PHARMACOLOGY MSN 571 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill.
Which action should the prescriber take initially? - Answers - Arrange to schedule an
appointment with the patient.
A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma management. The patient
reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and does not feel that the
medication is always effective. Which action will the provider take to best minimize
patient risks and maximize medication effectiveness? - Answers - Auscultate the
patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant vital signs.
A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which patient history
finding would be most concerning to the provider? - Answers - The patient drinks two
glasses of wine every night.
The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder asks
why blood tests are required on a regular basis. Which provider responses demonstrate
an understanding of why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? - Answers -
"We need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We need to monitor kidney
function while you are on this drug. This medication can cause you to lose sodium, so
we need to measure sodium levels."
When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease the risk of
developing muscle toxicity? - Answers - Substitute grapefruit juice with orange juice
When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what intervention does the
provider take to decrease risk to the patient? - Answers - Monitor the patient's plasma
drug levels at regular intervals.
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What
process informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? - Answers -
Desensitization of receptor sites results from continual exposure to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same
amount of the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when
explaining this phenomenon to the patient? - Answers - Inactive ingredients used in
composition can result in differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset
of action.
A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug level. The prescriber
confirms that the dosing is correct. Which possible cause of this situation will the
provider explore? - Answers - Whether patient is taking a medication that binds to
serum albumin.
, A patient takes a drug that is metabolized by CYP3A4 isoenzymes. If a CYP3A4
inducing drug is prescribed, what drug adjustment may be necessary to maintain a
therapeutic level of CYP3A4 substrate? - Answers - Increase dosage of the CYP3A4
substrate
The provider prescribes hydrocodone with acetaminophen for a patient's postsurgical
pain. What instruction will the prescriber include regarding alcohol intake? - Answers -
"You should avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking the pain medication I've
ordered."
Which order for furosemide is written appropriately by the prescriber? - Answers -
Furosemide [Lasix] 20 mg PO daily
A drug can cause symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson disease. What action
should the prescriber take to minimize the potential patient risk? - Answers -
Thoroughly educate the patient about recognizing such symptoms and the need to
notify the office immediately.
A patient who has been taking sertraline for depression was prescribed azithromycin to
treat an infection by a provider at an after-hours clinic. What action will the primary care
provider take to address the risk this combination of medication has posed for the
patient? - Answers - Discontinue the azithromycin and write an order for an alternative
antibiotic.
A patient reports mild nausea within an hour after taking the first two doses of a newly
approved medication. Nausea is not listed among the known side effects of this drug.
What instructions will the provider give the patient? - Answers - "Take the next dose
with food and call the office if the nausea reoccurs or if other symptoms develop."
A patient develops shortness of breath shortly after taking the initial dose of a newly
prescribed medication. The patient's heart rate is 86 beats/minute, the respiratory rate is
24 breaths/minute, and the blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg. The prescriber will
discontinue the drug based on the assumption the patient experienced what medication
induced effect? - Answers - A side effect
A provider recommends genetic testing of a patient before prescribing a medication.
What response should the provider give when asked by the patient about the purpose of
genetic testing? - Answers - "Such testing will tell us how quickly your body is likely to
metabolize, or process, the drug."
The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for hospital
discharge. Which action by the provider will best support the patient's ability to
effectively manage medication therapy? - Answers - Asking the patient to demonstrate
how to measure and administer insulin
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill.
Which action should the prescriber take initially? - Answers - Arrange to schedule an
appointment with the patient.
A metered-dose albuterol inhaler is prescribed for asthma management. The patient
reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and does not feel that the
medication is always effective. Which action will the provider take to best minimize
patient risks and maximize medication effectiveness? - Answers - Auscultate the
patient's lung sounds and obtain other relevant vital signs.
A patient is prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which patient history
finding would be most concerning to the provider? - Answers - The patient drinks two
glasses of wine every night.
The patient who has been prescribed lithium for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder asks
why blood tests are required on a regular basis. Which provider responses demonstrate
an understanding of why the patient requires a variety of laboratory tests? - Answers -
"We need to monitor how your thyroid is functioning." "We need to monitor kidney
function while you are on this drug. This medication can cause you to lose sodium, so
we need to measure sodium levels."
When prescribing lovastatin, what will a provider advise to decrease the risk of
developing muscle toxicity? - Answers - Substitute grapefruit juice with orange juice
When prescribing drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, what intervention does the
provider take to decrease risk to the patient? - Answers - Monitor the patient's plasma
drug levels at regular intervals.
A patient reports that a medication no longer effectively alleviates symptoms. What
process informs the provider's response to the patient's concerns? - Answers -
Desensitization of receptor sites results from continual exposure to the drug.
A patient reports that Brand X tablets work faster than Brand Y tablets of the same
amount of the same drug. Which statement informs the prescriber's response when
explaining this phenomenon to the patient? - Answers - Inactive ingredients used in
composition can result in differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset
of action.
A patient receiving intravenous gentamicin has a toxic serum drug level. The prescriber
confirms that the dosing is correct. Which possible cause of this situation will the
provider explore? - Answers - Whether patient is taking a medication that binds to
serum albumin.
, A patient takes a drug that is metabolized by CYP3A4 isoenzymes. If a CYP3A4
inducing drug is prescribed, what drug adjustment may be necessary to maintain a
therapeutic level of CYP3A4 substrate? - Answers - Increase dosage of the CYP3A4
substrate
The provider prescribes hydrocodone with acetaminophen for a patient's postsurgical
pain. What instruction will the prescriber include regarding alcohol intake? - Answers -
"You should avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking the pain medication I've
ordered."
Which order for furosemide is written appropriately by the prescriber? - Answers -
Furosemide [Lasix] 20 mg PO daily
A drug can cause symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson disease. What action
should the prescriber take to minimize the potential patient risk? - Answers -
Thoroughly educate the patient about recognizing such symptoms and the need to
notify the office immediately.
A patient who has been taking sertraline for depression was prescribed azithromycin to
treat an infection by a provider at an after-hours clinic. What action will the primary care
provider take to address the risk this combination of medication has posed for the
patient? - Answers - Discontinue the azithromycin and write an order for an alternative
antibiotic.
A patient reports mild nausea within an hour after taking the first two doses of a newly
approved medication. Nausea is not listed among the known side effects of this drug.
What instructions will the provider give the patient? - Answers - "Take the next dose
with food and call the office if the nausea reoccurs or if other symptoms develop."
A patient develops shortness of breath shortly after taking the initial dose of a newly
prescribed medication. The patient's heart rate is 86 beats/minute, the respiratory rate is
24 breaths/minute, and the blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg. The prescriber will
discontinue the drug based on the assumption the patient experienced what medication
induced effect? - Answers - A side effect
A provider recommends genetic testing of a patient before prescribing a medication.
What response should the provider give when asked by the patient about the purpose of
genetic testing? - Answers - "Such testing will tell us how quickly your body is likely to
metabolize, or process, the drug."
The provider prepares a patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes for hospital
discharge. Which action by the provider will best support the patient's ability to
effectively manage medication therapy? - Answers - Asking the patient to demonstrate
how to measure and administer insulin
