Pharmacology Clear and Simple
While caring for a client who is taking furosemide (Lasix), the nurse recognizes dietary teaching has been
effective if the patient includes which of the following foods in his daily menus?
A) Broccoli and kiwi
B) Oranges and sweet potatoes
C) Kale and cucumbers
D) Bananas and melon - (correct Answer) - B) Oranges and sweet potatoes
A client newly diagnosed with diabetes tells the nurse, "I can't take any insulin made from pigs or cows."
Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?
A) "Most insulin comes from animal sources, but I'm sure alternative options are available."
B) "Medications that are derived from animals are typically less expensive than synthetic medications,
but synthetic insulin is commonly available."
C) "Most insulin is synthetic now to help reduce the risk of disease transmission."
D) "The animals aren't hurt in the production of medications, so you don't need to worry." - (correct
Answer) - C) "Most insulin is synthetic now to help reduce the risk of disease transmission."
While providing medications to clients on the cardiac unit, the nurse anticipates that hydralazine
hydrochloride and isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil) would most likely be prescribed for which of the following
clients?
A) A 48-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with atrial fibrillation
B) A 55-year-old African American female diagnosed with hypertension
C) A 63-year-old Caucasian female diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome
D) A 64-year-old African American male diagnosed with heart failure - (correct Answer) - D) A 64-year-
old African American male diagnosed with heart failure
While caring for a patient scheduled for knee replacement surgery, the nurse provides cefazolin (Ancef)
as ordered 30 minutes pre-operatively. The nurse knows that teaching has been effective by which of
the following client statements?
A) "The antibiotic is given as a prophylactic to help reduce the risk of infection after surgery."
B) "This is a palliative medication to help ease the pain from surgery."
,C) "This medication will replace vitamins and minerals that may be lost due to bleeding during surgery."
D) "This medication will help the surgeon identify areas of bone destruction due to arthritis." - (correct
Answer) - A) "The antibiotic is given as a prophylactic to help reduce the risk of infection after surgery."
While caring for a patient with a history of hypothyroidism, the nurse expects which of the following
medications to be included in the patient's medication list?
A) Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
B) Estrogen (Estradiol)
C) Iodine 131
D) Carbimazole (Methimazole) - (correct Answer) - A) Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
The nurse is receiving a shift-to-shift report on a medical unit and is informed that a 55-year-old patient
with a history of vomiting is scheduled for a diagnostic radiograph of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Which of the following statements would the nurse include in the client's teaching?
A) "You will need to drink a large amount of prep to clear out your system before the test."
B) "It is important that you be given a prophylactic medication to prevent aspiration during the test."
C) "You will be asked to drink a barium contrast about 30 minutes before the test to help highlight any
digestive problems."
D) "You will be given a sedative to help make you sleepy during the testing procedure." - (correct
Answer) - C) "You will be asked to drink a barium contrast about 30 minutes before the test to help
highlight any digestive problems."
A student nurse is providing care for a 29-year-old patient with advanced cervical cancer who was
recently admitted with metastatic disease. While reviewing the patient's medication list, the student
would categorize which of the following medications as palliative in nature?
A) Cisplatin (Platinol) 50 mg IV weekly to start day 8
B) Sorafenib (Nexavar) 200 mg orally twice daily for 7 days
C) Ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg IV prior to chemotherapy
D) Morphine sulfate (Roxanol) 5 mg po every 4 hours as needed for pain - (correct Answer) - D)
Morphine sulfate (Roxanol) 5 mg po every 4 hours as needed for pain
A woman experiencing menopausal symptoms asks the nurse about conjugated estrogen (Premarin).
Which of the following statements by the individual indicates an understanding of the medication's
origin?
, A) "I'm against animal cruelty, so I don't want to take anything made from animal flesh."
B) "I was told the medication is actually derived from the urine of pregnant horses."
C) "Because I'm Jewish, I can't take the medication since it comes from pigs."
D) "I think harvesting medicines from cows seems rather odd." - (correct Answer) - B) "I was told the
medication is actually derived from the urine of pregnant horses."
The nurse working in a diagnostic center is responsible for verifying client allergies prior to testing. A 47-
year-old woman reports being allergic to iodine, and thus is unable to have which test?
A) Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Colonoscopy
D) Thyroid scan - (correct Answer) - D) Thyroid scan
The nurse is preparing to apply valacyclovir (Valtrex) ointment to the shingles lesions located across a
client's left side and lower back. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Place the patient in a supine position.
B) Determine when the rash was first noted.
C) Ensure that the skin is clean and dry.
D) Take the patient's vital signs. - (correct Answer) - C) Ensure that the skin is clean and dry.
The nurse is providing care for a client at 32 weeks' gestation who started low-molecular heparin
injections after developing a deep vein thrombosis. The client asks the nurse, "Why do I have to take a
shot? Why can't I take the blood clot medicine that my dad takes orally?" Which of the following
responses by the nurse is best?
A) "Anything that is fat-soluble, including warfarin (Coumadin), is able to cross the placental barrier.
Heparin is not fat-soluble so it doesn't cross the barrier well."
B) "The placenta is easily crossed by anything you take by mouth while you are pregnant, but not by
things absorbed in other ways."
C) "Only water-soluble substances such as vitamins can cross the placental barrier, so you could take
either medication, but heparin is cheaper."
D) "They are the same medication, but the shot is absorbed faster than the pill so the doctor wants you
to take daily shots." - (correct Answer) - A) "Anything that is fat-soluble, including warfarin (Coumadin),
is able to cross the placental barrier. Heparin is not fat-soluble so it doesn't cross the barrier well."
