REX-PN Practice Questions -
Pharmacology
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-pril", and what is their action? Side effects? -
answerACE inhibitors
- i.e, lisinopril (Zestril, Prinvil)
- Treatment of hypertension/heart failure, but lowering the blood pressure
- dry cough, dizziness
What nursing responsibilities are required when giving a patient an ACE inhibitors? -
answerAssess blood pressure prior to administering, and shortly after. Monitor the
patient for signs of HYPOtension, as it relates to the action of the drug.
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-sartan", and what is their action? side effects? -
answerAngiotension 2 Recepter Blockers (ARBs)
- i.e, irbesartan (Avapro), valsartan (Exforge)
- Treatment of hypertension/heart failure
- Side effects: dizzy, weak
What nursing responsibilities are required when giving a patient Angiotensin 2 Recepter
Blockers? - answerAssess blood pressure prior to administering, and shortly after.
Monitor the patient for signs of HYPOtension, as it relates to the action of the drug.
What are the indications when taking an Antacid? Side effects? - answer- Take 1-3
hours after meals, and at bed time
Side effects:
- Constipation (caused by Aluminum + Calcium)
- Diarrhea (caused by Magnesium)
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-parin", and what is their action? -
answerAnticoaglulants --> LMWH (Low Molecular Weight Heparin)
- i.e, enoxaparin (Clexane), dalteparin (Fragmin), tinzaparin (Innohep)
- Used to prevent VTE (venous thromboembolism)/DVT by reducing the clotting of the
blood
What nursing responsibilities are required when giving a patient an Anticoagulant? -
answer- Watch for bleeding tendencies!
- Administer in abdomen
- Check platelets or INR (if available) prior to administration Normal: 0.9-1.2
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-azole", and what is their action? - answerAntibiotic
,- i.e, metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Used to treat a variety of infections by stopping growth of bacteria/parasites
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-vir", and what is their action? Side effects? -
answerAntiviral
- i.e, acyclovir (Zovirax)
- Used to treat infections caused by certain viruses i.e., herpes simplex, shingles
Side effects:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-barbital", and what is their action? Side effects? -
answerBarbituates
i.e, phenobarbital (Luminal), pentobarbital (Nembutal)
- Used to treat or prevent seizures as is slows the activity of the brain and nervous
system; also used as a short-term sedative
Side effects
- CNS depression (drowsiness, dizziness) headache
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-pam" or "-lam", and what is their action? -
answerBenzodiazepines
i.e, lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium)
- Used as an antianxiety agent and an anticonvulsant
What are the adverse affects of a benzodiazepine? - answerCNS depression, leading to
LOW vitals
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-terol", and what is their action? - answerBeta-2
Agonist (Beta adrenergic
agonist-sympathetic OR "fight or flight"
i.e, albuterol (Ventolin)
- Used to relax the airways of the smooth muscle by dilating them to allow patency of
the airways; "Rescue inhaler".
Immediate relief for an asthma attack
What are the side effects of a Beta-2 Agonist drug? - answerTachycardia, tremors,
palpitations, excitability
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-lol", and what is their action? - answerBeta 1
Antagonist or Beta-Blockers (parasympathetic OR "rest and digest")
i.e, atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal)
, Decreases blood pressure and heart rate
Which nursing consideration is most important when teaching the client about inhalers
in an emergency situation? - answerALWAYS take Albuterol (Ventolin) FIRST, before
steroid inhalers. Steroid inhalers (i.e, Beclomethasone) are for long term use and won't
act quickly in an emergency situation like an asthma attack.
To help you remember, consider "A" before "B" (Albuterol before Beclomethasone).
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-zem", "-pine" or "-mil", and what is their action? -
answerCalcium Channel Blocker
i.e, amlodipine, diltiazem (Cardizem), verapamil
Action to decrease blood pressure and or heart rate, decreases oxygen demand
What nursing action must be taken PRIOR to giving a patient a calcium Channel
Blocker Drug? - answerAssess blood pressure
What are the side effects of taking Calcium Channel Blockers? - answerdizzy, tired,
weak, bradycardia, constipation
What type of drug starts with the prefix "Ceph-" or "Cef-, and what is their action? -
answerCephalosporin (Antibiotic)
i.e, cefazolin (Ancef)
- Anti-infective
What is the main side effect when taking Cephalosporin? - answerGI distress
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-statin", and what is their action? -
answerCholesterol-lowering drugs
i.e, simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor)
- lower cholesterol levels in blood (LDL)
What nursing consideration is important when teaching a patient about taking
cholesterol-lowering drugs? - answerThese drugs need to be given in the EVENING as
that is when cholesterol is manufactured the greatest in the body.
WATCH LIVER ENZYMES!
