Pharm - Neurological medications Test
Questions with Verified Answers
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is assisting in the care of a pregnant teenaged client with
preeclampsia receiving magnesium sulfate. The LPN plans to notify the registered nurse
immediately if which sign of magnesium toxicity is noted?
1.Proteinuria
2.Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
3.Serum magnesium level of 5 mEq/L
4.Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute - Ans -4.Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per
minute
Magnesium toxicity is a risk associated with magnesium sulfate therapy. Signs of
magnesium toxicity relate to central nervous system (CNS) depression and include
respiratory depression, loss of deep tendon reflexes, sudden drop in fetal heart rate, and/or
maternal heart rate and blood pressure. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys. If
renal impairment is present, magnesium toxicity can develop very quickly. Therapeutic
serum levels of magnesium are 4 to 7 mEq/L.
The nurse has administered a dose of diazepam to a client. The nurse should take which
most important action before leaving the client's room?
1.Place commode at bedside.
2.Draw the shades or blinds closed.
3.Turn down the volume on the television.
4.Per agency policy, put up the side rails on the bed. - Ans -4.Per agency policy, put
up the side rails on the bed.
1
Page
,Diazepam is a sedative-hypnotic with anticonvulsant and skeletal muscle relaxant
properties. The nurse should institute safety measures before leaving the client's room to
ensure that the client does not injure herself or himself. The most frequent side effects of
this medication are dizziness, drowsiness, and lethargy. For this reason, the nurse puts the
side rails up on the bed before leaving the room to prevent falls. Options 1, 2, and 3 may be
helpful measures that provide a comfortable, restful environment, but option 4 is the one
that provides for the client's safety needs
The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed carbidopa/levodopa. The nurse
should monitor the client for which side effects? Select all that apply.
1.Insomnia
2.Dry mouth
3.Constipation
4.Urinary retention
5.Orthostatic hypotension - Ans -4.Urinary retention
5.Orthostatic hypotension
Monitor clients taking carbidopa/levodopa for orthostatic hypotension and urinary
retention. Amantadine and pergolide may cause insomnia. Anticholinergics cause dry
mouth and constipation.
A registered nurse (RN) asks a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to obtain a vial of mannitol for
administration to a client. The LPN notes that the vial contains a few small crystals. Based
on this observation, which would the LPN expect the RN to do?
1.Discard the vial.
2.Shake the vial to dissolve the crystals.
2
3.Send the vial back to the pharmacy for replacement.
Page
, 4.Place the vial in warm water until the crystals dissolve. - Ans -4.Place the vial in
warm water until the crystals dissolve.
Crystals form in mannitol if the solution is cooled, but quickly dissolve if the container is
placed in warm water, then cooled to body temperature before administration. Options 1
and 3 are unnecessary, and option 2 will not dissolve the crystals.
A client with myasthenia gravis is being discharged on pyridostigmine bromide. The nurse
reinforces medication instructions with the client and makes which statement to the
client?
1. "Take the medication on an empty stomach."
2. "Take the medication before activities such as eating."
3. "The use of tonic water with quinine and the use of antacids improve the effect of the
medication."
4. "It is not important when you take the medication, as long as you take the exact amount
prescribed." - Ans -2. "Take the medication before activities such as eating."
Pyridostigmine bromide is an anticholinesterase that is used to improve muscle strength in
the client with myasthenia gravis. Taking the medication before activities such as eating
helps lessen fatigue and dysphagia and improves muscle strength. The medication should
be taken with food. Clients should avoid quinine, antacids, magnesium, and morphine
sulfate and its derivatives because these medications can reverse the action of the
pyridostigmine bromide and increase weakness. The medication should be taken regularly
and on time to prevent fluctuating blood levels, which can cause weakness
The nurse is reading the laboratory results for a client being treated with carbamazepine for
prophylaxis of complex-partial seizures. The nurse interprets that which value is consistent
with an adverse effect to this medication?
