NSG 5240 Advanced Pharmacology Midterm Practice
Exam– SOUTH COLLEGE Questions with Answers
and Rationales | Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient taking lisinopril for hypertension should be taught to report which adverse
effect immediately?
o A. Mild headache after the first dose
o B. A persistent dry cough or swelling of the lips and face
o C. Increased appetite after meals
o D. Dark urine after exercise
ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry cough, and angioedema can be life-
threatening.
2. Which assessment finding is most important before giving metoprolol to a patient
with hypertension?
o A. Blood glucose level
o B. Lung sounds for crackles
o C. Apical pulse rate and blood pressure
o D. Bowel sounds in all four quadrants
Beta blockers can cause bradycardia and hypotension, so vital signs should
be checked first.
3. A patient receiving furosemide should be monitored most closely for which
electrolyte imbalance?
o A. Hypernatremia
o B. Hypokalemia
o C. Hypermagnesemia
, o D. Hypercalcemia
Loop diuretics can cause potassium loss, which may lead to dysrhythmias.
4. What is the priority teaching for a patient taking warfarin daily?
o A. Double the next dose if one dose is missed
o B. Avoid all foods with vitamin K completely
o C. Report signs of unusual bleeding and keep INR follow-up
appointments
o D. Stop the medication when bruising occurs
Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic range and requires bleeding precautions
and INR monitoring.
5. A patient taking insulin glargine asks when it starts working. What is the best
response?
o A. It works immediately after injection
o B. It provides a slow, steady effect with no true peak
o C. It peaks sharply within one hour
o D. It is only used for short-term control
Glargine is a long-acting insulin designed for basal coverage.
6. Which finding would the nurse expect in a patient taking prednisone long term?
o A. Weight loss and low blood pressure
o B. Hyperglycemia, fluid retention, and increased infection risk
o C. Severe hypoglycemia and bradycardia
o D. Tinnitus and hearing loss
Corticosteroids can raise glucose, retain sodium and water, and suppress
immunity.
7. A patient receiving albuterol inhaler therapy should be taught that the medication is
used to:
o A. Treat bacterial pneumonia
, o B. Open the airways during bronchospasm
o C. Reduce blood pressure
o D. Thin the blood
Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist used for quick relief of
bronchospasm.
8. Which adverse effect is most associated with aminoglycoside antibiotics such as
gentamicin?
o A. Constipation
o B. Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
o C. Hypertension
o D. Hyperactivity
Aminoglycosides can damage the kidneys and ears, so monitoring is critical.
9. A patient taking digoxin should be instructed to notify the provider if which symptom
occurs?
o A. Increased energy
o B. Blurred or yellow-tinged vision
o C. Mild thirst
o D. Increased appetite
Visual changes can be early signs of digoxin toxicity.
10. Before administering nitroglycerin, the nurse should assess:
o A. Bowel movement frequency
o B. Blood pressure and chest pain severity
o C. Skin turgor
o D. Pupillary response
Nitroglycerin can lower blood pressure and is used to relieve angina.
11. A patient taking statins such as atorvastatin should be taught to report:
o A. Frequent urination
, o B. Muscle pain or weakness
o C. Increased salivation
o D. Insomnia only
Statins can cause myopathy and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis.
12. Which instruction is correct for a patient taking levothyroxine?
o A. Take it with food and calcium
o B. Take it on an empty stomach at the same time each day
o C. Stop it when symptoms improve
o D. Take it only at bedtime with milk
Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach and should be taken
consistently.
13. A patient receiving heparin therapy should be monitored most closely for:
o A. Hyperkalemia
o B. Bleeding and a prolonged aPTT
o C. Elevated blood sugar
o D. Hearing loss
Heparin increases bleeding risk and is monitored with aPTT.
14. What is the priority teaching for a patient taking metformin?
o A. Expect severe sedation
o B. Report signs of lactic acidosis such as weakness, rapid breathing, or
malaise
o C. Avoid all carbohydrates completely
o D. Take extra doses if blood sugar rises
Metformin rarely causes lactic acidosis, which is a serious adverse effect.
