Pharmacology Questions
The nurse is providing instructions to a client who is taking codeine sulfate. What instruction would the nurse provide to the client? A. Decrease fluid intake. B. Change positions slowly. C. Maintain low-fiber diet. D. Limit the intake of alcoholic beverages.
B. Change positions slowly. Codeine sulfate is an opioid analgesic.
The clinic nurse notes that a client is taking metoprolol. The nurse would perform which assessment to determine medication effectiveness? A. Take the client's temperature. B. Take the client's blood pressure. C. Check the client's peripheral pulses. D. Check the client's eyes for peripheral vision.
B. Check the client's blood pressure. Metoprolol is a beta blocker that is used to treat mild-to-moderate hypertension.
A client is receiving diazepam to treat painful muscle spasms. The nurse would monitor the client for which frequent side effect of the medication? A. Ataxia (incoordination) B. Diarrhea C. Nervousness D. Hypertension
A. Ataxia (incoordination) Diazepam is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant.
The nurse is teaching a client how to mix regular insulin (Humulin R) and isophane (Humulin N) insulin in the same syringe. Which instruction would be included? A. Draw up Humulin R first into the syringe. B. Take all air out of the bottle before mixing. C. Shake the Humulin N bottle before mixing. D. Keep both bottles stored in the refrigerator for 1 month.
A. Draw up Humulin R first into the syringe. Humulin R is drawn up before Humulin N so the intermediate-acting insulin does not contaminate the regular insulin vial.
Betaxolol eye drops have been prescribed for a client for the treatment of glaucoma. The nurse would tell the client that it is important to return to the clinic for assessment of the presence of which condition? A. Hypotension B. Hyperglycemia C. The presence of Trousseau's sign D. The presence of redness and warmth in the calf area
A. Hypotension Betaxolol is an antiglaucoma medication and a beta blocker.
Theophylline is prescribed for a client with bronchial asthma. The nurse provides dietary instructions to the client and would tell the client to avoid consuming which item? A. Iced tea B. Lemonade C. Orange juice D. Tomato juice
A. Iced tea Theophylline is a xanthine bronchodilator that dilates bronchial airways and pulmonary blood vessels and is used to treat respiratory disorders.
The nurse is caring for a client with systemic candidiasis who is receiving amphotericin B intravenously (IV). The nurse would perform which action during administration of the medication to monitor for an adverse effect? A. Monitor urinary output. B. Check peripheral pulses. C. Monitor for hypothermia. D. Check neurological status.
A. Monitor urinary output Amphotericin B is an antifungal medication.
A client with bulimia nervosa was started on fluoxetine hydrochloride 10 mg daily 3 days ago. The client calls the clinic and reports experiencing nausea after taking the medication and want to stop taking it. What would the nurse instruct the client to do? A. Take the medication with milk. B. Contact the primary health care provider. C. Lie down for 30 minutes after taking the medication. D. Decrease the medication dose until a different medication can be prescribed.
A. Take the medication with milk. Fluoxetine hydrochloride is an antidepressant, antiobsessional agent, and antibulimic.
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis who is receiving aspirin 5 g orally daily. The nurse recognizes which finding as an adverse effect related to the medication? A. Tinnitus B. Joint pain C. Urinary retention D. Difficulty voiding
A. Tinnitus Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of venous thrombosis in the left lower leg who is receiving heparin sodium by continuous intravenous (IV) infusion. The nurse would monitor the client for which manifestation indicating an adverse effect of this therapy? A. Nausea B. Dark urine C. Left calf tenderness D. Increased blood pressure
B. Dark urine Heparin sodium is an anticoagulant.
Bupropion is prescribed for a client to treat an anxiety disorder. The nurse would tell the client that which is a common side effect of the medication? A. Diarrhea B. Dry mouth C. Sleepiness D. Slowed pulse rate
B. Dry mouth Bupropion is an antianxiety medication.
A client have been taking lansoprazole. The nurse would monitor the client for relief of which symptom? A. Diarrhea B. Heartburn C. Flatulence D. Constipation
B. Heartburn Lansoprazole is a gastric pump inhibitor (proton pump inhibitor).
The nurse is instructing a client about quinapril hydrochloride. The nurse would make which statement to the client? A. To take the medication with food only B. To rise slowly from a lying to a sitting position C. To discontinue the medication if nausea occurs D. That a therapeutic effect will be seen immediately
B. To rise slowly from a lying to a sitting position Quinapril hydrochloride is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension.
