NSG 318 Final Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED ANSWERS with RATIONALES
Which medication is in the cardiac glycoside drug class?
a. Nitroglycerin
b. Digoxin
c. Coumadin
d. Plavix - ANS✔✔-b. Digoxin
What are the uses of Digoxin? - ANS✔✔-Used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation?
A patient's serum digoxin level is 1.1 ng/mL. What action should the nurse take?
a. Given the next dose
b. Retake the lab test
c. Split the dose in half
d. Inform the HCP - ANS✔✔-D. The nurse should inform the HCP because this results indicates
toxicity.
What is the therapeutic serum level of digoxin? - ANS✔✔-0.5 - 1 ng/ml
The nurse is caring for a patient on digoxin therapy. The student nurse asks the nurse what are
signs of digoxin toxicity. What should the nurse teach the student nurse?
a. Depression
b. Circulatory Collapse
c. Tachycardia
d. Green or yellow hallos - ANS✔✔-D. Green or yellow halos, cardiac dysrhythmias,
bradycardia, vomiting, anorexia and diarrhea
A patient on digoxin therapy reports having blurred vision and yellow halos and respirations are
5 per minute. What action should the nurse take next?
a. Administer protamine
b. Administer digoxin immune fab
c. Administer vitamin K
d. Nothing these are normal side effects - ANS✔✔-B. Administer Digoxin Immune Fab. This
med reverses the side effect of bradycardia
Which CAMs increase the risk of digitalis toxicity? SATA
a. Gingko
b. Ginseng
c. Cinnamon
d. Licorice
e. Aloe
f. Parsley
g. Green tea
h. Ephedra - ANS✔✔-Ginseng, Licorice, Aloe and Ephedra
A patient on digoxin therapy frequently takes CAMs. Which CAMs should the nurse educate the
patient to avoid? - ANS✔✔-Ginseng, St. John's Wort, Psyllium, Hawthorn, Licorice, Aloe, and
Ephedra
, NSG 318 Final Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED ANSWERS with RATIONALES
What are 3 important things a nurse needs to watch for during digoxin therapy? - ANS✔✔-
Apical pulse >60
Toxicity: 0.5-1.0 ng/mL
Potassium: Increases risk of digitalis toxicity
Which medication is in the antianginal drug class?
a. Nitroglycerin
b. Digoxin
c. Coumadin
d. Plavix - ANS✔✔-a. Nitroglycerin
How should a nurse instruct a patient to take nitroglycerin? - ANS✔✔-The most common route
is sublingual.
Take 1 dose when the chest pain begins.
If still having chest pain in 5 mins call 911 and then take a 2nd dose.
If still having chest pain in 5 mins and EMT has not arrived, take a 3 and FINAL dose
A patient asks a nurse why they can only have 3 doses of nitroglycerin. What should the nurse
tell the patient? - ANS✔✔-The main side effect of this med is that it decreases BP. With each
dose the BP is decreasing. So with multiple doses, you will eventually have no BP.
A patient was prescribed a topical/transdermal nitroglycerin. What should the nurse teach the
patient about this route? - ANS✔✔-The patient needs to be nitrate free for 8-12 hours to avoid
developing a tolerance. Typically, this nitrate free period can occur at night.
A patient asks the nurse what side effects they should look out for while on nitroglycerin. What
information should the nurse give to the patient? - ANS✔✔-Blurred vision, palpitation to
compensate for the low BP, tolerance, and orthostatic hypotension. A life-threatening side effect
is circulatory collapse which is when there is no BP if you overdose
What intervention should the nurse take when administering nitroglycerin? - ANS✔✔-Monitor
VS, position pt sitting or laying down when administering, advise pt to NOT drink alcohol while
taking med bc alcohol also decreases BP and instruct pt on how to properly store the med (not
childproof, and temp sensitive)
A student nurse asks what are the used on Tenormin. What should the nurse teach the student? -
ANS✔✔-It is used to treat HTN, angina and treat acute MI
A doctor orders atenolol for a patient with a history of acute bronchospasms. What action should
the nurse take next?
a. Measure pts BP before administering
b. Give the next dose
c. Obtain a medical reconciliation
d. Question the HCPs order - ANS✔✔-d. Question the HCPs order. Bronchospasm is a
contraindication because atenolol has a slight chance of stimulating Beta 2
A new grad doctor asks the nurse what are the drug interactions for atenolol. What should the
nurse inform the doctor? - ANS✔✔-- Atropine and other anticholinergics bc it increases
absorption
, NSG 318 Final Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED ANSWERS with RATIONALES
- NSAIDS decreases the effects
- Insulin and sulfonylureas increase the risk of hypoglycemia
A patient beginning Tenormin would like to know what side effects to look out for. What should
the nurse teach the patient? - ANS✔✔-Normal side effects are depression, cool extremities and
ED. If you have any of the following side effects you should report it: Dyspnea, bradycardia,
excessive dizziness, early morning insomnia and mental depression.