15. A patient is prescribed ciprofloxacin. The nurse should teach the patient to avoid
taking it with:
o A. Plain water
Exam– SOUTH COLLEGE Questions with Answers
and Rationales | Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient taking lisinopril for hypertension should be taught to report which adverse
effect immediately?
o A. Mild headache after the first dose
o B. A persistent dry cough or swelling of the lips and face
o C. Increased appetite after meals
o D. Dark urine after exercise
ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry cough, and angioedema can be life-
threatening.
2. Which assessment finding is most important before giving metoprolol to a patient
with hypertension?
o A. Blood glucose level
o B. Lung sounds for crackles
o C. Apical pulse rate and blood pressure
o D. Bowel sounds in all four quadrants
Beta blockers can cause bradycardia and hypotension, so vital signs should
be checked first.
3. A patient receiving furosemide should be monitored most closely for which
electrolyte imbalance?
o A. Hypernatremia
o B. Hypokalemia
o C. Hypermagnesemia
, o D. Hypercalcemia
Loop diuretics can cause potassium loss, which may lead to dysrhythmias.
4. What is the priority teaching for a patient taking warfarin daily?
o A. Double the next dose if one dose is missed
o B. Avoid all foods with vitamin K completely
o C. Report signs of unusual bleeding and keep INR follow-up
appointments
o D. Stop the medication when bruising occurs
Warfarin has a narrow therapeutic range and requires bleeding precautions
and INR monitoring.
5. A patient taking insulin glargine asks when it starts working. What is the best
response?
o A. It works immediately after injection
o B. It provides a slow, steady effect with no true peak
o C. It peaks sharply within one hour
o D. It is only used for short-term control
Glargine is a long-acting insulin designed for basal coverage.
6. Which finding would the nurse expect in a patient taking prednisone long term?
o A. Weight loss and low blood pressure
o B. Hyperglycemia, fluid retention, and increased infection risk
o C. Severe hypoglycemia and bradycardia
o D. Tinnitus and hearing loss
Corticosteroids can raise glucose, retain sodium and water, and suppress
immunity.
7. A patient receiving albuterol inhaler therapy should be taught that the medication is
used to:
o A. Treat bacterial pneumonia
, o B. Open the airways during bronchospasm
o C. Reduce blood pressure
o D. Thin the blood
Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist used for quick relief of
bronchospasm.
8. Which adverse effect is most associated with aminoglycoside antibiotics such as
gentamicin?
o A. Constipation
o B. Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
o C. Hypertension
o D. Hyperactivity
Aminoglycosides can damage the kidneys and ears, so monitoring is critical.
9. A patient taking digoxin should be instructed to notify the provider if which symptom
occurs?
o A. Increased energy
o B. Blurred or yellow-tinged vision
o C. Mild thirst
o D. Increased appetite
Visual changes can be early signs of digoxin toxicity.
10. Before administering nitroglycerin, the nurse should assess:
o A. Bowel movement frequency
o B. Blood pressure and chest pain severity
o C. Skin turgor
o D. Pupillary response
Nitroglycerin can lower blood pressure and is used to relieve angina.
11. A patient taking statins such as atorvastatin should be taught to report:
o A. Frequent urination
, o B. Muscle pain or weakness
o C. Increased salivation
o D. Insomnia only
Statins can cause myopathy and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis.
12. Which instruction is correct for a patient taking levothyroxine?
o A. Take it with food and calcium
o B. Take it on an empty stomach at the same time each day
o C. Stop it when symptoms improve
o D. Take it only at bedtime with milk
Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach and should be taken
consistently.
13. A patient receiving heparin therapy should be monitored most closely for:
o A. Hyperkalemia
o B. Bleeding and a prolonged aPTT
o C. Elevated blood sugar
o D. Hearing loss
Heparin increases bleeding risk and is monitored with aPTT.
14. What is the priority teaching for a patient taking metformin?
o A. Expect severe sedation
o B. Report signs of lactic acidosis such as weakness, rapid breathing, or
malaise
o C. Avoid all carbohydrates completely
o D. Take extra doses if blood sugar rises
Metformin rarely causes lactic acidosis, which is a serious adverse effect.
15. A patient is prescribed ciprofloxacin. The nurse should teach the patient to avoid
taking it with:
o A. Plain water
