FOCUS ON NURSING PHARMACOLOGY

1. A student asks the pharmacology instructor to explain the action of anticholinergic agents. What would be the instructor’s best response? a. They block nicotinic receptors. b. They compete with serotonin for muscarinic acetylcholine receptor sites. c. They act to block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system. d. They increase norepinephrine at the neuromuscular junction. Ans: C Feedback: Drugs that are used to block the effects of acetylcholine are called anticholinergic ...

1. The nurse administers an adrenergic blocking agent in order to prevent release of what neurotransmitter? a. Epinephrine b. Norepinephrine c. Serotonin d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) Ans: B Feedback: Adrenergic blocking agents prevent norepinephrine from being released from the adrenal medulla or from the nerve terminal from activating the receptor, which blocks sympathetic nervous system effects. Epinephrine, serotonin, and GABA are not associated with this process. 2. What med...

1. The patient has had cevimeline (Evoxac) prescribed. What would be an appropriate dosing schedule for the nurse to administer this drug? a. Once a day b. Twice a day c. Three times a day d. Every 4 hours Ans: C Feedback: Cevimeline should be given three times a day with meals. Once or twice a day dosing would cause a decrease in therapeutic effects of the drug and every 4 hours could lead to toxicity. 2. A student asks the pharmacology instructor to describe the function of a choli...

1. A patient is admitted to the emergency department in shock. Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is administered. What would the nurse expect the effect of the isoproterenol to be? a. Increased blood pressure b. Decreased blood pressure c. Increased body temperature d. Decreased heart rate Ans: A Feedback: Isoproterenol stimulates beta-adrenergic receptors. Blood pressure is increased and heart rate is increased. Body temperature should not be affected. 2. What action do sympathomimetic drugs ...

1. According to the sliding filament theory, what is the initial action in a muscle contraction? a. Troponin is freed and prevents actin and myosin from reacting with each other. b. Calcium binds to troponin, which causes the release of actin and myosin binding sites. c. Actin and myosin molecules react with each other sliding along the filament and making it shorter. d. Muscle filament relaxes or slides back to the resting position. Ans: C Feedback: Actin and myosin molecules react wi...

1. The central nervous system (CNS) cells, where the impulses for the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) originate, are located where? a. Cranium and sacral area of the spinal cord b. Hypothalamus and the medulla c. Nerve membranes d. Thoracic and lumbar sections of the spinal cord Ans: D Feedback: The SNS is also called the thoracolumbar system because the CNS cells, where the impulses for the SNS originate, are located in the thoracic and lumbar sections of the spinal cord. The parasymp...

1. To decrease sympathetic stimulation in balanced anesthesia type of what agent would be used? a. Antihistamines b. Antiemetics c. Narcotics d. Sedative-hypnotics Ans: D Feedback: Sedative-hypnotics relax the patient, facilitate amnesia, and decrease sympathetic stimulation. Antihistamines decrease the chance of allergic reaction and help dry secretions. Antiemetics decrease the nausea and vomiting associated with gastrointestinal (GI) depression. Narcotics aid in the analgesic and sed...

1. The nurse is teaching a class on muscular coordination and explains it is the movement of what electrolyte that contributes to the process of muscle contraction and relaxation? a. Calcium b. Chloride c. Magnesium d. Hydrogen Ans: A Feedback: Calcium is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which leads to the binding of calcium with troponintropomyosin. This leads to contraction of the muscle fiber. The calcium pump then moves calcium back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which le...

1. A geriatric patient received a narcotic analgesic before leaving the post-anesthesia care unit to return to the regular unit. What is the priority nursing action for the nurse receiving the patient on the regular unit? a. Administer a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. b. Encourage fluids. c. Create a restful, dark, quiet environment. d. Put side rails up and place bed in low position. Ans: D Feedback: Older patients are more susceptible to the central nervous system effects of na...

1. Degeneration in neurons that release a neurotransmitter leads to Parkinson’s disease. What neurotransmitter is involved? a. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) b. Acetylcholine c. Dopamine d. Serotonin Ans: C Feedback: Degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons in the substantia nigra leads to Parkinson’s disease. When dopamine is decreased in the area of the corpus striatum, a chemical imbalance allows the cholinergic or excitatory cells to dominate. This affects the functioning of t...

