Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy
5th Edition
• Author(s)Cherie R. Rebar; Nicole M.
Heimgartner; Carolyn Gersch
NCLEX-RN Pharmacology Practice
Questions
Introduction to Pharmacology
,Test Bank
Question 1
Difficulty: Easy
Clinical Scenario
A 72-year-old client is admitted to a medical-surgical unit with
pneumonia. During the admission interview, the client reports taking
lisinopril prescribed by a primary care provider, an over-the-counter
ibuprofen product for arthritis, a daily multivitamin, and an herbal
supplement for sleep. Only lisinopril appears on the electronic home
medication list.
Question Stem
Which action should the nurse take first to promote medication safety?
Options
,A. Administer the prescribed inpatient medications and update the
home medication list at discharge.
B. Ask the client to bring the herbal supplement to the hospital for
identification.
C. Obtain and verify a complete list of prescription medications, OTC
products, supplements, and herbal products before reconciling the
medications.
D. Remove ibuprofen from the medication history because OTC
medications are not considered prescription medications.
Correct Answer
Correct Answer: C. Obtain and verify a complete list of prescription
medications, OTC products, supplements, and herbal products before
reconciling the medications.
Detailed Rationale
Medication reconciliation begins with obtaining the most complete and
accurate medication history possible, including prescription drugs, OTC
medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. The nurse
should then verify the information and compare it with the new
medication orders to identify unintended omissions, duplications,
interactions, or contraindications. This process is particularly important
during admission and other transitions of care.
Option A is incorrect because waiting until discharge allows medication
discrepancies to persist during hospitalization. Option B is incomplete
because identifying the supplement is useful, but the nurse must first
obtain the entire medication history rather than focusing on one
, product. Option D is incorrect because OTC medications can produce
important drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. For example,
ibuprofen can increase gastrointestinal and renal risks. The nurse should
document the verified medication list and communicate discrepancies
to the appropriate prescriber or pharmacist.
Learning Objective
After completing this question, the learner should be able to:
• Describe the purpose of medication reconciliation.
• Identify prescription and nonprescription products that belong in
a medication history.
• Recognize medication discrepancies that can create patient-safety
risks.
Medication Safety Focus
Medication reconciliation
Question 2
Difficulty: Easy
Clinical Scenario
A 64-year-old client with type 2 diabetes mellitus takes metformin twice
daily. The client is admitted with dehydration. Laboratory results include
an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 27 mL/min/1.73 m².
The medication administration record contains a scheduled dose of
metformin.
Question Stem
5th Edition
• Author(s)Cherie R. Rebar; Nicole M.
Heimgartner; Carolyn Gersch
NCLEX-RN Pharmacology Practice
Questions
Introduction to Pharmacology
,Test Bank
Question 1
Difficulty: Easy
Clinical Scenario
A 72-year-old client is admitted to a medical-surgical unit with
pneumonia. During the admission interview, the client reports taking
lisinopril prescribed by a primary care provider, an over-the-counter
ibuprofen product for arthritis, a daily multivitamin, and an herbal
supplement for sleep. Only lisinopril appears on the electronic home
medication list.
Question Stem
Which action should the nurse take first to promote medication safety?
Options
,A. Administer the prescribed inpatient medications and update the
home medication list at discharge.
B. Ask the client to bring the herbal supplement to the hospital for
identification.
C. Obtain and verify a complete list of prescription medications, OTC
products, supplements, and herbal products before reconciling the
medications.
D. Remove ibuprofen from the medication history because OTC
medications are not considered prescription medications.
Correct Answer
Correct Answer: C. Obtain and verify a complete list of prescription
medications, OTC products, supplements, and herbal products before
reconciling the medications.
Detailed Rationale
Medication reconciliation begins with obtaining the most complete and
accurate medication history possible, including prescription drugs, OTC
medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. The nurse
should then verify the information and compare it with the new
medication orders to identify unintended omissions, duplications,
interactions, or contraindications. This process is particularly important
during admission and other transitions of care.
Option A is incorrect because waiting until discharge allows medication
discrepancies to persist during hospitalization. Option B is incomplete
because identifying the supplement is useful, but the nurse must first
obtain the entire medication history rather than focusing on one
, product. Option D is incorrect because OTC medications can produce
important drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. For example,
ibuprofen can increase gastrointestinal and renal risks. The nurse should
document the verified medication list and communicate discrepancies
to the appropriate prescriber or pharmacist.
Learning Objective
After completing this question, the learner should be able to:
• Describe the purpose of medication reconciliation.
• Identify prescription and nonprescription products that belong in
a medication history.
• Recognize medication discrepancies that can create patient-safety
risks.
Medication Safety Focus
Medication reconciliation
Question 2
Difficulty: Easy
Clinical Scenario
A 64-year-old client with type 2 diabetes mellitus takes metformin twice
daily. The client is admitted with dehydration. Laboratory results include
an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 27 mL/min/1.73 m².
The medication administration record contains a scheduled dose of
metformin.
Question Stem
