Test Bank forPharmacology– Practice Questions and correct Answers
solutions with Rationales
1. A patient is prescribed furosemide. Which electrolyte should the nurse monitor most
closely?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, increases potassium excretion, risking hypokalemia.
2. A patient taking digoxin reports seeing yellow halos around lights. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
A. Continue therapy and monitor
B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
C. Encourage hydration
D. Reduce dietary potassium
Answer: B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
Rationale: Visual disturbances may indicate digoxin toxicity; immediate intervention is required.
3. Which teaching point is essential for a patient on an ACE inhibitor?
A. Avoid potassium supplements
B. Take only when symptoms occur
C. Skip doses if blood pressure is normal
D. Monitor for dry cough and swelling of lips/face
Answer: D. Monitor for dry cough and swelling of lips/face
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can cause a persistent cough and rare but serious angioedema.
,4. A patient receiving warfarin should have which lab monitored regularly?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Serum potassium
D. Blood glucose
Answer: B. PT/INR
Rationale: PT/INR monitors the therapeutic effect of warfarin to prevent bleeding or clotting.
5. Which instruction should be given to a patient taking metformin?
A. Take with food to reduce GI upset
B. Skip doses if glucose is normal
C. Avoid monitoring blood glucose
D. Take only at bedtime
Answer: A. Take with food to reduce GI upset
Rationale: Metformin can cause nausea and diarrhea; taking it with meals improves tolerance.
6. Which adverse effect is common with corticosteroids?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Weight loss
Answer: A. Hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase glucose levels, which is important for diabetic patients to
monitor.
7. A patient taking a benzodiazepine should be advised to:
A. Avoid alcohol
B. Increase dose if anxious
C. Stop abruptly when feeling better
D. Take only once per week
Answer: A. Avoid alcohol
Rationale: Benzodiazepines depress CNS activity, which is enhanced by alcohol, risking
severe sedation.
, 8. A patient on a beta-blocker reports dizziness and shortness of breath. What is the
priority nursing action?
A. Hold the medication and assess vital signs
B. Encourage hydration
C. Continue therapy
D. Administer a diuretic
Answer: A. Hold the medication and assess vital signs
Rationale: Dizziness may indicate hypotension or bradycardia caused by beta-blockers.
9. Which statement indicates correct understanding of insulin therapy?
A. Skip meals if feeling well
B. Rotate injection sites
C. Freeze unopened insulin
D. Take all insulin at bedtime only
Answer: B. Rotate injection sites
Rationale: Rotating injection sites prevents lipodystrophy and ensures proper absorption.
10. A patient taking an SSRI reports decreased libido. What should the nurse do?
A. Educate the patient about this common side effect
B. Stop the medication immediately
C. Increase the dose to overcome side effect
D. Ignore the symptom
Answer: A. Educate the patient about this common side effect
Rationale: SSRIs often cause sexual dysfunction; patient education improves adherence.
11. Which lab should be monitored in a patient receiving heparin therapy?
A. PT/INR
B. aPTT
C. Blood glucose
D. Creatinine
Answer: B. aPTT
Rationale: aPTT ensures therapeutic anticoagulation and prevents bleeding complications.
solutions with Rationales
1. A patient is prescribed furosemide. Which electrolyte should the nurse monitor most
closely?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, increases potassium excretion, risking hypokalemia.
2. A patient taking digoxin reports seeing yellow halos around lights. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
A. Continue therapy and monitor
B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
C. Encourage hydration
D. Reduce dietary potassium
Answer: B. Hold the dose and notify the provider
Rationale: Visual disturbances may indicate digoxin toxicity; immediate intervention is required.
3. Which teaching point is essential for a patient on an ACE inhibitor?
A. Avoid potassium supplements
B. Take only when symptoms occur
C. Skip doses if blood pressure is normal
D. Monitor for dry cough and swelling of lips/face
Answer: D. Monitor for dry cough and swelling of lips/face
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can cause a persistent cough and rare but serious angioedema.
,4. A patient receiving warfarin should have which lab monitored regularly?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Serum potassium
D. Blood glucose
Answer: B. PT/INR
Rationale: PT/INR monitors the therapeutic effect of warfarin to prevent bleeding or clotting.
5. Which instruction should be given to a patient taking metformin?
A. Take with food to reduce GI upset
B. Skip doses if glucose is normal
C. Avoid monitoring blood glucose
D. Take only at bedtime
Answer: A. Take with food to reduce GI upset
Rationale: Metformin can cause nausea and diarrhea; taking it with meals improves tolerance.
6. Which adverse effect is common with corticosteroids?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Weight loss
Answer: A. Hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase glucose levels, which is important for diabetic patients to
monitor.
7. A patient taking a benzodiazepine should be advised to:
A. Avoid alcohol
B. Increase dose if anxious
C. Stop abruptly when feeling better
D. Take only once per week
Answer: A. Avoid alcohol
Rationale: Benzodiazepines depress CNS activity, which is enhanced by alcohol, risking
severe sedation.
, 8. A patient on a beta-blocker reports dizziness and shortness of breath. What is the
priority nursing action?
A. Hold the medication and assess vital signs
B. Encourage hydration
C. Continue therapy
D. Administer a diuretic
Answer: A. Hold the medication and assess vital signs
Rationale: Dizziness may indicate hypotension or bradycardia caused by beta-blockers.
9. Which statement indicates correct understanding of insulin therapy?
A. Skip meals if feeling well
B. Rotate injection sites
C. Freeze unopened insulin
D. Take all insulin at bedtime only
Answer: B. Rotate injection sites
Rationale: Rotating injection sites prevents lipodystrophy and ensures proper absorption.
10. A patient taking an SSRI reports decreased libido. What should the nurse do?
A. Educate the patient about this common side effect
B. Stop the medication immediately
C. Increase the dose to overcome side effect
D. Ignore the symptom
Answer: A. Educate the patient about this common side effect
Rationale: SSRIs often cause sexual dysfunction; patient education improves adherence.
11. Which lab should be monitored in a patient receiving heparin therapy?
A. PT/INR
B. aPTT
C. Blood glucose
D. Creatinine
Answer: B. aPTT
Rationale: aPTT ensures therapeutic anticoagulation and prevents bleeding complications.
