Nursing Pharmacology (Drugs)
Approved Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of administering a loading dose of a medication?
✓✓ To achieve the desired therapeutic drug level quickly.
Why should a nurse verify a patient's identity before administering medication?
✓✓ To ensure the correct patient receives the prescribed drug.
What is the safest route for administering emergency medications when immediate action is
required?
✓✓ Intravenous (IV) route.
Why should oral medications not be given to an unconscious patient?
✓✓ Because of the risk of aspiration.
What should a nurse do if a patient refuses medication?
✓✓ Document the refusal and inform the prescribing healthcare provider.
Why are enteric-coated tablets not crushed?
✓✓ Crushing destroys the protective coating and may irritate the stomach.
What is the purpose of sustained-release tablets?
✓✓ To release medication gradually over time.
Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
✓✓ The liver.
Which organ is mainly responsible for drug excretion?
✓✓ The kidneys.
What is the first action when a patient develops difficulty breathing after receiving medication?
✓✓ Stop the medication and seek emergency medical assistance.
Why should nurses assess allergies before administering drugs?
✓✓ To prevent allergic reactions.
What is the meaning of the therapeutic effect of a drug?
✓✓ The intended beneficial effect of the medication.
What is an adverse drug reaction?
✓✓ An unwanted harmful response to a medication given at normal doses.
What is drug tolerance?
✓✓ Reduced response to a drug after repeated use.
What is drug dependence?
✓✓ A condition in which the body requires a drug to function normally.
What is the purpose of checking the expiry date before administering medication?
✓✓ To ensure the medication is safe and effective.
1
,Why should insulin not be vigorously shaken?
✓✓ It may damage the insulin molecules.
Why should medications be stored according to manufacturer instructions?
✓✓ To maintain their stability and effectiveness.
What is the purpose of medication reconciliation?
✓✓ To prevent medication errors during transitions of care.
Why should blood pressure be checked before administering antihypertensive drugs?
✓✓ To avoid excessive lowering of blood pressure.
What is the common purpose of antipyretic drugs?
✓✓ To reduce fever.
What is the primary action of analgesics?
✓✓ To relieve pain.
What is the main purpose of antibiotics?
✓✓ To treat bacterial infections.
Why should antibiotics be taken for the full prescribed course?
✓✓ To eliminate the infection and reduce resistance.
What is the main purpose of antifungal drugs?
✓✓ To treat fungal infections.
What is the purpose of antiviral medications?
✓✓ To treat viral infections.
What is the function of anticoagulant drugs?
✓✓ To reduce blood clot formation.
Why should patients taking anticoagulants avoid unnecessary injuries?
✓✓ Because they have an increased risk of bleeding.
What is the purpose of antacids?
✓✓ To neutralize stomach acid.
What is the role of proton pump inhibitors?
✓✓ To reduce stomach acid production.
What is the main use of bronchodilators?
✓✓ To relax airway muscles and improve breathing.
Why should inhalers be used with correct technique?
✓✓ To ensure the medication reaches the lungs effectively.
What is the primary function of diuretics?
✓✓ To increase urine production.
Why should electrolyte levels be monitored in patients taking diuretics?
✓✓ Because diuretics may alter electrolyte balance.
2
, What is the main purpose of laxatives?
✓✓ To relieve constipation.
Why should laxatives not be used excessively?
✓✓ They may cause dependence and electrolyte imbalance.
What is the purpose of antiemetic drugs?
✓✓ To prevent or treat nausea and vomiting.
What is the purpose of sedative medications?
✓✓ To promote relaxation and calmness.
Why should sedatives be used cautiously in older adults?
✓✓ They increase the risk of falls and confusion.
What is the purpose of anticonvulsant drugs?
✓✓ To prevent or control seizures.
What is the main purpose of vaccines?
✓✓ To stimulate immunity against specific diseases.
Why is it important to rotate insulin injection sites?
✓✓ To prevent tissue damage and improve insulin absorption.
What should a nurse assess before administering digoxin?
✓✓ The patient's apical pulse.
Why should grapefruit juice be avoided with certain medications?
✓✓ It can increase or decrease drug levels.
What is the purpose of topical medications?
✓✓ To produce local effects on the skin or mucous membranes.
Why should transdermal patches be applied to clean, dry skin?
✓✓ To ensure proper absorption.
What is the purpose of eye drops?
✓✓ To treat conditions affecting the eyes.
Why should the dropper tip never touch the eye?
✓✓ To prevent contamination.
What is the purpose of ear drops?
✓✓ To treat disorders of the ear.
Why should medications be labeled clearly after preparation?
✓✓ To prevent medication errors.
What is the purpose of controlled drug registers?
✓✓ To document the use and storage of controlled medications.
Why should nurses document medication administration immediately?
✓✓ To maintain accurate patient records.
