Page 1 of 445
WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL
EXAM OBJECTIVE ASSEMENT & PRE-ASSESMENT
700 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY EXAM OBJECTIVE ASSEMENT
1. A nurse is teaching a group of nurses about Parkinson's medications. The nurse is correct in
stating that one side effect associated with pramipexole that is less likely to occur with other
dopamine agonists is which of the following?
a. Dizziness
b. Dyskinesias
c. Hallucinations
d. Sleep attacks
Sleep attacks
Few patients taking pramipexole have experienced sleep attacks or an overwhelming and
irresistible sleepiness that comes on without warning. Dizziness, hallucinations, and dyskinesias
are listed as side effects of pramipexole and other dopamine agonists.
1. A nursing student wants to know why a patient who has been taking levodopa for years
will now receive carbidopa. As the provider, you explain the reasons that levodopa as a single
agent is no longer available.
a. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further education?
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b. "Carbidopa increases the availability of levodopa in the central nervous system."
c. "Combination products reduce peripheral cardiovascular side effects."
d. "Carbidopa reduces the incidence of nausea and vomiting."
e. "Combination products cause fewer dyskinesias and decrease psychosis."
"Combination products cause fewer dyskinesias and decrease psychosis."
Adding carbidopa to levodopa does not reduce the incidence of dyskinesias or psychosis.
Carbidopa can increase the intensity and the speed of onset of these effects. Carbidopa inhibits
decarboxylation of levodopa in the intestine and peripheral tissues, leading to more levodopa
in the CNS. Carbidopa cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, so it does not have action in the
central nervous system (CNS). Peripheral side effects are reduced, including nausea, vomiting,
and cardiovascular effects.
1. A patient with Parkinson disease is taking carbidopa. The prescriber orders bromocriptine
to treat dyskinesias. The nurse notes that the patient is agitated, and the patient reports
having frequent nightmares.The nurse should contact the provider to discuss which of the
following?
a. Adding an antipsychotic medication
b. Reducing the dose of carbidopa
c. Reducing the dose of bromocriptine
d. Changing from bromocriptine to cabergoline
Reducing the dose of bromocriptine
Bromocriptine is used to treat levodopa-induced dyskinesias and has dose-dependent
psychologic side effects. The nurse should suggest reducing the dose of this drug to minimize
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these side effects. Adding an antipsychotic medication is not indicated. Cabergoline is not
approved for this use. Reducing the dose of carbidopa is not indicated.
1. A hospitalized patient with Parkinson disease who is receiving apomorphine to treat
episodes develops nausea and vomiting. As the patient's provider, the nurse should discuss
the use of which medication with you?
a. Prochlorperazine
b. Trimethobenzamide
c. Ondansetron
d. Levodopa
Trimethobenzamide can be used as an antiemetic in patients treated with apomorphine.
Serotonin receptor agonists (e.g., ondansetron) and dopamine receptor antagonists (e.g.,
prochlorperazine) cannot be used because they increase the risk of serious postural
hypotension. Levodopa only increases nausea and vomiting.
1. A patient will begin taking a cholinesterase inhibitor for early Alzheimer disease. The
provider is teaching the patient's spouse about the medication. Which statement by the
spouse indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "This drug significantly slows the progression of the disease."
b. "Gastrointestinal symptoms are common with this medication."
c. "This drug helps neurons that are not already damaged to function better."
d. "People taking this drug should not take antihistamines."
"This drug significantly slows the progression of the disease."
1. A nurse is preparing to administer memantine to a patient and notes a slight elevation in
the patient's creatinine clearance level. What should the nurse order for this patient?
a. Reducing the dose of memantine
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, Page 4 of 445
b. Adding sodium bicarbonate to the patient's drug regimen
c. Discontinuing the memantine
d. Continuing the memantine as ordered
Reducing the dose of memantine
1. A nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has Alzheimer disease. The patient is taking
a cholinesterase inhibitor drug. Which side effects should concern the nurse?
a. Confusion and memory impairment
b. Slowed heart rate and lightheadedness
c. Dizziness and headache
d. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Slowed heart rate and lightheadedness
1. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the use of memantine for Alzheimer
disease (AD). Which statement by a student indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a. "Memantine is indicated for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease."
b. "Memantine and donepezil combined may stop the progression of Alzheimer disease."
c. "Memantine prevents calcium from leaving neurons, which improves their function."
d. "Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate to alter calcium influx into neurons."
"Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate to alter calcium influx into neurons."
Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate, which is involved in calcium influx into
neuronal cells. Memantine is used for patients with moderate to severe AD. Memantine does
not prevent calcium from leaving cells; it only affects the calcium influx. In studies, although the
effects of memantine and donepezil appear to be synergistic or may confer independent
4
WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL
EXAM OBJECTIVE ASSEMENT & PRE-ASSESMENT
700 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY EXAM OBJECTIVE ASSEMENT
1. A nurse is teaching a group of nurses about Parkinson's medications. The nurse is correct in
stating that one side effect associated with pramipexole that is less likely to occur with other
dopamine agonists is which of the following?
a. Dizziness
b. Dyskinesias
c. Hallucinations
d. Sleep attacks
Sleep attacks
Few patients taking pramipexole have experienced sleep attacks or an overwhelming and
irresistible sleepiness that comes on without warning. Dizziness, hallucinations, and dyskinesias
are listed as side effects of pramipexole and other dopamine agonists.
1. A nursing student wants to know why a patient who has been taking levodopa for years
will now receive carbidopa. As the provider, you explain the reasons that levodopa as a single
agent is no longer available.
a. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further education?
1
,Page 2 of 445
b. "Carbidopa increases the availability of levodopa in the central nervous system."
c. "Combination products reduce peripheral cardiovascular side effects."
d. "Carbidopa reduces the incidence of nausea and vomiting."
e. "Combination products cause fewer dyskinesias and decrease psychosis."
"Combination products cause fewer dyskinesias and decrease psychosis."
Adding carbidopa to levodopa does not reduce the incidence of dyskinesias or psychosis.
Carbidopa can increase the intensity and the speed of onset of these effects. Carbidopa inhibits
decarboxylation of levodopa in the intestine and peripheral tissues, leading to more levodopa
in the CNS. Carbidopa cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, so it does not have action in the
central nervous system (CNS). Peripheral side effects are reduced, including nausea, vomiting,
and cardiovascular effects.
1. A patient with Parkinson disease is taking carbidopa. The prescriber orders bromocriptine
to treat dyskinesias. The nurse notes that the patient is agitated, and the patient reports
having frequent nightmares.The nurse should contact the provider to discuss which of the
following?
a. Adding an antipsychotic medication
b. Reducing the dose of carbidopa
c. Reducing the dose of bromocriptine
d. Changing from bromocriptine to cabergoline
Reducing the dose of bromocriptine
Bromocriptine is used to treat levodopa-induced dyskinesias and has dose-dependent
psychologic side effects. The nurse should suggest reducing the dose of this drug to minimize
2
,Page 3 of 445
these side effects. Adding an antipsychotic medication is not indicated. Cabergoline is not
approved for this use. Reducing the dose of carbidopa is not indicated.
1. A hospitalized patient with Parkinson disease who is receiving apomorphine to treat
episodes develops nausea and vomiting. As the patient's provider, the nurse should discuss
the use of which medication with you?
a. Prochlorperazine
b. Trimethobenzamide
c. Ondansetron
d. Levodopa
Trimethobenzamide can be used as an antiemetic in patients treated with apomorphine.
Serotonin receptor agonists (e.g., ondansetron) and dopamine receptor antagonists (e.g.,
prochlorperazine) cannot be used because they increase the risk of serious postural
hypotension. Levodopa only increases nausea and vomiting.
1. A patient will begin taking a cholinesterase inhibitor for early Alzheimer disease. The
provider is teaching the patient's spouse about the medication. Which statement by the
spouse indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "This drug significantly slows the progression of the disease."
b. "Gastrointestinal symptoms are common with this medication."
c. "This drug helps neurons that are not already damaged to function better."
d. "People taking this drug should not take antihistamines."
"This drug significantly slows the progression of the disease."
1. A nurse is preparing to administer memantine to a patient and notes a slight elevation in
the patient's creatinine clearance level. What should the nurse order for this patient?
a. Reducing the dose of memantine
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, Page 4 of 445
b. Adding sodium bicarbonate to the patient's drug regimen
c. Discontinuing the memantine
d. Continuing the memantine as ordered
Reducing the dose of memantine
1. A nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has Alzheimer disease. The patient is taking
a cholinesterase inhibitor drug. Which side effects should concern the nurse?
a. Confusion and memory impairment
b. Slowed heart rate and lightheadedness
c. Dizziness and headache
d. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Slowed heart rate and lightheadedness
1. A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the use of memantine for Alzheimer
disease (AD). Which statement by a student indicates an understanding of the teaching?
a. "Memantine is indicated for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease."
b. "Memantine and donepezil combined may stop the progression of Alzheimer disease."
c. "Memantine prevents calcium from leaving neurons, which improves their function."
d. "Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate to alter calcium influx into neurons."
"Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate to alter calcium influx into neurons."
Memantine modulates the effects of glutamate, which is involved in calcium influx into
neuronal cells. Memantine is used for patients with moderate to severe AD. Memantine does
not prevent calcium from leaving cells; it only affects the calcium influx. In studies, although the
effects of memantine and donepezil appear to be synergistic or may confer independent
4
