NGR 6172Pharm Midterm.

NGR 6172 / NGR6172 PHARM MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 1). A patient who takes daily doses of aspirin is scheduled for surgery next week. The nurse should advise the patient to: a. continue to use aspirin as scheduled. b. reduce the aspirin dosage by half until after surgery. c. stop using aspirin immediately. d. stop using aspirin 3 days before surgery. 2). A patient who takes aspirin for rheumatoid arthritis is admitted to the hospital complaining of headache and ringing in the ears. The plasma salicylate level is 300 mcg/mL, and the urine pH is 6.0. What will the nurse do? a. Increase the aspirin dose to treat the patient's headache. b. Notify the provider of possible renal toxicity. c. Prepare to provide respiratory support, because the patient shows signs of overdose. d. Withhold the aspirin until the patient's symptoms have subsided. 3). A pregnant patient asks the nurse if she can take antihistamines for seasonal allergies during her pregnancy. What will the nurse tell the patient? a. Antihistamines should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. b. Second-generation antihistamines are safer than first-generation antihistamines. c. Antihistamines should not be taken during pregnancy but may be taken when breast-feeding. d. The margin of safety for antihistamines is clearly understood for pregnant patients. 4). A 5-year-old child with seasonal allergies has been taking 2.5 mL of cetirizine [Zyrtec] syrup once daily. The parents tell the nurse that the child does not like the syrup, and they do not think that the drug is effective. The nurse will suggest they discuss which drug with their child's healthcare provider? a. Cetirizine [Zyrtec] 5-mg chewable tablet once daily b. Loratadine [Claritin] 10-mg chewable tablet once daily c. Fexofenadine [Allegra] syrup 5 mL twice daily d. Desloratadine [Clarinex] 5-mg rapid-disintegrating tablet once daily 5). A 1-year-old child is scheduled to receive the MMR vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine (PCV), Varivax, and hepatitis A vaccine. The child's parents request that the MMR vaccine not be given, saying that, even though there is no demonstrated link with autism, they are still concerned about toxic levels of mercury in the vaccine. Which response by the nurse is correct? a. "Most U.S.-made vaccines have zero to low amounts of mercury." b. "Other vaccine preparations contain mercury as well." c. "Thimerosal is a nontoxic form of mercury." d. "You can get more mercury from breast milk and many foods on the market." 6). A patient with moderate to severe chronic pain has been taking oxycodone [OxyContin] 60 mg every 6 hours PRN for several months and tells the nurse that the medication is not as effective as before. The patient asks if something stronger can be taken. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: a. administering a combination opioid analgesic/acetaminophen preparation. b. changing the medication to a continued-release preparation. c. confronting the patient about drug-seeking behaviors. d. withdrawing the medication, because physical dependence has occurred. 7). A patient will receive buprenorphine [Butrans] as a transdermal patch for pain. What is important to teach this patient about the use of this drug? a. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. b. Cleanse the site with soap or alcohol. c. Remove the patch daily at bedtime. d. Remove hair by shaving before applying the patch. 8). A patient has been taking methadone [Dolophine] for 5 months to overcome an opioid addiction. The nurse should monitor the patient for which of the following electrocardiographic changes? a. Prolonged QT interval b. Prolonged P-R interval c. AV block d. An elevated QRS complex 9). A patient taking fluoxetine [Prozac] complains of decreased sexual interest. A prescriber orders a "drug holiday." What teaching by the nurse would best describe a drug holiday? a. "Cut the tablet in half anytime to reduce the dosage." b. "Discontinue the drug for 1 week." c. "Don't take the medication on Friday and Saturday." d. "Take the drug every other day." 10). A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking an antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the nurse that the drug is not working. The nurse will counsel this patient to ask the provider about: a. adding a second medication to complement this drug. b. changing the medication to one in a different drug class. c. increasing the dose of this medication. d. using nondrug therapies to augment the medication. 11). A young adult patient has been taking an antidepressant medication for several weeks and reports having increased thoughts of suicide. The nurse questions further and learns that the patient has attempted suicide more than once in the past. The patient identifies a concrete plan for committing suicide. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: a. changing the medication to another drug class. b. discontinuing the medication immediately. c. hospitalizing the patient for closer monitoring. d. requiring more frequent clinic visits for this patient. 12). A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression for several months tells the provider that the medication has not helped with symptoms. The provider plans to switch the patient to an SSRI. The nurse will teach this patient to: a. start taking the SSRI and stop the MAOI when symptoms improve. b. start taking the SSRI and then gradually withdraw the MAOI. c. stop taking the MAOI and wait 5 weeks before starting the SSRI. d. stop taking the MAOI 2 weeks before starting the SSRI. 13). A nurse provides teaching for a patient who is newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the drug therapy for this disease? a. "A levodopa/carbidopa combination is used to improve motor function." b. "There are several drugs available to treat dyskinesias." c. "When 'off' times occur, I may need to increase my dose of levodopa." d. "With adequate drug therapy, the disease progression may be slowed." 