The nurse is preparing to administer medications to a hospitalized client and notes that the client takes levothyroxine daily. The nurse suspects that the client has a history of which condition? A. Hypotension B. Hypertension C. Hypothyroidism D. Hyperthyroidism
C. Hypothyroidism Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism.
The nurse checks the serum digoxin level for a client with heart failure who is taking digoxin and notes that the result is 0.8 ng/mL (1.02 nmol/L). Which action would the nurse take based on this laboratory result? A. Notify the primary health care provider. B. Withhold the next scheduled dose of digoxin. C. Place the report in the client's medical record. D. Obtain another serum digoxin level to verify the results.
C. Place the report in the client's medical record. The normal therapeutic range for digoxin is 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL (0.63 to 2.56 nmol/L).
A client with acute kidney injury has been treated with sodium polystyrene sulfinate by mouth. The nurse would evaluate this therapy as most effective if which value was noted on follow-up laboratory testing? A. Calcium 9.8 mg/dL (2.45 mmol/L) B. Sodium 142 mEq/L (142 mmol/L) C. Potassium 4.9 mEq/L (4.9 mmol/L) D. Phosphorus 3.9 mg/dL (1.26 mmol/L)
C. Potassium 4.9 mEq/L (4.9 mmol/L) Of all the electrolyte imbalances that accompany acute kidney injury, hyperkalemia is the most dangerous because it can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias and death.
Allopurinol has been prescribed for a client with gout, and the nurse provides instructions to the client about the medication. The nurse would tell the client that this medication has been prescribed to perform which therapeutic action? A. Relieve pain B. Maintain dilute urine C. Reduce the uric acid level in the body D. Reduce the need to consume large amounts of fluid
C. Reduce the uric acid level in the body Allopurinol is used in the treatment of gout to reduce uric acid production.
The nurse notes that the primary health care provider has prescribed sulfasalazine for a client. The nurse checks the nursing history form in the client's medical record for documentation of an allergy to which item? A. Shellfish B. Strawberries C. Sulfonamides D. Acetaminophen
C. Sulfonamides Sulfasalazine is a sulfonamide and an anti-inflammatory medication that is used to treat variety of conditions.
A client with a diagnosis of sepsis is receiving tobramycin. The nurse realizes that the client is responding favorably to the medication therapy if which laboratory result is noted? A. Sodium of 145 mEq/L B. Sodium of 140 mEq/L C. White blood cell (WBC) count of 8000 mm^3 and creatinine level of 0.9 mg/dL D. WBC count of 15,000 mm^3 and a blood urea nitrogen of 38 mg/dL
C. White blood cell (WBC) count of 8000 mm^3 and creatinine level of 0.9 mg/dL Tobramycin is an antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
The nurse is providing instructions to a client about lithium carbonate, which has been prescribed for acute mania. The nurse would provide which information to the client? A. Foods that contain salt need to be avoided. B. Medication blood levels need to be checked yearly. C. Vomiting and diarrhea are expected effects of this medication. D. Blurred vision needs to be reported to the primary health care provider.
D. Blurred vision needs to be reported to the primary health care provider. Lithium carbonate is an antimanic and antidepressant medication used to treat the manic phase of bipolar disease, which is a manic-depressive disorder.
The nurse notes that a client is receiving ganciclovir sodium. The nurse suspects that the client is receiving this medication for the treatment of which disorder? A. Pancreatitis B. Urolithiasis C. Nephrotic syndrome D. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
D. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis Ganciclovir sodium is an antiviral medication.
A client is taking amiloride hydrochloride daily. The nurse would tell the client to take the dose at what time? A. At bedtime B. On an empty stomach C. Between lunch and dinner D. In the morning with breakfast
D. In the morning with breakfast Amiloride hydrochloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic used to treat edema or hypertension.
A postoperative client has a prescription to begin short-term therapy with enoxaparin. The nurse would plan to explain to the client that this medication is being prescribed for which therapeutic action? A. Prevent pain B. Relieve back spasms C. Increase energy levels D. Reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis
D. Reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant that is administered to prevent deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolism.
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who is receiving meperidine hydrochloride for pain. The nurse would include in the plan of care to monitor for which adverse effect of this medication? A. Nausea B. Sedation C. Flushed face D. Skeletal muscle flaccidity
D. Skeletal muscle flaccidity Meperidine hydrochloride is an opioid analgesic that has been used to alleviate pain in many types of disorders.
The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client receiving intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. The nurse would initiate neutropenic precautions if which laboratory result is noted? A. Clotting time of 10 minutes. B. Ammonia level of 10 mcg/dL (6 mcmol/L) C. Platelet count of 100,000 mm^3 (100 *10^9/L) D. White blood cell (WBC) count of 2000 mm^3 (2.0 *10^9/L)
D. White blood cell (WBC) count of 2000 mm^3 (2.0 *10^9/L) The normal WBC count is 5000 to 10,000 mm^3.