What patient education needs to given to the patient in regards to atenolol? - ANS✔✔-- Sit on
side of the bed before ambulating to avoid orthostatic hypotension
- Pulse should be >60 BPM prior to administering
- Do NOT stop med abruptly to avoid rebound and risk of MI. It should be weaned off over 1-2
weeks
- Warn male pts of ED which is usually dose-related
- Advise patient to not drive/operate dangerous equipment until drug response is known
Which medication is a calcium channel blocker? - ANS✔✔-Cardizem (diltiazem)
What are the uses of diltiazem? - ANS✔✔-Atrial dysrhythmias, HTN and relaxes coronary and
peripheral blood vessels
Hint: Calms heart by lowering BR and BP = zen heart
A student nurse asks what drug interactions are associated with Cardizem. What should the nurse
inform the student? - ANS✔✔-Digoxin, beta blockers and other antihypertensive
A patient is on antihypertensive therapy. She is interested in CAMs. Which CAMs should the
nurse advise her to avoid? SATA
a. Garlic
b. Psyllium
c. Gingko
d. Green Tea
d. Hawthorn
e. Aloe - ANS✔✔-Garlic and Hawthorn. Other CAMs with antihypertensive effects includes
Licorice, Goldenseal, Parsley and Ephedra
A patient states they want to stop taking diltiazem because it is causing peripheral edema. What
should the nurse inform the patient? - ANS✔✔-Peripheral edema is normal SE. If this
medication is abruptly stopped, it can cause acute angina episode.
A patient on Cardizem starts to have bradycardia and hypotension. What antidote(s) would the
nurse expect the HCP would like to be adminstered? - ANS✔✔-Atropine and Calcium Chloride.
Atropine reverses the bradycardia because it is an anticholinergic. Calcium chloride reverses the
hypotension
What medication is in the drug class of Loop Diuretic?
a. Hydrochlorothiazide
b. Furosemide
c. Spironolactone
d. Aminoglycoside - ANS✔✔-b. Furosemide. Brand name is Lasix
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED ANSWERS with RATIONALES
Which medication is in the cardiac glycoside drug class?
a. Nitroglycerin
b. Digoxin
c. Coumadin
d. Plavix - ANS✔✔-b. Digoxin
What are the uses of Digoxin? - ANS✔✔-Used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation?
A patient's serum digoxin level is 1.1 ng/mL. What action should the nurse take?
a. Given the next dose
b. Retake the lab test
c. Split the dose in half
d. Inform the HCP - ANS✔✔-D. The nurse should inform the HCP because this results indicates
toxicity.
What is the therapeutic serum level of digoxin? - ANS✔✔-0.5 - 1 ng/ml
The nurse is caring for a patient on digoxin therapy. The student nurse asks the nurse what are
signs of digoxin toxicity. What should the nurse teach the student nurse?
a. Depression
b. Circulatory Collapse
c. Tachycardia
d. Green or yellow hallos - ANS✔✔-D. Green or yellow halos, cardiac dysrhythmias,
bradycardia, vomiting, anorexia and diarrhea
A patient on digoxin therapy reports having blurred vision and yellow halos and respirations are
5 per minute. What action should the nurse take next?
a. Administer protamine
b. Administer digoxin immune fab
c. Administer vitamin K
d. Nothing these are normal side effects - ANS✔✔-B. Administer Digoxin Immune Fab. This
med reverses the side effect of bradycardia
Which CAMs increase the risk of digitalis toxicity? SATA
a. Gingko
b. Ginseng
c. Cinnamon
d. Licorice
e. Aloe
f. Parsley
g. Green tea
h. Ephedra - ANS✔✔-Ginseng, Licorice, Aloe and Ephedra
A patient on digoxin therapy frequently takes CAMs. Which CAMs should the nurse educate the
patient to avoid? - ANS✔✔-Ginseng, St. John's Wort, Psyllium, Hawthorn, Licorice, Aloe, and
Ephedra
, NSG 318 Final Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED ANSWERS with RATIONALES
What are 3 important things a nurse needs to watch for during digoxin therapy? - ANS✔✔-
Apical pulse >60
Toxicity: 0.5-1.0 ng/mL
Potassium: Increases risk of digitalis toxicity
Which medication is in the antianginal drug class?
a. Nitroglycerin
b. Digoxin
c. Coumadin
d. Plavix - ANS✔✔-a. Nitroglycerin
How should a nurse instruct a patient to take nitroglycerin? - ANS✔✔-The most common route
is sublingual.
