NSG 124 PHARMACOLOGY
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS NEW GENERATION
A nurse is administering an IV antibiotic for the first time. What is the priority
nursing action?
Educate the patient about possible side effects
Ask about the patient's fluid intake
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
Check for family history of allergies
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
(rationale: IV drugs have rapid systemic effects. Monitoring during the first 15-30
minutes helps identify any immediate adverse reactions.)
Which of the following drug orders should the nurse question?
STAT dose of acetaminophen
PRN dose of morphine
Oral procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
(Rationale: Procaine penicillin should never be given IV; it's intended for IM use only.)
A patient is prescribed a new drug. What is the most important question for the
nurse to ask?
"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
"Do you have trouble sleeping?"
"Do you smoke or drink alcohol?"
"Do you take vitamin supplements?"
"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
(rationale: Allergic reactions can be life-threatening. This information must be known
prior to administration.)
The nurse should question which of the following orders for a breastfeeding
mother?
Prenatal vitamins
Iron supplements
Ribavirin
Acetaminophen
Ribavirin
(Rationale: Ribavirin is highly teratogenic and contraindicated in pregnancy and
breastfeeding.)
When giving subcutaneous heparin, which action should be avoided?
Injecting at a 90-degree angle
Aspirating before injection
,Rotating injection sites
Using a 1 mL syringe
Aspirating before injection
(Rationale: Aspirating can cause tissue damage and bruising with heparin.)
A nurse administers an antibiotic known to prolong the QT interval. What
assessment is essential before the first dose?
Lung sounds
Heart rate and rhythm
Blood glucose level
Abdominal tenderness
Heart rate and rhythm
(Rationale: Drugs like macrolides can cause arrhythmias; cardiac assessment is
critical.)
A patient develops angioedema after taking a prescribed antibiotic. What should
the nurse do first?
Notify the pharmacist
Document the reaction in the patient's chart
Administer diphenhydramine
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
(Rationale: Angioedema is a sign of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency.)
Which patient teaching is appropriate for a drug with photosensitivity side
effects?
"Take the medication at bedtime."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
"Avoid dairy products."
"Monitor your weight daily."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
(Rationale: Drugs like tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones increase
sunburn risk.)
What should the nurse teach a patient about combination antiretroviral therapy
(ART)?
"You may skip a dose if you feel well."
"Take the drugs with grapefruit juice for best absorption."
"Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
"Avoid iron-rich foods."
"Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
(Rationale: For drugs like Cabenuva, medications must be injected separately.)
Which sign may indicate liver toxicity in a patient taking antifungal drugs?
Increased urination
Yellow sclera
Restlessness
Clear sputum
Yellow sclera
(Rationale: Yellowing of the sclera (jaundice) is a classic sign of liver damage.)
,Which drug administration route has the fastest onset of action?
Oral
Subcutaneous
Intramuscular
Intravenous
Intravenous
(Rationale: IV drugs enter directly into circulation, producing the fastest effects.)
A patient with HIV is prescribed ART. What instruction is most important?
"Take your medication with food."
"Use barrier contraception."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
"Limit caffeine intake."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
(Rationale: Consistency is crucial to prevent resistance in HIV treatment.)
Before giving an aminoglycoside like gentamicin, what assessment is priority?
Mental status
Vision changes
Hearing ability
Bowel movements
Vision changes
(Rationale: Aminoglycosides are ototoxic and can cause hearing loss.)
Which patient should not receive tetracycline?
A 45-year-old man with pneumonia
A 30-year-old woman taking oral contraceptives
A 4-year-old child with an ear infection
A 70-year-old with hypertension
A 4-year-old child with an ear infection
(Rationale: Tetracyclines are contraindicated in children under 8 due to effects on
teeth/bone growth.)
The nurse should check for which value before administering warfarin with a
macrolide?
INR
Sodium
WBC
Platelet count
INR
(Rationale: Macrolides can increase the effects of warfarin, requiring INR monitoring.)
When administering ear drops to a 2-year-old, the nurse should:
Pull the ear lobe up and back
Pull the ear lobe down and back
Tilt the child's head backward
Use only sterile gloves
Pull the ear lobe down and back
(Rationale: Pulling down and back straightens the canal in children under 3.)
