Pharmacology 1 Final Exam
A physician's order indicates to administer a medication to the patient via the
percutaneous route. The nurse can anticipate that the patient will receive this
medication:
subcutaneously.
rectally.
intramuscularly.
topically. correct answers topically
The nurse assesses erythema, warmth, and burning pain along the patient's IV site.
Which complication is this patient most likely experiencing?
Pulmonary edema
Air embolism
Phlebitis
Extravasation correct answers Phlebitis
The nurse assesses hives in a patient started on a new medication. What is the nurse's
priority action?
Notify physician of potential tolerance.
Notify physician of potential teratogenicity.
Notify physician of idiosyncratic reaction.
Notify physician of allergic reaction. correct answers Notify physician of allergic
reaction.
The nurse is about to administer a prescribed medication IV push into a patient's
Hickman catheter. When providing this medication, the nurse will first:
flush with saline.
flush with heparin.
prepare a pump.
administer the prescribed drug. correct answers flush with saline.
What is the process by which a drug is transported by circulating body fluids to receptor
sites?
Absorption
Osmosis
Distribution
Biotransformation correct answers Distribution
,A 90-year-old woman is admitted to an acute care facility with the diagnosis of
pneumonia. She has a past medical history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and
right-sided mastectomy. When starting an IV for infusion of antibiotic therapy, the nurse
will:
choose the left radial artery for insertion.
insert the IV catheter into the left hand.
use a lower extremity vein for insertion.
attempt insertion into the left antecubital space vein. correct answers attempt insertion
into the left antecubital space vein.
Which condition would the nurse expect to be treated with an isotonic solution?
Cellular dehydration
Cerebral edema
Fluid overload
Hemorrhagic shock correct answers Hemorrhagic shock
The nurse notes that a patient with cardiac disease has IV heparin infusing and that it is
behind by 2 hours. What is the best nursing action?
Change the infusion rate to TKO.
Discontinue the solution using aseptic technique.
Contact the healthcare provider for consultation.
Increase the IV rate and recheck in 1 hour. correct answers Contact the healthcare
provider for consultation.
A patient is admitted with hypovolemia resulting from lack of fluid intake and requires an
infusion of isotonic fluids. Which IV solution will the nurse administer?
0.9 NS
D5W
D50.2 NS
0.45 NS correct answers 0.9 NS
When obtaining a patient's health history, which assessment data would the nurse
identify as having the most effect on drug metabolism?
Intake of a vegetarian diet
History of liver disease
Sedentary lifestyle
Teacher as an occupation correct answers History of liver disease
What is the composition of hypotonic intravenous solutions such as 0.45% NaCl?
,Approximately the same number of dissolved particles as blood
Fewer dissolved particles than blood
Electrolytes and dextrose
Higher concentrations of dissolved particles than blood correct answers Fewer
dissolved particles than blood
What do drug blood levels indicate?
They verify if the patient is taking someone else's medications.
They determine if the amount of drug in the body is in a therapeutic range. They confirm
if the patient is taking a generic form of a drug.
They determine if the patient has sufficient body fat to metabolize the drug. correct
answers They determine if the amount of drug in the body is in a therapeutic range.
Which needle is used to access implanted infusion devices?
Gigli
Huber
Jamshidi
Crutchfield correct answers Huber
A patient developed hives and itching after receiving a drug for the first time. Which
instruction by the nurse is accurate?
Instruct the patient that it would be safe to take the drug again because this instance
was a mild reaction.
Emphasize to the patient the importance to inform medical personnel that in the future a
lower dosage of this drug is necessary.
Explain to the patient that these are signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.
Stop the medication and encourage the patient to wear a medical alert bracelet that
explains the allergy. correct answers Stop the medication and encourage the patient to
wear a medical alert bracelet that explains the allergy.
Following the insertion of a central venous access device, the nurse notes a weak,
thready pulse and decreased blood pressure. The patient complains of shortness of
breath and palpitations. Which action will the nurse take first?
Place the patient on the left side.
Reassess vital signs.
Verify placement of the device.
Stop the infusion. correct answers Place the patient on the left side.
A patient has a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line inserted to continue IV
antibiotic therapy at home. With proper care, how long can this type of venous access
device remain in place?
6 months
, 4 months
12 months
2 months correct answers 12 months
The nurse administers an initial dose of a steroid to a patient with asthma. Thirty
minutes after administration, the nurse finds the patient agitated and stating that
"everyone is out to get me." What is the term for this unusual reaction?
Allergic reaction
Idiosyncratic reaction
Desired action
Adverse effect correct answers Idiosyncratic reaction
What will the nurse need to determine first in order to mix two drugs in the same
syringe?
Absorption rate of the drugs
Compatibility of the drugs
Medication adverse effects
Drug blood level of each drug correct answers Compatibility of the drugs
Which potential complication will the nurse expect in patients with a venous access
device?
Infection
Pain
Extravasation
Circulatory overload correct answers Infection
The nurse administers 50 mg of a drug at 6:00 AM that has a half-life of 8 hours. What
time will it be when 25 mg of the drug has been eliminated from the body?
6:00 PM
11:00 AM
8:00 AM
2:00 PM correct answers 2:00 PM
The nurse assesses which blood level to determine the amount of circulating medication
in a patient?
