PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM REVIEW!!!!
1. A patient about to receive his morning dose of digoxin has an apical pulse of 70
beats per minute. What will the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose.
B. Administer the dose and notify the physician.
C. Check the radial pulse for 1 full minute.
D. Withhold the dose and notify the
Answer A. Administer the dose.
2. In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows
that what condition can predispose a patient to digitalis toxicity?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer A. Hypokalemia; control ventricular response to atrial fibrillation and a derived from foxglove. Digoxin is the
only available cardiac glycoside---positive inotropic---inhibits sodium potassium pump (adenosine tripphophatase) Sodium and
calcium rise. Cholinergic stimulation via the vagus nerve of Parasympathetic nervous system. ---Negative chronotropic---
Negative Dromotropic ettect
,3. While assessing a patient who is receiving intravenous digitalis, the nurse
recognizes that the drug has a negative chronotropic effect. How would this drug
effect be evident in the patient?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Decreased conduction
D. Increased ectopic beats
Answer B. Decreased heart rate
4. A patient has been taking digoxin at home but has taken an accidental overdose
and has developed toxicity. He has been admitted to the telemetry unit where the
physician has ordered digoxin immune Fab (Digibind). The patient asks the nurse
why the medication is ordered. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "It works faster than digoxin."
B. "It is safer than digoxin and can be taken orally."
C. "It helps to convert the irregular heart rhythm to a more normal rhythm."
D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels."
Answer D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels." (severe bradycardia,
,advanced heart block, ventricularr tachycardia, fibrillation, and hyperkalemia); available in parental form. Clinical signs and
symptoms are monitored NOT serum levels ------ used for systolic heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
5. 5. A patient has been placed on a milrinone infusion as part of the therapy for
end-stage heart failure. What risks involved with this drug will the nurse keep in
mind while assessing this patient during the infusion?
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias
Answer D. Cardiac dysrhythmias (contraindictated with ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation) used for treatment of
atrial fibrillation. Available in Oral and injection form.
6. 6. A patient with atrial fibrillation was started on digoxin, and 1 week later a
digoxin level was drawn. Which result is within normal therapeutic levels for
digoxin?
A. 0.4 ng/mL
B. 0.7 ng/mL
C. 2.1 ng/mL
D. 2.6 ng/mL or higher
Answer B. 0.7 ng/mL (normal 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
, 7. 7. When reviewing the list of medications taken by a patient who will be
receiving a new prescription for digoxin, the nurse would be concerned about which
medication that may interact with the digoxin?
A. aspirin
B. acetaminophen (Tylenol)
C. furosemide (Lasix)
D. vitamin K
Answer C. furosemide (Lasix); (loop Diuretics); numerous ones on page 341
8. 8. The nurse is reviewing discharge teaching for a patient who will be taking digoxin
(Lanoxin) therapy. The patient should be taught to avoid which foods when taking the
digoxin?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Dairy products
C. Grapefruit juice
D. Bran muffins
Answer D. Bran muflns
1. A patient about to receive his morning dose of digoxin has an apical pulse of 70
beats per minute. What will the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose.
B. Administer the dose and notify the physician.
C. Check the radial pulse for 1 full minute.
D. Withhold the dose and notify the
Answer A. Administer the dose.
2. In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows
that what condition can predispose a patient to digitalis toxicity?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer A. Hypokalemia; control ventricular response to atrial fibrillation and a derived from foxglove. Digoxin is the
only available cardiac glycoside---positive inotropic---inhibits sodium potassium pump (adenosine tripphophatase) Sodium and
calcium rise. Cholinergic stimulation via the vagus nerve of Parasympathetic nervous system. ---Negative chronotropic---
Negative Dromotropic ettect
,3. While assessing a patient who is receiving intravenous digitalis, the nurse
recognizes that the drug has a negative chronotropic effect. How would this drug
effect be evident in the patient?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Decreased conduction
D. Increased ectopic beats
Answer B. Decreased heart rate
4. A patient has been taking digoxin at home but has taken an accidental overdose
and has developed toxicity. He has been admitted to the telemetry unit where the
physician has ordered digoxin immune Fab (Digibind). The patient asks the nurse
why the medication is ordered. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "It works faster than digoxin."
B. "It is safer than digoxin and can be taken orally."
C. "It helps to convert the irregular heart rhythm to a more normal rhythm."
D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels."
Answer D. "This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels." (severe bradycardia,
,advanced heart block, ventricularr tachycardia, fibrillation, and hyperkalemia); available in parental form. Clinical signs and
symptoms are monitored NOT serum levels ------ used for systolic heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
5. 5. A patient has been placed on a milrinone infusion as part of the therapy for
end-stage heart failure. What risks involved with this drug will the nurse keep in
mind while assessing this patient during the infusion?
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias
Answer D. Cardiac dysrhythmias (contraindictated with ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation) used for treatment of
atrial fibrillation. Available in Oral and injection form.
6. 6. A patient with atrial fibrillation was started on digoxin, and 1 week later a
digoxin level was drawn. Which result is within normal therapeutic levels for
digoxin?
A. 0.4 ng/mL
B. 0.7 ng/mL
C. 2.1 ng/mL
D. 2.6 ng/mL or higher
Answer B. 0.7 ng/mL (normal 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
, 7. 7. When reviewing the list of medications taken by a patient who will be
receiving a new prescription for digoxin, the nurse would be concerned about which
medication that may interact with the digoxin?
A. aspirin
B. acetaminophen (Tylenol)
C. furosemide (Lasix)
D. vitamin K
Answer C. furosemide (Lasix); (loop Diuretics); numerous ones on page 341
8. 8. The nurse is reviewing discharge teaching for a patient who will be taking digoxin
(Lanoxin) therapy. The patient should be taught to avoid which foods when taking the
digoxin?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Dairy products
C. Grapefruit juice
D. Bran muffins
Answer D. Bran muflns
