Pharmacology and the Nursing Process,
10th Edition Linda Lane Lilley, Shelly
Rainforth Collins, Julie SnyderElsevier
1. Which of the following is the most important action a nurse
should take before administering any medication?
a. Check the patient’s vital signs
b. Verify the five rights of medication administration
c. Ask the patient if they feel sick
d. Prepare the medication quickly to save time
b. Verify the five rights of medication administration
Rationale: Ensuring the right patient, drug, dose, route, and time is the
cornerstone of safe medication administration.
2. A nurse is preparing to give a patient an oral medication. The
patient reports difficulty swallowing. What is the most appropriate
nursing action?
a. Crush the medication without consulting the prescriber
b. Assess for alternatives such as liquid formulations or consult
prescriber
c. Skip the medication for that day
d. Administer with water regardless of swallowing difficulty
b. Assess for alternatives such as liquid formulations or consult
prescriber
Rationale: The nurse must ensure safe administration and check with
the prescriber for safe alternatives.
, 3. Which of the following medications is an example of a beta-
blocker?
a. Lisinopril
b. Metoprolol
c. Furosemide
d. Digoxin
b. Metoprolol
Rationale: Metoprolol is a selective beta-1 blocker commonly used for
hypertension and heart disease.
4. A patient taking warfarin asks why regular blood tests are needed.
The best response is:
a. “It monitors liver function.”
b. “It ensures your blood clotting levels are safe.”
c. “It checks your kidney function.”
d. “It prevents nausea from the medication.”
b. “It ensures your blood clotting levels are safe.”
Rationale: Warfarin affects clotting, and INR tests monitor therapeutic
levels to prevent bleeding or clotting complications.
5. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of ACE
inhibitors?
a. Hypotension
b. Bradycardia
c. Cough
d. Hyperglycemia
c. Cough
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry, persistent cough due to
increased bradykinin levels.
, 6. A nurse administers a medication intravenously. Which route
provides the most rapid onset of action?
a. Oral
b. Subcutaneous
c. Intramuscular
d. Intravenous
d. Intravenous
Rationale: IV administration delivers the drug directly into circulation,
leading to immediate effect.
7. The nurse is teaching a patient about taking antibiotics. Which
instruction is most important?
a. Take only when feeling sick
b. Complete the entire prescribed course
c. Take with a glass of juice
d. Skip doses if symptoms improve
b. Complete the entire prescribed course
Rationale: Completing antibiotics prevents bacterial resistance and
ensures infection eradication.
8. A patient develops a rash after starting a new medication. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
a. Document the reaction
b. Notify the prescriber immediately
c. Advise the patient to ignore it
d. Administer antihistamine without consultation
b. Notify the prescriber immediately
Rationale: A rash may indicate an allergic reaction, which could escalate
to severe reactions if not addressed promptly.
, 9. Which of the following drugs is classified as a loop diuretic?
a. Hydrochlorothiazide
b. Spironolactone
c. Furosemide
d. Mannitol
c. Furosemide
Rationale: Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic that inhibits sodium and
chloride reabsorption in the loop of Henle.
10. A patient taking digoxin should be monitored for which of
the following signs of toxicity?
a. Hypotension
b. Bradycardia and visual disturbances
c. Fever
d. Increased appetite
b. Bradycardia and visual disturbances
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity often presents with GI symptoms,
bradycardia, and visual changes like halos around lights.
11. Which statement best describes the difference between
generic and brand-name drugs?
a. Generic drugs are less effective
b. Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as brand-name
drugs
c. Brand-name drugs are always safer
d. Brand-name drugs do not require FDA approval
b. Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs
Rationale: Generic medications must meet the same standards for
bioequivalence as brand-name drugs.
10th Edition Linda Lane Lilley, Shelly
Rainforth Collins, Julie SnyderElsevier
1. Which of the following is the most important action a nurse
should take before administering any medication?
a. Check the patient’s vital signs
b. Verify the five rights of medication administration
c. Ask the patient if they feel sick
d. Prepare the medication quickly to save time
b. Verify the five rights of medication administration
Rationale: Ensuring the right patient, drug, dose, route, and time is the
cornerstone of safe medication administration.
2. A nurse is preparing to give a patient an oral medication. The
patient reports difficulty swallowing. What is the most appropriate
nursing action?
a. Crush the medication without consulting the prescriber
b. Assess for alternatives such as liquid formulations or consult
prescriber
c. Skip the medication for that day
d. Administer with water regardless of swallowing difficulty
b. Assess for alternatives such as liquid formulations or consult
prescriber
Rationale: The nurse must ensure safe administration and check with
the prescriber for safe alternatives.
, 3. Which of the following medications is an example of a beta-
blocker?
a. Lisinopril
b. Metoprolol
c. Furosemide
d. Digoxin
b. Metoprolol
Rationale: Metoprolol is a selective beta-1 blocker commonly used for
hypertension and heart disease.
4. A patient taking warfarin asks why regular blood tests are needed.
The best response is:
a. “It monitors liver function.”
b. “It ensures your blood clotting levels are safe.”
c. “It checks your kidney function.”
d. “It prevents nausea from the medication.”
b. “It ensures your blood clotting levels are safe.”
Rationale: Warfarin affects clotting, and INR tests monitor therapeutic
levels to prevent bleeding or clotting complications.
5. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of ACE
inhibitors?
a. Hypotension
b. Bradycardia
c. Cough
d. Hyperglycemia
c. Cough
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry, persistent cough due to
increased bradykinin levels.
, 6. A nurse administers a medication intravenously. Which route
provides the most rapid onset of action?
a. Oral
b. Subcutaneous
c. Intramuscular
d. Intravenous
d. Intravenous
Rationale: IV administration delivers the drug directly into circulation,
leading to immediate effect.
7. The nurse is teaching a patient about taking antibiotics. Which
instruction is most important?
a. Take only when feeling sick
b. Complete the entire prescribed course
c. Take with a glass of juice
d. Skip doses if symptoms improve
b. Complete the entire prescribed course
Rationale: Completing antibiotics prevents bacterial resistance and
ensures infection eradication.
8. A patient develops a rash after starting a new medication. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
a. Document the reaction
b. Notify the prescriber immediately
c. Advise the patient to ignore it
d. Administer antihistamine without consultation
b. Notify the prescriber immediately
Rationale: A rash may indicate an allergic reaction, which could escalate
to severe reactions if not addressed promptly.
, 9. Which of the following drugs is classified as a loop diuretic?
a. Hydrochlorothiazide
b. Spironolactone
c. Furosemide
d. Mannitol
c. Furosemide
Rationale: Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic that inhibits sodium and
chloride reabsorption in the loop of Henle.
10. A patient taking digoxin should be monitored for which of
the following signs of toxicity?
a. Hypotension
b. Bradycardia and visual disturbances
c. Fever
d. Increased appetite
b. Bradycardia and visual disturbances
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity often presents with GI symptoms,
bradycardia, and visual changes like halos around lights.
11. Which statement best describes the difference between
generic and brand-name drugs?
a. Generic drugs are less effective
b. Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as brand-name
drugs
c. Brand-name drugs are always safer
d. Brand-name drugs do not require FDA approval
b. Generic drugs have the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs
Rationale: Generic medications must meet the same standards for
bioequivalence as brand-name drugs.
