NCLEX RN Pharmacological Parenteral
Therapies Practice Exam 5Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. A client taking digoxin reports nausea, vomiting, and seeing yellow
halos around lights. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer the next dose with food
B. Encourage increased fluid intake
C. Hold the digoxin and notify the provider
D. Administer an antiemetic
The findings suggest digoxin toxicity. The medication should be withheld
and the provider notified; serum digoxin and potassium levels may need
evaluation.
2. Which laboratory value is most important for a client receiving
heparin therapy?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Hemoglobin A1c
D. Serum creatinine
The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is commonly used to
monitor unfractionated heparin therapy.
3. A client receiving warfarin asks which food should be eaten
consistently rather than avoided completely. Which food is
appropriate?
,A. Grapefruit
B. Cranberries
C. Spinach
D. Licorice
Spinach contains vitamin K, which can decrease warfarin's effect. Clients
should maintain a consistent vitamin K intake rather than suddenly
increasing or eliminating these foods.
4. Which medication reverses the effects of opioid overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced
respiratory and central nervous system depression.
5. A nurse prepares to administer IV potassium chloride. Which action
is essential?
A. Administer it IV push
B. Mix it with blood products
C. Dilute it and administer it using an infusion pump
D. Give it undiluted through a peripheral IV
IV potassium chloride must be diluted and administered carefully with
controlled infusion. IV push administration can cause fatal cardiac
dysrhythmias.
6. Which assessment finding in a client receiving morphine requires
immediate intervention?
A. Constipation
B. Mild nausea
,C. Drowsiness
D. Respiratory rate of 8/min
Severe respiratory depression is a potentially life-threatening opioid
adverse effect and requires immediate intervention.
7. A client taking an ACE inhibitor develops swelling of the lips and
tongue. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Administer the next dose
B. Encourage oral fluids
C. Stop the medication and assess the airway
D. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
Angioedema can rapidly compromise the airway. The medication should
be stopped and emergency airway management initiated.
8. Which adverse effect is commonly associated with furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Bradycardia
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion,
placing clients at risk for hypokalemia.
9. Which instruction is most important for a client taking prednisone for
several months?
A. Take it only when symptoms occur
B. Stop it when feeling better
C. Do not stop the medication abruptly
D. Take double doses after missed doses
Long-term corticosteroid therapy suppresses adrenal function. Abrupt
discontinuation can precipitate adrenal insufficiency.
, 10. A client receiving vancomycin develops flushing and itching during
the infusion. Which complication does the nurse suspect?
A. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
B. Infusion-related vancomycin reaction
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Rapid vancomycin infusion can cause flushing, itching, and hypotension.
The infusion is generally slowed or stopped according to the clinical
situation and prescription.
11. Which medication is commonly used as an antidote for
acetaminophen overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Vitamin K
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine sulfate
Acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione and reduces hepatic injury after
acetaminophen overdose.
12. A client taking metformin is scheduled for a procedure involving
iodinated contrast. Which action is appropriate?
A. Give an additional dose of metformin
B. Follow the provider's instructions regarding temporary withholding
of metformin
C. Give metformin IV
D. Substitute digoxin
Metformin may need to be temporarily withheld around iodinated
contrast exposure in clients at risk for acute kidney injury because of the
rare risk of lactic acidosis.
Therapies Practice Exam 5Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. A client taking digoxin reports nausea, vomiting, and seeing yellow
halos around lights. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer the next dose with food
B. Encourage increased fluid intake
C. Hold the digoxin and notify the provider
D. Administer an antiemetic
The findings suggest digoxin toxicity. The medication should be withheld
and the provider notified; serum digoxin and potassium levels may need
evaluation.
2. Which laboratory value is most important for a client receiving
heparin therapy?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Hemoglobin A1c
D. Serum creatinine
The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is commonly used to
monitor unfractionated heparin therapy.
3. A client receiving warfarin asks which food should be eaten
consistently rather than avoided completely. Which food is
appropriate?
,A. Grapefruit
B. Cranberries
C. Spinach
D. Licorice
Spinach contains vitamin K, which can decrease warfarin's effect. Clients
should maintain a consistent vitamin K intake rather than suddenly
increasing or eliminating these foods.
4. Which medication reverses the effects of opioid overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced
respiratory and central nervous system depression.
5. A nurse prepares to administer IV potassium chloride. Which action
is essential?
A. Administer it IV push
B. Mix it with blood products
C. Dilute it and administer it using an infusion pump
D. Give it undiluted through a peripheral IV
IV potassium chloride must be diluted and administered carefully with
controlled infusion. IV push administration can cause fatal cardiac
dysrhythmias.
6. Which assessment finding in a client receiving morphine requires
immediate intervention?
A. Constipation
B. Mild nausea
,C. Drowsiness
D. Respiratory rate of 8/min
Severe respiratory depression is a potentially life-threatening opioid
adverse effect and requires immediate intervention.
7. A client taking an ACE inhibitor develops swelling of the lips and
tongue. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Administer the next dose
B. Encourage oral fluids
C. Stop the medication and assess the airway
D. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
Angioedema can rapidly compromise the airway. The medication should
be stopped and emergency airway management initiated.
8. Which adverse effect is commonly associated with furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Bradycardia
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion,
placing clients at risk for hypokalemia.
9. Which instruction is most important for a client taking prednisone for
several months?
A. Take it only when symptoms occur
B. Stop it when feeling better
C. Do not stop the medication abruptly
D. Take double doses after missed doses
Long-term corticosteroid therapy suppresses adrenal function. Abrupt
discontinuation can precipitate adrenal insufficiency.
, 10. A client receiving vancomycin develops flushing and itching during
the infusion. Which complication does the nurse suspect?
A. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
B. Infusion-related vancomycin reaction
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Rapid vancomycin infusion can cause flushing, itching, and hypotension.
The infusion is generally slowed or stopped according to the clinical
situation and prescription.
11. Which medication is commonly used as an antidote for
acetaminophen overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Vitamin K
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine sulfate
Acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione and reduces hepatic injury after
acetaminophen overdose.
12. A client taking metformin is scheduled for a procedure involving
iodinated contrast. Which action is appropriate?
A. Give an additional dose of metformin
B. Follow the provider's instructions regarding temporary withholding
of metformin
C. Give metformin IV
D. Substitute digoxin
Metformin may need to be temporarily withheld around iodinated
contrast exposure in clients at risk for acute kidney injury because of the
rare risk of lactic acidosis.
