PHARMACOLOGY RN-NCLEX EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
A patient is prescribed a beta blocker for a cardiac condition. You know this medication blocks
the beta receptors in the body so ____________ and __________ cannot bind to the receptor
site and elicit a _______ ________ _________ response.
A. angiotensin II and angiotensin I; sympathetic nervous system
B. dopamine and norepinephrine; parasympathetic nervous system
C. norepinephrine and epinephrine; sympathetic nervous system
D. dopamine and acetylcholine; parasympathetic nervous system - ANS C - Beta blockers
block the beta receptors in the body so norepinephrine and epinephrine cannot bind to the
receptor site and elicit a sympathetic nervous system response.
Beta 1 receptors can be found in the? Select all that apply:
A. GI tract
B. Uterus
C. Heart
D. Lungs
E. Kidneys
F. Vascular smooth muscle - ANS C, E - Beta 1 receptors can be found in the HEART and
KIDNEYS.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Beta 2 receptors can be found in the? Select all that apply:
A. Heart
B. Lungs
C. GI system
D. Kidneys
E. Vascular smooth muscle
F. Skeletal muscle - ANS B, C, E, and F - Beta 2 receptors can be found in the lungs
(bronchioles), GI system, vascular smooth muscle, skeletal muscle and even the ciliary body of
the eye (not listed).
A patient is admitted with a dysrhythmia. The physician prescribes Propranolol. Which
statement by the patient requires the nurse to hold the ordered dose and notify the physician
for further orders?
A. "I use an inhaler at home for asthma."
B. "My heart feels like it is racing, and I feel very weak."
C. "I had caffeine this morning with breakfast."
D. "I smoke 2 packs of cigarettes per day." - ANS A - Propranolol is a nonselective beta
blocker. Therefore, it affects beta 1 and beta 2 receptors. Beta 2 receptors are found in the lungs
(specifically the bronchioles). This medication could cause bronchoconstriction in patients with
asthma or COPD and should be avoided. Selective beta blockers (Atenolol, Esmolol,
Metorprolol) block only beta 1 (which are found in the heart and kidneys). Therefore, they are
less likely to cause bronchoconstriction.
Select all the beta blocker medications listed below that affect ONLY beta 1 receptors:
A. Timolol
B. Atenolol
C. Metoprolol
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,D. Esmolol - ANS B, C, and D - Atenolol, Metoprolol, and Esmolol are selective and affect
ONLY beta 1 receptors, which are found in the heart and kidneys. Timolol is a nonselective beta
blocker and affects both beta 1 and beta 2 receptors.
At 1000 your patient is scheduled to take a dose of Atenolol. What finding below would require
you to hold the scheduled dose and notify the physician?
A. The patient's heart rate is 120 beats per minute.
B. The patient's blood pressure is 102/76.
C. The patient has swelling in lower extremities, dyspnea, and crackles in lung fields. - ANS C -
In option C, the patient is showing signs and symptoms of uncompensated heart failure (beta
blockers are not used when uncompensated heart failure presents, but they can be sometimes
be used when the patient is in compensated/stable heart failure). The reason is because beta
blockers slow down the heart rate and decrease the strength of contractions (negative inotropic
effect), which can lead to heart failure in SOME patients, and this is why the nurse must monitor
for this.
7. A patient with diabetes and hypertension is being discharged home. The patient will be taking
Sotalol and insulin per sliding scale. Which statement by the patient demonstrates they did NOT
understand your discharge instructions about the side effects of Sotalol?
A. "This medication can affect my blood glucose levels."
B. "I will monitor my heart rate and blood pressure everyday while taking this medication."
C. "While taking this medication I will monitor for a fast heart rate because this is an early
indication that my blood glucose level is low."
D. "I will report to my physician if I develop shortness of breath, weight gain, or swelling in my
feet." - ANS C - Beta blockers can prevent tachycardia (increased heart rate). An increased
heart rate is a sign for most diabetics that they are experiencing a low blood glucose level.
Therefore, the patient who is taking beta blocker (especially a nonselective type) needs to be re-
educated that a fast heart rate is NOT a reliable way of determining hypoglycemia and should
check their blood glucose regularly.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Which category of beta blockers block beta 1 and beta 2 receptors?
A. Selective beta blockers
B. Nonselective beta blockers - ANS B - Nonselective beta blockers BLOCK beta 1 and beta
2...therefore they're not selective. Selective beta blockers block ONLY beta 1 receptors and are
sometimes referred to as cardioselective.
A patient is prescribed Metoprolol. Which statement by the patient requires the nurse to re-
educate the patient on how to take the medication properly?
A. "After I stop taking this medication I will let my physician know."
B. "I take this medication with my breakfast every morning."
C. "I will change positions slowly while I'm taking this medication."
D. "While I'm taking this medication I will monitor my heart rate." - ANS A - The patient
should NOT just stop taking the medication. It must be tapered off over a period of time (usually
about 2 weeks). This will prevent the development of rebound hypertension, myocardial
ischemia, and angina.
What signs and symptoms below would demonstrate a patient is experiencing an overdose of a
beta blocker medication? Select all that apply:
A. Blood pressure 200/110
B. Heart rate 35 beats per minute
C. EKG shows atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate (RVR)
D. Patient is maniac and agitated
E. Dyspnea
F. Patient is severely drowsy
G. EKG shows 3rd degree AV block - ANS B, E, F and G - Signs and symptoms of beta blocker
overdose would be the opposite of the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. Beta blockers
slow down the heart rate (overdose: severe bradycardia...heart rate of 35 and heart block 2nd
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
VERIFIED 2025/2026.
