1. A nurse is administering an opioid analgesic to a client. Which of the following
is a priority assessment before giving the medication?
A) Respiratory rate
B) Blood pressure
C) Heart rate
D) Temperature
Answer: A) Respiratory rate
Rationale: Opioid analgesics can cause respiratory depression, which is a
potentially life-threatening side effect. Assessing the respiratory rate ensures the
client is not at risk of hypoventilation or respiratory arrest.
2. A client is prescribed warfarin (Coumadin). Which of the following should the
nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?
A) Platelet count
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) Hemoglobin level
D) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Answer: B) Prothrombin time (PT)
Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant that affects the clotting cascade,
increasing PT. Monitoring PT helps assess the therapeutic effect and guide dosing.
3. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client prescribed captopril
(Capoten). The nurse should include which of the following as an adverse effect
of this medication?
A) Weight gain
B) Cough
C) Tinnitus
D) Insomnia
Answer: B) Cough
,Rationale: A persistent dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors like
captopril. The nurse should educate the client about this and advise them to
report it to their healthcare provider.
4. The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed a selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression. Which of the following should the nurse
monitor for?
A) Hypertension
B) Serotonin syndrome
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Thrombocytopenia
Answer: B) Serotonin syndrome
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that can
occur with the use of SSRIs, characterized by symptoms like agitation,
hyperreflexia, fever, and shivering. The nurse should monitor for signs of this
condition.
5. A nurse is administering digoxin (Lanoxin) to a client. Which of the following is
the most important to assess before giving the medication?
A) Blood glucose level
B) Serum potassium level
C) Liver function tests
D) Serum calcium level
Answer: B) Serum potassium level
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity is more likely if potassium levels are low. Hypokalemia
increases the risk of arrhythmias and digoxin toxicity, so it’s important to monitor
potassium levels.
6. A client is receiving an intravenous infusion of potassium chloride (KCl). The
nurse should monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
, A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: A) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Potassium chloride can cause hyperkalemia, especially when
administered too quickly. The nurse should monitor serum potassium levels and
observe for signs of hyperkalemia, such as muscle weakness or arrhythmias.
7. A nurse is teaching a client who is starting on an oral contraceptive. Which of
the following statements indicates that the client understands the teaching?
A) "I will stop smoking while taking this medication."
B) "I can take the pill during pregnancy."
C) "The pill will protect me from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)."
D) "I can stop taking the pill once my menstrual period begins."
Answer: A) "I will stop smoking while taking this medication."
Rationale: Smoking increases the risk of thromboembolic events when using oral
contraceptives. Clients should be advised to quit smoking to reduce this risk.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an antibiotic for a urinary tract
infection. Which of the following would be most important to assess during the
treatment?
A) Liver function
B) Renal function
C) Heart rate
D) Blood glucose level
Answer: B) Renal function
Rationale: Many antibiotics are excreted through the kidneys, and impaired renal
function can lead to drug toxicity. The nurse should monitor renal function (e.g.,
serum creatinine, urine output) to prevent complications.
is a priority assessment before giving the medication?
A) Respiratory rate
B) Blood pressure
C) Heart rate
D) Temperature
Answer: A) Respiratory rate
Rationale: Opioid analgesics can cause respiratory depression, which is a
potentially life-threatening side effect. Assessing the respiratory rate ensures the
client is not at risk of hypoventilation or respiratory arrest.
2. A client is prescribed warfarin (Coumadin). Which of the following should the
nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?
A) Platelet count
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) Hemoglobin level
D) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Answer: B) Prothrombin time (PT)
Rationale: Warfarin is an anticoagulant that affects the clotting cascade,
increasing PT. Monitoring PT helps assess the therapeutic effect and guide dosing.
3. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client prescribed captopril
(Capoten). The nurse should include which of the following as an adverse effect
of this medication?
A) Weight gain
B) Cough
C) Tinnitus
D) Insomnia
Answer: B) Cough
,Rationale: A persistent dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors like
captopril. The nurse should educate the client about this and advise them to
report it to their healthcare provider.
4. The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed a selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression. Which of the following should the nurse
monitor for?
A) Hypertension
B) Serotonin syndrome
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Thrombocytopenia
Answer: B) Serotonin syndrome
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that can
occur with the use of SSRIs, characterized by symptoms like agitation,
hyperreflexia, fever, and shivering. The nurse should monitor for signs of this
condition.
5. A nurse is administering digoxin (Lanoxin) to a client. Which of the following is
the most important to assess before giving the medication?
A) Blood glucose level
B) Serum potassium level
C) Liver function tests
D) Serum calcium level
Answer: B) Serum potassium level
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity is more likely if potassium levels are low. Hypokalemia
increases the risk of arrhythmias and digoxin toxicity, so it’s important to monitor
potassium levels.
6. A client is receiving an intravenous infusion of potassium chloride (KCl). The
nurse should monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
, A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: A) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Potassium chloride can cause hyperkalemia, especially when
administered too quickly. The nurse should monitor serum potassium levels and
observe for signs of hyperkalemia, such as muscle weakness or arrhythmias.
7. A nurse is teaching a client who is starting on an oral contraceptive. Which of
the following statements indicates that the client understands the teaching?
A) "I will stop smoking while taking this medication."
B) "I can take the pill during pregnancy."
C) "The pill will protect me from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)."
D) "I can stop taking the pill once my menstrual period begins."
Answer: A) "I will stop smoking while taking this medication."
Rationale: Smoking increases the risk of thromboembolic events when using oral
contraceptives. Clients should be advised to quit smoking to reduce this risk.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an antibiotic for a urinary tract
infection. Which of the following would be most important to assess during the
treatment?
A) Liver function
B) Renal function
C) Heart rate
D) Blood glucose level
Answer: B) Renal function
Rationale: Many antibiotics are excreted through the kidneys, and impaired renal
function can lead to drug toxicity. The nurse should monitor renal function (e.g.,
serum creatinine, urine output) to prevent complications.