14). A hospitalized patient with Parkinson's disease who is receiving apomorphine to treat "off" episodes develops nausea and vomiting. The nurse will discuss the use of which medication with the patient's provider? a. Levodopa [Dopar] b. Ondansetron [Zofran] c. Prochlorperazine [Compazine] d. Trimethobenzamide [Tigan] 15). A patient with Parkinson's disease is taking levodopa/carbidopa [Sinemet]. The prescriber orders bromocriptine [Parlodel] to treat dyskinesias. The nurse notes that the patient is agitated, and the patient reports having frequent nightmares. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: a. adding an antipsychotic medication. b. changing from bromocriptine to cabergoline [Dostinex]. c. reducing the dose of bromocriptine. d. reducing the dose of levodopa/carbidopa. 16). A prescriber has ordered pilocarpine [Pilocar]. A nurse understands that the drug stimulates muscarinic receptors and would expect the drug to have which action? a. Reduction of excessive secretions in a postoperative patient b. Lowering of intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma c. Inhibition of muscular activity in the bladder d. Prevention of hypertensive crisis 17). An older adult patient who lives alone and is somewhat forgetful has an overactive bladder (OAB) and reports occasional constipation. The patient has tried behavioral therapy to treat the OAB without adequate results. Which treatment will the nurse anticipate for this patient? a. Oxybutynin short-acting syrup b. Oxybutynin [Ditropan XL] extended-release tablets c. Oxybutynin [Oxytrol] transdermal patch d. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) 18). A patient with atrial fibrillation is receiving warfarin [Coumadin]. The nurse notes that the patient's INR is 2.7. Before giving the next dose of warfarin, the nurse will notify the provider and: a. administer the dose as ordered. b. request an order to decrease the dose. c. request an order to give vitamin K (phytonadione). d. request an order to increase the dose. 19). A 50-year-old female patient asks a nurse about taking aspirin to prevent heart disease. The patient does not have a history of myocardial infarction. Her cholesterol and blood pressure are normal, and she does not smoke. What will the nurse tell the patient? a. Aspirin is useful only for preventing a second myocardial infarction. b. She should ask her provider about using a P2Y12 ADP receptor antagonist. c. She should take one 81-mg tablet per day to prevent myocardial infarction. d. There is most likely no protective benefit for patients her age. 20). Which two classes of antidysrhythmic drugs have nearly identical cardiac effects? a. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers b. Beta blockers and potassium channel blockers c. Calcium channel blockers and sodium channel blockers d. Sodium channel blockers and potassium channel blockers 21). A psychiatric nurse is teaching a patient about an antidepressant medication. The nurse tells the patient that therapeutic effects may not occur for several weeks. The nurse understands that this is likely the result of: a. changes in the brain as a result of prolonged drug exposure. b. direct actions of the drug on specific synaptic functions in the brain. c. slowed drug absorption across the blood-brain barrier. d. tolerance to exposure to the drug over time. 22). A patient is admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment of shock. The prescriber orders isoproterenol [Isuprel]. The nurse expects this drug to increase tissue perfusion in this patient by activating: 1 receptors to cause vasoconstriction. 1 receptors to increase blood pressure. 1 receptors to cause a positive inotropic effect. 2 receptors to cause bronchodilation. 23). A nursing student asks why albuterol, which is selective for beta2 receptors, causes an increased heart rate in some patients. How should the nurse respond? a. "Adrenergic agonists can lose their selectivity when given at higher doses." b. "Bronchodilation lowers blood pressure, which causes a reflex tachycardia." c. "Some patients metabolize the drug differently and have unusual side effects." d. "Systemic effects are intensified with inhaled doses." 24). An older adult patient has confusion, memory loss, and disorientation in familiar surroundings. The patient has been taking donepezil [Aricept] 10 mg once daily for 6 months. The patient's symptoms have begun to worsen, and the patient's spouse asks if the medication dose can be increased. What will the nurse tell the spouse? a. The dose can be increased, because the patient has been taking the drug for longer than 3 months. b. The dose can be increased to twice daily dosing instead of once daily dosing. c. The increase in symptoms is the result of hepatotoxicity from the medication's side effects. d. The patient must take the drug for longer than 1 year before the dose can be increased. 25). A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the use of memantine [Namenda] for Alzheimer's disease. Which statement by a student indicates understanding of the teaching? a. "Memantine is indicated for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease." b. "Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate to alter calcium influx into neurons." c. "Memantine prevents calcium from leaving neurons, which improves their function." d. "Memantine and donepezil combined may stop progression of Alzheimer's disease."