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-sone", and what is their action? -
answerCorticosteroid
i.e, dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone, prednisone
- Decreases inflammation in the body (anti-inflammatory)
Pharmacology
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-pril", and what is their action? Side effects? -
answerACE inhibitors
- i.e, lisinopril (Zestril, Prinvil)
- Treatment of hypertension/heart failure, but lowering the blood pressure
- dry cough, dizziness
What nursing responsibilities are required when giving a patient an ACE inhibitors? -
answerAssess blood pressure prior to administering, and shortly after. Monitor the
patient for signs of HYPOtension, as it relates to the action of the drug.
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-sartan", and what is their action? side effects? -
answerAngiotension 2 Recepter Blockers (ARBs)
- i.e, irbesartan (Avapro), valsartan (Exforge)
- Treatment of hypertension/heart failure
- Side effects: dizzy, weak
What nursing responsibilities are required when giving a patient Angiotensin 2 Recepter
Blockers? - answerAssess blood pressure prior to administering, and shortly after.
Monitor the patient for signs of HYPOtension, as it relates to the action of the drug.
What are the indications when taking an Antacid? Side effects? - answer- Take 1-3
hours after meals, and at bed time
Side effects:
- Constipation (caused by Aluminum + Calcium)
- Diarrhea (caused by Magnesium)
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-parin", and what is their action? -
answerAnticoaglulants --> LMWH (Low Molecular Weight Heparin)
- i.e, enoxaparin (Clexane), dalteparin (Fragmin), tinzaparin (Innohep)
- Used to prevent VTE (venous thromboembolism)/DVT by reducing the clotting of the
blood
What nursing responsibilities are required when giving a patient an Anticoagulant? -
answer- Watch for bleeding tendencies!
- Administer in abdomen
- Check platelets or INR (if available) prior to administration Normal: 0.9-1.2
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-azole", and what is their action? - answerAntibiotic
,- i.e, metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Used to treat a variety of infections by stopping growth of bacteria/parasites
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-vir", and what is their action? Side effects? -
answerAntiviral
- i.e, acyclovir (Zovirax)
- Used to treat infections caused by certain viruses i.e., herpes simplex, shingles
Side effects:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-barbital", and what is their action? Side effects? -
answerBarbituates
i.e, phenobarbital (Luminal), pentobarbital (Nembutal)
- Used to treat or prevent seizures as is slows the activity of the brain and nervous
system; also used as a short-term sedative
Side effects
- CNS depression (drowsiness, dizziness) headache
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-pam" or "-lam", and what is their action? -
answerBenzodiazepines
i.e, lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium)
- Used as an antianxiety agent and an anticonvulsant
What are the adverse affects of a benzodiazepine? - answerCNS depression, leading to
LOW vitals
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-terol", and what is their action? - answerBeta-2
Agonist (Beta adrenergic
agonist-sympathetic OR "fight or flight"
i.e, albuterol (Ventolin)
- Used to relax the airways of the smooth muscle by dilating them to allow patency of
the airways; "Rescue inhaler".
Immediate relief for an asthma attack
What are the side effects of a Beta-2 Agonist drug? - answerTachycardia, tremors,
palpitations, excitability
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-lol", and what is their action? - answerBeta 1
Antagonist or Beta-Blockers (parasympathetic OR "rest and digest")
i.e, atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal)
, Decreases blood pressure and heart rate
Which nursing consideration is most important when teaching the client about inhalers
in an emergency situation? - answerALWAYS take Albuterol (Ventolin) FIRST, before
steroid inhalers. Steroid inhalers (i.e, Beclomethasone) are for long term use and won't
act quickly in an emergency situation like an asthma attack.
To help you remember, consider "A" before "B" (Albuterol before Beclomethasone).
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-zem", "-pine" or "-mil", and what is their action? -
answerCalcium Channel Blocker
i.e, amlodipine, diltiazem (Cardizem), verapamil
Action to decrease blood pressure and or heart rate, decreases oxygen demand
What nursing action must be taken PRIOR to giving a patient a calcium Channel
Blocker Drug? - answerAssess blood pressure
What are the side effects of taking Calcium Channel Blockers? - answerdizzy, tired,
weak, bradycardia, constipation
What type of drug starts with the prefix "Ceph-" or "Cef-, and what is their action? -
answerCephalosporin (Antibiotic)
i.e, cefazolin (Ancef)
- Anti-infective
What is the main side effect when taking Cephalosporin? - answerGI distress
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-statin", and what is their action? -
answerCholesterol-lowering drugs
i.e, simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor)
- lower cholesterol levels in blood (LDL)
What nursing consideration is important when teaching a patient about taking
cholesterol-lowering drugs? - answerThese drugs need to be given in the EVENING as
that is when cholesterol is manufactured the greatest in the body.
WATCH LIVER ENZYMES!
What type of drug ends in the suffix "-sone", and what is their action? -
answerCorticosteroid
i.e, dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone, prednisone
- Decreases inflammation in the body (anti-inflammatory)
