Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
1.The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness.
To do this, the nurse will rely on knowledge of which topic? a.
Clinical pharmacology b.
Drug efficacy
c.
Pharmacokinetics d.
Pharmacotherapeutics: Pharmacotherapeutics
2.What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer? a.
It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration. b.
It does not interact significantly with other medications. c.
It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen. d.
It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.: It enhances patient adherence to the
drug regimen.
3.A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness
and will decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the
drug's effects by the patient, the nurse will anticipate which outcome?
a.
Decreased chance of having a placebo effect b.
Decreased motivation to take the drug c.
Improved compliance with the drug regimen d.
Increased likelihood of drug overdose: Improved compliance with the drug regimen
4.What are the properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.) a.
Irreversible action b.
Predictability c.
Ease of administration d.
Chemical stability e.
A recognizable trade name: Predictability
Ease of administration
Chemical stability
, Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
5. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how
individual patient variability might affect the patient's response to the medication?
(Select all that apply.) a.
Chemical stability of the medication b.
Ease of administration
c.
Family medical history d.
Patient's age e.
Patient's diagnosis: Family medical history
Patient's age
Patient's diagnosis
6. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The
medication label instructs the patient to administer "2 puffs every 4 hours as needed
for coughing or wheezing." The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking
the medication, and she doesn't feel that the medication is always effective. Which
action is outside the nurse's scope of practice? a.
Asking the patient to demonstrate use of the inhaler b.
Assessing the patient's exposure to tobacco smoke c.
Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs d.
Suggesting that the patient use one puff to reduce side effects: Suggesting that the
patient use one puff to reduce side effects
7. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with
acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Lortab] for pain. The patient asks the nurse about using
Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is correct? a.
"It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications." b.
"Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity." c.
"There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe." d.
"Tylenol and Lortab are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.": "Taking the
two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity."
, Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
8. The nurse is preparing to care for a patient who will be taking an antihypertensive
medication. Which action by the nurse is part of the assessment step of the nursing
process? a.
Asking the prescriber for an order to monitor serum drug levels b.
Monitoring the patient for drug interactions after giving the medication c.
Questioning the patient about over-the-counter medications d.
Taking the patient's blood pressure throughout the course of treatment: Questioning
the patient about over-the-counter medications
9. A postoperative patient reports pain, which the patient rates as an 8 on a scale
from 1 to 10 (10 being the most extreme pain). The prescriber has ordered
acetaminophen [Tylenol] 650 mg PO every 6 hours PRN pain. What will the nurse do? a.
Ask the patient what medications have helped with pain in the past. b.
Contact the provider to request a different analgesic medication. c.
Give the pain medication and reposition the patient to promote comfort. d.
Request an order to administer the medication every 4 hours.: Contact the provider to
request a different analgesic medication.
10. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes is to be discharged from the hospital. The
nurse teaching this patient about home management should begin by doing what? a.
Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin b.
Discussing methods of storing insulin and discarding syringes c.
Giving information about how diet and exercise affect insulin requirements d.
Teaching the patient about the long-term consequences of poor diabetes
control: Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
11. The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain.
Which action is not part of the six rights of drug administration? a.
Assessing the patient's pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication b.
Checking the medication administration record to see when the last dose was
administered
c.
Consulting a drug manual to determine whether the amount the prescriber ordered is
appropriate d.
, Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
Documenting the reason the medication was given in the patient's electronic
medical record: Assessing the patient's pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the
medication
12. A patient tells a nurse that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine
headaches is not working. What will the nurse do? a.
Ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken. b.
Assess the patient's headache pain on a scale from 1 to 10. c.
Report the patient's complaint to the prescriber. d.
Suggest biofeedback as an adjunct to drug therapy: Ask the patient about the number
and frequency of tablets taken.
13. A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which patient would the nurse
consider to have the greatest predisposition to an adverse reaction? a.
A 30-year-old man with kidney disease b.
A 75-year-old woman with cystitis
c.
A 50-year-old man with an upper respiratory tract infection d.
A 9-year-old boy with an ear infection: A 30-year-old man with kidney disease
14. A nurse consults a drug manual before giving a medication to an 80-year-old
patient. The manual states that older-adult patients are at increased risk for hepatic
side effects. Which action by the nurse is correct?
a.
Contact the provider to discuss an order for pretreatment laboratory work. b.
Ensure that the drug is given in the correct dose at the correct time to minimize
the risk of adverse effects. c.
Notify the provider that this drug is contraindicated for this patient. d.
Request an order to give the medication intravenously so that the drug does not pass
through the liver.: Contact the provider to discuss an order for pretreatment laboratory
work. 15. A patient has been receiving intravenous penicillin for pneumonia for several
days and begins to complain of generalized itching. The nurse auscultates bilateral
wheezing and notes a temperature of 38.5°C (101°F). Which is the correct action by the
nurse? a.
1.The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness.
