BSN 215 Pharmacology Quiz Questions

A parent asks a nurse about giving diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to a child to relieve cold symptoms. Which response by the nurse is correct?

"Benadryl must be given in higher doses to provide relief for cold symptoms."

A nurse is discussing how beta blockers work to decrease blood pressure with a nursing student. Which statement by the student indicates a need for further teaching?

"Beta blockers block the actions of angiotensin II."

A nurse teaches a patient about sulfonamides. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

"I should stop taking this drug when my symptoms are gone."

Which patients may receive gentamicin safely?

- A 6-day-old newborn - A 5-year-old child - A women breast-feeding an infant

Besides having diuretic effects for patients with congestive heart failure, thiazides are also used to treat what?

- Postmenopausal osteoporosis - Diabetes insipidus - Hepatic failure

A patient on the unit complains of cluster headaches. A new graduate nurse is asked to differentiate between a migraine headache and cluster headache. The graduate nurse is correct to state that manifestations and/or risk factors for a patient with cluster headaches include what?

- Short duration (15 minutes to 2 hours) - Throbbing, sometimes piercing pain - Male sex

Vasoconstrictors are combined with local anesthetics for which reasons?

- To prolong anesthesia - To reduce the risk of toxicity

Which actions occur in 90% of fatal medication errors?

- Writing a prescription illegibly - Giving Nasal instead of Nizoral - Giving a drug intravenously instead of intramuscularly

A patient received 500 mg of azithromycin (Zithromax) at 0800 as a first dose. What are the usual amount and time of the second dose of azithromycin?

250 mg at 0800 the next day

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?

500 mg/5mL to 375 mg PO twice daily

A patient has had blood pressure of 150/95 and 148/90 mm Hg on two separate office visits. The patient reports a blood pressure of 145/92 mm Hg taken in an ambulatory setting. The patient's diagnostic tests are all normal. The nurse will expect this patient's provider to order:

A thiazide diuretic

An adolescent is brought to the emergency department by a parent who reports that the patient took a whole bottle of extended-release acetaminophen tablets somewhere between 8 and 10 hours ago. The nurse will anticipate administering which of the following?

Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)

A nurse is making a home visit to an older adult women who was recently discharged home from the hospital with a new prescription. The nurse notes that a serum drug level drawn the day before was subtherapeutic. What will the nurse do next?

Count the pills in the prescription bottle

A patient who has developed opioid tolerance will experience which effect?

Decreased analgesic effect

A patient reports becoming "immune" to a medication because it no longer works to alleviate symptoms. The nurse recognizes that this decreased effectiveness is likely caused by:

Desensitization of receptor sites by continual exposure to the drug

A nurse is caring for a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Which finding would most concern the nurse?

Very low helper T lymphocyte count

A child is diagnosed with rickets. The nurse knows that this child is most likely deficient in which vitamin?

Vitamin D

An adult male patient will begin androgen therapy for testicular failure. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the treatment regimen?

"My libido may improve while I am taking this medication."

A patient has severe acne that has been refractory to treatment. The patient is taking tetracycline and using topical tretinoin [Retin-A] and has been applying benzoyl peroxide twice daily. The provider asks the nurse to teach this patient about isotretinoin [Accutane], which the patient will begin taking in a few weeks.

"Tetracycline must be discontinued before beginning the isotretinoin."

A pediatric patient ingested a narcotic analgesic at the grandparent's house 15 minutes before arriving in the emergency department. The nurse is preparing to administer activated charcoal. Which statement by the nurse is correct?

"The charcoal will cause the child's stool to be black."

A patient who breast-feeds her infant asks the nurse about the immunity the infant receives from her breast milk. What does the nurse tell the patient about immunity through breast-feeding?

"The immunity results from the transfer of IgA through the breast milk."

A patient will receive intravenous midazolam (Versed) combined with fentanyl while undergoing an endoscopic procedure. The nurse is explaining the reasons for this to a nursing student before the procedure. Which statement by the student indicates understanding of the teaching?

"The patient will not remember the procedure."

A nurse is teaching a patient diagnosed with wet ARMD who will begin receiving bevacizumab [Avastin]. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

"This medication will not reduce the risk of blindness."

A nurse has provided education for a patient newly diagnosed with hypertension who is just beginning therapy with antihypertensive medications. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

"When my symptoms subside, I may discontinue the medications."

