NU 150 PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW EXAM 4
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS (2025-
2026) GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
1. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving an intravenous antibiotic. The
nurse notes that the provider has ordered serum drug peak and trough levels. The
nurse understands that these tests are necessary for which type of drugs?
a.Drugs with a broad spectrum
b.Drugs with a narrow spectrum
c.Drugs with a broad therapeutic index
d.Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index
ANS: D
Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a limited range between the
therapeutic dose and a toxic dose. It is important to monitor these medications
closely by evaluating regular serum peak and trough levels.
2. The nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin (Amoxil) to a patient and learns
that the patient previously experienced a rash when taking penicillin. Which action
will the nurse take?
a.Administer the amoxicillin and have epinephrine available.
b.Ask the provider to order an antihistamine.
c.Contact the provider to discuss using a different antibiotic.
,d.Request an order for a beta-lactamase resistant drug.____
ANS: C
Patients who have previously experienced manifestations of allergy to a penicillin
should not use penicillins again unless necessary. The nurse should contact the
provider to discuss using another antibiotic from a different class. Epinephrine and
antihistamines are useful when patients are experiencing allergic reactions,
depending on severity.
3. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of an antibiotic to a patient
admitted for a urinary tract infection. Which action is most important prior to
administering the antibiotic?
a.Administering a small test dose to determine whether hypersensitivity exists
b.Having epinephrine available in the event of a severe hypersensitivity reaction
c.Monitoring baseline vital signs, including temperature and blood pressured.
d.Obtaining a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity___
ANS: D
To obtain the most accurate culture, the specimen should be obtained before
antibiotic therapy begins. It is important to obtain cultures when possible to
correctly identify the organism and help determine which antibiotic will be most
effective. Administering test doses to determine hypersensitivity is sometimes
done when there is a strong suspicion of allergy when a particular antibiotic is
needed. Epinephrine is kept close at hand when there is a strong suspicion of
allergy.
,4. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home from the hospital to
take amoxicillin (Amoxil) twice daily for 10 days. Which statement by the nurse is
correct?
a."Discontinue the antibiotic when your temperature returns to normal and your
symptoms have improved."
b."If diarrhea occurs, stop taking the drug immediately and contact your provider."
c."Stop taking the drug and notify your provider if you develop a rash while taking
this drug."
d."You may save any unused antibiotic to use if your symptoms recur."____
ANS: C
Patients who develop signs of allergy, such as rash, should notify their provider
before continuing medication therapy. Patients should be counseled to continue
taking their antibiotics until completion of the prescribed regimen even when they
feel well. Diarrhea is an adverse effect but does not warrant cessation of the drug.
Before deciding to stop taking a medication due to a side effect, encourage the
patient to contact the provider first. Patients should discard any unused antibiotic.
5. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of intravenous ceftriaxone
(Rocephin) to a patient. When reviewing the patient's chart, the nurse notes that the
patient previously experienced a rash when taking amoxicillin. What is the nurse's
next action?
a.Administer the drug and observe closely for hypersensitivity reactions.
b.Ask the provider whether a cephalosporin from a different generation may be
used.
c.Contact the provider to report drug hypersensitivity.
, d.Notify the provider and suggest an oral cephalosporin.____
ANS: A
A small percentage of patients who are allergic to penicillin could also be allergic
to a cephalosporin product. Patients should be monitored closely after receiving a
cephalosporin if they are allergic to penicillin. There is no difference in
hypersensitivity potential between different generations or method of delivery of
cephalosporins
6. The nurse is preparing to give a dose of a cephalosporin medication to a patient
who has been receiving the antibiotic for 2 weeks. The nurse notes ulcers on the
patient's tongue and buccal mucosa. Which action will the nurse take?
a.Hold the drug and notify the provider.
b.Obtain an order to culture the oral lesions.
c.Gather emergency equipment to prepare for anaphylaxis.
d.Report a possible superinfection side effect of the cephalosporin.____
ANS: D
The patient's symptoms may indicate a superinfection and should be reported to the
physician so it can be treated; however, the drug does not need to be held. It is not
necessary to culture the lesions. The symptoms do not indicate impending
anaphylaxis.
7. The nurse is providing teaching to a patient who will begin taking a
cephalosporin to treat an infection. Which statement by the patient indicates a need
for further teaching?
