NSG 124 PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE |
FALL UPDATE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS.
A nurse is administering an IV antibiotic for the first time. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Educate about side effects
B. Ask about fluid intake
✅C. Monitor the patient closely for the first 15–30 minutes.
D. Check family history of allergies
Rationale: IV drugs act quickly; early monitoring helps detect immediate hypersensitivity.
Which drug order should the nurse question?
A. STAT acetaminophen
B. PRN morphine
C. Oral procaine penicillin
✅D. IV procaine penicillin.
Rationale: Procaine penicillin is an IM formulation — IV administration is unsafe.
A patient is prescribed a new drug. Most important question to ask:
✅A. “Do you have any known drug allergies?”
B. “Do you have trouble sleeping?”
C. “Do you smoke or drink?”
D. “Do you take vitamins?”
Rationale: Allergies can cause life-threatening reactions.
Which order should be questioned for a breastfeeding mother?
A. Prenatal vitamins
B. Iron supplements
✅C. Ribavirin.
D. Acetaminophen
Rationale: Ribavirin is teratogenic and contraindicated in pregnancy/breastfeeding.
When giving subcutaneous heparin, which action should be avoided?
A. Inject at 90°
✅B. Aspirate before injection.
C. Rotate sites
D. Use a 1 mL syringe
Rationale: Aspiration can cause tissue trauma and bleeding with heparin.
Before the first dose of an antibiotic that prolongs QT, the essential assessment is:
A. Lung sounds
✅B. Heart rate and rhythm.
C. Blood glucose
D. Abdominal tenderness
Rationale: QT prolongation predisposes to arrhythmias — baseline cardiac assessment
required.
A patient develops angioedema after an antibiotic. What should the nurse do first?
A. Notify the pharmacist
, ESTUDYR
B. Document the reaction
C. Administer diphenhydramine
✅D. Call prescriber and prepare emergency interventions.
Rationale: Angioedema can progress to anaphylaxis — urgent medical intervention required.
Patient teaching for drug with photosensitivity:
A. Take at bedtime
✅B. Wear long sleeves and sunscreen outdoors.
C. Avoid dairy
D. Monitor weight daily
Rationale: Photosensitizing drugs increase sunburn risk; protective clothing/sunscreen advised.
What to teach about combination antiretroviral therapy (ART)?
A. You may skip a dose if well
B. Take with grapefruit juice
✅C. Do not mix two drugs in the same syringe.
D. Avoid iron-rich foods
Rationale: Some injectables must be administered separately—never mix incompatible drugs in
same syringe.
Which sign may indicate liver toxicity with antifungal drugs?
A. Increased urination
✅B. Yellow sclera (jaundice).
C. Restlessness
D. Clear sputum
Rationale: Jaundice reflects impaired hepatic bilirubin metabolism.
Which route has the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intramuscular
✅D. Intravenous (IV).
Rationale: IV delivers drug directly to bloodstream for immediate effect.
For an HIV patient on ART, most important instruction:
A. Take with food
B. Use barrier contraception
✅C. Take ART at same time every day without skipping doses.
D. Limit caffeine
Rationale: Strict adherence prevents resistance.
Before aminoglycoside (gentamicin), priority assessment:
A. Mental status
B. Vision
✅C. Hearing ability.
D. Bowel movements
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are ototoxic — baseline hearing check is critical.
Which patient should NOT receive tetracycline?
A. 45-year-old man with pneumonia
B. 30-year-old woman on OCPs