ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL 2026
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS GRADED A PLUS
◉ A child will receive 750 mg of an antibiotic for 10 days. The child
attends day care. The drug may be dosed in several ways and is
available in two concentrations. Which dosing regimen will the
nurse discuss with the child's provider?
Answer: 500 mg/5 mL to 375 mg PO twice daily
◉ Parents ask the nurse why an over-the-counter cough suppressant
with sedative side effects is not recommended for infants. Which
response by the nurse is correct?
Answer: "Infants are more susceptible to central nervous system
effects than are adults."
◉ A nurse caring for a 5-year-old child notes that the child has
discoloration of several teeth. When taking a medication history, the
nurse will ask about which group of medications?
Answer: Tetracyclines
◉ An infant has allergies and often develops a pruritic rash when
exposed to allergens. The infant's parents ask the nurse about using
a topical antihistamine. What should the nurse tell them?
,Answer: Applying an antihistamine to the skin can cause toxicity in
this age group.
◉ An infant is receiving a medication that has a narrow therapeutic
range. The nurse reviews the medication information and learns
that the drug is excreted by the kidneys. When giving the
medication, the nurse will assess the infant for:
Answer: signs of drug toxicity.
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students to calculate
medication doses for children using a formula based on body surface
area. Which statement by a nursing student indicates understanding
of the teaching?
Answer: "This formula helps approximate the first dose; other doses
should be based on clinical observations."
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students about medication
administration in children. Which statement by a student indicates
an understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "Drugs effective in adults may not work in children, even if
the dose is proportional for weight and size."
◉ A nurse is teaching nursing students about pediatric medication
administration. What will the nurse include when discussing
pediatric drug research?
,Answer: Studies showed a significant percentage of unanticipated
and potentially lethal side effects in children.
◉ A prescriber has ordered medication for a newborn. The
medication is eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism. The
nurse expects the prescriber to:
Answer: order a dose that is lower than an adult dose.
◉ The parents of a child with asthma ask the nurse why their child
can not use oral corticosteroids more often, because they are so
effective. The nurse will offer which information that is true for
children?
Answer: Chronic steroid use can inhibit growth.
◉ A patient with schizophrenia receives a dose of risperidone
[Risperdal Consta] IM. The nurse teaching this patient about this
medication will make which statement?
Answer: "You will need to take an oral antipsychotic drug for 3
weeks."
◉ A patient with schizophrenia shows suicidal behaviors, and the
provider orders clozapine [Clozaril]. The nurse teaches the family
about the medication and its side effects. Which statement by a
family member indicates a need for further teaching about this
drug?
, Answer: "If the ANC is less than 3000, the drug will be discontinued
permanently."
◉ A patient in whom drug therapy has failed several times in the
past is readmitted to a hospital to begin therapy for schizophrenia.
What will the nurse do to help improve adherence?
Answer: Teach the patient about drug side effects and how to
manage them.
◉ A nurse provides teaching for a patient about to begin taking an
FGA drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient
indicates a need for further teaching about side effects of these
drugs?
Answer: "Dry mouth and constipation are uncommon with this
medication."
◉ A patient taking an FGA medication develops severe parkinsonism
and is treated with amantadine [Symmetrel]. The amantadine is
withdrawn 2 months later, and the parkinsonism returns. The nurse
will expect the provider to:
Answer: try a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA).
◉ What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia? Select all that
apply.
Answer: Poor judgment
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS GRADED A PLUS
◉ A child will receive 750 mg of an antibiotic for 10 days. The child
attends day care. The drug may be dosed in several ways and is
available in two concentrations. Which dosing regimen will the
nurse discuss with the child's provider?
Answer: 500 mg/5 mL to 375 mg PO twice daily
◉ Parents ask the nurse why an over-the-counter cough suppressant
with sedative side effects is not recommended for infants. Which
response by the nurse is correct?
Answer: "Infants are more susceptible to central nervous system
effects than are adults."
◉ A nurse caring for a 5-year-old child notes that the child has
discoloration of several teeth. When taking a medication history, the
nurse will ask about which group of medications?
Answer: Tetracyclines
◉ An infant has allergies and often develops a pruritic rash when
exposed to allergens. The infant's parents ask the nurse about using
a topical antihistamine. What should the nurse tell them?
,Answer: Applying an antihistamine to the skin can cause toxicity in
this age group.
◉ An infant is receiving a medication that has a narrow therapeutic
range. The nurse reviews the medication information and learns
that the drug is excreted by the kidneys. When giving the
medication, the nurse will assess the infant for:
Answer: signs of drug toxicity.
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students to calculate
medication doses for children using a formula based on body surface
area. Which statement by a nursing student indicates understanding
of the teaching?
Answer: "This formula helps approximate the first dose; other doses
should be based on clinical observations."
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students about medication
administration in children. Which statement by a student indicates
an understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "Drugs effective in adults may not work in children, even if
the dose is proportional for weight and size."
◉ A nurse is teaching nursing students about pediatric medication
administration. What will the nurse include when discussing
pediatric drug research?
,Answer: Studies showed a significant percentage of unanticipated
and potentially lethal side effects in children.
◉ A prescriber has ordered medication for a newborn. The
medication is eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism. The
nurse expects the prescriber to:
Answer: order a dose that is lower than an adult dose.
◉ The parents of a child with asthma ask the nurse why their child
can not use oral corticosteroids more often, because they are so
effective. The nurse will offer which information that is true for
children?
Answer: Chronic steroid use can inhibit growth.
◉ A patient with schizophrenia receives a dose of risperidone
[Risperdal Consta] IM. The nurse teaching this patient about this
medication will make which statement?
Answer: "You will need to take an oral antipsychotic drug for 3
weeks."
◉ A patient with schizophrenia shows suicidal behaviors, and the
provider orders clozapine [Clozaril]. The nurse teaches the family
about the medication and its side effects. Which statement by a
family member indicates a need for further teaching about this
drug?
, Answer: "If the ANC is less than 3000, the drug will be discontinued
permanently."
◉ A patient in whom drug therapy has failed several times in the
past is readmitted to a hospital to begin therapy for schizophrenia.
What will the nurse do to help improve adherence?
Answer: Teach the patient about drug side effects and how to
manage them.
◉ A nurse provides teaching for a patient about to begin taking an
FGA drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient
indicates a need for further teaching about side effects of these
drugs?
Answer: "Dry mouth and constipation are uncommon with this
medication."
◉ A patient taking an FGA medication develops severe parkinsonism
and is treated with amantadine [Symmetrel]. The amantadine is
withdrawn 2 months later, and the parkinsonism returns. The nurse
will expect the provider to:
Answer: try a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA).
◉ What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia? Select all that
apply.
Answer: Poor judgment
