NURSING PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
After teaching a group of students about antiseizure agents, the instructor determines that
the teaching was successful when the students identify which agent has being
administered intravenously?
Fosphenytoin
A patient is receiving carbamazepine therapy. Which serum drug level would lead the
nurse to suspect that the patient needs a decrease in dosage?
14 mcg/mL
The patient has been taking phenobarbital for the past three weeks in combination with
phenytoin to control epilepsy and had no seizures until yesterday. Since yesterday the
patient has had three seizures. What does the nurse suspect is causing the sudden return
of seizure activity?
The patient has developed a drug tolerance for phenobarbital.
When reviewing the results of a patient's serum phenytoin level, which level would
indicate toxicity
22 mcg/mL
What would be the most important for the nurse to monitor when administering valproic
acid?
Liver Function Studies
The nurse is reviewing the newly admitted adult patient's orders and finds an order for
carbamazepine (Tegretol). What order would reflect a safe dosage?
Carbamazepine
200mg PO q 8h
What would the nurse include as a possible adverse effect when teaching a patient about
phenytoin?
Liver toxicity
Which nursing diagnosis would be most important for a nurse to include in the plan of
care for a patient who is receiving a antiepileptic agent and experiencing orthostatic
hypotension?
Risk for injury
After teaching a group of students about myoclonic seizures and drug therapy, the
instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which
drug as the drug of choice?
, Valproic Acid
A patient is prescribed methsuximide. The nurse would expect to administer the drug by
which route?
Oral
What statements made by the nurse about pregabalin (Lyrica) are accurate?
Pregabalin is used to treat partial seizures
Indicated for treatment of fibromyalgia
Maximum daily administration is 600 mg in divided dose
Pregabalin is used to treat partial seizures
Indicated for treatment of fibromyalgia
Maximum daily administration is 600 mg in divided doses
What best reflects the action of barbituates when used to control seizures?
Inhibition of impulse conduction
By what routes might the nurse diazepam (valium)
Intramuscular, Rectal, Intravenous, Oral
A patient is prescribed topiramate. The nurse cautions the patient to avoid the intake of
alcohol for which reason?
The patient is at risk for increased CNS depression
The nurse is caring for a woman who has taken phenytoin for many years to control
seizures. The woman now wishes to become pregnant and ask the nurse what she should
do. What is the nurses best response?
The risk to you and the fetus is greater when stopping the drug during pregnancy than the
drug itself.
The nurse is caring for a patient suspected of having a seizure disorder. What might be
ordered for this patient to test brain function?
Electroencephalogram
A patient is experiencing absence seizures. Which agent would the nurse most likely
expect the physician to order as the drug of choice?
Ethosuximide
When describing the action of acetazolamide, what would the nurse include?
Alteration in electrolyte movement
After teaching a group of students about antiseizure agents, the instructor determines that
the teaching was successful when the students identify which agent has being
administered intravenously?
Fosphenytoin
A patient is receiving carbamazepine therapy. Which serum drug level would lead the
nurse to suspect that the patient needs a decrease in dosage?
14 mcg/mL
The patient has been taking phenobarbital for the past three weeks in combination with
phenytoin to control epilepsy and had no seizures until yesterday. Since yesterday the
patient has had three seizures. What does the nurse suspect is causing the sudden return
of seizure activity?
The patient has developed a drug tolerance for phenobarbital.
When reviewing the results of a patient's serum phenytoin level, which level would
indicate toxicity
22 mcg/mL
What would be the most important for the nurse to monitor when administering valproic
acid?
Liver Function Studies
The nurse is reviewing the newly admitted adult patient's orders and finds an order for
carbamazepine (Tegretol). What order would reflect a safe dosage?
Carbamazepine
200mg PO q 8h
What would the nurse include as a possible adverse effect when teaching a patient about
phenytoin?
Liver toxicity
Which nursing diagnosis would be most important for a nurse to include in the plan of
care for a patient who is receiving a antiepileptic agent and experiencing orthostatic
hypotension?
Risk for injury
After teaching a group of students about myoclonic seizures and drug therapy, the
instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which
drug as the drug of choice?
, Valproic Acid
A patient is prescribed methsuximide. The nurse would expect to administer the drug by
which route?
Oral
What statements made by the nurse about pregabalin (Lyrica) are accurate?
Pregabalin is used to treat partial seizures
Indicated for treatment of fibromyalgia
Maximum daily administration is 600 mg in divided dose
Pregabalin is used to treat partial seizures
Indicated for treatment of fibromyalgia
Maximum daily administration is 600 mg in divided doses
What best reflects the action of barbituates when used to control seizures?
Inhibition of impulse conduction
By what routes might the nurse diazepam (valium)
Intramuscular, Rectal, Intravenous, Oral
A patient is prescribed topiramate. The nurse cautions the patient to avoid the intake of
alcohol for which reason?
The patient is at risk for increased CNS depression
The nurse is caring for a woman who has taken phenytoin for many years to control
seizures. The woman now wishes to become pregnant and ask the nurse what she should
do. What is the nurses best response?
The risk to you and the fetus is greater when stopping the drug during pregnancy than the
drug itself.
The nurse is caring for a patient suspected of having a seizure disorder. What might be
ordered for this patient to test brain function?
Electroencephalogram
A patient is experiencing absence seizures. Which agent would the nurse most likely
expect the physician to order as the drug of choice?
Ethosuximide
When describing the action of acetazolamide, what would the nurse include?
Alteration in electrolyte movement
