pn pharmacology online practice 2020 A
questions with complete solutions
Course
Ati Pharmacology
1. A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which electrolyte
imbalance should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Explanation:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion through urine. Monitoring for
low potassium levels (hypokalemia) is critical, as this can cause arrhythmias and muscle
weakness.
2. A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient. Which assessment is most
important before giving the dose?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Blood glucose
C. Apical pulse
D. Temperature
Correct Answer: C. Apical pulse
Explanation:
Digoxin slows the heart rate. The nurse must check the apical pulse for one full minute and
withhold the drug if it is below 60 bpm in adults or below the safe limit for age in children.
3. A client receiving morphine sulfate IV complains of drowsiness and slow
breathing. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Give naloxone
B. Call the provider
C. Document the findings
D. Administer oxygen
,Correct Answer: A. Give naloxone
Explanation:
Drowsiness and respiratory depression suggest opioid overdose. Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid
antagonist that reverses the effects and should be given immediately.
4. A client is prescribed warfarin. Which lab value should the nurse monitor
regularly?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: B. INR
Explanation:
INR (International Normalized Ratio) monitors warfarin therapy. Therapeutic range is
typically 2.0–3.0. aPTT monitors heparin, not warfarin.
5. A nurse is administering insulin lispro to a diabetic patient. When should the
nurse serve the meal?
A. 30 minutes after injection
B. 1 hour before injection
C. Immediately after injection
D. Within 15 minutes of injection
Correct Answer: D. Within 15 minutes of injection
Explanation:
Insulin lispro is rapid-acting, with onset in 15 minutes. To prevent hypoglycemia, food should
be available within 15 minutes of administration.
6. A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingually for angina. Which
instruction is most important?
A. Swallow the tablet whole
B. Take with milk
, C. Place under the tongue until dissolved
D. Chew before swallowing
Correct Answer: C. Place under the tongue until dissolved
Explanation:
Sublingual nitroglycerin must be dissolved under the tongue for fast absorption into the
bloodstream. Swallowing it would inactivate the drug due to first-pass metabolism.
7. A nurse is teaching a patient about phenytoin. Which side effect should be
reported immediately?
A. Nausea
B. Gum swelling
C. Rash
D. Headache
Correct Answer: C. Rash
Explanation:
A rash may signal a life-threatening allergic reaction such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
This warrants immediate medical evaluation.
8. A client on gentamicin reports tinnitus. What action should the nurse take?
A. Reassure the patient
B. Give the next dose early
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider
D. Ask if they have earwax
Correct Answer: C. Hold the medication and notify the provider
Explanation:
Tinnitus is a sign of ototoxicity, a known side effect of aminoglycosides like gentamicin. Drug
should be held and reported to the healthcare provider.
9. Which of the following instructions is appropriate for a client taking
alendronate for osteoporosis?
questions with complete solutions
Course
Ati Pharmacology
1. A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which electrolyte
imbalance should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Explanation:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion through urine. Monitoring for
low potassium levels (hypokalemia) is critical, as this can cause arrhythmias and muscle
weakness.
2. A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient. Which assessment is most
important before giving the dose?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Blood glucose
C. Apical pulse
D. Temperature
Correct Answer: C. Apical pulse
Explanation:
Digoxin slows the heart rate. The nurse must check the apical pulse for one full minute and
withhold the drug if it is below 60 bpm in adults or below the safe limit for age in children.
3. A client receiving morphine sulfate IV complains of drowsiness and slow
breathing. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Give naloxone
B. Call the provider
C. Document the findings
D. Administer oxygen
,Correct Answer: A. Give naloxone
Explanation:
Drowsiness and respiratory depression suggest opioid overdose. Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid
antagonist that reverses the effects and should be given immediately.
4. A client is prescribed warfarin. Which lab value should the nurse monitor
regularly?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: B. INR
Explanation:
INR (International Normalized Ratio) monitors warfarin therapy. Therapeutic range is
typically 2.0–3.0. aPTT monitors heparin, not warfarin.
5. A nurse is administering insulin lispro to a diabetic patient. When should the
nurse serve the meal?
A. 30 minutes after injection
B. 1 hour before injection
C. Immediately after injection
D. Within 15 minutes of injection
Correct Answer: D. Within 15 minutes of injection
Explanation:
Insulin lispro is rapid-acting, with onset in 15 minutes. To prevent hypoglycemia, food should
be available within 15 minutes of administration.
6. A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingually for angina. Which
instruction is most important?
A. Swallow the tablet whole
B. Take with milk
, C. Place under the tongue until dissolved
D. Chew before swallowing
Correct Answer: C. Place under the tongue until dissolved
Explanation:
Sublingual nitroglycerin must be dissolved under the tongue for fast absorption into the
bloodstream. Swallowing it would inactivate the drug due to first-pass metabolism.
7. A nurse is teaching a patient about phenytoin. Which side effect should be
reported immediately?
A. Nausea
B. Gum swelling
C. Rash
D. Headache
Correct Answer: C. Rash
Explanation:
A rash may signal a life-threatening allergic reaction such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
This warrants immediate medical evaluation.
8. A client on gentamicin reports tinnitus. What action should the nurse take?
A. Reassure the patient
B. Give the next dose early
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider
D. Ask if they have earwax
Correct Answer: C. Hold the medication and notify the provider
Explanation:
Tinnitus is a sign of ototoxicity, a known side effect of aminoglycosides like gentamicin. Drug
should be held and reported to the healthcare provider.
9. Which of the following instructions is appropriate for a client taking
alendronate for osteoporosis?
