Advanced Pharmacology Exam Prep and
Practice 2025/2026| Verified Questions
and Answers
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix). What is an important nursing
consideration when administering this medication?
Monitor electrolyte levels, particularly potassium.
2. A nurse is administering a beta-blocker to a patient with hypertension. Which side effect
should the nurse monitor for?
Bradycardia
3. A patient taking atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia reports muscle pain and weakness. What is the
nurse's priority action?
Assess the patient for signs of rhabdomyolysis and notify the healthcare provider.
4. A nurse is teaching a patient about the importance of taking warfarin consistently. What should
the nurse emphasize regarding dietary considerations?
Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K to avoid fluctuations in INR levels.
5. A patient with a history of depression is prescribed sertraline (Zoloft). What is a potential
serious side effect the nurse should monitor?
Increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior.
1
,6. When administering digoxin, which symptom may indicate potential toxicity?
Nausea and visual disturbances (e.g., seeing halos).
7. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving insulin therapy. What is the most critical action for the
nurse to take before administering the medication?
Check the patient's blood glucose level.
8. A patient with diabetes is prescribed metformin. What should the nurse teach the patient
regarding potential side effects?
Monitor for gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.
9. A nurse is educating a patient starting on lisinopril. What common side effect should the nurse
inform the patient about?
A persistent dry cough.
10. A patient on anticoagulation therapy presents with unusual bruising and bleeding. What
should the nurse do first?
Assess the patient's vital signs and hold the anticoagulant medication.
11. A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic pain who is prescribed a low dose of morphine.
What should the nurse educate the patient about regarding potential side effects?
Risk of constipation and sedation.
2
,12. A patient with an elevated heart rate is prescribed a calcium channel blocker. Which effect
should the nurse expect from this medication?
Decreased heart rate and blood pressure.
13. A patient with type 1 diabetes is experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia. What should the
nurse advise the patient to consume?
Glucose tablets or a sugary beverage.
14. A patient is being treated with levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Which laboratory test
should the nurse monitor regularly?
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.
15. A nurse is administering amiodarone to a patient with ventricular tachycardia. What is a
critical aspect of monitoring while the patient is on this medication?
Monitor cardiac rhythm and signs of pulmonary toxicity.
16. A patient receiving phenobarbital for seizures expresses concerns about drowsiness. What
should the nurse explain about this effect?
Drowsiness is a common side effect of phenobarbital and may decrease as the body
adjusts.
3
, 17. A nurse teaches a patient taking a thiazide diuretic about potential side effects. What should
the nurse include in the teaching?
Monitor for signs of hypokalemia, such as muscle weakness.
18. A patient with heart failure is prescribed spironolactone. What important lab value should the
nurse monitor?
Serum potassium levels.
19. A patient with anxiety is prescribed a benzodiazepine. What should the nurse inform the
patient about the risk of dependence?
Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
20. A nurse is assessing a patient receiving clonidine for hypertension. Which side effect should
the nurse be alert for?
Rebound hypertension if the medication is abruptly discontinued.
21. A patient diagnosed with Addison's disease is prescribed hydrocortisone. What is a critical
point for the nurse to teach regarding the medication?
Take the medication with food to minimize gastrointestinal upset.
22. A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving anticoagulant therapy. What laboratory value is
essential to evaluate?
International Normalized Ratio (INR) for patients on warfarin.
4
Practice 2025/2026| Verified Questions
and Answers
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix). What is an important nursing
consideration when administering this medication?
Monitor electrolyte levels, particularly potassium.
2. A nurse is administering a beta-blocker to a patient with hypertension. Which side effect
should the nurse monitor for?
Bradycardia
3. A patient taking atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia reports muscle pain and weakness. What is the
nurse's priority action?
Assess the patient for signs of rhabdomyolysis and notify the healthcare provider.
4. A nurse is teaching a patient about the importance of taking warfarin consistently. What should
the nurse emphasize regarding dietary considerations?
Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K to avoid fluctuations in INR levels.
5. A patient with a history of depression is prescribed sertraline (Zoloft). What is a potential
serious side effect the nurse should monitor?
Increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior.
1
,6. When administering digoxin, which symptom may indicate potential toxicity?
Nausea and visual disturbances (e.g., seeing halos).
7. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving insulin therapy. What is the most critical action for the
nurse to take before administering the medication?
Check the patient's blood glucose level.
8. A patient with diabetes is prescribed metformin. What should the nurse teach the patient
regarding potential side effects?
Monitor for gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.
9. A nurse is educating a patient starting on lisinopril. What common side effect should the nurse
inform the patient about?
A persistent dry cough.
10. A patient on anticoagulation therapy presents with unusual bruising and bleeding. What
should the nurse do first?
Assess the patient's vital signs and hold the anticoagulant medication.
11. A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic pain who is prescribed a low dose of morphine.
What should the nurse educate the patient about regarding potential side effects?
Risk of constipation and sedation.
2
,12. A patient with an elevated heart rate is prescribed a calcium channel blocker. Which effect
should the nurse expect from this medication?
Decreased heart rate and blood pressure.
13. A patient with type 1 diabetes is experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia. What should the
nurse advise the patient to consume?
Glucose tablets or a sugary beverage.
14. A patient is being treated with levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Which laboratory test
should the nurse monitor regularly?
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.
15. A nurse is administering amiodarone to a patient with ventricular tachycardia. What is a
critical aspect of monitoring while the patient is on this medication?
Monitor cardiac rhythm and signs of pulmonary toxicity.
16. A patient receiving phenobarbital for seizures expresses concerns about drowsiness. What
should the nurse explain about this effect?
Drowsiness is a common side effect of phenobarbital and may decrease as the body
adjusts.
3
, 17. A nurse teaches a patient taking a thiazide diuretic about potential side effects. What should
the nurse include in the teaching?
Monitor for signs of hypokalemia, such as muscle weakness.
18. A patient with heart failure is prescribed spironolactone. What important lab value should the
nurse monitor?
Serum potassium levels.
19. A patient with anxiety is prescribed a benzodiazepine. What should the nurse inform the
patient about the risk of dependence?
Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
20. A nurse is assessing a patient receiving clonidine for hypertension. Which side effect should
the nurse be alert for?
Rebound hypertension if the medication is abruptly discontinued.
21. A patient diagnosed with Addison's disease is prescribed hydrocortisone. What is a critical
point for the nurse to teach regarding the medication?
Take the medication with food to minimize gastrointestinal upset.
22. A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving anticoagulant therapy. What laboratory value is
essential to evaluate?
International Normalized Ratio (INR) for patients on warfarin.
4
