Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology
Assessment WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
WELL VERIFIED AND IN-DEPTH
RATIONALES 2026 WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES AT THE END OF THE TEST.
Exam Questions
1. A patient is prescribed a loop diuretic. Which electrolyte imbalance is the most
significant concern for the nurse to monitor?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
2. The nurse is administering a beta-blocker. Which assessment finding would indicate a
therapeutic effect of the drug?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Bronchodilation
3. A patient is starting on an ACE inhibitor. Which side effect is most commonly
associated with this class of drugs and requires patient education?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Dry, hacking cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
,4. A client prescribed nitroglycerin for angina reports a headache. What is the nurse's
best response?
A. "This is a sign of an allergic reaction and you should stop the medication."
B. "This is a common side effect due to vasodilation; it may decrease with continued
use."
C. "You should take an additional dose of nitroglycerin to relieve the headache."
D. "This indicates that the medication is not working effectively."
5. The nurse is providing education to a patient starting on warfarin. Which statement by
the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will need to have regular blood tests to check my INR."
B. "I should avoid eating large amounts of leafy green vegetables."
C. "I can take ibuprofen for my headaches."
D. "I should report any unusual bleeding or bruising to my doctor."
6. A patient has been prescribed an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). The nurse
understands that the primary action of this drug is to:
A. Decrease absorption of dietary cholesterol.
B. Increase the excretion of LDL cholesterol.
C. Inhibit an enzyme in the liver that synthesizes cholesterol.
D. Bind to bile acids in the intestine.
7. A patient is receiving IV heparin. The nurse would anticipate having which
medication readily available as an antidote?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Flumazenil
,8. The nurse is caring for a patient with type 1 diabetes who is prescribed insulin. Which
type of insulin has the most rapid onset of action?
A. NPH insulin
B. Regular insulin
C. Insulin glargine
D. Insulin lispro
9. A patient is prescribed metformin. The nurse is aware that the most serious adverse
effect of this medication is:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Weight gain
C. Lactic acidosis
D. GI upset
10. The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin. Which vital sign assessment is most
critical before administration?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Temperature
C. Pulse rate
D. Blood pressure
11. A client is taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression. The
nurse should educate the client that the full therapeutic effect may not be seen for:
A. 1-2 days
B. 1-2 weeks
C. 4-6 weeks
D. 3-4 months
12. Which of the following is a priority nursing diagnosis for a patient prescribed an
antipsychotic medication?
, A. Risk for injury related to extrapyramidal symptoms
B. Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements
C. Sexual dysfunction
D. Constipation
13. A patient who is taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression reports
eating aged cheese and experiencing a severe headache and hypertension. The
nurse suspects:
A. A normal side effect of the MAOI.
B. An anaphylactic reaction.
C. A hypertensive crisis.
D. Serotonin syndrome.
14. The nurse is administering morphine to a patient for severe pain. Which side effect
requires the nurse to implement fall precautions?
A. Constipation
B. Urinary retention
C. Dizziness and orthostatic hypotension
D. Respiratory depression
15. A patient is prescribed an opioid analgesic. The nurse knows that which medication
should be available to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Flumazenil
D. Atropine
16. A patient is started on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for arthritis.
The nurse should monitor the patient for which potential adverse effect?
A. Constipation
Assessment WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
WELL VERIFIED AND IN-DEPTH
RATIONALES 2026 WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES AT THE END OF THE TEST.
Exam Questions
1. A patient is prescribed a loop diuretic. Which electrolyte imbalance is the most
significant concern for the nurse to monitor?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
2. The nurse is administering a beta-blocker. Which assessment finding would indicate a
therapeutic effect of the drug?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Bronchodilation
3. A patient is starting on an ACE inhibitor. Which side effect is most commonly
associated with this class of drugs and requires patient education?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Dry, hacking cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
,4. A client prescribed nitroglycerin for angina reports a headache. What is the nurse's
best response?
A. "This is a sign of an allergic reaction and you should stop the medication."
B. "This is a common side effect due to vasodilation; it may decrease with continued
use."
C. "You should take an additional dose of nitroglycerin to relieve the headache."
D. "This indicates that the medication is not working effectively."
5. The nurse is providing education to a patient starting on warfarin. Which statement by
the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will need to have regular blood tests to check my INR."
B. "I should avoid eating large amounts of leafy green vegetables."
C. "I can take ibuprofen for my headaches."
D. "I should report any unusual bleeding or bruising to my doctor."
6. A patient has been prescribed an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). The nurse
understands that the primary action of this drug is to:
A. Decrease absorption of dietary cholesterol.
B. Increase the excretion of LDL cholesterol.
C. Inhibit an enzyme in the liver that synthesizes cholesterol.
D. Bind to bile acids in the intestine.
7. A patient is receiving IV heparin. The nurse would anticipate having which
medication readily available as an antidote?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Flumazenil
,8. The nurse is caring for a patient with type 1 diabetes who is prescribed insulin. Which
type of insulin has the most rapid onset of action?
A. NPH insulin
B. Regular insulin
C. Insulin glargine
D. Insulin lispro
9. A patient is prescribed metformin. The nurse is aware that the most serious adverse
effect of this medication is:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Weight gain
C. Lactic acidosis
D. GI upset
10. The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin. Which vital sign assessment is most
critical before administration?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Temperature
C. Pulse rate
D. Blood pressure
11. A client is taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression. The
nurse should educate the client that the full therapeutic effect may not be seen for:
A. 1-2 days
B. 1-2 weeks
C. 4-6 weeks
D. 3-4 months
12. Which of the following is a priority nursing diagnosis for a patient prescribed an
antipsychotic medication?
, A. Risk for injury related to extrapyramidal symptoms
B. Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements
C. Sexual dysfunction
D. Constipation
13. A patient who is taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression reports
eating aged cheese and experiencing a severe headache and hypertension. The
nurse suspects:
A. A normal side effect of the MAOI.
B. An anaphylactic reaction.
C. A hypertensive crisis.
D. Serotonin syndrome.
14. The nurse is administering morphine to a patient for severe pain. Which side effect
requires the nurse to implement fall precautions?
A. Constipation
B. Urinary retention
C. Dizziness and orthostatic hypotension
D. Respiratory depression
15. A patient is prescribed an opioid analgesic. The nurse knows that which medication
should be available to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Flumazenil
D. Atropine
16. A patient is started on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for arthritis.
The nurse should monitor the patient for which potential adverse effect?
A. Constipation
