NR 566 Week 5 Exam – Eyes, Ears, Nose & Skin
— Exam Questions with Correct Answers
(VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download PDF
1. A patient with primary open-angle glaucoma is prescribed
latanoprost ophthalmic solution. Which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A. Apply the medication directly to the cornea every morning.
B. Expect the medication to temporarily increase intraocular
pressure.
C. Administer the medication as prescribed, generally once
daily in the evening.
D. Stop the medication when intraocular pressure returns to
normal.
Rationale: Latanoprost is a prostaglandin analog used to reduce
intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma by increasing
uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor. It is commonly
administered once daily, typically in the evening. Patients should
continue therapy even when pressure improves because
glaucoma is chronic and often asymptomatic. Latanoprost can
,cause conjunctival hyperemia, eyelash growth, and increased
brown pigmentation of the iris or periorbital skin.
2. Which adverse effect is most characteristic of topical
latanoprost therapy?
A. Severe hypoglycemia
B. Increased pigmentation of the iris
C. Profound hearing loss
D. Urinary retention
Rationale: Latanoprost can gradually increase brown
pigmentation of the iris, particularly in patients with mixed-
color irises. This change may be permanent. Other common
effects include conjunctival redness and eyelash growth.
Patients should be informed about these effects so that they do
not discontinue therapy unnecessarily.
3. A patient is prescribed timolol ophthalmic solution for
glaucoma. Which medical history is most important for the
prescriber to review?
A. Seasonal allergies
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Asthma
D. Migraine headaches
,Rationale: Ophthalmic timolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic
blocker. Although administered to the eye, some systemic
absorption can occur and may cause bronchospasm,
bradycardia, or hypotension. Nonselective beta blockers can be
particularly problematic in patients with asthma or other
bronchospastic diseases. Punctal occlusion after administration
can reduce systemic absorption.
4. Which technique is appropriate when administering
ophthalmic drops?
A. Touch the dropper tip to the conjunctival sac.
B. Place the drop directly onto the cornea.
C. Pull the lower eyelid down and place the drop into the
conjunctival sac without touching the eye.
D. Ask the patient to blink repeatedly while the drop is
administered.
Rationale: The lower eyelid should be gently pulled downward
to create a conjunctival pocket. The dropper should remain
sterile and should not touch the eye, eyelashes, or surrounding
skin. Touching these surfaces can contaminate the medication.
After administration, the patient should gently close the eye
rather than repeatedly blinking.
, 5. A patient is using two different ophthalmic medications.
What is the recommended approach?
A. Administer both medications simultaneously.
B. Administer the ointment before the drops.
C. Separate administration of different ophthalmic drops by
several minutes.
D. Mix both medications in the same container before
administration.
Rationale: Administering ophthalmic medications too close
together can wash the first medication out of the conjunctival
sac and reduce its effectiveness. Different drops should
generally be separated by several minutes. When both drops
and ophthalmic ointment are prescribed, drops are generally
administered before ointment because ointment can interfere
with absorption of subsequently administered drops.
6. Which medication is commonly used as a first-line therapy
for allergic conjunctivitis?
A. Oral isotretinoin
B. Topical ophthalmic antihistamine/mast-cell stabilizer
C. Topical beta blocker
D. Ophthalmic antibiotic in every case
— Exam Questions with Correct Answers
(VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download PDF
1. A patient with primary open-angle glaucoma is prescribed
latanoprost ophthalmic solution. Which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A. Apply the medication directly to the cornea every morning.
B. Expect the medication to temporarily increase intraocular
pressure.
C. Administer the medication as prescribed, generally once
daily in the evening.
D. Stop the medication when intraocular pressure returns to
normal.
Rationale: Latanoprost is a prostaglandin analog used to reduce
intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma by increasing
uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor. It is commonly
administered once daily, typically in the evening. Patients should
continue therapy even when pressure improves because
glaucoma is chronic and often asymptomatic. Latanoprost can
,cause conjunctival hyperemia, eyelash growth, and increased
brown pigmentation of the iris or periorbital skin.
2. Which adverse effect is most characteristic of topical
latanoprost therapy?
A. Severe hypoglycemia
B. Increased pigmentation of the iris
C. Profound hearing loss
D. Urinary retention
Rationale: Latanoprost can gradually increase brown
pigmentation of the iris, particularly in patients with mixed-
color irises. This change may be permanent. Other common
effects include conjunctival redness and eyelash growth.
Patients should be informed about these effects so that they do
not discontinue therapy unnecessarily.
3. A patient is prescribed timolol ophthalmic solution for
glaucoma. Which medical history is most important for the
prescriber to review?
A. Seasonal allergies
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Asthma
D. Migraine headaches
,Rationale: Ophthalmic timolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic
blocker. Although administered to the eye, some systemic
absorption can occur and may cause bronchospasm,
bradycardia, or hypotension. Nonselective beta blockers can be
particularly problematic in patients with asthma or other
bronchospastic diseases. Punctal occlusion after administration
can reduce systemic absorption.
4. Which technique is appropriate when administering
ophthalmic drops?
A. Touch the dropper tip to the conjunctival sac.
B. Place the drop directly onto the cornea.
C. Pull the lower eyelid down and place the drop into the
conjunctival sac without touching the eye.
D. Ask the patient to blink repeatedly while the drop is
administered.
Rationale: The lower eyelid should be gently pulled downward
to create a conjunctival pocket. The dropper should remain
sterile and should not touch the eye, eyelashes, or surrounding
skin. Touching these surfaces can contaminate the medication.
After administration, the patient should gently close the eye
rather than repeatedly blinking.
, 5. A patient is using two different ophthalmic medications.
What is the recommended approach?
A. Administer both medications simultaneously.
B. Administer the ointment before the drops.
C. Separate administration of different ophthalmic drops by
several minutes.
D. Mix both medications in the same container before
administration.
Rationale: Administering ophthalmic medications too close
together can wash the first medication out of the conjunctival
sac and reduce its effectiveness. Different drops should
generally be separated by several minutes. When both drops
and ophthalmic ointment are prescribed, drops are generally
administered before ointment because ointment can interfere
with absorption of subsequently administered drops.
6. Which medication is commonly used as a first-line therapy
for allergic conjunctivitis?
A. Oral isotretinoin
B. Topical ophthalmic antihistamine/mast-cell stabilizer
C. Topical beta blocker
D. Ophthalmic antibiotic in every case
