ECPI NUR 138 Pharmacology Exam 1 2025-2026 new update
The nurse is reviewing a list of verbal medication orders. Which is the proper notation of the dose of the
drug ordered?
A. Digoxin 0.1250 mg
B. Digoxin .125 mg
C. Digoxin .1250 mg
D. Digoxin 0.125 mg –
answer>>>D. Digoxin 0.125 mg
Rationale: Digoxin 0.125 mg illustrates the correct notation with a leading zero before the decimal point.
Omitting the leading zero may cause the order to be misread, resulting in a large drug overdose. Digoxin
.125 mg and digoxin .1250 mg do not have the leading zero before the decimal point. Digoxin 0.1250 mg
has a trailing zero, which also is incorrect.
The nurse can prevent medication errors by following which principles? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use trade names instead of generic names to avoid confusion.
B. Assess for allergies after giving medications.
C. Minimize the use of verbal and telephone orders.
D. Use two patient identifiers before giving medications.
E. Do not give a medication that another nurse has drawn up in a syringe. - answer>>>C. Minimize the
use of verbal and telephone orders.
D. Use two patient identifiers before giving medications.
E. Do not give a medication that another nurse has drawn up in a syringe.
Rationale: Measures that prevent medication errors include using two patient identifiers, giving only
medications that you have drawn up or prepared, and minimizing the use of verbal and telephone
orders. Assessment for allergies should be done before medications are given. Generic names should be
used to avoid the many sound-alike trade names of medications.
A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained of a dull ache in the
abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually increasing, and the pain relievers taken at
home are no longer effective. What type of pain is the patient experiencing?
, A. Neuropathic pain
B. Chronic pain
C. Somatic pain
D. Acute pain - answer>>>B. Chronic pain
Rationale: Chronic pain is associated with cancer and is characterized by slow onset, long duration, and
dull, persistent aching. The patient's symptoms are not characteristics of acute pain, somatic pain, or
neuropathic pain.
An 18-year-old basketball player fell and twisted his ankle during a game. The nurse will expect to
administer which type of analgesic?
A. Synthetic opioid, such as meperidine (Demerol)
B. Opium alkaloid, such as morphine sulfate
C. Opioid antagonist, such as naloxone HCL (Narcan)
D. Nonopioid analgesic, such as indomethacin (Indocin) - answer>>>D. Nonopioid analgesic, such as
indomethacin (Indocin)
Rationale: Somatic pain, which originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, and joints, usually responds
to nonopioid analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The other options are
not the best choices for somatic pain.
A patient is recovering from abdominal surgery, which he had this morning. He is groggy but
complaining of severe pain around his incision. What is the most important assessment data to consider
before the nurse administers a dose of morphine sulfate to the patient?
A. His respiratory rate
B. The appearance of the incision
C. The date of his last bowel movement
D. His pulse rate - answer>>>A. His respiratory rate
The nurse is reviewing a list of verbal medication orders. Which is the proper notation of the dose of the
drug ordered?
A. Digoxin 0.1250 mg
B. Digoxin .125 mg
C. Digoxin .1250 mg
D. Digoxin 0.125 mg –
answer>>>D. Digoxin 0.125 mg
Rationale: Digoxin 0.125 mg illustrates the correct notation with a leading zero before the decimal point.
Omitting the leading zero may cause the order to be misread, resulting in a large drug overdose. Digoxin
.125 mg and digoxin .1250 mg do not have the leading zero before the decimal point. Digoxin 0.1250 mg
has a trailing zero, which also is incorrect.
The nurse can prevent medication errors by following which principles? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use trade names instead of generic names to avoid confusion.
B. Assess for allergies after giving medications.
C. Minimize the use of verbal and telephone orders.
D. Use two patient identifiers before giving medications.
E. Do not give a medication that another nurse has drawn up in a syringe. - answer>>>C. Minimize the
use of verbal and telephone orders.
D. Use two patient identifiers before giving medications.
E. Do not give a medication that another nurse has drawn up in a syringe.
Rationale: Measures that prevent medication errors include using two patient identifiers, giving only
medications that you have drawn up or prepared, and minimizing the use of verbal and telephone
orders. Assessment for allergies should be done before medications are given. Generic names should be
used to avoid the many sound-alike trade names of medications.
A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained of a dull ache in the
abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually increasing, and the pain relievers taken at
home are no longer effective. What type of pain is the patient experiencing?
, A. Neuropathic pain
B. Chronic pain
C. Somatic pain
D. Acute pain - answer>>>B. Chronic pain
Rationale: Chronic pain is associated with cancer and is characterized by slow onset, long duration, and
dull, persistent aching. The patient's symptoms are not characteristics of acute pain, somatic pain, or
neuropathic pain.
An 18-year-old basketball player fell and twisted his ankle during a game. The nurse will expect to
administer which type of analgesic?
A. Synthetic opioid, such as meperidine (Demerol)
B. Opium alkaloid, such as morphine sulfate
C. Opioid antagonist, such as naloxone HCL (Narcan)
D. Nonopioid analgesic, such as indomethacin (Indocin) - answer>>>D. Nonopioid analgesic, such as
indomethacin (Indocin)
Rationale: Somatic pain, which originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, and joints, usually responds
to nonopioid analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The other options are
not the best choices for somatic pain.
A patient is recovering from abdominal surgery, which he had this morning. He is groggy but
complaining of severe pain around his incision. What is the most important assessment data to consider
before the nurse administers a dose of morphine sulfate to the patient?
A. His respiratory rate
B. The appearance of the incision
C. The date of his last bowel movement
D. His pulse rate - answer>>>A. His respiratory rate
