PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE TEST #2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The nurse is preparing to administer warfarin [Coumadin] to a patient. The nurse
notes that the patient has altered CYP2D6 genes. It is most important for the nurse
to do which of the following?
A. Check for signs of a transient ischemic attack.
B. Monitor for ST segment elevation or depression.
C. Observe the patient's legs for symptoms of a blood clot.
D. Examine the patient's stools for the presence - ANSWER-D. Examine the
patient's stools for the presence
A patient was discharged from the hospital with instructions to take an antibiotic for 7
days to treat a bladder infection. Twelve days later, a home care nurse visits the
patient and finds that the symptoms have not resolved. What is the most important
question for the nurse to ask?
A. "Do you think you have another bladder infection?"
B. "Have you taken all of the antibiotics as directed?"
C. "How much water have you been drinking each day?"
D. "What antibiotic do you usually take to treat an infection - ANSWER-B. "Have you
taken all of the antibiotics as directed?"
The nurse is assessing an infant delivered by a patient who is suspected of regularly
using alcohol and cocaine during her pregnancy. It is most important for the nurse to
observe the infant for what?
A. Lethargy, hypothermia, and weight gain
B. High-pitched cry, vomiting, and jitteriness
C. Depressed reflexes, jaundice, and dysphagia
D. Hypotonia, absent sucking reflex, and epistaxis - ANSWER-B. High-pitched cry,
vomiting, and jitteriness
A patient is taking a Category A drug during pregnancy. Which statement by the
nurse is accurate?
A. "The risk of harm to the fetus is remote."
B. "The drug is safe to take during pregnancy."
C. "This drug has caused congenital birth defects."
D. "No controlled studies of this drug have been done in humans." - ANSWER-A.
"The risk of harm to the fetus is remote."
A patient is 2 months pregnant and complains of gastric distress. It is most
appropriate for the nurse to do what?
A. Consult with the healthcare provider about a prescription for misoprostol
(Cytotec).
, B. Instruct the patient to avoid acidic foods such as orange juice and tomatoes.
C. Suggest an over-the-counter medication such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-
Bismol).
D. Use an alternative therapy such as valerian as a dietary supplement. - ANSWER-
B. Instruct the patient to avoid acidic foods such as orange juice and tomatoes.
A patient who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is prescribed an antibiotic to take
after discharge. Which statement should the nurse include when providing discharge
instructions?
A. "Drink plenty of fluids to dilute the drug in your breast milk."
B. "Take the drug at night with a full glass of water."
C. "Pump your breasts, and then discard all of the milk."
D. "Take the antibiotic immediately after breast-feeding." - ANSWER-D. "Take the
antibiotic immediately after breast-feeding."
The nurse provides teaching for the caregiver of a 2-month-old infant and a 3-year-
old child. Both children will be taking oral ampicillin (an acid-labile drug) to treat a
bacterial infection. The nurse determines that teaching is successful if the caregiver
makes which of the following statements?
A. "The dose will not be different, but the baby will take the drug for 7 days instead of
10 days."
B. "The dose will be higher for the baby, because the infection is more serious."
C. "The dose will be the same, because my children have the same infection."
D. "The dose will be smaller for the baby, because the drug will be absorbed better in
the stomach." - ANSWER-D. "The dose will be smaller for the baby, because the
drug will be absorbed better in the stomach."
Which patient does the nurse identify as being at highest risk for the development of
an adverse drug reaction?
A. A 1-month-old patient whose mother has allergies to penicillin, aspirin, and
codeine
B. A 16-year-old patient with multiple traumatic injuries who is taking morphine and
an antibiotic
C. A 54-year-old patient with multiple sclerosis who has been enrolled in a clinical
trial of a new drug
D. An 84-year-old patient with diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension who takes
seven prescription medications each day - ANSWER-D. An 84-year-old patient with
diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension who takes seven prescription medications
each day
A patient is prescribed a medication that is potentially hepatotoxic. Before
administering the medication, it is most important for the nurse to assess what?
A. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine
B. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase
C. Prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The nurse is preparing to administer warfarin [Coumadin] to a patient. The nurse
notes that the patient has altered CYP2D6 genes. It is most important for the nurse
to do which of the following?
A. Check for signs of a transient ischemic attack.
B. Monitor for ST segment elevation or depression.
C. Observe the patient's legs for symptoms of a blood clot.
D. Examine the patient's stools for the presence - ANSWER-D. Examine the
patient's stools for the presence
A patient was discharged from the hospital with instructions to take an antibiotic for 7
days to treat a bladder infection. Twelve days later, a home care nurse visits the
patient and finds that the symptoms have not resolved. What is the most important
question for the nurse to ask?
A. "Do you think you have another bladder infection?"
B. "Have you taken all of the antibiotics as directed?"
C. "How much water have you been drinking each day?"
D. "What antibiotic do you usually take to treat an infection - ANSWER-B. "Have you
taken all of the antibiotics as directed?"
The nurse is assessing an infant delivered by a patient who is suspected of regularly
using alcohol and cocaine during her pregnancy. It is most important for the nurse to
observe the infant for what?
A. Lethargy, hypothermia, and weight gain
B. High-pitched cry, vomiting, and jitteriness
C. Depressed reflexes, jaundice, and dysphagia
D. Hypotonia, absent sucking reflex, and epistaxis - ANSWER-B. High-pitched cry,
vomiting, and jitteriness
A patient is taking a Category A drug during pregnancy. Which statement by the
nurse is accurate?
A. "The risk of harm to the fetus is remote."
B. "The drug is safe to take during pregnancy."
C. "This drug has caused congenital birth defects."
D. "No controlled studies of this drug have been done in humans." - ANSWER-A.
"The risk of harm to the fetus is remote."
A patient is 2 months pregnant and complains of gastric distress. It is most
appropriate for the nurse to do what?
A. Consult with the healthcare provider about a prescription for misoprostol
(Cytotec).
, B. Instruct the patient to avoid acidic foods such as orange juice and tomatoes.
C. Suggest an over-the-counter medication such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-
Bismol).
D. Use an alternative therapy such as valerian as a dietary supplement. - ANSWER-
B. Instruct the patient to avoid acidic foods such as orange juice and tomatoes.
A patient who is breast-feeding her newborn infant is prescribed an antibiotic to take
after discharge. Which statement should the nurse include when providing discharge
instructions?
A. "Drink plenty of fluids to dilute the drug in your breast milk."
B. "Take the drug at night with a full glass of water."
C. "Pump your breasts, and then discard all of the milk."
D. "Take the antibiotic immediately after breast-feeding." - ANSWER-D. "Take the
antibiotic immediately after breast-feeding."
The nurse provides teaching for the caregiver of a 2-month-old infant and a 3-year-
old child. Both children will be taking oral ampicillin (an acid-labile drug) to treat a
bacterial infection. The nurse determines that teaching is successful if the caregiver
makes which of the following statements?
A. "The dose will not be different, but the baby will take the drug for 7 days instead of
10 days."
B. "The dose will be higher for the baby, because the infection is more serious."
C. "The dose will be the same, because my children have the same infection."
D. "The dose will be smaller for the baby, because the drug will be absorbed better in
the stomach." - ANSWER-D. "The dose will be smaller for the baby, because the
drug will be absorbed better in the stomach."
Which patient does the nurse identify as being at highest risk for the development of
an adverse drug reaction?
A. A 1-month-old patient whose mother has allergies to penicillin, aspirin, and
codeine
B. A 16-year-old patient with multiple traumatic injuries who is taking morphine and
an antibiotic
C. A 54-year-old patient with multiple sclerosis who has been enrolled in a clinical
trial of a new drug
D. An 84-year-old patient with diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension who takes
seven prescription medications each day - ANSWER-D. An 84-year-old patient with
diabetes, heart failure, and hypertension who takes seven prescription medications
each day
A patient is prescribed a medication that is potentially hepatotoxic. Before
administering the medication, it is most important for the nurse to assess what?
A. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine
B. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase
C. Prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram
