WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
EXAM WITH ACTUAL CORRECT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED DETAILED
ANSWERS|FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS|NEWEST|GUARANTEED PASS
2026/2027
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is evaluating a patient with stage 3 chronic kidney disease
and type 2 diabetes. The patient has a blood pressure of 172/90, pulse of 82, respiratory rate of 14, and
a temperature of 98.0°F.
The patient is currently taking aspirin 81 mg daily and metformin 1 g daily. The patient's baseline blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) is 15 and creatinine is 1.5. The patient does not have renal stenosis. The APRN
discusses starting a medication to decrease the blood pressure.
Which medication should be prescribed?
YES Captopril 25 mg twice daily
Doxazosin 1 mg daily
Amlodipine 5 mg daily
Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily
Correct! ACE inhibitors have been shown to slow progression of kidney disease in patients with diabetes.
An adult patient is seen in an emergency room with a cough, fever, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain.
Auscultation reveals crackles over the left lower lobe of the lung, and a chest X-ray reveals patchy
infiltrates. The patient's white blood cell count is greater than 15,000 per microliter of blood, and a
sputum culture is positive for gram-negative bacilli.
Which medication should an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) anticipate will be initiated for
this patient?
Antiandrogen
Antimycotic
Antihistamine
YES Antibiotic
Correct! Antibiotic therapy is indicated for pneumonia. Starting antibiotics promptly is the standard of
care as delays can result in increased morbidity and mortality.
A 50-year-old male patient is taking theophylline for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). The patient reports symptoms of sneezing, itching, and a runny nose. An advanced
practice registered nurse wishes to prescribe a medication to control allergies but is concerned about
1|Page
,drug interactions.
Which medication should be considered?
Zileuton
YES Montelukast
Zafirlukast
NO Cimetidine
Incorrect. This is an H2 antagonist that increases theophylline levels. Correct! This is used to help reduce
the effects of an asthma attack.
A 95-year-old patient is being discharged to home after being on a skilled nursing unit for a fractured
hip. During the stay, the patient had several medication changes. The patient lives alone and has trouble
opening medication bottles due to arthritis.
Which measure will promote adherence to medication administration?
Larger pill bottles
YES Home health nurse
Pill bubble packs
Home health aide
Correct! A home health nurse can help set up a medication box which will take away the problem with
trying to open up the medication bottles.
A 68-year-old patient will be transitioning from the hospital to a nursing home with a separate Medicare
rehabilitation unit for two weeks of intense rehabilitation therapy and then returning home. The
discharge paperwork has been completed, and the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is
reviewing the discharge plan and medication list with the patient. The next step is to contact the nursing
home to review the discharge orders.
Which professional in the nursing home should the APRN contact to help with this plan?
NO The nurse who serves as the house supervisor
The nurse who works on the long-term care unit
YES The nurse who works on the Medicare unit
The nurse who provides facility education
Incorrect. The nursing supervisor is not the person to complete the care planning process.
Correct! The nurse to nurse report to the correct unit will ensure the patient has the best possible
outcome. This prevents wrong information from being passed on if calling the wrong unit.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is preparing to discharge a 76-year-old male patient from
a hospital to his home. The APRN is concerned that the patient's hospitalization was due to medication
nonadherence.
The APRN discusses these findings with an interdisciplinary team and then sets up a meeting with the
patient and unit educator to provide education verbally and in writing regarding the medication
nonadherence.
Which topic should the APRN include in the discharge education?
Forgetting to take a dose and not refilling the medication on time
Running out of the medication and trying to save money
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,YES Missing a dose and forgetting to take the medication
NO Taking less than the correct dose and not refilling the medication
Incorrect. The main topic for the discharge education will be adherence to the medication regime as
prescribed. Correct! This is the key topic due to the reason for hospitalization and should be the main
focus.
An 18-year-old patient who is newly diagnosed with diabetes comes to a primary clinic for a follow-up
transitional care visit and expresses concern about the ability to comply with taking multiple doses of
medications each day. An interprofessional team determines that the patient is at risk for
noncompliance.
Which action should be taken to overcome this issue?
Ask the pharmacist to use large print labels
YES Simplify the regimen so that the number of drugs and doses per day are as small as possible
Conduct an internal review of each medication and explain the importance of taking them as prescribed
Use only generic medications for this patient
Correct! The patient could benefit from a simplified and more easily understood regimen.
A 94-year-old patient is admitted to a hospital through an emergency department from a nursing home
one week after being discharged to the nursing home due to documented altered mental status.
Medications ordered at the time of discharge included warfarin, potassium, a multivitamin,
hydrochlorothiazide, and PRN pain medication. The current medication list differs from the list
documented one week ago.
Which member of the interprofessional care team should be consulted to obtain accurate medication
information?
Nursing home assistant director of nursing
Hospital emergency department physician
YES Nursing home discharge planner
Hospital pharmacist
Correct! The nursing home discharge planner would have the most up-to-date medication list from the
nursing home as this activity is within the function of this role.
Which vitamin B deficiency is associated with cheilosis, glossitis, vascularization of the cornea, and itchy
dermatitis of the scrotum and vulva?
YES Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Niacin (nicotinic acid)
NO Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
Thiamine (vitamin B1)
Incorrect. Riboflavin deficiency produces the symptoms described and can be treated with riboflavin
supplements. The signs listed do not indicate deficiencies of niacin, pyridoxine, or thiamine. Correct!
Riboflavin deficiency produces the symptoms described and can be treated with riboflavin supplements.
The signs listed do not indicate deficiencies of niacin, pyridoxine, or thiamine.
A patient who is known to be a heavy drinker is brought to the emergency department with ataxia and
confusion. The patient cannot remember the events of the previous day. The examination reveals
3|Page
, nystagmus, and the patient reports having double vision.
Which vitamin should the provider order for this patient?
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) IV
NO Intramuscular pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
Nicotinic acid (niacin) PO
YES Intravenous thiamine (vitamin B1)
Incorrect. Pyridoxine is given for vitamin B6 deficiency, also common in alcoholics, but this patient does
not have the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and peripheral neuropathy. Correct! Alcoholics who are
malnourished have a form of thiamine deficiency called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is
characterized by nystagmus, diplopia, ataxia, confusion, and short-term memory loss. Parenteral
thiamine is indicated for treatment. Ascorbic acid is given to treat a vitamin C deficiency, which leads to
scurvy. Pyridoxine is given for vitamin B6deficiency, also common in alcoholics, but this patient does not
have the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and peripheral neuropathy. Nicotinic acid is used for niacin
deficiency, which is characterized by severe dry, rough skin.
A patient appears malnourished. The patient's folic acid levels are low, and vitamin B12 levels are
normal.
What should this patient's treatment include?
Oral folic acid and vitamin B12
Oral folic acid supplements
Intramuscular folic acid
YES A diet high in folic acid
Correct! If a folic acid deficiency is caused by a poor diet, it should be corrected with dietary measures,
not supplements. Intramuscular or oral supplements of folic acid are not indicated. Vitamin B12 is not
recommended.
A patient is admitted to the hospital. The patient's initial laboratory results reveal megaloblastic anemia.
The patient complains of tingling of the hands and appears confused.
What should the provider suspect in this patient?
Iron deficiency anemia
Folic acid deficiency
Celiac disease
YES Vitamin B12 deficiency
Correct! When patients present with megaloblastic anemia, it is essential to distinguish between a folic
acid deficiency and a vitamin B12 deficiency. If neurologic deficits are observed, a vitamin B12 deficiency
is more likely to be the cause. This patient does not have signs of celiac disease. Iron deficiency anemia
would be indicated by low hemoglobin and hematocrit.
A patient will begin taking immunosuppressant drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Which dietary supplement should this patient avoid?
Black cohosh
YES Echinacea
Glucosamine
4|Page
EXAM WITH ACTUAL CORRECT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED DETAILED
ANSWERS|FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS|NEWEST|GUARANTEED PASS
2026/2027
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is evaluating a patient with stage 3 chronic kidney disease
and type 2 diabetes. The patient has a blood pressure of 172/90, pulse of 82, respiratory rate of 14, and
a temperature of 98.0°F.
The patient is currently taking aspirin 81 mg daily and metformin 1 g daily. The patient's baseline blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) is 15 and creatinine is 1.5. The patient does not have renal stenosis. The APRN
discusses starting a medication to decrease the blood pressure.
Which medication should be prescribed?
YES Captopril 25 mg twice daily
Doxazosin 1 mg daily
Amlodipine 5 mg daily
Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily
Correct! ACE inhibitors have been shown to slow progression of kidney disease in patients with diabetes.
An adult patient is seen in an emergency room with a cough, fever, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain.
Auscultation reveals crackles over the left lower lobe of the lung, and a chest X-ray reveals patchy
infiltrates. The patient's white blood cell count is greater than 15,000 per microliter of blood, and a
sputum culture is positive for gram-negative bacilli.
Which medication should an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) anticipate will be initiated for
this patient?
Antiandrogen
Antimycotic
Antihistamine
YES Antibiotic
Correct! Antibiotic therapy is indicated for pneumonia. Starting antibiotics promptly is the standard of
care as delays can result in increased morbidity and mortality.
A 50-year-old male patient is taking theophylline for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). The patient reports symptoms of sneezing, itching, and a runny nose. An advanced
practice registered nurse wishes to prescribe a medication to control allergies but is concerned about
1|Page
,drug interactions.
Which medication should be considered?
Zileuton
YES Montelukast
Zafirlukast
NO Cimetidine
Incorrect. This is an H2 antagonist that increases theophylline levels. Correct! This is used to help reduce
the effects of an asthma attack.
A 95-year-old patient is being discharged to home after being on a skilled nursing unit for a fractured
hip. During the stay, the patient had several medication changes. The patient lives alone and has trouble
opening medication bottles due to arthritis.
Which measure will promote adherence to medication administration?
Larger pill bottles
YES Home health nurse
Pill bubble packs
Home health aide
Correct! A home health nurse can help set up a medication box which will take away the problem with
trying to open up the medication bottles.
A 68-year-old patient will be transitioning from the hospital to a nursing home with a separate Medicare
rehabilitation unit for two weeks of intense rehabilitation therapy and then returning home. The
discharge paperwork has been completed, and the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is
reviewing the discharge plan and medication list with the patient. The next step is to contact the nursing
home to review the discharge orders.
Which professional in the nursing home should the APRN contact to help with this plan?
NO The nurse who serves as the house supervisor
The nurse who works on the long-term care unit
YES The nurse who works on the Medicare unit
The nurse who provides facility education
Incorrect. The nursing supervisor is not the person to complete the care planning process.
Correct! The nurse to nurse report to the correct unit will ensure the patient has the best possible
outcome. This prevents wrong information from being passed on if calling the wrong unit.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is preparing to discharge a 76-year-old male patient from
a hospital to his home. The APRN is concerned that the patient's hospitalization was due to medication
nonadherence.
The APRN discusses these findings with an interdisciplinary team and then sets up a meeting with the
patient and unit educator to provide education verbally and in writing regarding the medication
nonadherence.
Which topic should the APRN include in the discharge education?
Forgetting to take a dose and not refilling the medication on time
Running out of the medication and trying to save money
2|Page
,YES Missing a dose and forgetting to take the medication
NO Taking less than the correct dose and not refilling the medication
Incorrect. The main topic for the discharge education will be adherence to the medication regime as
prescribed. Correct! This is the key topic due to the reason for hospitalization and should be the main
focus.
An 18-year-old patient who is newly diagnosed with diabetes comes to a primary clinic for a follow-up
transitional care visit and expresses concern about the ability to comply with taking multiple doses of
medications each day. An interprofessional team determines that the patient is at risk for
noncompliance.
Which action should be taken to overcome this issue?
Ask the pharmacist to use large print labels
YES Simplify the regimen so that the number of drugs and doses per day are as small as possible
Conduct an internal review of each medication and explain the importance of taking them as prescribed
Use only generic medications for this patient
Correct! The patient could benefit from a simplified and more easily understood regimen.
A 94-year-old patient is admitted to a hospital through an emergency department from a nursing home
one week after being discharged to the nursing home due to documented altered mental status.
Medications ordered at the time of discharge included warfarin, potassium, a multivitamin,
hydrochlorothiazide, and PRN pain medication. The current medication list differs from the list
documented one week ago.
Which member of the interprofessional care team should be consulted to obtain accurate medication
information?
Nursing home assistant director of nursing
Hospital emergency department physician
YES Nursing home discharge planner
Hospital pharmacist
Correct! The nursing home discharge planner would have the most up-to-date medication list from the
nursing home as this activity is within the function of this role.
Which vitamin B deficiency is associated with cheilosis, glossitis, vascularization of the cornea, and itchy
dermatitis of the scrotum and vulva?
YES Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Niacin (nicotinic acid)
NO Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
Thiamine (vitamin B1)
Incorrect. Riboflavin deficiency produces the symptoms described and can be treated with riboflavin
supplements. The signs listed do not indicate deficiencies of niacin, pyridoxine, or thiamine. Correct!
Riboflavin deficiency produces the symptoms described and can be treated with riboflavin supplements.
The signs listed do not indicate deficiencies of niacin, pyridoxine, or thiamine.
A patient who is known to be a heavy drinker is brought to the emergency department with ataxia and
confusion. The patient cannot remember the events of the previous day. The examination reveals
3|Page
, nystagmus, and the patient reports having double vision.
Which vitamin should the provider order for this patient?
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) IV
NO Intramuscular pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
Nicotinic acid (niacin) PO
YES Intravenous thiamine (vitamin B1)
Incorrect. Pyridoxine is given for vitamin B6 deficiency, also common in alcoholics, but this patient does
not have the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and peripheral neuropathy. Correct! Alcoholics who are
malnourished have a form of thiamine deficiency called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is
characterized by nystagmus, diplopia, ataxia, confusion, and short-term memory loss. Parenteral
thiamine is indicated for treatment. Ascorbic acid is given to treat a vitamin C deficiency, which leads to
scurvy. Pyridoxine is given for vitamin B6deficiency, also common in alcoholics, but this patient does not
have the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and peripheral neuropathy. Nicotinic acid is used for niacin
deficiency, which is characterized by severe dry, rough skin.
A patient appears malnourished. The patient's folic acid levels are low, and vitamin B12 levels are
normal.
What should this patient's treatment include?
Oral folic acid and vitamin B12
Oral folic acid supplements
Intramuscular folic acid
YES A diet high in folic acid
Correct! If a folic acid deficiency is caused by a poor diet, it should be corrected with dietary measures,
not supplements. Intramuscular or oral supplements of folic acid are not indicated. Vitamin B12 is not
recommended.
A patient is admitted to the hospital. The patient's initial laboratory results reveal megaloblastic anemia.
The patient complains of tingling of the hands and appears confused.
What should the provider suspect in this patient?
Iron deficiency anemia
Folic acid deficiency
Celiac disease
YES Vitamin B12 deficiency
Correct! When patients present with megaloblastic anemia, it is essential to distinguish between a folic
acid deficiency and a vitamin B12 deficiency. If neurologic deficits are observed, a vitamin B12 deficiency
is more likely to be the cause. This patient does not have signs of celiac disease. Iron deficiency anemia
would be indicated by low hemoglobin and hematocrit.
A patient will begin taking immunosuppressant drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Which dietary supplement should this patient avoid?
Black cohosh
YES Echinacea
Glucosamine
4|Page
