CMS PHARMACOLOGY EVALUATION EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS MARKED A+
✔✔A nurse is assessing a client who was recently admitted and has a history of alcohol
use disorder. The client displays ataxia, an altered level of consciousness, and
nystagmus. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate
administering to the client? - ✔✔Parenteral thiamine.
The nurse should identify that a client who has a history of alcohol use disorder and
displays ataxia, an altered level of consciousness, and nystagmus is exhibiting
manifestations of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome due to a thiamine deficiency.
Therefore, the nurse should anticipate administering parenteral thiamine.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who was brought to the emergency department by
friends after a reported heroin overdosed. Which of the following findings should the
nurse expect to assess? - ✔✔Pinpoint pupils
Pinpoint pupils are an expected finding in opioid toxicity. Increased pupil size is seen in
opioid withdrawal.
✔✔A nurse is planning discharge teaching for a client who has major depressive
disorder and a new prescription for phenelzine. Which of the following foods should the
nurse include in the plan as safe for the client to consume while taking phenelzine? -
✔✔Broiled beef steak
Phenelzine, an MAOI, is an antidepressant. This medication interacts with a variety of
foods to produce a hypertensive crisis. Beef steak and other meats that are fresh do not
interact with phenelzine and are safe to consume.
✔✔A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has venous thrombosis and
a prescription for warfarin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include
in the teaching? - ✔✔Carry a medical alert ID card
A client who is taking warfarin is at increased risk for bleeding. In the case of an
emergency, any medical personnel must be aware of the client's medication history.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for meperidine 500 mg PO
q 4 to 6 hr to manage pain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? -
✔✔Contact the provider for clarification of the prescription
The nurse should call the provider and request clarification of the prescription. This
dose is significantly outside the recommended range of 50 mg every 3 to 4 hours, not to
exceed 600 mg within 24 hours. Only the provider can clarify this prescription.
, ✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who was recently diagnosed with Addison's disease
and has been placed on long-term mineralocorticoid therapy with fludrocortisone. Which
of the following pieces of information should the nurse provide when explaining the
purpose of this therapy? - ✔✔Mineralocorticoids maintain electrolyte and fluid balance.
Mineralocorticoids (specifically aldosterone) are necessary for the regulation of fluid and
electrolyte balance (particularly for sodium, potassium, and water). Addison's disease
results in a deficiency of cortisol and aldosterone production and requires
supplementation with glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Fludrocortisone is the only
mineralocorticoid available.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer involving the lumbar vertebrae and has
been prescribed gabapentin. Which of the following therapeutic effects should the nurse
identify for the client when taking this medication? - ✔✔Reduced cramping, aching, and
burning neuropathic pain
The nurse should identify that gabapentin is administered to treat neuropathic pain that
is sharp and darting. The medication can also decrease cramping, aching, and burning
pain and suppress spontaneous neuronal firing that causes pain.
✔✔A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data for a client who is receiving clozapine for
schizophrenia. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as a potential
adverse effect of the medication? - ✔✔Absolute neutrophil count 1,200 mm^3
The nurse should identify that an absolute neutrophil count of 1,200/mm^3 is less than
the expected reference range of 2,500 to 8,000/mm^3. An adverse effect of clozapine
can include agranulocytosis, which is a life-threatening conditioning in which WBCs
(including neutrophils) are severely decreased.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who is taking diphenhydramine for allergies. The client
reports, "I feel sleepy during the day." Which of the following responses should the
nurse make? - ✔✔"You should try antihistamines with non-sedative effects."
The nurse should tell the client to try second-generation antihistamines that have no
sedative effect, as these are large molecules with low lipid solubility that cannot cross
the blood-brain barrier. Diphenhydramine is a first-generation antihistamine and has a
common adverse effect of sedation.
✔✔A nurse is assessing a client who has AIDS and is taking zidovudine. Which of the
following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider? - ✔✔Decreased
hemoglobin
The nurse should apply the safety and risk-reduction priority-setting framework, which
assigns priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest safety risk to the client.
