C HAPTER 28: D IURETIC D RUGS
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When a patient is receiving diuretic therapy, which of these assessment
measures would best reflect the patient ’s fluid volume status?
a. Blood pressure and pulse
b. Serum potassium and sodium levels
c. Intake, output, and dail y weight
d. Measurements of abdominal girth and calf circumference
ANS: C
Urinary intake and output and dail y weights are the best reflections of
a patient’s fluid volume status.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
2. A patient is being discharged to home on a single dail y dose of a diuretic.
The nurse instructs the patient to take the dose at which time so it will be
least disruptive to the patient ’s dail y routine?
a. In the morning
b. At noon
c. With supper
d. At bedtime
, ANS: A
It is better to take the diuretic medication earl y in the morning to
prevent urination during the night. Taking the diuretic at the other
times may cause night-time urination and disrupt sleep.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Impl ementation
MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
3. A patient is started on a diuretic for antihypertensive therapy. The nurse
expects that a drug in which class is likely to be used initiall y?
a. Loop diuretics
b. Osmotic diuretics
c. Thiazide diuretics
d. Potassium-sparing diuretics
ANS: C
The Eighth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention,
Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC -8)
guidelines reaffirmed the role of thiazide diuretics as among the fir st-
line drugs in the treatment hypertension. The other drug classes are not
considered first-line treatments.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
4. A patient in the neurologic intensive care unit is being treated for cerebral
edema. Which class of diuretic is used to reduce intracranial pressure?
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When a patient is receiving diuretic therapy, which of these assessment
measures would best reflect the patient ’s fluid volume status?
a. Blood pressure and pulse
b. Serum potassium and sodium levels
c. Intake, output, and dail y weight
d. Measurements of abdominal girth and calf circumference
ANS: C
Urinary intake and output and dail y weights are the best reflections of
a patient’s fluid volume status.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
2. A patient is being discharged to home on a single dail y dose of a diuretic.
The nurse instructs the patient to take the dose at which time so it will be
least disruptive to the patient ’s dail y routine?
a. In the morning
b. At noon
c. With supper
d. At bedtime
, ANS: A
It is better to take the diuretic medication earl y in the morning to
prevent urination during the night. Taking the diuretic at the other
times may cause night-time urination and disrupt sleep.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Impl ementation
MSC: NC LEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment:
Management of Care
3. A patient is started on a diuretic for antihypertensive therapy. The nurse
expects that a drug in which class is likely to be used initiall y?
a. Loop diuretics
b. Osmotic diuretics
c. Thiazide diuretics
d. Potassium-sparing diuretics
ANS: C
The Eighth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention,
Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC -8)
guidelines reaffirmed the role of thiazide diuretics as among the fir st-
line drugs in the treatment hypertension. The other drug classes are not
considered first-line treatments.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
4. A patient in the neurologic intensive care unit is being treated for cerebral
edema. Which class of diuretic is used to reduce intracranial pressure?