While caring for a client who is taking furosemide (Lasix), the nurse recognizes dietary teaching has been
effective if the patient includes which of the following foods in his daily menus?
A) Broccoli and kiwi
B) Oranges and sweet potatoes
C) Kale and cucumbers
D) Bananas and melon - (correct Answer) - B) Oranges and sweet potatoes
A client newly diagnosed with diabetes tells the nurse, "I can't take any insulin made from pigs or cows."
Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?
A) "Most insulin comes from animal sources, but I'm sure alternative options are available."
B) "Medications that are derived from animals are typically less expensive than synthetic medications,
but synthetic insulin is commonly available."
C) "Most insulin is synthetic now to help reduce the risk of disease transmission."
D) "The animals aren't hurt in the production of medications, so you don't need to worry." - (correct
Answer) - C) "Most insulin is synthetic now to help reduce the risk of disease transmission."
While providing medications to clients on the cardiac unit, the nurse anticipates that hydralazine
hydrochloride and isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil) would most likely be prescribed for which of the following
clients?
A) A 48-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with atrial fibrillation
B) A 55-year-old African American female diagnosed with hypertension
C) A 63-year-old Caucasian female diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome
D) A 64-year-old African American male diagnosed with heart failure - (correct Answer) - D) A 64-year-
old African American male diagnosed with heart failure
While caring for a patient scheduled for knee replacement surgery, the nurse provides cefazolin (Ancef)
as ordered 30 minutes pre-operatively. The nurse knows that teaching has been effective by which of
the following client statements?
A) "The antibiotic is given as a prophylactic to help reduce the risk of infection after surgery."
B) "This is a palliative medication to help ease the pain from surgery."
,C) "This medication will replace vitamins and minerals that may be lost due to bleeding during surgery."
D) "This medication will help the surgeon identify areas of bone destruction due to arthritis." - (correct
Answer) - A) "The antibiotic is given as a prophylactic to help reduce the risk of infection after surgery."
While caring for a patient with a history of hypothyroidism, the nurse expects which of the following
medications to be included in the patient's medication list?
A) Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
B) Estrogen (Estradiol)
C) Iodine 131
D) Carbimazole (Methimazole) - (correct Answer) - A) Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
The nurse is receiving a shift-to-shift report on a medical unit and is informed that a 55-year-old patient
with a history of vomiting is scheduled for a diagnostic radiograph of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Which of the following statements would the nurse include in the client's teaching?
A) "You will need to drink a large amount of prep to clear out your system before the test."
B) "It is important that you be given a prophylactic medication to prevent aspiration during the test."
C) "You will be asked to drink a barium contrast about 30 minutes before the test to help highlight any
digestive problems."
D) "You will be given a sedative to help make you sleepy during the testing procedure." - (correct
Answer) - C) "You will be asked to drink a barium contrast about 30 minutes before the test to help
highlight any digestive problems."
A student nurse is providing care for a 29-year-old patient with advanced cervical cancer who was
recently admitted with metastatic disease. While reviewing the patient's medication list, the student
would categorize which of the following medications as palliative in nature?
A) Cisplatin (Platinol) 50 mg IV weekly to start day 8
B) Sorafenib (Nexavar) 200 mg orally twice daily for 7 days
C) Ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg IV prior to chemotherapy
D) Morphine sulfate (Roxanol) 5 mg po every 4 hours as needed for pain - (correct Answer) - D)
Morphine sulfate (Roxanol) 5 mg po every 4 hours as needed for pain
A woman experiencing menopausal symptoms asks the nurse about conjugated estrogen (Premarin).
Which of the following statements by the individual indicates an understanding of the medication's
origin?
, A) "I'm against animal cruelty, so I don't want to take anything made from animal flesh."
B) "I was told the medication is actually derived from the urine of pregnant horses."
C) "Because I'm Jewish, I can't take the medication since it comes from pigs."
D) "I think harvesting medicines from cows seems rather odd." - (correct Answer) - B) "I was told the
medication is actually derived from the urine of pregnant horses."
The nurse working in a diagnostic center is responsible for verifying client allergies prior to testing. A 47-
year-old woman reports being allergic to iodine, and thus is unable to have which test?
A) Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Colonoscopy
D) Thyroid scan - (correct Answer) - D) Thyroid scan
The nurse is preparing to apply valacyclovir (Valtrex) ointment to the shingles lesions located across a
client's left side and lower back. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Place the patient in a supine position.
B) Determine when the rash was first noted.
C) Ensure that the skin is clean and dry.
D) Take the patient's vital signs. - (correct Answer) - C) Ensure that the skin is clean and dry.
The nurse is providing care for a client at 32 weeks' gestation who started low-molecular heparin
injections after developing a deep vein thrombosis. The client asks the nurse, "Why do I have to take a
shot? Why can't I take the blood clot medicine that my dad takes orally?" Which of the following
responses by the nurse is best?
A) "Anything that is fat-soluble, including warfarin (Coumadin), is able to cross the placental barrier.
Heparin is not fat-soluble so it doesn't cross the barrier well."
B) "The placenta is easily crossed by anything you take by mouth while you are pregnant, but not by
things absorbed in other ways."
C) "Only water-soluble substances such as vitamins can cross the placental barrier, so you could take
either medication, but heparin is cheaper."
D) "They are the same medication, but the shot is absorbed faster than the pill so the doctor wants you
to take daily shots." - (correct Answer) - A) "Anything that is fat-soluble, including warfarin (Coumadin),
is able to cross the placental barrier. Heparin is not fat-soluble so it doesn't cross the barrier well."
