NURS 1150 | PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE RESOURCE
NURS 1150 Exam 3
Practice Exam | Pharmacology Questions, Correct Answers
& Detailed Rationales
2026–2027
Purpose and Scope
This resource contains 40 original multiple-choice questions focused on medication safety,
adverse effects, psychiatric medications, pain management, anticoagulants, respiratory drugs,
cardiovascular therapies, anti-infectives, interactions, and clinical decision-making. NURS 1150
topics vary by institution; check this practice set against your current syllabus.
Section 1 — Practice Questions
Question 1. A patient taking lithium develops vomiting, coarse tremor, unsteady gait, and
confusion after several days of diarrhea. What should the nurse do first?
A. Give the next dose with food
B. Hold the medication and arrange urgent assessment for possible lithium toxicity
C. Encourage strenuous exercise
D. Reassure the patient that this is an expected adjustment
Correct Answer: B — Hold the medication and arrange urgent assessment for possible
lithium toxicity
Detailed Rationale: Dehydration and sodium changes can increase lithium levels.
Gastrointestinal symptoms, coarse tremor, ataxia, and confusion are concerning for toxicity
and require urgent assessment and clinician notification.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Food does not correct possible toxicity, and another dose may worsen it.
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
,NURS 1150 | PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE RESOURCE
C. Exercise may worsen dehydration and does not treat toxicity.
D. These symptoms are concerning and should not be dismissed.
Question 2. Which teaching is most important for a patient taking lithium long term?
A. Make large changes in salt intake without informing the clinician
B. Maintain consistent fluid and sodium intake and attend ordered level and kidney/thyroid
monitoring
C. Stop laboratory monitoring once mood improves
D. Double the next dose after a missed dose
Correct Answer: B — Maintain consistent fluid and sodium intake and attend ordered level
and kidney/thyroid monitoring
Detailed Rationale: Changes in hydration and sodium balance can affect lithium
concentrations. Consistent intake and ordered serum, renal, and thyroid monitoring support
safety.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Sudden changes in sodium intake may alter lithium levels.
C. Monitoring remains important even when symptoms improve.
D. Doubling a dose can cause toxicity.
Question 3. A patient prescribed valproate reports severe abdominal pain and persistent
vomiting. What should the nurse recommend?
A. Seek urgent clinical evaluation
B. Take an extra dose
C. Ignore it unless a rash develops
D. Stop eating permanently
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
, NURS 1150 | PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE RESOURCE
Correct Answer: A — Seek urgent clinical evaluation
Detailed Rationale: Severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting may indicate serious
adverse effects, including pancreatitis, and warrant urgent assessment.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. An extra dose may worsen risk.
C. Absence of rash does not rule out serious adverse effects.
D. Fasting indefinitely is not an appropriate response.
Question 4. A patient taking carbamazepine develops fever, sore throat, and mouth ulcers.
What is the best action?
A. Report symptoms promptly and obtain clinical assessment
B. Take a double dose
C. Wait until the next routine appointment regardless of severity
D. Use another person’s antibiotic
Correct Answer: A — Report symptoms promptly and obtain clinical assessment
Detailed Rationale: Fever, sore throat, or mouth ulcers may indicate blood dyscrasias or
infection-related complications; prompt evaluation and appropriate laboratory assessment
are important.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Doubling the dose is unsafe.
C. Waiting may delay evaluation of a serious adverse effect.
D. Using another person’s medication is unsafe.
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
NURS 1150 Exam 3
Practice Exam | Pharmacology Questions, Correct Answers
& Detailed Rationales
2026–2027
Purpose and Scope
This resource contains 40 original multiple-choice questions focused on medication safety,
adverse effects, psychiatric medications, pain management, anticoagulants, respiratory drugs,
cardiovascular therapies, anti-infectives, interactions, and clinical decision-making. NURS 1150
topics vary by institution; check this practice set against your current syllabus.
Section 1 — Practice Questions
Question 1. A patient taking lithium develops vomiting, coarse tremor, unsteady gait, and
confusion after several days of diarrhea. What should the nurse do first?
A. Give the next dose with food
B. Hold the medication and arrange urgent assessment for possible lithium toxicity
C. Encourage strenuous exercise
D. Reassure the patient that this is an expected adjustment
Correct Answer: B — Hold the medication and arrange urgent assessment for possible
lithium toxicity
Detailed Rationale: Dehydration and sodium changes can increase lithium levels.
Gastrointestinal symptoms, coarse tremor, ataxia, and confusion are concerning for toxicity
and require urgent assessment and clinician notification.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Food does not correct possible toxicity, and another dose may worsen it.
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
,NURS 1150 | PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE RESOURCE
C. Exercise may worsen dehydration and does not treat toxicity.
D. These symptoms are concerning and should not be dismissed.
Question 2. Which teaching is most important for a patient taking lithium long term?
A. Make large changes in salt intake without informing the clinician
B. Maintain consistent fluid and sodium intake and attend ordered level and kidney/thyroid
monitoring
C. Stop laboratory monitoring once mood improves
D. Double the next dose after a missed dose
Correct Answer: B — Maintain consistent fluid and sodium intake and attend ordered level
and kidney/thyroid monitoring
Detailed Rationale: Changes in hydration and sodium balance can affect lithium
concentrations. Consistent intake and ordered serum, renal, and thyroid monitoring support
safety.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Sudden changes in sodium intake may alter lithium levels.
C. Monitoring remains important even when symptoms improve.
D. Doubling a dose can cause toxicity.
Question 3. A patient prescribed valproate reports severe abdominal pain and persistent
vomiting. What should the nurse recommend?
A. Seek urgent clinical evaluation
B. Take an extra dose
C. Ignore it unless a rash develops
D. Stop eating permanently
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
, NURS 1150 | PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE RESOURCE
Correct Answer: A — Seek urgent clinical evaluation
Detailed Rationale: Severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting may indicate serious
adverse effects, including pancreatitis, and warrant urgent assessment.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. An extra dose may worsen risk.
C. Absence of rash does not rule out serious adverse effects.
D. Fasting indefinitely is not an appropriate response.
Question 4. A patient taking carbamazepine develops fever, sore throat, and mouth ulcers.
What is the best action?
A. Report symptoms promptly and obtain clinical assessment
B. Take a double dose
C. Wait until the next routine appointment regardless of severity
D. Use another person’s antibiotic
Correct Answer: A — Report symptoms promptly and obtain clinical assessment
Detailed Rationale: Fever, sore throat, or mouth ulcers may indicate blood dyscrasias or
infection-related complications; prompt evaluation and appropriate laboratory assessment
are important.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Doubling the dose is unsafe.
C. Waiting may delay evaluation of a serious adverse effect.
D. Using another person’s medication is unsafe.
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
