Pharmacology MSN 571
practice Comprehensive
Questions (Frequently Tested)
with Verified Answers Graded
A+
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill. Which
action should the prescriber take initially? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer:
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? - Answer:
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)? - Answer: 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? - Answer: Discontinue the
ampicillin.
Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to
adherence to any type of medication therapy? - Answer: 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? - Answer: "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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: "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? - Answer: "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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: Inactive ingredients used in composition can result in
differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset of action.
practice Comprehensive
Questions (Frequently Tested)
with Verified Answers Graded
A+
A patient diagnosed with chronic pain calls to request an oxycodone (Oxycontin) refill. Which
action should the prescriber take initially? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer:
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? - Answer:
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)? - Answer: 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? - Answer: Discontinue the
ampicillin.
Which prescriber action will have the greatest impact on the patient's commitment to
adherence to any type of medication therapy? - Answer: 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? - Answer: "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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: "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? - Answer: "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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: 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? - Answer: Inactive ingredients used in composition can result in
differing rates of dissolution, which can alter the drug's onset of action.