A nurse is teaching a group of parents about the role of testosterone in puberty for boys. To evaluate the group's understanding, the nurse asks, "what physiologic effects related to testosterone can you expect to see in your sons?" Which response indicates an understanding of the role of testosterone in male puberty?

- "It increases height and weight." - "It promotes skeletal muscle growth." - " It causes acne."

Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) is prescribed for an adolescent female patient with acute cystitis. What should the nurse include in the teaching for this patient?

- "Your urine may have a brown tinge while you are taking this drug." - "Make sure you tell your prescriber if you might be pregnant." - "If you experience any tingling or numbness, stop taking the drug and call the clinic immediately." - "Headaches and drowsiness can occur and are mild side effects."

The nurse is reviewing personal knowledge of the medications used in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.

- Alpha2 agonists - Prostaglandin analogs - Beta blockers - Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Which drugs are used to treat COPD?

- Anticholinergic medications - Long-acting beta2 agonists - Glucocorticoids

Besides the cost of administering a given drug, which are considerations when a provider selects a cephalosporin to treat an infection?

- Antimicrobial spectrum - Pharmacokinetics - Adverse effects

The prescriber has ordered an antibiotic for a patient with a bacterial infection. The nurse provides patient education at discharge an instructs the patient to take the drug on an empty stomach. When should the patient take the drug?

- At least 2 hours after a meal - 1 hour or more before a meal

Which immune responses can result in harm to the body?

- Autoimmune response - IgE binding to mast cells and basophils - Recognition of MHC molecules as non-self

An adolescent has recently been experiencing pimples. The nurse notes several closed comedones across the patient's forehead and on the nose. The nurse will expect to teach this patient about the use of which medication?

Benzoyl peroxide

A patient newly diagnosed with tuberculosis asks the nurse why oral medications must be given in the clinic. The nurse will tell the patient that the medications are given in the clinic so that:

Clinic staff can observe adherence to drug regimens

A patient with persistent, frequent asthma exacerbations asks a nurse about a long-acting beta2 medication. What will the nurse tell this patient?

LABAs are safer than short-acting beta2 agonists

A patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse has been admitted to the unit with cirrhosis. Upon review of the patient's laboratory test results, the nurse notes that the patient's ammonia level is elevated at 218 mcg/dL. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer?

Lactulose

A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering this medication will expect to do what?

Monitor plasma drug levels

Terrorists have detonated a "dirty bomb" in a shopping center. Nurses are called to the site to assist with triage of victims. Besides treating injuries incurred from the blast itself, the priorities for treatment for most of the victims will include:

Removing clothing and bathing victims

A patient admitted to the hospital has been using phenylephrine nasal spray (Neo-Synephrine), 2 sprays every 4 hours, for a week. The patient complains that the medications is not working, because the nasal congestion has increased. What will the nurse do?

Request an order for an intranasal glucocorticoid to be used while the phenylephrine is withdrawn

A patient overdosed on aspirin several hours ago and is brought to the emergency department. The nurse assists with supportive care and then asks the provider about an order for which drug?

Sodium bicarbonate

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?

Tetracyclines

A nurse is reviewing the immune system with a group of nursing students. One student asks about the difference between cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity. How should the nurse reply?

"Humoral immunity uses cells produced by B lymphocytes in the immune response."

Parent ask the nurse why an over-the-counter cough suppressant with sedative side effects is not recommended for infants.

"Infants are more susceptible to central nervous system effects than are adults."

A patient with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) asks the nurse what she can do to improve her chances pf getting pregnant. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

"Spironolactone, which reduces androgens and facial hair, is helpful if I'm trying to conceive."

A patient has had dilation of the eyes with an anticholinergic agent. What will the nurse say when preparing this patient to go home after the examination?

"You may need to wear dark glasses until this medication wears off."

Which claim may be made by manufacturers of dietary supplements?

- "Energizes and rejuvenates" - "Reduces stress" - "Promotes pulmonary health"

Which antibiotics may be administered topically?

- Bacitracin - Polymyxin B

A nursing student wants to know the differences between hospital-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) and community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA). Which statements about CA-MRSA are true?

- CA-MRSA is less dangerous than HA-MRSA - Boils caused by CA-MRSA can be treated without antibiotics - 20% to 30% of the general population are colonized with CA-MRSA

What are the properties of an ideal drug?

- Chemical stability - Predictability - Ease of administration

Which laxatives may be used safely in infants?

