Pediatric & Women's Health Pharmacology Exam
Practice Questions & Answers | NCLEX Review |
Nursing Study Guide | Latest Update 2026
QUESTION 1
A 10-year-old boy is taking dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) daily for ADHD. At
each visit, the nurse's priority assessment would be:
A. Vision.
B. Body temperature.
C. Height and weight.
D. Blood pressure.
Answer: C. Height and weight
Rationale: Dextroamphetamine is a stimulant medication that commonly causes
appetite suppression and growth retardation in children. Monitoring height and
weight at each visit is essential to assess for growth suppression, which is a
significant adverse effect of long-term stimulant therapy. While blood pressure is
also monitored, growth parameters are the priority assessment due to the potential
for permanent growth delay. Vision and body temperature are not specific
priorities for this medication.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is explaining to the parents of a 6-year-old child suffering from angina
why patches for chest pain would not be appropriate. Which of the following will
the nurse explain?
A. A child's gastric pH is decreased, causing less of the drug to be absorbed from
the skin, therefore producing more adverse effects.
B. A child has a greater body surface area, creating greater permeability
resulting in an increase in absorption of topical agents, which may result in
more adverse effects.
C. A child has an erratic blood flow from an immature peripheral circulation,
which affects absorption, causing an increase in adverse effects.
,D. A child has a smaller body surface area, resulting in an increase in topical
absorption, causing more adverse effects.
Answer: B. A child has a greater body surface area, creating greater
permeability resulting in an increase in absorption of topical agents, which
may result in more adverse effects.
Rationale: Children have a greater body surface area-to-body weight ratio
compared to adults, which leads to increased percutaneous absorption of topical
medications. Additionally, children's skin is thinner and more permeable, allowing
for greater systemic absorption of topical agents. This increased absorption can
lead to higher serum drug levels and potentially more adverse effects. Gastric pH is
not relevant to transdermal absorption, and children do not have smaller body
surface area or erratic blood flow as described.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is going to administer medication to an infant using a medicine dropper.
The nurse opens the child's mouth by gently squeezing the cheeks and placing the
drops:
A. Under the tongue.
B. In the buccal pouch.
C. On the back of the tongue.
D. In the conjunctival sac.
Answer: B. In the buccal pouch
Rationale: When administering oral medication to an infant using a medicine
dropper, the medication should be placed in the buccal pouch (between the cheek
and gum). This technique prevents aspiration and allows the infant to swallow the
medication safely. Placing drops under the tongue (sublingual) is not appropriate
for infants as they cannot hold medication there. Placing drops on the back of the
tongue may trigger the gag reflex and cause choking or aspiration. The
conjunctival sac is for eye medications only.
QUESTION 4
,A 15-year-old boy has been diagnosed with bone cancer after several months of
fatigue. What question should the nurse include in an assessment when trying to
minimize adverse drug reactions?
A. "Did Tylenol or other over-the-counter pain remedies ever relieve your pain?"
B. "How much do you weigh?"
C. "Do you ever use alcohol or drugs?"
D. "On a scale of zero to ten, what level of pain is acceptable to you?"
Answer: C. "Do you ever use alcohol or drugs?"
Rationale: Assessing for alcohol and drug use is critical when minimizing adverse
drug reactions, especially in an adolescent. Alcohol and illicit drug use can interact
with chemotherapeutic agents, potentially altering drug metabolism, increasing
hepatotoxicity, and causing severe adverse effects. Adolescents may be reluctant to
disclose substance use, making it essential for the nurse to ask directly and non-
judgmentally. While weight is important for dosing and pain assessment is
important for management, neither directly addresses minimization of adverse drug
reactions from potential drug interactions with substances.
QUESTION 5
A patient reports to a clinic with complaints of breast tenderness, a right lumpy
breast with discharge. The breast tenderness occurs primarily during her menstrual
cycle. The nurse probably suspects:
A. Breast cancer.
B. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).
