MSN 571 Pharmacology Exam – Questions & Accurate
Answers
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone
(Oxycontin) refill. Which action should the prescriber take initially? Right
Ans - 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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - The
patient drinks two glasses of wine every night.
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? Right Ans -
Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine
headaches is not working. Which action is the prescriber's priority when
addressing the patient's concern? Right Ans - Ask the patient about the
number and frequency of tablets taken.
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for
hepatotoxicity. Which action is most important when prescribing this
medication to an 80-year-old patient? Right Ans - Obtaining baseline liver
function studies
A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which action is
most important for the provider to take in order to determine if the
therapeutic level is maintained? Right Ans - Order periodic laboratory
testing.
,Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both
advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)?
Right Ans - More patients will have access to health care.
A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis reports
new onset of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest and neck.
Which action is most important for the provider to take to minimize this
patient's risk for injury? Right Ans - Discontinue the ampicillin.
Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's
commitment to adherence to any type of medication therapy? Right Ans -
Providing medication education that the patient can easily understand
Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's
nonadherence with their medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with the
therapy? Right Ans - "I've been taking this medication for well over a week
and I lost only a half a pound."
How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist improve
positive outcomes for patients? Right Ans - Pharmacists have additional
information on drug interactions. The pharmacist can suggest adequate
medication dosing. Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility
formulary.
Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an understanding of
effective medication education? Right Ans - "This medication needs to be
stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch,
and one with dinner." "You need to take the medication as we discussed until
all the tablets are gone." "Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing
any itching, headache, or difficulty breathing."
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? Right Ans - "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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - 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?
Right Ans - 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? Right Ans -
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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - "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?
Right Ans - 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
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone
(Oxycontin) refill. Which action should the prescriber take initially? Right
Ans - 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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - The
patient drinks two glasses of wine every night.
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? Right Ans -
Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
A patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine
headaches is not working. Which action is the prescriber's priority when
addressing the patient's concern? Right Ans - Ask the patient about the
number and frequency of tablets taken.
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for
hepatotoxicity. Which action is most important when prescribing this
medication to an 80-year-old patient? Right Ans - Obtaining baseline liver
function studies
A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium. Which action is
most important for the provider to take in order to determine if the
therapeutic level is maintained? Right Ans - Order periodic laboratory
testing.
,Which factor best supports an increase for full prescriptive authority for both
advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs)?
Right Ans - More patients will have access to health care.
A pediatric patient prescribed ampicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis reports
new onset of a pruritic, dull red, maculopapular rash on the chest and neck.
Which action is most important for the provider to take to minimize this
patient's risk for injury? Right Ans - Discontinue the ampicillin.
Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's
commitment to adherence to any type of medication therapy? Right Ans -
Providing medication education that the patient can easily understand
Which patient statement suggests to the provider that the patient's
nonadherence with their medication plan is related to dissatisfaction with the
therapy? Right Ans - "I've been taking this medication for well over a week
and I lost only a half a pound."
How can the prescriber's regular collaboration with a pharmacist improve
positive outcomes for patients? Right Ans - Pharmacists have additional
information on drug interactions. The pharmacist can suggest adequate
medication dosing. Pharmacists have firsthand knowledge of the facility
formulary.
Which statements made by the prescriber demonstrate an understanding of
effective medication education? Right Ans - "This medication needs to be
stored in the refrigerator. "Take 3 tablets daily: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch,
and one with dinner." "You need to take the medication as we discussed until
all the tablets are gone." "Call the office immediately if you begin experiencing
any itching, headache, or difficulty breathing."
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? Right Ans - "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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - 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?
Right Ans - 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? Right Ans -
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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - 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? Right Ans - "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?
Right Ans - 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?