- Docusate sodium (Colace) - Glycerin suppositories - Lactulose

A nurse is administering morphine sulfate to a postoperative patient. Which are appropriate routine nursing actions when giving this drug?

- Encouraging physical activity and offering increased fluids - Counting respirations before and after giving the medication - Palpating the patient's lower abdomen every 4 to 6 hours

A patient is being started on nicotinic acid (Niaspan) to reduce triglyceride levels. The nurse is providing patient education and should include teaching about which adverse effects?

- Itching - Gastric upset - Facial flushing

A patient asks a nurse about who is eligible to receive anthrax vaccine (BioThrax). The nurse will respond by saying that which groups of people would be candidates for this vaccine?

- Laboratory workers - Military personnel - Veterinarians

Which group of people are especially sensitive to medication effects?

- Older adults - Infants

Which patients should be given antibiotics prophylactically?

- Patients with certain congenital heart defects at risk for bacterial endocarditis - Patients with compound fractures undergoing surgical repair

A thin older adult is admitted to the hospital after several days of vomiting, diarrhea, and poor intake of foods and fluids. She has not voided since admission. In preparing to care for this patient, the nurse will look for what laboratory values to help guide medication administration?

- Plasma drug levels - Creatinine clearance - Serum albumin

Nurse is preparing to give an antibiotic to a who reports being allergic to antibiotics. Before giving the medication, what will the nurse do first?

Ask whether the patient has taken this antibiotic for other infections

The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. Which action is not part of the six rights of drug administration?

Assessing the patient's pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication

A nurse is preforming a preoperative drug history on a patient who is admitted to the hospital for surgery. To evaluate the risk of hemorrhage, the nurse will ask the patient about anti-platelet and anticoagulant medications as well as which dietary supplement?

Ginkgo biloba

A patient has been receiving intravenous penicillin for pneumonia for several days and begins to complain of generalized itching. The nurse auscultates bilateral wheezing and notes a temperature of 38.5C (101F).

Hold the next dose and notify the prescriber of the symptoms

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about antibodies. The nurse correctly explains that which type of response is triggered when antigens bind to antibodies on mast cells or basophils?

Hypersensitivity reaction

A nurse is attending a conference about terrorism and emergency response. During a discussion of radiation emergencies, the use of potassium iodide is reviewed. When should potassium iodide be administered to be most effective after exposure to radiation?

Immediately after exposure

A patient asks a nurse why a friend who is taking the same drug responds differently to that drug. The nurse knows that the most common variation in drug response is due to differences in each patient's:

Metabolism of drugs

A nurse is caring for a patient and her newborn immediately after delivery. The patient's medication history includes prenatal vitamins throughout pregnancy, one or two glasses of wine before knowing she was pregnant, occasional use of an albuterol inhaler in her last trimester, and intravenous morphine during labor. What will the nurse expect to do?

Monitor the infant's respirations and prepare to administer naloxone if needed.

A 5-year-old patient seen in an outpatient clinic is noted to have hypertension on three separate visits. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring confirms that the child has hypertension. As an initial intervention with the child's parents, the nurse will expect to:

Preform a detailed health history on the child

A 60-year-old African American patient has a blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg and reports a family history of hypertension. The patient has a body mass index of 22.3. The patient reports consuming alcohol occasionally. Which therapeutic lifestyle change will the nurse expect to teach this patient?

Sodium restriction

A patient has 2+ pitting edema of the lower extremities bilaterally. Auscultation of the lungs reveals crackles bilaterally, and the serum potassium level is 6 mEq/L. Which diuretic agent ordered by the prescriber should the nurse question?

Spironolactone [Aldactone]

A patient will begin taking drugs for hyperlipidemia. The patient asks about using flaxseed supplements to increase fiber. What will the nurse tell the patient?

Take the flaxseed 1 hour before taking the drug

A nurse is teaching nursing students about the use of nonproprietary names of drugs. The nurse tells them which fact about nonproprietary names?

They are assigned by the U.S. Adopted Names Council

A pregnant patient asks the nurse about the safe use of medications during the third trimester. What will the nurse tell her about drugs taken at this stage?

They may need to be given in higher doses if they undergo renal clearance.

A nursing student asks a nurse about pharmaceutical research and wants to know the purpose of randomization in drug trials. The nurse explains that randomization is used to do what?

To ensure that differences in outcomes are the results of treatment and not differences in subjects