To do this, the nurse will rely on knowledge of which topic? a.
Clinical pharmacology b.
Drug efficacy
c.
Pharmacokinetics d.
Pharmacotherapeutics: Pharmacotherapeutics
2.What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer? a.
It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration. b.
It does not interact significantly with other medications. c.
It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen. d.
It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.: It enhances patient adherence to the
drug regimen.
3.A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness
and will decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the
drug's effects by the patient, the nurse will anticipate which outcome?
a.
Decreased chance of having a placebo effect b.
Decreased motivation to take the drug c.
Improved compliance with the drug regimen d.
Increased likelihood of drug overdose: Improved compliance with the drug regimen
4.What are the properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.) a.
Irreversible action b.
Predictability c.
Ease of administration d.
Chemical stability e.
A recognizable trade name: Predictability
Ease of administration
Chemical stability
, Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
5. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how
individual patient variability might affect the patient's response to the medication?
(Select all that apply.) a.
Chemical stability of the medication b.
Ease of administration
c.
Family medical history d.
Patient's age e.
Patient's diagnosis: Family medical history
Patient's age
Patient's diagnosis
6. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The
medication label instructs the patient to administer "2 puffs every 4 hours as needed
for coughing or wheezing." The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking
the medication, and she doesn't feel that the medication is always effective. Which
action is outside the nurse's scope of practice? a.
Asking the patient to demonstrate use of the inhaler b.
Assessing the patient's exposure to tobacco smoke c.
Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs d.
Suggesting that the patient use one puff to reduce side effects: Suggesting that the
patient use one puff to reduce side effects
7. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with
acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Lortab] for pain. The patient asks the nurse about using
Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is correct? a.
"It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications." b.
"Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity." c.
"There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe." d.
"Tylenol and Lortab are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.": "Taking the
two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity."
, Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
8. The nurse is preparing to care for a patient who will be taking an antihypertensive
medication. Which action by the nurse is part of the assessment step of the nursing
process? a.
Asking the prescriber for an order to monitor serum drug levels b.
Monitoring the patient for drug interactions after giving the medication c.
Questioning the patient about over-the-counter medications d.
Taking the patient's blood pressure throughout the course of treatment: Questioning
the patient about over-the-counter medications
9. A postoperative patient reports pain, which the patient rates as an 8 on a scale
from 1 to 10 (10 being the most extreme pain). The prescriber has ordered
acetaminophen [Tylenol] 650 mg PO every 6 hours PRN pain. What will the nurse do? a.
Ask the patient what medications have helped with pain in the past. b.
Contact the provider to request a different analgesic medication. c.
Give the pain medication and reposition the patient to promote comfort. d.
Request an order to administer the medication every 4 hours.: Contact the provider to
request a different analgesic medication.
10. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes is to be discharged from the hospital. The
nurse teaching this patient about home management should begin by doing what? a.
Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin b.
Discussing methods of storing insulin and discarding syringes c.
Giving information about how diet and exercise affect insulin requirements d.
Teaching the patient about the long-term consequences of poor diabetes
control: Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
11. The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain.
Which action is not part of the six rights of drug administration? a.
Assessing the patient's pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication b.
Checking the medication administration record to see when the last dose was
administered
c.
Consulting a drug manual to determine whether the amount the prescriber ordered is
appropriate d.
, Pharmacology NURSING EXAM TESTQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS VERIFIED
Documenting the reason the medication was given in the patient's electronic
medical record: Assessing the patient's pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the
medication
12. A patient tells a nurse that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine
headaches is not working. What will the nurse do? a.
Ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken. b.
Assess the patient's headache pain on a scale from 1 to 10. c.
Report the patient's complaint to the prescriber. d.
Suggest biofeedback as an adjunct to drug therapy: Ask the patient about the number
and frequency of tablets taken.
13. A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which patient would the nurse
consider to have the greatest predisposition to an adverse reaction? a.
A 30-year-old man with kidney disease b.
A 75-year-old woman with cystitis
c.
A 50-year-old man with an upper respiratory tract infection d.
A 9-year-old boy with an ear infection: A 30-year-old man with kidney disease
14. A nurse consults a drug manual before giving a medication to an 80-year-old
patient. The manual states that older-adult patients are at increased risk for hepatic
side effects. Which action by the nurse is correct?
a.
Contact the provider to discuss an order for pretreatment laboratory work. b.
Ensure that the drug is given in the correct dose at the correct time to minimize
the risk of adverse effects. c.
Notify the provider that this drug is contraindicated for this patient. d.
Request an order to give the medication intravenously so that the drug does not pass
through the liver.: Contact the provider to discuss an order for pretreatment laboratory
work. 15. A patient has been receiving intravenous penicillin for pneumonia for several
days and begins to complain of generalized itching. The nurse auscultates bilateral
wheezing and notes a temperature of 38.5°C (101°F). Which is the correct action by the
nurse? a.
