PHARMACOLOGY NCLEX EXAM
Questions and Answers
1.A newly admitted client takes digoxin 0.25 mg/day. The nurse knows
that which is the serum therapeutic range for digoxin?
a. 0.1 to 1.5 ng/mL
b. 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
c. 1.0 to 2.5 ng/mL
d. 2.0 to 4.0 ng/mL
Answer b. 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
2.The client's serum digoxin level is 3.0 ng/mL. What does the nurse
know about this serum digoxin level?
a. It is in the high (elevated) range.
b. It is in the low (decreased) range.
c. It is within the normal range.
d. It is in the low average range.
Answer a. It is in the high (elevated) range.
3.The nurse is assessing the client for possible evidence of digitalis
toxicity. The nurse acknowledges that which is included in the signs and
symptoms for digitalis toxicity?
,a. Pulse (heart) rate of 100 beats/min
b. Pulse of 72 with an irregular rate
c. Pulse greater than 60 beats/min and irregular rate
d. Pulse below 60 beats/min and irregular rate
Answer d. Pulse below 60 beats/min and irregular rate
4.The client is also taking a diuretic that decreases her potassium level. The
nurse expects that a low potassium level (hypokalemia) could have what
effect on the digoxin?
a. Increase the serum digoxin sensitivity level
b. Decrease the serum digoxin sensitivity level
c. Not have any effect on the serum digoxin sensitivity level
d. Cause a low average serum digoxin sensitivity level
Answer a. Increase the serum digoxin sensitivity level
5.When a client first takes a nitrate, the nurse expects which symptom
that often occurs?
a. Nausea and vomiting
b. Headaches
c. Stomach cramps
d. Irregular pulse rate
Answer b. Headaches
6.The nurse acknowledges that beta blockers are as effective as
,antianginals because they do what?
a. Increase oxygen to the systemic circulation.
b. Maintain heart rate and blood pressure.
c. Decrease heart rate and decrease myocardial contractility.
d. Decrease heart rate and increase myocardial contractility.
Answer c. Decrease heart rate and decrease myocardial contractility.
7.The health care provider is planning to discontinue a client's beta blocker.
What instruction should the nurse give the client regarding the beta
blocker?
a. The beta blocker should be abruptly stopped when another cardiac drug
is prescribed.
b. The beta blocker should NOT be abruptly stopped; the dose should
be tapered down.
c. The beta blocker dose should be maintained while taking another
antiangi- nal drug.
d. Half the beta blocker dose should be taken for the next several weeks.
Answer b. The beta blocker should NOT be abruptly stopped; the dose
should be tapered down.
8.The beta blocker acebutolol (Sectral) is prescribed for dysrhythmias.
The nurse knows that what is the primary purpose of the drug?
a. To increase the beta1 and beta2 receptors in the cardiac tissues
b. To increase the flow of oxygen to the cardiac tissues
, c. To block the beta1-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac tissues
d.To block the beta2-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac tissues
Answer c. To block the beta1-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac tissues
9.A client is to be discharged home with a transdermal nitroglycerin
patch. Which instruction will the nurse include in the client's teaching
plan?
a. "Apply the patch to a nonhairy area of the upper torso or arm."
b. "Apply the patch to the same site each day."
c. "If you have a headache, remove the patch for 4 hours and then reapply."
d. "If you have chest pain, apply a second patch next to the first patch."
Answer a. "Apply the patch to a nonhairy area of the upper torso or
arm."
10.A nurse is monitoring a client with angina for therapeutic effects of nitro-
glycerin. Which assessment finding indicates that the nitroglycerin has
been effective?
a. Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg
b. Heart rate 70 beats per minute
c. ECG without evidence of ST changes
d. Client stating that pain is 0 out of 10
Answer d. Client stating that pain is 0 out of 10
11.The nurse is monitoring a client during IV nitroglycerin infusion.
Questions and Answers
1.A newly admitted client takes digoxin 0.25 mg/day. The nurse knows
that which is the serum therapeutic range for digoxin?
a. 0.1 to 1.5 ng/mL
b. 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
c. 1.0 to 2.5 ng/mL
d. 2.0 to 4.0 ng/mL
Answer b. 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL
2.The client's serum digoxin level is 3.0 ng/mL. What does the nurse
know about this serum digoxin level?
a. It is in the high (elevated) range.
b. It is in the low (decreased) range.
c. It is within the normal range.
d. It is in the low average range.
Answer a. It is in the high (elevated) range.
3.The nurse is assessing the client for possible evidence of digitalis
toxicity. The nurse acknowledges that which is included in the signs and
symptoms for digitalis toxicity?
,a. Pulse (heart) rate of 100 beats/min
b. Pulse of 72 with an irregular rate
c. Pulse greater than 60 beats/min and irregular rate
d. Pulse below 60 beats/min and irregular rate
Answer d. Pulse below 60 beats/min and irregular rate
4.The client is also taking a diuretic that decreases her potassium level. The
nurse expects that a low potassium level (hypokalemia) could have what
effect on the digoxin?
a. Increase the serum digoxin sensitivity level
b. Decrease the serum digoxin sensitivity level
c. Not have any effect on the serum digoxin sensitivity level
d. Cause a low average serum digoxin sensitivity level
Answer a. Increase the serum digoxin sensitivity level
5.When a client first takes a nitrate, the nurse expects which symptom
that often occurs?
a. Nausea and vomiting
b. Headaches
c. Stomach cramps
d. Irregular pulse rate
Answer b. Headaches
6.The nurse acknowledges that beta blockers are as effective as
,antianginals because they do what?
a. Increase oxygen to the systemic circulation.
b. Maintain heart rate and blood pressure.
c. Decrease heart rate and decrease myocardial contractility.
d. Decrease heart rate and increase myocardial contractility.
Answer c. Decrease heart rate and decrease myocardial contractility.
7.The health care provider is planning to discontinue a client's beta blocker.
What instruction should the nurse give the client regarding the beta
blocker?
a. The beta blocker should be abruptly stopped when another cardiac drug
is prescribed.
b. The beta blocker should NOT be abruptly stopped; the dose should
be tapered down.
c. The beta blocker dose should be maintained while taking another
antiangi- nal drug.
d. Half the beta blocker dose should be taken for the next several weeks.
Answer b. The beta blocker should NOT be abruptly stopped; the dose
should be tapered down.
8.The beta blocker acebutolol (Sectral) is prescribed for dysrhythmias.
The nurse knows that what is the primary purpose of the drug?
a. To increase the beta1 and beta2 receptors in the cardiac tissues
b. To increase the flow of oxygen to the cardiac tissues
, c. To block the beta1-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac tissues
d.To block the beta2-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac tissues
Answer c. To block the beta1-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac tissues
9.A client is to be discharged home with a transdermal nitroglycerin
patch. Which instruction will the nurse include in the client's teaching
plan?
a. "Apply the patch to a nonhairy area of the upper torso or arm."
b. "Apply the patch to the same site each day."
c. "If you have a headache, remove the patch for 4 hours and then reapply."
d. "If you have chest pain, apply a second patch next to the first patch."
Answer a. "Apply the patch to a nonhairy area of the upper torso or
arm."
10.A nurse is monitoring a client with angina for therapeutic effects of nitro-
glycerin. Which assessment finding indicates that the nitroglycerin has
been effective?
a. Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg
b. Heart rate 70 beats per minute
c. ECG without evidence of ST changes
d. Client stating that pain is 0 out of 10
Answer d. Client stating that pain is 0 out of 10
11.The nurse is monitoring a client during IV nitroglycerin infusion.
