NSG 124 Pharmacology Final Exam Questions
with Verified Correct Answers
A nurse is administering an IV antibiotic for the first time. What is the priority nursing
action?
Educate the patient about possible side effects
Ask about the patient's fluid intake
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
Check for family history of allergies
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
(rationale: IV drugs have rapid systemic effects. Monitoring during the first 15-30 minutes
helps identify any immediate adverse reactions.)
Which of the following drug orders should the nurse question?
STAT dose of acetaminophen
PRN dose of morphine
Oral procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
(Rationale: Procaine penicillin should never be given IV; it's intended for IM use only.)
A patient is prescribed a new drug. What is the most important question for the nurse
to ask?
"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
"Do you have trouble sleeping?"
"Do you smoke or drink alcohol?"
"Do you take vitamin supplements?"
,"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
(rationale: Allergic reactions can be life-threatening. This information must be known prior to
administration.)
The nurse should question which of the following orders for a breastfeeding mother?
Prenatal vitamins
Iron supplements
Ribavirin
Acetaminophen
Ribavirin
(Rationale: Ribavirin is highly teratogenic and contraindicated in pregnancy and
breastfeeding.)
When giving subcutaneous heparin, which action should be avoided?
Injecting at a 90-degree angle
Aspirating before injection
Rotating injection sites
Using a 1 mL syringe
Aspirating before injection
(Rationale: Aspirating can cause tissue damage and bruising with heparin.)
A nurse administers an antibiotic known to prolong the QT interval. What assessment
is essential before the first dose?
Lung sounds
Heart rate and rhythm
Blood glucose level
Abdominal tenderness
,Heart rate and rhythm
(Rationale: Drugs like macrolides can cause arrhythmias; cardiac assessment is critical.)
A patient develops angioedema after taking a prescribed antibiotic. What should the
nurse do first?
Notify the pharmacist
Document the reaction in the patient's chart
Administer diphenhydramine
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
(Rationale: Angioedema is a sign of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency.)
Which patient teaching is appropriate for a drug with photosensitivity side effects?
"Take the medication at bedtime."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
"Avoid dairy products."
"Monitor your weight daily."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
(Rationale: Drugs like tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones increase sunburn
risk.)
What should the nurse teach a patient about combination antiretroviral therapy
(ART)?
"You may skip a dose if you feel well."
"Take the drugs with grapefruit juice for best absorption."
"Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
"Avoid iron-rich foods."
, "Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
(Rationale: For drugs like Cabenuva, medications must be injected separately.)
Which sign may indicate liver toxicity in a patient taking antifungal drugs?
Increased urination
Yellow sclera
Restlessness
Clear sputum
Yellow sclera
(Rationale: Yellowing of the sclera (jaundice) is a classic sign of liver damage.)
Which drug administration route has the fastest onset of action?
Oral
Subcutaneous
Intramuscular
Intravenous
Intravenous
(Rationale: IV drugs enter directly into circulation, producing the fastest effects.)
A patient with HIV is prescribed ART. What instruction is most important?
"Take your medication with food."
"Use barrier contraception."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
"Limit caffeine intake."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
(Rationale: Consistency is crucial to prevent resistance in HIV treatment.)
with Verified Correct Answers
A nurse is administering an IV antibiotic for the first time. What is the priority nursing
action?
Educate the patient about possible side effects
Ask about the patient's fluid intake
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
Check for family history of allergies
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
(rationale: IV drugs have rapid systemic effects. Monitoring during the first 15-30 minutes
helps identify any immediate adverse reactions.)
Which of the following drug orders should the nurse question?
STAT dose of acetaminophen
PRN dose of morphine
Oral procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
(Rationale: Procaine penicillin should never be given IV; it's intended for IM use only.)
A patient is prescribed a new drug. What is the most important question for the nurse
to ask?
"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
"Do you have trouble sleeping?"
"Do you smoke or drink alcohol?"
"Do you take vitamin supplements?"
,"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
(rationale: Allergic reactions can be life-threatening. This information must be known prior to
administration.)
The nurse should question which of the following orders for a breastfeeding mother?
Prenatal vitamins
Iron supplements
Ribavirin
Acetaminophen
Ribavirin
(Rationale: Ribavirin is highly teratogenic and contraindicated in pregnancy and
breastfeeding.)
When giving subcutaneous heparin, which action should be avoided?
Injecting at a 90-degree angle
Aspirating before injection
Rotating injection sites
Using a 1 mL syringe
Aspirating before injection
(Rationale: Aspirating can cause tissue damage and bruising with heparin.)
A nurse administers an antibiotic known to prolong the QT interval. What assessment
is essential before the first dose?
Lung sounds
Heart rate and rhythm
Blood glucose level
Abdominal tenderness
,Heart rate and rhythm
(Rationale: Drugs like macrolides can cause arrhythmias; cardiac assessment is critical.)
A patient develops angioedema after taking a prescribed antibiotic. What should the
nurse do first?
Notify the pharmacist
Document the reaction in the patient's chart
Administer diphenhydramine
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
(Rationale: Angioedema is a sign of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency.)
Which patient teaching is appropriate for a drug with photosensitivity side effects?
"Take the medication at bedtime."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
"Avoid dairy products."
"Monitor your weight daily."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
(Rationale: Drugs like tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones increase sunburn
risk.)
What should the nurse teach a patient about combination antiretroviral therapy
(ART)?
"You may skip a dose if you feel well."
"Take the drugs with grapefruit juice for best absorption."
"Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
"Avoid iron-rich foods."
, "Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
(Rationale: For drugs like Cabenuva, medications must be injected separately.)
Which sign may indicate liver toxicity in a patient taking antifungal drugs?
Increased urination
Yellow sclera
Restlessness
Clear sputum
Yellow sclera
(Rationale: Yellowing of the sclera (jaundice) is a classic sign of liver damage.)
Which drug administration route has the fastest onset of action?
Oral
Subcutaneous
Intramuscular
Intravenous
Intravenous
(Rationale: IV drugs enter directly into circulation, producing the fastest effects.)
A patient with HIV is prescribed ART. What instruction is most important?
"Take your medication with food."
"Use barrier contraception."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
"Limit caffeine intake."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
(Rationale: Consistency is crucial to prevent resistance in HIV treatment.)
