1
NURS 6521 Final Exam Advanced Pharmacology Exam
Questions with Answers Walden University
1. A nurse is caring for a postsurgical patient who has small tortuous
veins and had a difficult IV insertion. The patient is now receiving IV
medications on a regular basis. What is the best nursing intervention to
minimize the adverse effects of this drug therapy?
A) Monitor the patient's bleeding time
B) Check the patient's blood glucose levels
C) Record baseline vital signs
D) Monitor the IV site for redness, swelling, or pain
2. A patient is in the clinic after 6 weeks of taking riluzole (Rilutek) for
a recent diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The nurse will
prioritize assessment for which of the following?
A) Weight gain
B) Constipation
C) Increased energy
D) Dizziness
3. Which of the following patients demonstrates the clearest
indication for treatment with prednisone?
A) A 66-year-old woman whose history of smoking has culminated in a
[Date]
1
, 1
diagnosis of emphysema
B) A
70-year-old man whose rheumatoid arthritis has not responded to
OTC pain relievers
C) A 12-year-old boy whose long-standing fatigue and malaise have been
attributed to leukemia
D) A 50-year-old woman who is being treated for hypertension with
a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor
4. A nurse has been administering a drug to a patient intramuscularly
(IM). The physician discontinued the IM dose and wrote an order for
the drug to be given orally. The nurse notices
that the oral dosage is considerably higher than the parenteral dose and
understands that this is due to
A) passive diffusion.
B) active transport.
C) glomerular filtration.
D) first-pass effect.
5. A cardiac care nurse is monitoring a patient who is receiving
lidocaine (Xylocaine) per IV infusion pump for an acute ventricular
arrhythmia associated with an acute MI. Which of the following
patient manifestations would cause the nurse to notify the physician
immediately?
A) Confusion
[Date]
2
, 1
B) Headache
C) Nausea
D) Leg cramps
6. A nurse is caring for a patient who is admitted into the cardiac
care unit with acute, decompensated heart failure. Nesiritide
(Natrecor) has been ordered. When preparing for administration
of the drug, the nurse will
A) add the reconstituted vial of medication to a 1,000 mL IV bag.
B) shake the vial vigorously to mix the medication for reconstitution.
C) administer the initial IV bolus over approximately 60 seconds.
D) use the reconstituted solution within a 36-hour period.
7. A nurse is discussing with a patient the efficacy of a drug that his
physician has suggested he begin taking. Efficacy of a drug means
which of the following?
A) Theamount of the drug that must be given to produce a particular
response
B) How well a drug produces its desired effect
C) A drug's strength of attraction for a receptor site
D) A drug's ability to stimulate its receptor
8. A nurse is conducting a medication resolution of a new resident of a
care facility and notes that the woman has been taking neostigmine. The
[Date]
3
, 1
nurse should recognize that the woman may have a history of what
problem?
A) Alzheimer disease
B) Parkinson disease
C) Myasthenia gravis
D) Multiple sclerosis
9. A 77-year-old man's chronic heart failure is being treated with a
regimen of quinapril (Accupril) and furosemide (Lasix). Which of the
following assessment findings would suggest that the loop diuretic is
contributing to a therapeutic effect?
A) The man's glomerular filtration rate and creatinine levels are within
reference ranges.
B) Theman's heart rate is between 60 and 70 beats per minute with a
regular rhythm.
C) The man's potassium and sodium levels remain with reference ranges.
D) The man's chest sounds are clear and his ankle edema is lessened.
10. A nurse explains to a patient that nitroglycerin patches should be
applied in the morning and removed in the evening. This medication
schedule reduces the potential for
A) Adverse effects.
B) Nitrate dependence.
C) Nitrate tolerance.
[Date]
4
NURS 6521 Final Exam Advanced Pharmacology Exam
Questions with Answers Walden University
1. A nurse is caring for a postsurgical patient who has small tortuous
veins and had a difficult IV insertion. The patient is now receiving IV
medications on a regular basis. What is the best nursing intervention to
minimize the adverse effects of this drug therapy?
A) Monitor the patient's bleeding time
B) Check the patient's blood glucose levels
C) Record baseline vital signs
D) Monitor the IV site for redness, swelling, or pain
2. A patient is in the clinic after 6 weeks of taking riluzole (Rilutek) for
a recent diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The nurse will
prioritize assessment for which of the following?
A) Weight gain
B) Constipation
C) Increased energy
D) Dizziness
3. Which of the following patients demonstrates the clearest
indication for treatment with prednisone?
A) A 66-year-old woman whose history of smoking has culminated in a
[Date]
1
, 1
diagnosis of emphysema
B) A
70-year-old man whose rheumatoid arthritis has not responded to
OTC pain relievers
C) A 12-year-old boy whose long-standing fatigue and malaise have been
attributed to leukemia
D) A 50-year-old woman who is being treated for hypertension with
a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor
4. A nurse has been administering a drug to a patient intramuscularly
(IM). The physician discontinued the IM dose and wrote an order for
the drug to be given orally. The nurse notices
that the oral dosage is considerably higher than the parenteral dose and
understands that this is due to
A) passive diffusion.
B) active transport.
C) glomerular filtration.
D) first-pass effect.
5. A cardiac care nurse is monitoring a patient who is receiving
lidocaine (Xylocaine) per IV infusion pump for an acute ventricular
arrhythmia associated with an acute MI. Which of the following
patient manifestations would cause the nurse to notify the physician
immediately?
A) Confusion
[Date]
2
, 1
B) Headache
C) Nausea
D) Leg cramps
6. A nurse is caring for a patient who is admitted into the cardiac
care unit with acute, decompensated heart failure. Nesiritide
(Natrecor) has been ordered. When preparing for administration
of the drug, the nurse will
A) add the reconstituted vial of medication to a 1,000 mL IV bag.
B) shake the vial vigorously to mix the medication for reconstitution.
C) administer the initial IV bolus over approximately 60 seconds.
D) use the reconstituted solution within a 36-hour period.
7. A nurse is discussing with a patient the efficacy of a drug that his
physician has suggested he begin taking. Efficacy of a drug means
which of the following?
A) Theamount of the drug that must be given to produce a particular
response
B) How well a drug produces its desired effect
C) A drug's strength of attraction for a receptor site
D) A drug's ability to stimulate its receptor
8. A nurse is conducting a medication resolution of a new resident of a
care facility and notes that the woman has been taking neostigmine. The
[Date]
3
, 1
nurse should recognize that the woman may have a history of what
problem?
A) Alzheimer disease
B) Parkinson disease
C) Myasthenia gravis
D) Multiple sclerosis
9. A 77-year-old man's chronic heart failure is being treated with a
regimen of quinapril (Accupril) and furosemide (Lasix). Which of the
following assessment findings would suggest that the loop diuretic is
contributing to a therapeutic effect?
A) The man's glomerular filtration rate and creatinine levels are within
reference ranges.
B) Theman's heart rate is between 60 and 70 beats per minute with a
regular rhythm.
C) The man's potassium and sodium levels remain with reference ranges.
D) The man's chest sounds are clear and his ankle edema is lessened.
10. A nurse explains to a patient that nitroglycerin patches should be
applied in the morning and removed in the evening. This medication
schedule reduces the potential for
A) Adverse effects.
B) Nitrate dependence.
C) Nitrate tolerance.
[Date]
4