3
Page
1. Sodium 136 mEq/L
Questions with Verified Answers
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) is assisting in the care of a pregnant teenaged client with
preeclampsia receiving magnesium sulfate. The LPN plans to notify the registered nurse
immediately if which sign of magnesium toxicity is noted?
1.Proteinuria
2.Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
3.Serum magnesium level of 5 mEq/L
4.Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute - Ans -4.Respiratory rate of 10 breaths per
minute
Magnesium toxicity is a risk associated with magnesium sulfate therapy. Signs of
magnesium toxicity relate to central nervous system (CNS) depression and include
respiratory depression, loss of deep tendon reflexes, sudden drop in fetal heart rate, and/or
maternal heart rate and blood pressure. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys. If
renal impairment is present, magnesium toxicity can develop very quickly. Therapeutic
serum levels of magnesium are 4 to 7 mEq/L.
The nurse has administered a dose of diazepam to a client. The nurse should take which
most important action before leaving the client's room?
1.Place commode at bedside.
2.Draw the shades or blinds closed.
3.Turn down the volume on the television.
4.Per agency policy, put up the side rails on the bed. - Ans -4.Per agency policy, put
up the side rails on the bed.
1
Page
,Diazepam is a sedative-hypnotic with anticonvulsant and skeletal muscle relaxant
properties. The nurse should institute safety measures before leaving the client's room to
ensure that the client does not injure herself or himself. The most frequent side effects of
this medication are dizziness, drowsiness, and lethargy. For this reason, the nurse puts the
side rails up on the bed before leaving the room to prevent falls. Options 1, 2, and 3 may be
helpful measures that provide a comfortable, restful environment, but option 4 is the one
that provides for the client's safety needs
The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed carbidopa/levodopa. The nurse
should monitor the client for which side effects? Select all that apply.
1.Insomnia
2.Dry mouth
3.Constipation
4.Urinary retention
5.Orthostatic hypotension - Ans -4.Urinary retention
5.Orthostatic hypotension
Monitor clients taking carbidopa/levodopa for orthostatic hypotension and urinary
retention. Amantadine and pergolide may cause insomnia. Anticholinergics cause dry
mouth and constipation.
A registered nurse (RN) asks a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to obtain a vial of mannitol for
administration to a client. The LPN notes that the vial contains a few small crystals. Based
on this observation, which would the LPN expect the RN to do?
1.Discard the vial.
2.Shake the vial to dissolve the crystals.
2
3.Send the vial back to the pharmacy for replacement.
Page
, 4.Place the vial in warm water until the crystals dissolve. - Ans -4.Place the vial in
warm water until the crystals dissolve.
Crystals form in mannitol if the solution is cooled, but quickly dissolve if the container is
placed in warm water, then cooled to body temperature before administration. Options 1
and 3 are unnecessary, and option 2 will not dissolve the crystals.
A client with myasthenia gravis is being discharged on pyridostigmine bromide. The nurse
reinforces medication instructions with the client and makes which statement to the
client?
1. "Take the medication on an empty stomach."
2. "Take the medication before activities such as eating."
3. "The use of tonic water with quinine and the use of antacids improve the effect of the
medication."
4. "It is not important when you take the medication, as long as you take the exact amount
prescribed." - Ans -2. "Take the medication before activities such as eating."
Pyridostigmine bromide is an anticholinesterase that is used to improve muscle strength in
the client with myasthenia gravis. Taking the medication before activities such as eating
helps lessen fatigue and dysphagia and improves muscle strength. The medication should
be taken with food. Clients should avoid quinine, antacids, magnesium, and morphine
sulfate and its derivatives because these medications can reverse the action of the
pyridostigmine bromide and increase weakness. The medication should be taken regularly
and on time to prevent fluctuating blood levels, which can cause weakness
The nurse is reading the laboratory results for a client being treated with carbamazepine for
prophylaxis of complex-partial seizures. The nurse interprets that which value is consistent
with an adverse effect to this medication?
3
Page
1. Sodium 136 mEq/L
