Focus on Nursing Pharmacology 9th Edition
Karch Test Bank ALL CHAPTERS COVERED
2025
Course
Pharmacology Test Bank
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used in
Alzheimer’s disease management?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. Norepinephrine
Answer: C. Acetylcholine
These drugs increase acetylcholine levels by inhibiting its breakdown.
2. A patient taking warfarin should be monitored for interactions with which vitamin?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
Answer: D. Vitamin K
Vitamin K antagonizes warfarin’s anticoagulant effect.
3. Which side effect is most commonly associated with beta-blockers?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypertension
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: B. Bradycardia
Beta-blockers reduce heart rate by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors.
,4. A nurse should instruct a patient taking loop diuretics to monitor for which electrolyte
imbalance?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion.
5. Which medication class is primarily used to treat anaphylactic reactions?
A. Beta-agonists
B. Corticosteroids
C. Antihistamines
D. Epinephrine
Answer: D. Epinephrine
It reverses airway constriction and hypotension rapidly.
6. When teaching a patient about NSAIDs, the nurse should emphasize the risk of which
adverse effect?
A. Renal toxicity
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypotension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: A. Renal toxicity
NSAIDs can reduce renal blood flow and cause nephrotoxicity.
7. A patient on insulin therapy should be taught to recognize signs of:
A. Hyperglycemia only
B. Hypoglycemia only
,C. Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
D. Neither
Answer: C. Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
Both conditions require immediate attention.
8. Which class of antibiotics inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis?
A. Aminoglycosides
B. Cephalosporins
C. Tetracyclines
D. Macrolides
Answer: B. Cephalosporins
They disrupt peptidoglycan cross-linking.
9. The nurse recognizes that digoxin toxicity may present with:
A. Tinnitus
B. Visual disturbances (yellow halos)
C. Hypertension
D. Fever
Answer: B. Visual disturbances (yellow halos)
Classic symptom of digoxin toxicity.
10. Which medication requires monitoring of serum lithium levels due to a narrow
therapeutic index?
A. Carbamazepine
B. Lithium carbonate
C. Valproic acid
D. Phenytoin
Answer: B. Lithium carbonate
To avoid toxicity and ensure therapeutic dosing.
, 11. A patient taking ACE inhibitors complains of a persistent dry cough. What is the cause?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Accumulation of bradykinin
C. Allergic reaction
D. Increased mucus production
Answer: B. Accumulation of bradykinin
ACE inhibitors prevent bradykinin breakdown, causing cough.
12. Which lab value should be monitored closely in a patient receiving heparin therapy?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count
D. Serum creatinine
Answer: B. aPTT
Heparin prolongs activated partial thromboplastin time.
13. Which is a common adverse effect of corticosteroid therapy?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Immunosuppression
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C. Immunosuppression
Corticosteroids suppress the immune response.
14. A nurse instructs a patient to avoid grapefruit juice when taking which medication?
A. Statins
B. Beta blockers
C. Diuretics
D. Antihistamines
Answer: A. Statins
Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP450 enzymes affecting statin metabolism.
Karch Test Bank ALL CHAPTERS COVERED
2025
Course
Pharmacology Test Bank
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used in
Alzheimer’s disease management?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. Norepinephrine
Answer: C. Acetylcholine
These drugs increase acetylcholine levels by inhibiting its breakdown.
2. A patient taking warfarin should be monitored for interactions with which vitamin?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
Answer: D. Vitamin K
Vitamin K antagonizes warfarin’s anticoagulant effect.
3. Which side effect is most commonly associated with beta-blockers?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypertension
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: B. Bradycardia
Beta-blockers reduce heart rate by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors.
,4. A nurse should instruct a patient taking loop diuretics to monitor for which electrolyte
imbalance?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion.
5. Which medication class is primarily used to treat anaphylactic reactions?
A. Beta-agonists
B. Corticosteroids
C. Antihistamines
D. Epinephrine
Answer: D. Epinephrine
It reverses airway constriction and hypotension rapidly.
6. When teaching a patient about NSAIDs, the nurse should emphasize the risk of which
adverse effect?
A. Renal toxicity
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypotension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: A. Renal toxicity
NSAIDs can reduce renal blood flow and cause nephrotoxicity.
7. A patient on insulin therapy should be taught to recognize signs of:
A. Hyperglycemia only
B. Hypoglycemia only
,C. Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
D. Neither
Answer: C. Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
Both conditions require immediate attention.
8. Which class of antibiotics inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis?
A. Aminoglycosides
B. Cephalosporins
C. Tetracyclines
D. Macrolides
Answer: B. Cephalosporins
They disrupt peptidoglycan cross-linking.
9. The nurse recognizes that digoxin toxicity may present with:
A. Tinnitus
B. Visual disturbances (yellow halos)
C. Hypertension
D. Fever
Answer: B. Visual disturbances (yellow halos)
Classic symptom of digoxin toxicity.
10. Which medication requires monitoring of serum lithium levels due to a narrow
therapeutic index?
A. Carbamazepine
B. Lithium carbonate
C. Valproic acid
D. Phenytoin
Answer: B. Lithium carbonate
To avoid toxicity and ensure therapeutic dosing.
, 11. A patient taking ACE inhibitors complains of a persistent dry cough. What is the cause?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Accumulation of bradykinin
C. Allergic reaction
D. Increased mucus production
Answer: B. Accumulation of bradykinin
ACE inhibitors prevent bradykinin breakdown, causing cough.
12. Which lab value should be monitored closely in a patient receiving heparin therapy?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count
D. Serum creatinine
Answer: B. aPTT
Heparin prolongs activated partial thromboplastin time.
13. Which is a common adverse effect of corticosteroid therapy?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Immunosuppression
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C. Immunosuppression
Corticosteroids suppress the immune response.
14. A nurse instructs a patient to avoid grapefruit juice when taking which medication?
A. Statins
B. Beta blockers
C. Diuretics
D. Antihistamines
Answer: A. Statins
Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP450 enzymes affecting statin metabolism.
