Pharmacology MSN 571 Practice
Questions And All Correct Answers.
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill. Which action
should the prescriber take initially? - Answer Arrange 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? - Answer Auscultate 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? - Answer The 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? -
Answer Asking 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? - Answer Ask 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? - Answer Obtaining
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? - Answer Order periodic
laboratory testing.
Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both advanced practice
registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)? - Answer More 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? - Answer Discontinue the ampicillin.
Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to adherence to any
type of medication therapy? - Answer Providing 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? - Answer "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? - Answer Pharmacists 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? - Answer "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? - Answer "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? - Answer Substitute 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? - Answer Monitor 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? - Answer Desensitization 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? - Answer Inactive ingredients used in composition can result in differing rates of dissolution,
which can alter the drug's onset of action.
A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug level. The prescriber confirms that the
dosing is correct. Which possible cause of this situation will the provider explore? - Answer Whether
patient is taking a medication that binds to serum albumin.
A patient takes a drug that is metabolized by CYP3A4 isoenzymes. If a CYP3A4 inducing drug is
prescribed, what drug adjustment may be necessary to maintain a therapeutic level of CYP3A4
substrate? - Answer Increase dosage of the CYP3A4 substrate
The provider prescribes hydrocodone with acetaminophen for a patient's postsurgical pain. What
instruction will the prescriber include regarding alcohol intake? - Answer "You should avoid drinking
alcohol while you are taking the pain medication I've ordered."
Which order for furosemide is written appropriately by the prescriber? - Answer Furosemide [Lasix] 20
mg PO daily
A drug can cause symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson disease. What action should the prescriber
take to minimize the potential patient risk? - Answer Thoroughly educate the patient about recognizing
such symptoms and the need to notify the office immediately.
A patient who has been taking sertraline for depression was prescribed azithromycin to treat an infection
by a provider at an after-hours clinic. What action will the primary care provider take to address the risk
this combination of medication has posed for the patient? - Answer Discontinue the azithromycin and
write an order for an alternative antibiotic.
A patient reports mild nausea within an hour after taking the first two doses of a newly approved
medication. Nausea is not listed among the known side effects of this drug. What instructions will the
Questions And All Correct Answers.
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill. Which action
should the prescriber take initially? - Answer Arrange 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? - Answer Auscultate 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? - Answer The 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? -
Answer Asking 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? - Answer Ask 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? - Answer Obtaining
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? - Answer Order periodic
laboratory testing.
Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both advanced practice
registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)? - Answer More 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? - Answer Discontinue the ampicillin.
Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to adherence to any
type of medication therapy? - Answer Providing 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? - Answer "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? - Answer Pharmacists 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? - Answer "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? - Answer "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? - Answer Substitute 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? - Answer Monitor 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? - Answer Desensitization 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? - Answer Inactive ingredients used in composition can result in differing rates of dissolution,
which can alter the drug's onset of action.
A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug level. The prescriber confirms that the
dosing is correct. Which possible cause of this situation will the provider explore? - Answer Whether
patient is taking a medication that binds to serum albumin.
A patient takes a drug that is metabolized by CYP3A4 isoenzymes. If a CYP3A4 inducing drug is
prescribed, what drug adjustment may be necessary to maintain a therapeutic level of CYP3A4
substrate? - Answer Increase dosage of the CYP3A4 substrate
The provider prescribes hydrocodone with acetaminophen for a patient's postsurgical pain. What
instruction will the prescriber include regarding alcohol intake? - Answer "You should avoid drinking
alcohol while you are taking the pain medication I've ordered."
Which order for furosemide is written appropriately by the prescriber? - Answer Furosemide [Lasix] 20
mg PO daily
A drug can cause symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson disease. What action should the prescriber
take to minimize the potential patient risk? - Answer Thoroughly educate the patient about recognizing
such symptoms and the need to notify the office immediately.
A patient who has been taking sertraline for depression was prescribed azithromycin to treat an infection
by a provider at an after-hours clinic. What action will the primary care provider take to address the risk
this combination of medication has posed for the patient? - Answer Discontinue the azithromycin and
write an order for an alternative antibiotic.
A patient reports mild nausea within an hour after taking the first two doses of a newly approved
medication. Nausea is not listed among the known side effects of this drug. What instructions will the