C. Pain in the heart.
D. Cancerous breast tenderness.
Answer: B. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
Rationale: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) commonly presents with breast
tenderness (mastalgia), lumpy breasts (fibrocystic changes), and discharge that
occurs cyclically with the menstrual cycle. These symptoms are typically related to
hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogen and progesterone changes. While
breast cancer can present with lumps and discharge, it is not typically cyclical in
nature. Cardiac pain (angina) is not associated with breast tenderness. The cyclical
, nature of symptoms is the key distinguishing feature pointing toward PMS rather
than malignancy.
QUESTION 6
A 19-year-old patient reports to a clinic with vaginal discharge with a foul odor.
The nurse practitioner suspects trichomonas vaginalis. The nurse practitioner is
aware that:
A. Trichomoniasis is an incurable disease.
B. Trichomoniasis discharge is typically thin and clear.
C. Asymptomatic women are diagnosed with trichomoniasis by a routine pap
smear.
D. It is unusual to have an odor with trichomoniasis.
Answer: C. Asymptomatic women are diagnosed with trichomoniasis by a
routine pap smear.
Rationale: Trichomoniasis is often asymptomatic in women and may be
discovered incidentally during a routine Pap smear, which can show the
characteristic motile organisms. Trichomoniasis is curable with antibiotics
(metronidazole or tinidazole). The classic discharge associated with trichomoniasis
is typically frothy, yellow-green, and malodorous (often described as fishy), not
thin and clear. A foul odor is actually a common finding with trichomoniasis, not
unusual.
QUESTION 7
A nurse is providing education to a 16-year-old female who has been prescribed
isotretinoin (Accutane) for severe acne. Which statement by the patient indicates a
need for further teaching?
A. "I will use two forms of birth control while taking this medication."
B. "I need to have regular blood tests to check my liver function."
C. "I can take St. John's wort for my mild depression while on this medication."
D. "I should avoid vitamin A supplements while taking Accutane."
Answer: C. "I can take St. John's wort for my mild depression while on this
medication."
Practice Questions & Answers | NCLEX Review |
Nursing Study Guide | Latest Update 2026
QUESTION 1
A 10-year-old boy is taking dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) daily for ADHD. At
each visit, the nurse's priority assessment would be:
A. Vision.
B. Body temperature.
C. Height and weight.
D. Blood pressure.
Answer: C. Height and weight
Rationale: Dextroamphetamine is a stimulant medication that commonly causes
appetite suppression and growth retardation in children. Monitoring height and
weight at each visit is essential to assess for growth suppression, which is a
significant adverse effect of long-term stimulant therapy. While blood pressure is
also monitored, growth parameters are the priority assessment due to the potential
for permanent growth delay. Vision and body temperature are not specific
priorities for this medication.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is explaining to the parents of a 6-year-old child suffering from angina
why patches for chest pain would not be appropriate. Which of the following will
the nurse explain?
A. A child's gastric pH is decreased, causing less of the drug to be absorbed from
the skin, therefore producing more adverse effects.
B. A child has a greater body surface area, creating greater permeability
resulting in an increase in absorption of topical agents, which may result in
more adverse effects.
C. A child has an erratic blood flow from an immature peripheral circulation,
which affects absorption, causing an increase in adverse effects.
,D. A child has a smaller body surface area, resulting in an increase in topical
absorption, causing more adverse effects.
Answer: B. A child has a greater body surface area, creating greater
permeability resulting in an increase in absorption of topical agents, which
may result in more adverse effects.
Rationale: Children have a greater body surface area-to-body weight ratio
compared to adults, which leads to increased percutaneous absorption of topical
medications. Additionally, children's skin is thinner and more permeable, allowing
for greater systemic absorption of topical agents. This increased absorption can
lead to higher serum drug levels and potentially more adverse effects. Gastric pH is
not relevant to transdermal absorption, and children do not have smaller body
surface area or erratic blood flow as described.
QUESTION 3
A nurse is going to administer medication to an infant using a medicine dropper.