When there are several risks to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS MARKED A+
✔✔A nurse is assessing a client who was recently admitted and has a history of alcohol
use disorder. The client displays ataxia, an altered level of consciousness, and
nystagmus. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate
administering to the client? - ✔✔Parenteral thiamine.
The nurse should identify that a client who has a history of alcohol use disorder and
displays ataxia, an altered level of consciousness, and nystagmus is exhibiting
manifestations of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome due to a thiamine deficiency.
Therefore, the nurse should anticipate administering parenteral thiamine.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who was brought to the emergency department by
friends after a reported heroin overdosed. Which of the following findings should the
nurse expect to assess? - ✔✔Pinpoint pupils
Pinpoint pupils are an expected finding in opioid toxicity. Increased pupil size is seen in
opioid withdrawal.
✔✔A nurse is planning discharge teaching for a client who has major depressive
disorder and a new prescription for phenelzine. Which of the following foods should the
nurse include in the plan as safe for the client to consume while taking phenelzine? -
✔✔Broiled beef steak
Phenelzine, an MAOI, is an antidepressant. This medication interacts with a variety of
foods to produce a hypertensive crisis. Beef steak and other meats that are fresh do not
interact with phenelzine and are safe to consume.
✔✔A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has venous thrombosis and
a prescription for warfarin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include
in the teaching? - ✔✔Carry a medical alert ID card
A client who is taking warfarin is at increased risk for bleeding. In the case of an
emergency, any medical personnel must be aware of the client's medication history.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for meperidine 500 mg PO
q 4 to 6 hr to manage pain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? -
✔✔Contact the provider for clarification of the prescription
The nurse should call the provider and request clarification of the prescription. This
dose is significantly outside the recommended range of 50 mg every 3 to 4 hours, not to
exceed 600 mg within 24 hours. Only the provider can clarify this prescription.
, ✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who was recently diagnosed with Addison's disease
and has been placed on long-term mineralocorticoid therapy with fludrocortisone. Which
of the following pieces of information should the nurse provide when explaining the
purpose of this therapy? - ✔✔Mineralocorticoids maintain electrolyte and fluid balance.
Mineralocorticoids (specifically aldosterone) are necessary for the regulation of fluid and
electrolyte balance (particularly for sodium, potassium, and water). Addison's disease
results in a deficiency of cortisol and aldosterone production and requires
supplementation with glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Fludrocortisone is the only
mineralocorticoid available.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer involving the lumbar vertebrae and has
been prescribed gabapentin. Which of the following therapeutic effects should the nurse
identify for the client when taking this medication? - ✔✔Reduced cramping, aching, and
burning neuropathic pain
The nurse should identify that gabapentin is administered to treat neuropathic pain that
is sharp and darting. The medication can also decrease cramping, aching, and burning
pain and suppress spontaneous neuronal firing that causes pain.
✔✔A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data for a client who is receiving clozapine for
schizophrenia. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as a potential
adverse effect of the medication? - ✔✔Absolute neutrophil count 1,200 mm^3
The nurse should identify that an absolute neutrophil count of 1,200/mm^3 is less than
the expected reference range of 2,500 to 8,000/mm^3. An adverse effect of clozapine
can include agranulocytosis, which is a life-threatening conditioning in which WBCs
(including neutrophils) are severely decreased.
✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who is taking diphenhydramine for allergies. The client
reports, "I feel sleepy during the day." Which of the following responses should the
nurse make? - ✔✔"You should try antihistamines with non-sedative effects."
The nurse should tell the client to try second-generation antihistamines that have no
sedative effect, as these are large molecules with low lipid solubility that cannot cross
the blood-brain barrier. Diphenhydramine is a first-generation antihistamine and has a
common adverse effect of sedation.
✔✔A nurse is assessing a client who has AIDS and is taking zidovudine. Which of the
following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider? - ✔✔Decreased
hemoglobin
The nurse should apply the safety and risk-reduction priority-setting framework, which
assigns priority to the factor or situation posing the greatest safety risk to the client.
When there are several risks to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the