Take 1 dose when the chest pain begins.
If still having chest pain in 5 mins call 911 and then take a 2nd dose.
If still having chest pain in 5 mins and EMT has not arrived, take a 3 and FINAL dose
A patient asks a nurse why they can only have 3 doses of nitroglycerin. What should the nurse
tell the patient? - ANS✔✔-The main side effect of this med is that it decreases BP. With each
dose the BP is decreasing. So with multiple doses, you will eventually have no BP.
A patient was prescribed a topical/transdermal nitroglycerin. What should the nurse teach the
patient about this route? - ANS✔✔-The patient needs to be nitrate free for 8-12 hours to avoid
developing a tolerance. Typically, this nitrate free period can occur at night.
A patient asks the nurse what side effects they should look out for while on nitroglycerin. What
information should the nurse give to the patient? - ANS✔✔-Blurred vision, palpitation to
compensate for the low BP, tolerance, and orthostatic hypotension. A life-threatening side effect
is circulatory collapse which is when there is no BP if you overdose
What intervention should the nurse take when administering nitroglycerin? - ANS✔✔-Monitor
VS, position pt sitting or laying down when administering, advise pt to NOT drink alcohol while
taking med bc alcohol also decreases BP and instruct pt on how to properly store the med (not
childproof, and temp sensitive)
A student nurse asks what are the used on Tenormin. What should the nurse teach the student? -
ANS✔✔-It is used to treat HTN, angina and treat acute MI
A doctor orders atenolol for a patient with a history of acute bronchospasms. What action should
the nurse take next?
a. Measure pts BP before administering
b. Give the next dose
c. Obtain a medical reconciliation
d. Question the HCPs order - ANS✔✔-d. Question the HCPs order. Bronchospasm is a
contraindication because atenolol has a slight chance of stimulating Beta 2
A new grad doctor asks the nurse what are the drug interactions for atenolol. What should the
nurse inform the doctor? - ANS✔✔-- Atropine and other anticholinergics bc it increases
absorption
, NSG 318 Final Exam
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED ANSWERS with RATIONALES
- NSAIDS decreases the effects
- Insulin and sulfonylureas increase the risk of hypoglycemia
A patient beginning Tenormin would like to know what side effects to look out for. What should
the nurse teach the patient? - ANS✔✔-Normal side effects are depression, cool extremities and
ED. If you have any of the following side effects you should report it: Dyspnea, bradycardia,
excessive dizziness, early morning insomnia and mental depression.
What patient education needs to given to the patient in regards to atenolol? - ANS✔✔-- Sit on
side of the bed before ambulating to avoid orthostatic hypotension
- Pulse should be >60 BPM prior to administering
- Do NOT stop med abruptly to avoid rebound and risk of MI. It should be weaned off over 1-2
weeks
- Warn male pts of ED which is usually dose-related
- Advise patient to not drive/operate dangerous equipment until drug response is known
Which medication is a calcium channel blocker? - ANS✔✔-Cardizem (diltiazem)
What are the uses of diltiazem? - ANS✔✔-Atrial dysrhythmias, HTN and relaxes coronary and
peripheral blood vessels
Hint: Calms heart by lowering BR and BP = zen heart
A student nurse asks what drug interactions are associated with Cardizem. What should the nurse
inform the student? - ANS✔✔-Digoxin, beta blockers and other antihypertensive
A patient is on antihypertensive therapy. She is interested in CAMs. Which CAMs should the
nurse advise her to avoid? SATA
a. Garlic
b. Psyllium
c. Gingko
d. Green Tea
d. Hawthorn
e. Aloe - ANS✔✔-Garlic and Hawthorn. Other CAMs with antihypertensive effects includes
Licorice, Goldenseal, Parsley and Ephedra
A patient states they want to stop taking diltiazem because it is causing peripheral edema. What
should the nurse inform the patient? - ANS✔✔-Peripheral edema is normal SE. If this
medication is abruptly stopped, it can cause acute angina episode.
A patient on Cardizem starts to have bradycardia and hypotension. What antidote(s) would the
nurse expect the HCP would like to be adminstered? - ANS✔✔-Atropine and Calcium Chloride.
Atropine reverses the bradycardia because it is an anticholinergic. Calcium chloride reverses the
hypotension
What medication is in the drug class of Loop Diuretic?
a. Hydrochlorothiazide
b. Furosemide
c. Spironolactone
d. Aminoglycoside - ANS✔✔-b. Furosemide. Brand name is Lasix
