PHARMACOLOGY NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES
1. Juan is caring for a client with acute bronchospasm. The health care provider orders albuterol, a
short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist. What is the most appropriate rationale for administering
albuterol to the client?
a. To reduce airway inflammation
b. To stimulate cholinergic receptors
c. To induce bronchodilation
d. To suppress the immune response
c. Albuterol is a short-acting beta-agonist that works by stimulating beta-2adrenergic
receptors in the airway smooth muscles.
2. A client is ordered 60 mg of prednisone daily to be taken in three divided doses. How much will
the client take for each dose?
a. 20mg
b. 15mg
c. 30 mg
d. 10mg
a.60÷3=20.
3. Loraine is reviewing the medication regimen of a client with asthma. The client is prescribed
theophylline, a xanthine derivative. Loraine understands that theophylline is primarily used for
what particular purpose?
a. Acute relief of bronchospasm
b. Prevention of exercise-induced asthma
c. Long-term control of asthma symptoms
d. Reduction of airway inflammation
c. Theophylline is a xanthine derivative medication used for long-term control of asthma
symptoms.
4. Sharma is caring for a client with COPD who is prescribed ipratropium bromide, a respiratory
anticholinergic medication. What is the most appropriate rationale for administering ipratropium
bromide to the client?
a. To reduce airway inflammation
b. To stimulate cholinergic receptors
c. To induce bronchodilation
d. To suppress the immune response
c. Ipratropium bromide is a respiratory anticholinergic medication that acts by blocking the
action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that causes bronchoconstriction. By blocking
acetylcholine, ipratropium bromide helps to relax the smooth muscles in the airways,
leading to bronchodilation and improved airflow.
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, SIMPLIFIED NURSING REVIEW
5. The loading dose of theophylline is 4.6 mg/kg. The client for whom it is prescribed weighs 121
pounds. How much will the nurse give for the loading dose?
a. 125mg
b. 155mg
c. 250 mg
d. 253 mg
d. First the nurse needs todetermine the client's weight in kilograms: 1211b÷22kg=55kg55kg
×46mg/kg=253mg
6. Marco is providing education to aclient prescribed montelukast, a leukotriene modifier,for the
management of asthma. Marco informs the client about potential side effects of this medication.
Which side effect should Marco include in the client education?
a. Dry mouth and blurred vision
b. Increased heart rate and palpitations
c. Headache and dizziness
d. Excessive drowsiness and sedation
c. The most commonly reported side effects of montelukast include headache and dizziness.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed a respiratory anticholinergic medication.
What medical history would be a concern for this nurse when administering the anticholinergic
medication?
a. History of hypertension
b. History of osteoarthritis
c. History of migraines
d. History of urinary retention
d. Respiratory anticholinergic medications have the potential to worsen urinary retention
due to their ability to relax smooth muscles, including those in the urinary tract.
8. A nurse is educating a client who has been taking methylprednisolone for an extended period.
The nurse emphasizes the importance of gradually tapering the meddication instead of abruptly
stopping it. Which risk is the nurse concerned about?
a. Allergic reactions
b. Gastrointestinal bleeding
c. Adrenal insufficiency
d. Neurological impairment
c. Abruptly stopping methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid medication, can lead to adrenal
insufficiency. Long-term use of corticosteroids suppresses the adrenal glands, causing them
to produce less cortisol. When the medication is abruptly discontinued, the adrenal glands
may not be able to produce enough cortisol on their own, leading to adrenal insufficiency.
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WITH RATIONALES
1. Juan is caring for a client with acute bronchospasm. The health care provider orders albuterol, a
short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist. What is the most appropriate rationale for administering
albuterol to the client?
a. To reduce airway inflammation
b. To stimulate cholinergic receptors
c. To induce bronchodilation
d. To suppress the immune response
c. Albuterol is a short-acting beta-agonist that works by stimulating beta-2adrenergic
receptors in the airway smooth muscles.
2. A client is ordered 60 mg of prednisone daily to be taken in three divided doses. How much will
the client take for each dose?
a. 20mg
b. 15mg
c. 30 mg
d. 10mg
a.60÷3=20.
3. Loraine is reviewing the medication regimen of a client with asthma. The client is prescribed
theophylline, a xanthine derivative. Loraine understands that theophylline is primarily used for
what particular purpose?
a. Acute relief of bronchospasm
b. Prevention of exercise-induced asthma
c. Long-term control of asthma symptoms
d. Reduction of airway inflammation
c. Theophylline is a xanthine derivative medication used for long-term control of asthma
symptoms.
4. Sharma is caring for a client with COPD who is prescribed ipratropium bromide, a respiratory
anticholinergic medication. What is the most appropriate rationale for administering ipratropium
bromide to the client?
a. To reduce airway inflammation
b. To stimulate cholinergic receptors
c. To induce bronchodilation
d. To suppress the immune response
c. Ipratropium bromide is a respiratory anticholinergic medication that acts by blocking the
action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that causes bronchoconstriction. By blocking
acetylcholine, ipratropium bromide helps to relax the smooth muscles in the airways,
leading to bronchodilation and improved airflow.
1|Page
, SIMPLIFIED NURSING REVIEW
5. The loading dose of theophylline is 4.6 mg/kg. The client for whom it is prescribed weighs 121
pounds. How much will the nurse give for the loading dose?
a. 125mg
b. 155mg
c. 250 mg
d. 253 mg
d. First the nurse needs todetermine the client's weight in kilograms: 1211b÷22kg=55kg55kg
×46mg/kg=253mg
6. Marco is providing education to aclient prescribed montelukast, a leukotriene modifier,for the
management of asthma. Marco informs the client about potential side effects of this medication.
Which side effect should Marco include in the client education?
a. Dry mouth and blurred vision
b. Increased heart rate and palpitations
c. Headache and dizziness
d. Excessive drowsiness and sedation
c. The most commonly reported side effects of montelukast include headache and dizziness.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed a respiratory anticholinergic medication.
What medical history would be a concern for this nurse when administering the anticholinergic
medication?
a. History of hypertension
b. History of osteoarthritis
c. History of migraines
d. History of urinary retention
d. Respiratory anticholinergic medications have the potential to worsen urinary retention
due to their ability to relax smooth muscles, including those in the urinary tract.
8. A nurse is educating a client who has been taking methylprednisolone for an extended period.
The nurse emphasizes the importance of gradually tapering the meddication instead of abruptly
stopping it. Which risk is the nurse concerned about?
a. Allergic reactions
b. Gastrointestinal bleeding
c. Adrenal insufficiency
d. Neurological impairment
c. Abruptly stopping methylprednisolone, a corticosteroid medication, can lead to adrenal
insufficiency. Long-term use of corticosteroids suppresses the adrenal glands, causing them
to produce less cortisol. When the medication is abruptly discontinued, the adrenal glands
may not be able to produce enough cortisol on their own, leading to adrenal insufficiency.
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