Which of the following must be verified before giving peginterferon?
Blood glucose
, Thyroid status
INR
Creatinine
Thyroid status
(Rationale: Peginterferon is contraindicated in thyroid disorders.)
What is the rationale for using a Z-track method in IM injections?
It speeds drug absorption
It prevents leakage of the drug into subcutaneous tissue
It reduces pain
It increases the muscle's ability to absorb large volumes
It prevents leakage of the drug into subcutaneous tissue
(Rationale: Z-track reduces skin staining and ensures the drug stays in the muscle.)
Which action should the nurse take before administering a drug through an NG
tube?
Flush with 10 mL air
Administer medication with food
Check for tube placement and CO₂ levels
Position patient flat
Check for tube placement and CO₂ levels
(Rationale: Ensuring proper tube placement avoids aspiration or incorrect delivery.)
Which patient statement indicates correct understanding of antiviral therapy for
herpes simplex?
"I can stop taking it once my symptoms improve."
"I'll need to take this daily for the rest of my life."
"I'll drink at least 3 liters of fluid a day."
"This drug will cure my infection."Answer: CRationale: Adequate hydration is
important to reduce nephrotoxicity with antiviral therapy.
"I'll drink at least 3 liters of fluid a day."
(Rationale: Adequate hydration is important to reduce nephrotoxicity with antiviral
therapy.)
What is the nurse's best response when a patient refuses a prescribed
medication?
"You must take this drug."
"Let's document your refusal and notify the prescriber."
"I'll come back in an hour and try again."
"I'll leave it here if you change your mind."
"Let's document your refusal and notify the prescriber."
(Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse; documentation and communication are
essential.)
When administering a transdermal patch, the nurse must:
Leave the old patch in place
Apply two patches for effectiveness
Remove the old patch and clean the site
Apply to the same location each time
Remove the old patch and clean the site
(Rationale: Prevents overdose from residual drug in previous patch.)
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS NEW GENERATION
A nurse is administering an IV antibiotic for the first time. What is the priority
nursing action?
Educate the patient about possible side effects
Ask about the patient's fluid intake
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
Check for family history of allergies
Monitor the patient closely for the first 15-30 minutes
(rationale: IV drugs have rapid systemic effects. Monitoring during the first 15-30
minutes helps identify any immediate adverse reactions.)
Which of the following drug orders should the nurse question?
STAT dose of acetaminophen
PRN dose of morphine
Oral procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
IV procaine penicillin
(Rationale: Procaine penicillin should never be given IV; it's intended for IM use only.)
A patient is prescribed a new drug. What is the most important question for the
nurse to ask?
"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
"Do you have trouble sleeping?"
"Do you smoke or drink alcohol?"
"Do you take vitamin supplements?"
"Do you have any known drug allergies?"
(rationale: Allergic reactions can be life-threatening. This information must be known
prior to administration.)
The nurse should question which of the following orders for a breastfeeding
mother?
Prenatal vitamins
Iron supplements
Ribavirin
Acetaminophen
Ribavirin
(Rationale: Ribavirin is highly teratogenic and contraindicated in pregnancy and
breastfeeding.)
When giving subcutaneous heparin, which action should be avoided?
Injecting at a 90-degree angle
Aspirating before injection
,Rotating injection sites
Using a 1 mL syringe
Aspirating before injection
(Rationale: Aspirating can cause tissue damage and bruising with heparin.)
A nurse administers an antibiotic known to prolong the QT interval. What
assessment is essential before the first dose?
Lung sounds
Heart rate and rhythm
Blood glucose level
Abdominal tenderness
Heart rate and rhythm
(Rationale: Drugs like macrolides can cause arrhythmias; cardiac assessment is
critical.)
A patient develops angioedema after taking a prescribed antibiotic. What should
the nurse do first?
Notify the pharmacist
Document the reaction in the patient's chart
Administer diphenhydramine
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
Call the prescriber and prepare emergency interventions
(Rationale: Angioedema is a sign of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency.)
Which patient teaching is appropriate for a drug with photosensitivity side
effects?
"Take the medication at bedtime."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
"Avoid dairy products."