The nurse opens the child's mouth by gently squeezing the cheeks and placing the
drops:
A. Under the tongue.
B. In the buccal pouch.
C. On the back of the tongue.
D. In the conjunctival sac.
Answer: B. In the buccal pouch
Rationale: When administering oral medication to an infant using a medicine
dropper, the medication should be placed in the buccal pouch (between the cheek
and gum). This technique prevents aspiration and allows the infant to swallow the
medication safely. Placing drops under the tongue (sublingual) is not appropriate
for infants as they cannot hold medication there. Placing drops on the back of the
tongue may trigger the gag reflex and cause choking or aspiration. The
conjunctival sac is for eye medications only.
QUESTION 4
,A 15-year-old boy has been diagnosed with bone cancer after several months of
fatigue. What question should the nurse include in an assessment when trying to
minimize adverse drug reactions?
A. "Did Tylenol or other over-the-counter pain remedies ever relieve your pain?"
B. "How much do you weigh?"
C. "Do you ever use alcohol or drugs?"
D. "On a scale of zero to ten, what level of pain is acceptable to you?"
Answer: C. "Do you ever use alcohol or drugs?"
Rationale: Assessing for alcohol and drug use is critical when minimizing adverse
drug reactions, especially in an adolescent. Alcohol and illicit drug use can interact
with chemotherapeutic agents, potentially altering drug metabolism, increasing
hepatotoxicity, and causing severe adverse effects. Adolescents may be reluctant to
disclose substance use, making it essential for the nurse to ask directly and non-
judgmentally. While weight is important for dosing and pain assessment is
important for management, neither directly addresses minimization of adverse drug
reactions from potential drug interactions with substances.
QUESTION 5
A patient reports to a clinic with complaints of breast tenderness, a right lumpy
breast with discharge. The breast tenderness occurs primarily during her menstrual
cycle. The nurse probably suspects:
A. Breast cancer.
B. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).
C. Pain in the heart.
D. Cancerous breast tenderness.
Answer: B. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
Rationale: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) commonly presents with breast
tenderness (mastalgia), lumpy breasts (fibrocystic changes), and discharge that
occurs cyclically with the menstrual cycle. These symptoms are typically related to
hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogen and progesterone changes. While
breast cancer can present with lumps and discharge, it is not typically cyclical in
nature. Cardiac pain (angina) is not associated with breast tenderness. The cyclical
, nature of symptoms is the key distinguishing feature pointing toward PMS rather
than malignancy.
QUESTION 6
A 19-year-old patient reports to a clinic with vaginal discharge with a foul odor.
The nurse practitioner suspects trichomonas vaginalis. The nurse practitioner is
aware that:
A. Trichomoniasis is an incurable disease.
B. Trichomoniasis discharge is typically thin and clear.
C. Asymptomatic women are diagnosed with trichomoniasis by a routine pap
smear.
D. It is unusual to have an odor with trichomoniasis.
Answer: C. Asymptomatic women are diagnosed with trichomoniasis by a
routine pap smear.
Rationale: Trichomoniasis is often asymptomatic in women and may be
discovered incidentally during a routine Pap smear, which can show the
characteristic motile organisms. Trichomoniasis is curable with antibiotics
(metronidazole or tinidazole). The classic discharge associated with trichomoniasis
is typically frothy, yellow-green, and malodorous (often described as fishy), not
thin and clear. A foul odor is actually a common finding with trichomoniasis, not
unusual.
QUESTION 7
A nurse is providing education to a 16-year-old female who has been prescribed
isotretinoin (Accutane) for severe acne. Which statement by the patient indicates a
need for further teaching?
A. "I will use two forms of birth control while taking this medication."
B. "I need to have regular blood tests to check my liver function."
C. "I can take St. John's wort for my mild depression while on this medication."
D. "I should avoid vitamin A supplements while taking Accutane."
Answer: C. "I can take St. John's wort for my mild depression while on this
medication."