1. A group of patients are being screened to see which patients would be the best candidate for a psychotherapeutic drug trial that helps people concentrate longer on activities. Which patient would be best suited for this trial? a. A 28-year-old salesperson who alternates between overactivity and periods of depression b. A 32-year-old hyperactive nursing student who cannot focus long enough to take a test c. A 55-year-old physician who suddenly falls asleep during the day without warning d....

1. A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe recurrent convulsive seizures. What drug would the nurse expect to be ordered for use in emergency control of status epilepticus? a. Phenytoin (Dilantin) b. Diazepam (Valium) c. Phenobarbital (Luminal) d. Ethosuximide (Zarontin) Ans: C Feedback: Phenobarbital is used for emergency control of status epilepticus. This barbiturate inhibits impulse conduction in the ascending reticular activating system (RAS), depresses the ce...

1. The mental health nursing instructor is talking with the class about depression. What deficiency does the instructor explain will result in depression? a. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine b. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin c. Acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and serotonin d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine, and epinephrine Ans: B Feedback: A current hypothesis regarding the cause of depression is a deficiency of norepinephrine, dopamine, or serotonin, w...

1. What part of the neuron carries information into the neuron from other neurons? a. Axon b. Dendrite c. Nucleus d. Soma Ans: B Feedback: Dendrites carry information to the nerve and axons; they also carry information from a nerve to be transmitted to effector cells, which are found in muscles, glands, or another nerve. Soma refers to the cell body. The nucleus is the central part of a cell, which is responsible for the cell’s growth, reproduction, and metabolism. 2. When a neuro...

1. The nurse is caring for a patient in a state of hypnosis, which means the patient is in what state? a. A state of extreme sedation in which the person no longer senses or reacts to incoming stimuli. b. A state of tranquility in which the person can be made to do whatever is suggested by others. c. A feeling of tension, nervousness, apprehension, or fear with high levels of awareness. d. A state in which the brain is no longer sending out signals to the body. Ans: A Feedback: Hypnosis...

1. The nursing instructor is discussing immunity with her clinical group. What statement would the instructor make that would be accurate about immunity? a. Active immunity occurs with injected antibodies that react with specific antigens. b. Serum sickness results when the body fights antibodies injected as a form of active immunity. c. Passive immunity occurs when foreign proteins are recognized and the body produces antibodies. d. Passive immunity is limited, lasting only as long as the a...

1. A nurse has admitted a 10-year-old child to the short-stay unit. The child has complained of chronic headaches and his or her mother reports that he or she gives him or her acetaminophen (Tylenol) at least twice a day. What will the nurse evaluate? a. Renal function b. Hepatic function c. Respiratory function d. Cardiac function Ans: B Feedback: The nurse should evaluate the patient’s hepatic function. Severe hepatotoxicity can occur from overuse of acetaminophen. Significant inter...

1. A patient has been diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia. The patient is to begin taking interferon alfa 2b. What will the nurse include in her instructions to the patient concerning this drug? a. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking the drug. b. Continue to maintain maximal physical activity. c. Increase fluid intake while taking the drug. d. Treat constipation with over-the-counter laxatives. Ans: C Feedback: Interferon alfa 2b is metabolized in the kidney so adequate fluid intake is ...

1. The body’s first-line barrier defense is considered to be what? a. Mast cells b. Mucous membranes c. Skin d. T cells Ans: C Feedback: The skin is the first line of barrier defense. It acts as a physical barrier to protect the internal tissues and organs of the body. Mast cells are part of cellular defense. They are found in the respiratory and GI tracts and are fixed basophils that do not circulate. Mucous membranes are a barrier defense that line the areas of the body that are exp...

1. A public health nurse is speaking to parents of first graders. When discussing worm infection, the nurse will explain that the most common type found in U.S. school-aged children is what? a. Pinworms b. Roundworms c. Threadworms d. Whipworms Ans: A Feedback: The most common worm infection encountered in U.S. school-aged children is pinworms. These worms are endogenous to the area and easily spread. Roundworms, whipworms, and threadworms are not as common. 2. A mother of a 3-year-o...