Pharmacology MSN 571 practice
questions and answers
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill. Which
action should the prescriber take initially? - ANSArrange to schedule an appointment with the
patient.
A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma management. The patient reports
feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and does not feel that the medication is
always effective. Which action will the provider take to best minimize patient risks and maximize
medication effectiveness? - ANSAuscultate the patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant
vital signs.
A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which patient history finding would
be most concerning to the provider? - ANSThe patient drinks two glasses of wine every night.
The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for hospital discharge.
Which action by the provider will best support the patient's ability to effectively manage
medication therapy? - ANSAsking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer
insulin
A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine headaches is not working.
Which action is the prescriber's priority when addressing the patient's concern? - ANSAsk the
patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken.
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for hepatotoxicity. Which
action is most important when prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old patient? -
ANSObtaining baseline liver function studies
A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which action is most important for the
provider to take in order to determine if the therapeutic level is maintained? - ANSOrder periodic
laboratory testing.
Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both advanced practice
registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)? - ANSMore patients will have
access to health care.
A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis reports new onset of a
pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest and neck. Which action is most important for
the provider to take to minimize this patient's risk for injury? - ANSDiscontinue the ampicillin.
, Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to adherence
to any type of medication therapy? - ANSProviding medication education that the patient can
easily understand
Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's nonadherence with their
medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with the therapy? - ANS"I've been taking this
medication for well over a week and I lost only a half a pound."
How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist improve positive outcomes for
patients? - ANSPharmacists have additional information on drug interactions. The pharmacist
can suggest adequate medication dosing. Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility
formulary.
Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an understanding of effective medication
education? - ANS"This medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets daily: 1
with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner." "You need to take the medication as we
discussed until all the tablets are gone." "Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing
any itching, headache, or difficulty breathing."
The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder asks why blood
tests are required on a regular basis. Which provider responses demonstrate an understanding
of why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? - ANS"We need to monitor how your
thyroid is functioning." "We need to monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This
medication can cause you to lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium levels."
When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease the risk of developing
muscle toxicity? - ANSSubstitute grapefruit juice with orange juice
When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what intervention does the provider
take to decrease risk to the patient? - ANSMonitor the patient's plasma drug levels at regular
intervals.
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What process
informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? - ANSDesensitization of receptor
sites results from continual exposure to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same amount of
the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when explaining this
phenomenon to the patient? - ANSInactive ingredients used in composition can result in
differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset of action.
questions and answers
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill. Which
action should the prescriber take initially? - ANSArrange to schedule an appointment with the
patient.
A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma management. The patient reports
feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and does not feel that the medication is
always effective. Which action will the provider take to best minimize patient risks and maximize
medication effectiveness? - ANSAuscultate the patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant
vital signs.
A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which patient history finding would
be most concerning to the provider? - ANSThe patient drinks two glasses of wine every night.
The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for hospital discharge.
Which action by the provider will best support the patient's ability to effectively manage
medication therapy? - ANSAsking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer
insulin
A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine headaches is not working.
Which action is the prescriber's priority when addressing the patient's concern? - ANSAsk the
patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken.
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for hepatotoxicity. Which
action is most important when prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old patient? -
ANSObtaining baseline liver function studies
A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which action is most important for the
provider to take in order to determine if the therapeutic level is maintained? - ANSOrder periodic
laboratory testing.
Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both advanced practice
registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)? - ANSMore patients will have
access to health care.
A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis reports new onset of a
pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest and neck. Which action is most important for
the provider to take to minimize this patient's risk for injury? - ANSDiscontinue the ampicillin.
, Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to adherence
to any type of medication therapy? - ANSProviding medication education that the patient can
easily understand
Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's nonadherence with their
medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with the therapy? - ANS"I've been taking this
medication for well over a week and I lost only a half a pound."
How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist improve positive outcomes for
patients? - ANSPharmacists have additional information on drug interactions. The pharmacist
can suggest adequate medication dosing. Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility
formulary.
Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an understanding of effective medication
education? - ANS"This medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets daily: 1
with breakfast, 1 with lunch, and one with dinner." "You need to take the medication as we
discussed until all the tablets are gone." "Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing
any itching, headache, or difficulty breathing."
The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder asks why blood
tests are required on a regular basis. Which provider responses demonstrate an understanding
of why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? - ANS"We need to monitor how your
thyroid is functioning." "We need to monitor kidney function while you are on this drug. This
medication can cause you to lose sodium, so we need to measure sodium levels."
When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease the risk of developing
muscle toxicity? - ANSSubstitute grapefruit juice with orange juice
When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what intervention does the provider
take to decrease risk to the patient? - ANSMonitor the patient's plasma drug levels at regular
intervals.
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What process
informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? - ANSDesensitization of receptor
sites results from continual exposure to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same amount of
the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when explaining this
phenomenon to the patient? - ANSInactive ingredients used in composition can result in
differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset of action.
