Nurse pharmacology practice questions
- Exam 1(100% Accurate)
A patient who was prescribed an oral medication to be taken four times per day returns
to the clinic for a follow-up visit. The patient tells the nurse that he forgets to take two or
three doses of the medication each day. What is the most appropriate action that the
nurse can take?
A. Arranging for the patient to have a home healthcare nurse
B. Re-educating the patient about the medication and how it should be taken
C. Determining whether the patient is experiencing any adverse effects
D. Telling the patient to set an alarm as a reminder to take the drug -
ANSWERSAnswer: B
Rationale: To help minimize errors caused by poor adherence, patients should receive
thorough instruction regarding their medications and how to take them.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has an infection. The healthcare provider has
ordered an antimicrobial drug for the patient. The nurse understands that which of the
following is the most important characteristic of this drug?
A. That the drug will kill the microorganism
B. That the drug will be administered orally
C. That the drug does not have any harmful effects
D. That the drug does not interact with other drugs - ANSWERSAnswer: A
Rationale: The three most important characteristics that any drug can have are
effectiveness, safety, and selectivity. Effectiveness is the most important property that a
drug can have.
While preparing to administer medications to a patient, the nurse finds that he does not
understand the rationale for the patient receiving one of the prescribed drugs. What
should he do?
A. Ask another nurse why the patient is getting this medication.
B. Ask the patient why this medication has been ordered.
C. Research the medication, focusing on its therapeutic uses.
D. Verify with the prescribing healthcare provider the reason for the medication. -
ANSWERSAnswer: D
Rationale: A nurse should not administer a medication unless he or she understands
the reason for its use.
When the nurse reviews a medication order, it is not clear what route should be used for
administration. Which action by the nurse is best?
, A. Use a current drug reference resource to determine the administration route.
B. Administer the drug via the oral route.
C. Contact the pharmacist for clarification.
D. Call the prescriber to verify the route. - ANSWERSAnswer: D
Rationale: If the medication order is unclear, the nurse should verify it with the
prescriber.
The nurse administered 2 mg of morphine intravenously to a postoperative patient. In
addition to following the Rights of Drug Administration, what responsibility does the
nurse have as a patient advocate?
A. To administer the drug as often as possible
B. To minimize adverse effects by reducing the next dose of morphine
C. To know the possible reactions to morphine
D. To inform visitors that the patient has received morphine - ANSWERSAnswer: C
Rationale: It is important for the nurse to know any possible reactions to the medication
in advance.
A nurse is administering a drug that is categorized as Schedule IV. The nurse
understands that this means the drug:
A. Has acceptable medical applications with low potential for abuse.
B. Is a controlled substance with no accepted medical use.
C. Is dangerous to administer to pregnant or breast-feeding patients.
D. Has the potential for serious and life-threatening adverse effects. -
ANSWERSAnswer: A
Rationale: Categories from Schedules I to V are used for drugs that are considered to
have the potential for abuse. The drugs with the highest potential for abuse are
Schedule I drugs, and those with the lowest potential for abuse are Schedule V drugs.
The nurse is preparing a list of medications to give to a patient who is being discharged
from the hospital. The nurse should use which drug name for each medication?
A. Chemical name
B. Generic name
C. Trade name
D. Classification name - ANSWERSAnswer: B
Rationale: Each drug has only one generic name; the generic name is less complex
than the chemical name, but it is more complex than the trade name. Using the generic
name is the safest way to refer to a medication. The chemical name can be long and
complex, and it may be inappropriate for everyday use. In addition, multiple trade
names can be used for the same medication.
A nurse is preparing to administer epinephrine to a patient who is having a severe
allergic reaction. Which route of administration should the nurse use to provide the
fastest and most complete absorption of epinephrine?
- Exam 1(100% Accurate)
A patient who was prescribed an oral medication to be taken four times per day returns
to the clinic for a follow-up visit. The patient tells the nurse that he forgets to take two or
three doses of the medication each day. What is the most appropriate action that the
nurse can take?
A. Arranging for the patient to have a home healthcare nurse
B. Re-educating the patient about the medication and how it should be taken
C. Determining whether the patient is experiencing any adverse effects
D. Telling the patient to set an alarm as a reminder to take the drug -
ANSWERSAnswer: B
Rationale: To help minimize errors caused by poor adherence, patients should receive
thorough instruction regarding their medications and how to take them.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has an infection. The healthcare provider has
ordered an antimicrobial drug for the patient. The nurse understands that which of the
following is the most important characteristic of this drug?
A. That the drug will kill the microorganism
B. That the drug will be administered orally
C. That the drug does not have any harmful effects
D. That the drug does not interact with other drugs - ANSWERSAnswer: A
Rationale: The three most important characteristics that any drug can have are
effectiveness, safety, and selectivity. Effectiveness is the most important property that a
drug can have.
While preparing to administer medications to a patient, the nurse finds that he does not
understand the rationale for the patient receiving one of the prescribed drugs. What
should he do?
A. Ask another nurse why the patient is getting this medication.
B. Ask the patient why this medication has been ordered.
C. Research the medication, focusing on its therapeutic uses.
D. Verify with the prescribing healthcare provider the reason for the medication. -
ANSWERSAnswer: D
Rationale: A nurse should not administer a medication unless he or she understands
the reason for its use.
When the nurse reviews a medication order, it is not clear what route should be used for
administration. Which action by the nurse is best?
, A. Use a current drug reference resource to determine the administration route.
B. Administer the drug via the oral route.
C. Contact the pharmacist for clarification.
D. Call the prescriber to verify the route. - ANSWERSAnswer: D
Rationale: If the medication order is unclear, the nurse should verify it with the
prescriber.
The nurse administered 2 mg of morphine intravenously to a postoperative patient. In
addition to following the Rights of Drug Administration, what responsibility does the
nurse have as a patient advocate?
A. To administer the drug as often as possible
B. To minimize adverse effects by reducing the next dose of morphine
C. To know the possible reactions to morphine
D. To inform visitors that the patient has received morphine - ANSWERSAnswer: C
Rationale: It is important for the nurse to know any possible reactions to the medication
in advance.
A nurse is administering a drug that is categorized as Schedule IV. The nurse
understands that this means the drug:
A. Has acceptable medical applications with low potential for abuse.
B. Is a controlled substance with no accepted medical use.
C. Is dangerous to administer to pregnant or breast-feeding patients.
D. Has the potential for serious and life-threatening adverse effects. -
ANSWERSAnswer: A
Rationale: Categories from Schedules I to V are used for drugs that are considered to
have the potential for abuse. The drugs with the highest potential for abuse are
Schedule I drugs, and those with the lowest potential for abuse are Schedule V drugs.
The nurse is preparing a list of medications to give to a patient who is being discharged
from the hospital. The nurse should use which drug name for each medication?
A. Chemical name
B. Generic name
C. Trade name
D. Classification name - ANSWERSAnswer: B
Rationale: Each drug has only one generic name; the generic name is less complex
than the chemical name, but it is more complex than the trade name. Using the generic
name is the safest way to refer to a medication. The chemical name can be long and
complex, and it may be inappropriate for everyday use. In addition, multiple trade
names can be used for the same medication.
A nurse is preparing to administer epinephrine to a patient who is having a severe
allergic reaction. Which route of administration should the nurse use to provide the
fastest and most complete absorption of epinephrine?
