NURS 305 Final Exam V3 | NURS 305
Pharmacology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NURS305 Final Exam) | Liberty University
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which of the
following actions is the priority before administration?
A. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute.
B. Check the patient’s blood pressure.
C. Monitor the patient’s serum glucose level.
D. Administer the dose with an antacid.
Answer: A
Rationale: Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that can cause significant bradycardia. The nurse
must assess the apical pulse for a full minute and withhold the dose if the heart rate is less
than 60 beats per minute. This assessment is critical to prevent digoxin toxicity and life-
threatening arrhythmias.
2. A patient is prescribed lisinopril for hypertension. The nurse should monitor for which
specific adverse effect associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Peripheral edema
,D. A persistent dry cough
Answer: D
Rationale: ACE inhibitors lead to an accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs, which
frequently results in a nonproductive, dry cough. Patients should be educated that this is a
common side effect and may require a change in medication class. If the cough becomes
intolerable, the provider might switch the patient to an Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker
(ARB).
3. The nurse is educating a patient about a new prescription for warfarin. Which of the
following laboratory values will be used to monitor the effectiveness of this therapy?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Serum creatinine
D. White blood cell count
Answer: B
Rationale: The Prothrombin Time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) are the
standard labs used to monitor warfarin therapy. The therapeutic range for INR is typically
between 2.0 and 3.0 for most indications like atrial fibrillation. Frequent monitoring is
necessary to ensure the patient remains within the therapeutic window to prevent
bleeding or clotting.
, 4. Which medication should the nurse have available as an antidote for a patient receiving a
heparin infusion?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Flumazenil
D. Acetylcysteine
Answer: B
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific reversal agent for heparin-induced
anticoagulation. It works by binding to heparin to form a stable salt, neutralizing its
anticoagulant effect. Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin, so the nurse must distinguish
between these two common anticoagulants.
5. A patient with a history of asthma is diagnosed with hypertension. Which class of
antihypertensives should the nurse question if prescribed?
A. Calcium channel blockers
B. ACE inhibitors
C. Thiazide diuretics
D. Non-selective beta blockers
Answer: D
Pharmacology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NURS305 Final Exam) | Liberty University
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which of the
following actions is the priority before administration?
A. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute.
B. Check the patient’s blood pressure.
C. Monitor the patient’s serum glucose level.
D. Administer the dose with an antacid.
Answer: A
Rationale: Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that can cause significant bradycardia. The nurse
must assess the apical pulse for a full minute and withhold the dose if the heart rate is less
than 60 beats per minute. This assessment is critical to prevent digoxin toxicity and life-
threatening arrhythmias.
2. A patient is prescribed lisinopril for hypertension. The nurse should monitor for which
specific adverse effect associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Peripheral edema
,D. A persistent dry cough
Answer: D
Rationale: ACE inhibitors lead to an accumulation of bradykinin in the lungs, which
frequently results in a nonproductive, dry cough. Patients should be educated that this is a
common side effect and may require a change in medication class. If the cough becomes
intolerable, the provider might switch the patient to an Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker
(ARB).
3. The nurse is educating a patient about a new prescription for warfarin. Which of the
following laboratory values will be used to monitor the effectiveness of this therapy?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Serum creatinine
D. White blood cell count
Answer: B
Rationale: The Prothrombin Time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) are the
standard labs used to monitor warfarin therapy. The therapeutic range for INR is typically
between 2.0 and 3.0 for most indications like atrial fibrillation. Frequent monitoring is
necessary to ensure the patient remains within the therapeutic window to prevent
bleeding or clotting.
, 4. Which medication should the nurse have available as an antidote for a patient receiving a
heparin infusion?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Flumazenil
D. Acetylcysteine
Answer: B
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific reversal agent for heparin-induced
anticoagulation. It works by binding to heparin to form a stable salt, neutralizing its
anticoagulant effect. Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin, so the nurse must distinguish
between these two common anticoagulants.
5. A patient with a history of asthma is diagnosed with hypertension. Which class of
antihypertensives should the nurse question if prescribed?
A. Calcium channel blockers
B. ACE inhibitors
C. Thiazide diuretics
D. Non-selective beta blockers
Answer: D