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Approved Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of administering a loading dose of a medication?
✓✓ To achieve the desired therapeutic drug level quickly.
Why should a nurse verify a patient's identity before administering medication?
✓✓ To ensure the correct patient receives the prescribed drug.
What is the safest route for administering emergency medications when immediate action is
required?
✓✓ Intravenous (IV) route.
Why should oral medications not be given to an unconscious patient?
✓✓ Because of the risk of aspiration.
What should a nurse do if a patient refuses medication?
✓✓ Document the refusal and inform the prescribing healthcare provider.
Why are enteric-coated tablets not crushed?
✓✓ Crushing destroys the protective coating and may irritate the stomach.
What is the purpose of sustained-release tablets?
✓✓ To release medication gradually over time.
Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
✓✓ The liver.
Which organ is mainly responsible for drug excretion?
✓✓ The kidneys.
What is the first action when a patient develops difficulty breathing after receiving medication?
✓✓ Stop the medication and seek emergency medical assistance.
Why should nurses assess allergies before administering drugs?
✓✓ To prevent allergic reactions.
What is the meaning of the therapeutic effect of a drug?
✓✓ The intended beneficial effect of the medication.
What is an adverse drug reaction?
✓✓ An unwanted harmful response to a medication given at normal doses.
What is drug tolerance?
✓✓ Reduced response to a drug after repeated use.
What is drug dependence?
✓✓ A condition in which the body requires a drug to function normally.
What is the purpose of checking the expiry date before administering medication?
✓✓ To ensure the medication is safe and effective.
1
,Why should insulin not be vigorously shaken?
✓✓ It may damage the insulin molecules.
Why should medications be stored according to manufacturer instructions?
✓✓ To maintain their stability and effectiveness.
What is the purpose of medication reconciliation?
✓✓ To prevent medication errors during transitions of care.
Why should blood pressure be checked before administering antihypertensive drugs?
✓✓ To avoid excessive lowering of blood pressure.
What is the common purpose of antipyretic drugs?
✓✓ To reduce fever.
What is the primary action of analgesics?
✓✓ To relieve pain.
What is the main purpose of antibiotics?
✓✓ To treat bacterial infections.
Why should antibiotics be taken for the full prescribed course?
✓✓ To eliminate the infection and reduce resistance.
What is the main purpose of antifungal drugs?
✓✓ To treat fungal infections.
What is the purpose of antiviral medications?
✓✓ To treat viral infections.
What is the function of anticoagulant drugs?
✓✓ To reduce blood clot formation.
Why should patients taking anticoagulants avoid unnecessary injuries?
✓✓ Because they have an increased risk of bleeding.
What is the purpose of antacids?
✓✓ To neutralize stomach acid.
What is the role of proton pump inhibitors?
✓✓ To reduce stomach acid production.
What is the main use of bronchodilators?
✓✓ To relax airway muscles and improve breathing.
Why should inhalers be used with correct technique?
✓✓ To ensure the medication reaches the lungs effectively.
What is the primary function of diuretics?
✓✓ To increase urine production.
Why should electrolyte levels be monitored in patients taking diuretics?
✓✓ Because diuretics may alter electrolyte balance.
2
, What is the main purpose of laxatives?
✓✓ To relieve constipation.
Why should laxatives not be used excessively?
✓✓ They may cause dependence and electrolyte imbalance.
What is the purpose of antiemetic drugs?
✓✓ To prevent or treat nausea and vomiting.
What is the purpose of sedative medications?
✓✓ To promote relaxation and calmness.
Why should sedatives be used cautiously in older adults?
✓✓ They increase the risk of falls and confusion.
What is the purpose of anticonvulsant drugs?
✓✓ To prevent or control seizures.
What is the main purpose of vaccines?
✓✓ To stimulate immunity against specific diseases.
Why is it important to rotate insulin injection sites?
✓✓ To prevent tissue damage and improve insulin absorption.
What should a nurse assess before administering digoxin?
✓✓ The patient's apical pulse.
Why should grapefruit juice be avoided with certain medications?
✓✓ It can increase or decrease drug levels.
What is the purpose of topical medications?
✓✓ To produce local effects on the skin or mucous membranes.
Why should transdermal patches be applied to clean, dry skin?
✓✓ To ensure proper absorption.
What is the purpose of eye drops?
✓✓ To treat conditions affecting the eyes.
Why should the dropper tip never touch the eye?
✓✓ To prevent contamination.
What is the purpose of ear drops?
✓✓ To treat disorders of the ear.
Why should medications be labeled clearly after preparation?
✓✓ To prevent medication errors.
What is the purpose of controlled drug registers?
✓✓ To document the use and storage of controlled medications.
Why should nurses document medication administration immediately?
✓✓ To maintain accurate patient records.
3