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS (2025-
2026) GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
1. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving an intravenous antibiotic. The
nurse notes that the provider has ordered serum drug peak and trough levels. The
nurse understands that these tests are necessary for which type of drugs?
a.Drugs with a broad spectrum
b.Drugs with a narrow spectrum
c.Drugs with a broad therapeutic index
d.Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index
ANS: D
Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a limited range between the
therapeutic dose and a toxic dose. It is important to monitor these medications
closely by evaluating regular serum peak and trough levels.
2. The nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin (Amoxil) to a patient and learns
that the patient previously experienced a rash when taking penicillin. Which action
will the nurse take?
a.Administer the amoxicillin and have epinephrine available.
b.Ask the provider to order an antihistamine.
c.Contact the provider to discuss using a different antibiotic.
,d.Request an order for a beta-lactamase resistant drug.____
ANS: C
Patients who have previously experienced manifestations of allergy to a penicillin
should not use penicillins again unless necessary. The nurse should contact the
provider to discuss using another antibiotic from a different class. Epinephrine and
antihistamines are useful when patients are experiencing allergic reactions,
depending on severity.
3. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of an antibiotic to a patient
admitted for a urinary tract infection. Which action is most important prior to
administering the antibiotic?
a.Administering a small test dose to determine whether hypersensitivity exists
b.Having epinephrine available in the event of a severe hypersensitivity reaction
c.Monitoring baseline vital signs, including temperature and blood pressured.
d.Obtaining a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity___
ANS: D
To obtain the most accurate culture, the specimen should be obtained before
antibiotic therapy begins. It is important to obtain cultures when possible to
correctly identify the organism and help determine which antibiotic will be most
effective. Administering test doses to determine hypersensitivity is sometimes
done when there is a strong suspicion of allergy when a particular antibiotic is
needed. Epinephrine is kept close at hand when there is a strong suspicion of
allergy.
,4. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home from the hospital to
take amoxicillin (Amoxil) twice daily for 10 days. Which statement by the nurse is
correct?
a."Discontinue the antibiotic when your temperature returns to normal and your
symptoms have improved."
b."If diarrhea occurs, stop taking the drug immediately and contact your provider."
c."Stop taking the drug and notify your provider if you develop a rash while taking
this drug."
d."You may save any unused antibiotic to use if your symptoms recur."____
ANS: C
Patients who develop signs of allergy, such as rash, should notify their provider
before continuing medication therapy. Patients should be counseled to continue
taking their antibiotics until completion of the prescribed regimen even when they
feel well. Diarrhea is an adverse effect but does not warrant cessation of the drug.
Before deciding to stop taking a medication due to a side effect, encourage the
patient to contact the provider first. Patients should discard any unused antibiotic.
5. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of intravenous ceftriaxone
(Rocephin) to a patient. When reviewing the patient's chart, the nurse notes that the
patient previously experienced a rash when taking amoxicillin. What is the nurse's
next action?
a.Administer the drug and observe closely for hypersensitivity reactions.
b.Ask the provider whether a cephalosporin from a different generation may be
used.
c.Contact the provider to report drug hypersensitivity.
, d.Notify the provider and suggest an oral cephalosporin.____
ANS: A
A small percentage of patients who are allergic to penicillin could also be allergic
to a cephalosporin product. Patients should be monitored closely after receiving a
cephalosporin if they are allergic to penicillin. There is no difference in
hypersensitivity potential between different generations or method of delivery of
cephalosporins
6. The nurse is preparing to give a dose of a cephalosporin medication to a patient
who has been receiving the antibiotic for 2 weeks. The nurse notes ulcers on the
patient's tongue and buccal mucosa. Which action will the nurse take?
a.Hold the drug and notify the provider.
b.Obtain an order to culture the oral lesions.
c.Gather emergency equipment to prepare for anaphylaxis.
d.Report a possible superinfection side effect of the cephalosporin.____
ANS: D
The patient's symptoms may indicate a superinfection and should be reported to the
physician so it can be treated; however, the drug does not need to be held. It is not
necessary to culture the lesions. The symptoms do not indicate impending
anaphylaxis.
7. The nurse is providing teaching to a patient who will begin taking a
cephalosporin to treat an infection. Which statement by the patient indicates a need
for further teaching?
