and a common question in nursing exam prep.
8. A client is prescribed an anticoagulant. The nurse should monitor the client for which sign of
bleeding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypotension
C. Hyperthermia
D. Tachycardia
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The correct answer is B. Hypotension can be a sign of internal bleeding. Options A, C,
and D are not specific signs of bleeding. This is a key monitoring point in anticoagulant therapy and a
vital concept for nursing revision notes.
9. A client is prescribed a statin medication. The nurse should instruct the client to report which
symptom?
A. Muscle pain
B. Headache
C. Constipation
D. Dry mouth