"Monitor your weight daily."
"Wear long sleeves and sunscreen when outdoors."
(Rationale: Drugs like tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones increase
sunburn risk.)
What should the nurse teach a patient about combination antiretroviral therapy
(ART)?
"You may skip a dose if you feel well."
"Take the drugs with grapefruit juice for best absorption."
"Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
"Avoid iron-rich foods."
"Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe."
(Rationale: For drugs like Cabenuva, medications must be injected separately.)
Which sign may indicate liver toxicity in a patient taking antifungal drugs?
Increased urination
Yellow sclera
Restlessness
Clear sputum
Yellow sclera
(Rationale: Yellowing of the sclera (jaundice) is a classic sign of liver damage.)
,Which drug administration route has the fastest onset of action?
Oral
Subcutaneous
Intramuscular
Intravenous
Intravenous
(Rationale: IV drugs enter directly into circulation, producing the fastest effects.)
A patient with HIV is prescribed ART. What instruction is most important?
"Take your medication with food."
"Use barrier contraception."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
"Limit caffeine intake."
"Take your ART at the same time every day without skipping doses."
(Rationale: Consistency is crucial to prevent resistance in HIV treatment.)
Before giving an aminoglycoside like gentamicin, what assessment is priority?
Mental status
Vision changes
Hearing ability
Bowel movements
Vision changes
(Rationale: Aminoglycosides are ototoxic and can cause hearing loss.)
Which patient should not receive tetracycline?
A 45-year-old man with pneumonia
A 30-year-old woman taking oral contraceptives
A 4-year-old child with an ear infection
A 70-year-old with hypertension
A 4-year-old child with an ear infection
(Rationale: Tetracyclines are contraindicated in children under 8 due to effects on
teeth/bone growth.)
The nurse should check for which value before administering warfarin with a
macrolide?
INR
Sodium
WBC
Platelet count
INR
(Rationale: Macrolides can increase the effects of warfarin, requiring INR monitoring.)
When administering ear drops to a 2-year-old, the nurse should:
Pull the ear lobe up and back
Pull the ear lobe down and back
Tilt the child's head backward
Use only sterile gloves
Pull the ear lobe down and back
(Rationale: Pulling down and back straightens the canal in children under 3.)
Which of the following must be verified before giving peginterferon?
Blood glucose
, Thyroid status
INR
Creatinine
Thyroid status
(Rationale: Peginterferon is contraindicated in thyroid disorders.)
What is the rationale for using a Z-track method in IM injections?
It speeds drug absorption
It prevents leakage of the drug into subcutaneous tissue
It reduces pain
It increases the muscle's ability to absorb large volumes
It prevents leakage of the drug into subcutaneous tissue
(Rationale: Z-track reduces skin staining and ensures the drug stays in the muscle.)
Which action should the nurse take before administering a drug through an NG
tube?
Flush with 10 mL air
Administer medication with food
Check for tube placement and CO₂ levels
Position patient flat
Check for tube placement and CO₂ levels
(Rationale: Ensuring proper tube placement avoids aspiration or incorrect delivery.)
Which patient statement indicates correct understanding of antiviral therapy for
herpes simplex?
"I can stop taking it once my symptoms improve."
"I'll need to take this daily for the rest of my life."
"I'll drink at least 3 liters of fluid a day."
"This drug will cure my infection."Answer: CRationale: Adequate hydration is
important to reduce nephrotoxicity with antiviral therapy.
"I'll drink at least 3 liters of fluid a day."
(Rationale: Adequate hydration is important to reduce nephrotoxicity with antiviral
therapy.)
What is the nurse's best response when a patient refuses a prescribed
medication?
"You must take this drug."
"Let's document your refusal and notify the prescriber."
"I'll come back in an hour and try again."
"I'll leave it here if you change your mind."
"Let's document your refusal and notify the prescriber."
(Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse; documentation and communication are
essential.)
When administering a transdermal patch, the nurse must:
Leave the old patch in place
Apply two patches for effectiveness
Remove the old patch and clean the site
Apply to the same location each time
Remove the old patch and clean the site
(Rationale: Prevents overdose from residual drug in previous patch.)
