Kaplan Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Assessment Exam With Actual Questions & Verified
Answers ,Plus Explained Rationales/Expert Verified For
Guaranteed Pass 2026/Latest Update/Instant
Download Pdf
Core Domains :
• Blood Component Therapy
• Intravenous Therapy
• Medications and Pharmacokinetics
• Adverse Effects and Toxicity Monitoring
• Dosage Calculations
• Parenteral Nutrition
BLOCK 1: GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY & MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
(Questions 1-20)
Question 1
Withholding nitroglycerin if the systolic blood pressure is <100 mmHg is an example of a(n):
,A) Contraindication
B) Indication
C) Side effect
D) Untoward effect
Answer: A
Rationale: Contraindications are reasons not to administer a medication. For NTG,
contraindications include SBP <100 mmHg and recent use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. An
indication is a reason the medication would be administered; side effects are expected non-
therapeutic actions; untoward effects are unexpected and can be severe .
Question 2
All of the following are parenteral routes of medication administration EXCEPT:
A) Intravenous
B) Intramuscular
C) Rectal
D) Subcutaneous
Answer: C
Rationale: Parenteral routes include all administration methods that bypass the digestive tract:
IV, IM, SQ, ID, and IO. Rectal administration is considered an enteral route because the rectum is
part of the digestive tract .
,Question 3
Which poses the most immediate and life-threatening complication from intravenous line
placement?
A) Catheter shear
B) Pyrogenic reaction
C) Thrombophlebitis
D) Vasovagal reaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Catheter shear can embolize a piece of plastic from the catheter if the needle is
removed, in whole or part, from the catheter and reinserted. This piece can block an artery in the
lung and cause an almost immediate decline in patient status. Pyrogenic reactions,
thrombophlebitis, and vasovagal reactions are serious complications, but they are rarely life-
threatening .
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer IV potassium. Which precaution is essential?
A) Give as rapid IV push
B) Use an infusion pump
C) Administer without dilution
D) Mix with dextrose only
Answer: B
Rationale: IV potassium must be infused slowly via pump to prevent fatal hyperkalemia and
cardiac arrest. IV push is never safe. Potassium should be diluted and administered at a
controlled rate .
, Question 5
A patient with a serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L is receiving IV potassium replacement. Which
finding indicates the need to slow or stop the infusion?
A) Heart rate of 88 bpm
B) Complaints of burning at the IV site
C) Serum potassium of 3.2 mEq/L after 2 hours
D) Urine output of 45 mL/hr
Answer: C
Rationale: A serum potassium of 3.2 mEq/L after 2 hours indicates rapid potassium repletion
and may lead to hyperkalemia. The nurse should slow or stop the infusion and reassess. Burning
at the IV site may indicate infiltration but is less urgent than rapid electrolyte correction.
Question 6
Which medication class is contraindicated in a patient with bilateral renal artery stenosis?
A) Beta-blockers
B) ACE inhibitors
C) Calcium channel blockers
D) Thiazide diuretics
Answer: B
Rationale: ACE inhibitors reduce glomerular filtration pressure and can cause acute renal failure
in bilateral renal artery stenosis. Other options are safer alternatives .
Assessment Exam With Actual Questions & Verified
Answers ,Plus Explained Rationales/Expert Verified For
Guaranteed Pass 2026/Latest Update/Instant
Download Pdf
Core Domains :
• Blood Component Therapy
• Intravenous Therapy
• Medications and Pharmacokinetics
• Adverse Effects and Toxicity Monitoring
• Dosage Calculations
• Parenteral Nutrition
BLOCK 1: GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY & MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
(Questions 1-20)
Question 1
Withholding nitroglycerin if the systolic blood pressure is <100 mmHg is an example of a(n):
,A) Contraindication
B) Indication
C) Side effect
D) Untoward effect
Answer: A
Rationale: Contraindications are reasons not to administer a medication. For NTG,
contraindications include SBP <100 mmHg and recent use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. An
indication is a reason the medication would be administered; side effects are expected non-
therapeutic actions; untoward effects are unexpected and can be severe .
Question 2
All of the following are parenteral routes of medication administration EXCEPT:
A) Intravenous
B) Intramuscular
C) Rectal
D) Subcutaneous
Answer: C
Rationale: Parenteral routes include all administration methods that bypass the digestive tract:
IV, IM, SQ, ID, and IO. Rectal administration is considered an enteral route because the rectum is
part of the digestive tract .
,Question 3
Which poses the most immediate and life-threatening complication from intravenous line
placement?
A) Catheter shear
B) Pyrogenic reaction
C) Thrombophlebitis
D) Vasovagal reaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Catheter shear can embolize a piece of plastic from the catheter if the needle is
removed, in whole or part, from the catheter and reinserted. This piece can block an artery in the
lung and cause an almost immediate decline in patient status. Pyrogenic reactions,
thrombophlebitis, and vasovagal reactions are serious complications, but they are rarely life-
threatening .
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer IV potassium. Which precaution is essential?
A) Give as rapid IV push
B) Use an infusion pump
C) Administer without dilution
D) Mix with dextrose only
Answer: B
Rationale: IV potassium must be infused slowly via pump to prevent fatal hyperkalemia and
cardiac arrest. IV push is never safe. Potassium should be diluted and administered at a
controlled rate .
, Question 5
A patient with a serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L is receiving IV potassium replacement. Which
finding indicates the need to slow or stop the infusion?
A) Heart rate of 88 bpm
B) Complaints of burning at the IV site
C) Serum potassium of 3.2 mEq/L after 2 hours
D) Urine output of 45 mL/hr
Answer: C
Rationale: A serum potassium of 3.2 mEq/L after 2 hours indicates rapid potassium repletion
and may lead to hyperkalemia. The nurse should slow or stop the infusion and reassess. Burning
at the IV site may indicate infiltration but is less urgent than rapid electrolyte correction.
Question 6
Which medication class is contraindicated in a patient with bilateral renal artery stenosis?
A) Beta-blockers
B) ACE inhibitors
C) Calcium channel blockers
D) Thiazide diuretics
Answer: B
Rationale: ACE inhibitors reduce glomerular filtration pressure and can cause acute renal failure
in bilateral renal artery stenosis. Other options are safer alternatives .