Therapeutic
Trough
Peak
Drug correct answers Drug
A physician's order indicates to administer a medication to the patient via the
percutaneous route. The nurse can anticipate that the patient will receive this
medication:
subcutaneously.
rectally.
intramuscularly.
topically. correct answers topically
The nurse assesses erythema, warmth, and burning pain along the patient's IV site.
Which complication is this patient most likely experiencing?
Pulmonary edema
Air embolism
Phlebitis
Extravasation correct answers Phlebitis
The nurse assesses hives in a patient started on a new medication. What is the nurse's
priority action?
Notify physician of potential tolerance.
Notify physician of potential teratogenicity.
Notify physician of idiosyncratic reaction.
Notify physician of allergic reaction. correct answers Notify physician of allergic
reaction.
The nurse is about to administer a prescribed medication IV push into a patient's
Hickman catheter. When providing this medication, the nurse will first:
flush with saline.
flush with heparin.
prepare a pump.
administer the prescribed drug. correct answers flush with saline.
What is the process by which a drug is transported by circulating body fluids to receptor
sites?
Absorption
Osmosis
Distribution
Biotransformation correct answers Distribution
,A 90-year-old woman is admitted to an acute care facility with the diagnosis of
pneumonia. She has a past medical history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and
right-sided mastectomy. When starting an IV for infusion of antibiotic therapy, the nurse
will:
choose the left radial artery for insertion.
insert the IV catheter into the left hand.
use a lower extremity vein for insertion.
attempt insertion into the left antecubital space vein. correct answers attempt insertion
into the left antecubital space vein.
Which condition would the nurse expect to be treated with an isotonic solution?
Cellular dehydration
Cerebral edema
Fluid overload
Hemorrhagic shock correct answers Hemorrhagic shock
The nurse notes that a patient with cardiac disease has IV heparin infusing and that it is
behind by 2 hours. What is the best nursing action?
Change the infusion rate to TKO.
Discontinue the solution using aseptic technique.
Contact the healthcare provider for consultation.
Increase the IV rate and recheck in 1 hour. correct answers Contact the healthcare
provider for consultation.
A patient is admitted with hypovolemia resulting from lack of fluid intake and requires an
infusion of isotonic fluids. Which IV solution will the nurse administer?
0.9 NS
D5W
D50.2 NS
0.45 NS correct answers 0.9 NS
When obtaining a patient's health history, which assessment data would the nurse
identify as having the most effect on drug metabolism?
Intake of a vegetarian diet
History of liver disease
Sedentary lifestyle
Teacher as an occupation correct answers History of liver disease
What is the composition of hypotonic intravenous solutions such as 0.45% NaCl?
,Approximately the same number of dissolved particles as blood
Fewer dissolved particles than blood
Electrolytes and dextrose
Higher concentrations of dissolved particles than blood correct answers Fewer
dissolved particles than blood
What do drug blood levels indicate?
They verify if the patient is taking someone else's medications.
They determine if the amount of drug in the body is in a therapeutic range. They confirm
if the patient is taking a generic form of a drug.
They determine if the patient has sufficient body fat to metabolize the drug. correct
answers They determine if the amount of drug in the body is in a therapeutic range.
Which needle is used to access implanted infusion devices?
Gigli
Huber
Jamshidi
Crutchfield correct answers Huber
A patient developed hives and itching after receiving a drug for the first time. Which
instruction by the nurse is accurate?
Instruct the patient that it would be safe to take the drug again because this instance
was a mild reaction.
Emphasize to the patient the importance to inform medical personnel that in the future a
lower dosage of this drug is necessary.
Explain to the patient that these are signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.
Stop the medication and encourage the patient to wear a medical alert bracelet that
explains the allergy. correct answers Stop the medication and encourage the patient to
wear a medical alert bracelet that explains the allergy.
Following the insertion of a central venous access device, the nurse notes a weak,
thready pulse and decreased blood pressure. The patient complains of shortness of
breath and palpitations. Which action will the nurse take first?
Place the patient on the left side.
Reassess vital signs.
Verify placement of the device.
Stop the infusion. correct answers Place the patient on the left side.
A patient has a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line inserted to continue IV
antibiotic therapy at home. With proper care, how long can this type of venous access
device remain in place?
6 months
, 4 months
12 months
2 months correct answers 12 months
The nurse administers an initial dose of a steroid to a patient with asthma. Thirty
minutes after administration, the nurse finds the patient agitated and stating that
"everyone is out to get me." What is the term for this unusual reaction?
Allergic reaction
Idiosyncratic reaction
Desired action
Adverse effect correct answers Idiosyncratic reaction
What will the nurse need to determine first in order to mix two drugs in the same
syringe?
Absorption rate of the drugs
Compatibility of the drugs
Medication adverse effects
Drug blood level of each drug correct answers Compatibility of the drugs
Which potential complication will the nurse expect in patients with a venous access
device?
Infection
Pain
Extravasation
Circulatory overload correct answers Infection
The nurse administers 50 mg of a drug at 6:00 AM that has a half-life of 8 hours. What
time will it be when 25 mg of the drug has been eliminated from the body?
6:00 PM
11:00 AM
8:00 AM
2:00 PM correct answers 2:00 PM
The nurse assesses which blood level to determine the amount of circulating medication
in a patient?
Therapeutic
Trough
Peak
Drug correct answers Drug
