NURS 6521 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A child will receive 750 mg of an antibiotic for 10 days. The child
attends day care. The drug may be dosed in several ways and is available
in two concentrations. Which dosing regimen will the nurse discuss with
the child's provider? Answer: 500 mg/5 mL to 375 mg PO twice daily
◉ Parents ask the nurse why an over-the-counter cough suppressant with
sedative side effects is not recommended for infants. Which response by
the nurse is correct? Answer: "Infants are more susceptible to central
nervous system effects than are adults."
◉ A nurse caring for a 5-year-old child notes that the child has
discoloration of several teeth. When taking a medication history, the
nurse will ask about which group of medications? Answer: Tetracyclines
◉ An infant has allergies and often develops a pruritic rash when
exposed to allergens. The infant's parents ask the nurse about using a
topical antihistamine. What should the nurse tell them? Answer:
Applying an antihistamine to the skin can cause toxicity in this age
group.
,◉ An infant is receiving a medication that has a narrow therapeutic
range. The nurse reviews the medication information and learns that the
drug is excreted by the kidneys. When giving the medication, the nurse
will assess the infant for: Answer: signs of drug toxicity.
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students to calculate medication
doses for children using a formula based on body surface area. Which
statement by a nursing student indicates understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "This formula helps approximate the first dose; other doses
should be based on clinical observations."
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students about medication
administration in children. Which statement by a student indicates an
understanding of the teaching? Answer: "Drugs effective in adults may
not work in children, even if the dose is proportional for weight and
size."
◉ A nurse is teaching nursing students about pediatric medication
administration. What will the nurse include when discussing pediatric
drug research? Answer: Studies showed a significant percentage of
unanticipated and potentially lethal side effects in children.
◉ A prescriber has ordered medication for a newborn. The medication is
eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism. The nurse expects the
prescriber to: Answer: order a dose that is lower than an adult dose.
,◉ The parents of a child with asthma ask the nurse why their child can
not use oral corticosteroids more often, because they are so effective.
The nurse will offer which information that is true for children? Answer:
Chronic steroid use can inhibit growth.
◉ A patient with schizophrenia receives a dose of risperidone [Risperdal
Consta] IM. The nurse teaching this patient about this medication will
make which statement? Answer: "You will need to take an oral
antipsychotic drug for 3 weeks."
◉ A patient with schizophrenia shows suicidal behaviors, and the
provider orders clozapine [Clozaril]. The nurse teaches the family about
the medication and its side effects. Which statement by a family member
indicates a need for further teaching about this drug? Answer: "If the
ANC is less than 3000, the drug will be discontinued permanently."
◉ A patient in whom drug therapy has failed several times in the past is
readmitted to a hospital to begin therapy for schizophrenia. What will
the nurse do to help improve adherence? Answer: Teach the patient
about drug side effects and how to manage them.
◉ A nurse provides teaching for a patient about to begin taking an FGA
drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient indicates a need
for further teaching about side effects of these drugs? Answer: "Dry
mouth and constipation are uncommon with this medication."
, ◉ A patient taking an FGA medication develops severe parkinsonism
and is treated with amantadine [Symmetrel]. The amantadine is
withdrawn 2 months later, and the parkinsonism returns. The nurse will
expect the provider to: Answer: try a second-generation antipsychotic
(SGA).
◉ What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia? Select all that apply.
Answer: Poor judgment
Poor self-care
Poverty of speech
◉ A patient is taking an FGA for schizophrenia. The nurse notes that the
patient has trouble speaking and chewing and observes slow, wormlike-
movements of the patient's tongue. The nurse recognizes which adverse
effect in this patient? Answer: Tardive dyskinesia
◉ A nurse and a nursing student are discussing the plan of care for a
patient with schizophrenia. The patient, who has been taking a high-
potency FGA for 2 months, has become restless and constantly needs to
be in motion. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further
education? Answer: "Because this may be an exacerbation of psychosis,
the provider may increase the dose of the FGA."