A patient is prescribed a beta blocker for a cardiac condition. You know this medication blocks
the beta receptors in the body so ____________ and __________ cannot bind to the receptor
site and elicit a _______ ________ _________ response.
A. angiotensin II and angiotensin I; sympathetic nervous system
B. dopamine and norepinephrine; parasympathetic nervous system
C. norepinephrine and epinephrine; sympathetic nervous system
D. dopamine and acetylcholine; parasympathetic nervous system - ANS C - Beta blockers
block the beta receptors in the body so norepinephrine and epinephrine cannot bind to the
receptor site and elicit a sympathetic nervous system response.
Beta 1 receptors can be found in the? Select all that apply:
A. GI tract
B. Uterus
C. Heart
D. Lungs
E. Kidneys
F. Vascular smooth muscle - ANS C, E - Beta 1 receptors can be found in the HEART and
KIDNEYS.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Beta 2 receptors can be found in the? Select all that apply:
A. Heart
B. Lungs
C. GI system
D. Kidneys
E. Vascular smooth muscle
F. Skeletal muscle - ANS B, C, E, and F - Beta 2 receptors can be found in the lungs
(bronchioles), GI system, vascular smooth muscle, skeletal muscle and even the ciliary body of
the eye (not listed).
A patient is admitted with a dysrhythmia. The physician prescribes Propranolol. Which
statement by the patient requires the nurse to hold the ordered dose and notify the physician
for further orders?
A. "I use an inhaler at home for asthma."
B. "My heart feels like it is racing, and I feel very weak."
C. "I had caffeine this morning with breakfast."
D. "I smoke 2 packs of cigarettes per day." - ANS A - Propranolol is a nonselective beta
blocker. Therefore, it affects beta 1 and beta 2 receptors. Beta 2 receptors are found in the lungs
(specifically the bronchioles). This medication could cause bronchoconstriction in patients with
asthma or COPD and should be avoided. Selective beta blockers (Atenolol, Esmolol,
Metorprolol) block only beta 1 (which are found in the heart and kidneys). Therefore, they are
less likely to cause bronchoconstriction.
Select all the beta blocker medications listed below that affect ONLY beta 1 receptors:
A. Timolol
B. Atenolol
C. Metoprolol
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,D. Esmolol - ANS B, C, and D - Atenolol, Metoprolol, and Esmolol are selective and affect
ONLY beta 1 receptors, which are found in the heart and kidneys. Timolol is a nonselective beta
blocker and affects both beta 1 and beta 2 receptors.
At 1000 your patient is scheduled to take a dose of Atenolol. What finding below would require
you to hold the scheduled dose and notify the physician?
A. The patient's heart rate is 120 beats per minute.
B. The patient's blood pressure is 102/76.
C. The patient has swelling in lower extremities, dyspnea, and crackles in lung fields. - ANS C -
In option C, the patient is showing signs and symptoms of uncompensated heart failure (beta
blockers are not used when uncompensated heart failure presents, but they can be sometimes
be used when the patient is in compensated/stable heart failure). The reason is because beta
blockers slow down the heart rate and decrease the strength of contractions (negative inotropic
effect), which can lead to heart failure in SOME patients, and this is why the nurse must monitor
for this.
7. A patient with diabetes and hypertension is being discharged home. The patient will be taking
Sotalol and insulin per sliding scale. Which statement by the patient demonstrates they did NOT
understand your discharge instructions about the side effects of Sotalol?
A. "This medication can affect my blood glucose levels."
B. "I will monitor my heart rate and blood pressure everyday while taking this medication."
C. "While taking this medication I will monitor for a fast heart rate because this is an early
indication that my blood glucose level is low."
D. "I will report to my physician if I develop shortness of breath, weight gain, or swelling in my
feet." - ANS C - Beta blockers can prevent tachycardia (increased heart rate). An increased
heart rate is a sign for most diabetics that they are experiencing a low blood glucose level.
Therefore, the patient who is taking beta blocker (especially a nonselective type) needs to be re-
educated that a fast heart rate is NOT a reliable way of determining hypoglycemia and should
check their blood glucose regularly.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Which category of beta blockers block beta 1 and beta 2 receptors?
A. Selective beta blockers
B. Nonselective beta blockers - ANS B - Nonselective beta blockers BLOCK beta 1 and beta
2...therefore they're not selective. Selective beta blockers block ONLY beta 1 receptors and are
sometimes referred to as cardioselective.
A patient is prescribed Metoprolol. Which statement by the patient requires the nurse to re-
educate the patient on how to take the medication properly?
A. "After I stop taking this medication I will let my physician know."
B. "I take this medication with my breakfast every morning."
C. "I will change positions slowly while I'm taking this medication."
D. "While I'm taking this medication I will monitor my heart rate." - ANS A - The patient
should NOT just stop taking the medication. It must be tapered off over a period of time (usually
about 2 weeks). This will prevent the development of rebound hypertension, myocardial
ischemia, and angina.
What signs and symptoms below would demonstrate a patient is experiencing an overdose of a
beta blocker medication? Select all that apply:
A. Blood pressure 200/110
B. Heart rate 35 beats per minute
C. EKG shows atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate (RVR)
D. Patient is maniac and agitated
E. Dyspnea
F. Patient is severely drowsy
G. EKG shows 3rd degree AV block - ANS B, E, F and G - Signs and symptoms of beta blocker
overdose would be the opposite of the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. Beta blockers
slow down the heart rate (overdose: severe bradycardia...heart rate of 35 and heart block 2nd
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