◉ A patient who is taking a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) drug
for schizophrenia comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse observes
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A child will receive 750 mg of an antibiotic for 10 days. The child
attends day care. The drug may be dosed in several ways and is available
in two concentrations. Which dosing regimen will the nurse discuss with
the child's provider? Answer: 500 mg/5 mL to 375 mg PO twice daily
◉ Parents ask the nurse why an over-the-counter cough suppressant with
sedative side effects is not recommended for infants. Which response by
the nurse is correct? Answer: "Infants are more susceptible to central
nervous system effects than are adults."
◉ A nurse caring for a 5-year-old child notes that the child has
discoloration of several teeth. When taking a medication history, the
nurse will ask about which group of medications? Answer: Tetracyclines
◉ An infant has allergies and often develops a pruritic rash when
exposed to allergens. The infant's parents ask the nurse about using a
topical antihistamine. What should the nurse tell them? Answer:
Applying an antihistamine to the skin can cause toxicity in this age
group.
,◉ An infant is receiving a medication that has a narrow therapeutic
range. The nurse reviews the medication information and learns that the
drug is excreted by the kidneys. When giving the medication, the nurse
will assess the infant for: Answer: signs of drug toxicity.
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students to calculate medication
doses for children using a formula based on body surface area. Which
statement by a nursing student indicates understanding of the teaching?
Answer: "This formula helps approximate the first dose; other doses
should be based on clinical observations."
◉ A pediatric nurse is teaching nursing students about medication
administration in children. Which statement by a student indicates an
understanding of the teaching? Answer: "Drugs effective in adults may
not work in children, even if the dose is proportional for weight and
size."
◉ A nurse is teaching nursing students about pediatric medication
administration. What will the nurse include when discussing pediatric
drug research? Answer: Studies showed a significant percentage of
unanticipated and potentially lethal side effects in children.
◉ A prescriber has ordered medication for a newborn. The medication is
eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism. The nurse expects the
prescriber to: Answer: order a dose that is lower than an adult dose.
,◉ The parents of a child with asthma ask the nurse why their child can
not use oral corticosteroids more often, because they are so effective.
The nurse will offer which information that is true for children? Answer:
Chronic steroid use can inhibit growth.
◉ A patient with schizophrenia receives a dose of risperidone [Risperdal
Consta] IM. The nurse teaching this patient about this medication will
make which statement? Answer: "You will need to take an oral
antipsychotic drug for 3 weeks."
◉ A patient with schizophrenia shows suicidal behaviors, and the
provider orders clozapine [Clozaril]. The nurse teaches the family about
the medication and its side effects. Which statement by a family member
indicates a need for further teaching about this drug? Answer: "If the
ANC is less than 3000, the drug will be discontinued permanently."
◉ A patient in whom drug therapy has failed several times in the past is
readmitted to a hospital to begin therapy for schizophrenia. What will
the nurse do to help improve adherence? Answer: Teach the patient
about drug side effects and how to manage them.
◉ A nurse provides teaching for a patient about to begin taking an FGA
drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient indicates a need
for further teaching about side effects of these drugs? Answer: "Dry
mouth and constipation are uncommon with this medication."
, ◉ A patient taking an FGA medication develops severe parkinsonism
and is treated with amantadine [Symmetrel]. The amantadine is
withdrawn 2 months later, and the parkinsonism returns. The nurse will
expect the provider to: Answer: try a second-generation antipsychotic
(SGA).
◉ What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia? Select all that apply.
Answer: Poor judgment
Poor self-care
Poverty of speech
◉ A patient is taking an FGA for schizophrenia. The nurse notes that the
patient has trouble speaking and chewing and observes slow, wormlike-
movements of the patient's tongue. The nurse recognizes which adverse
effect in this patient? Answer: Tardive dyskinesia
◉ A nurse and a nursing student are discussing the plan of care for a
patient with schizophrenia. The patient, who has been taking a high-
potency FGA for 2 months, has become restless and constantly needs to
be in motion. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further
education? Answer: "Because this may be an exacerbation of psychosis,
the provider may increase the dose of the FGA."
◉ A patient who is taking a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) drug
for schizophrenia comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse observes
