Pharmacology test 1 practice questions
A client has recently received a diagnosis of depression and has been prescribed citalopram. The nurse is providing health education and the client states, "I'm relieved to have some medication to help with my mood, because it's my daughter's wedding next weekend and I'll be feeling better." What is the nurse's best response?
"Antidepressants will help your mood but it usually takes a few weeks to experience the benefits."
A client is prescribed an anxiolytic agent. What would be most important for the nurse to include in the teaching?
"Be sure not to stop the drug abruptly."
What statement would indicate that a mother is administering the incorrect dosage of liquid medication to her child?
"I use a household teaspoon to administer the medication."
The nurse is teaching a client about the drug therapy regimen before being discharged. The nurse is emphasizing safety in the home setting. Which statement by the client indicates a need for additional teaching?
"I will make sure to store the medications in the bathroom medicine chest."
A client's medication regimen for treatment of anxiety has been changed from a benzodiazepine to buspirone (BuSpar). The client asks the nurse what makes this medication safer than the benzodiazepine the client has taken. What is the nurse's best response?
"It will not produce sedation like benzodiazepines."
A client's medication regimen for treatment of anxiety has been changed from a benzodiazepine. The client asks the nurse what likely prompted the health care provider to change the medication. What is the nurse's best response?
"Long-term use of benzodiazepines can result in dependency."
A client with depression has been taking citalopram for several months and has presented for a follow-up assessment. The client tells the nurse, "I've been reading a lot online about the benefits of St. John's wort for depression, so I've started taking it once per day." In addition to referring the client to the provider, what is the nurse's best response?
"There can be an unsafe reaction between your antidepressant and St. John's wort, which is why taking them both is discouraged."
A new mother asks her nurse about the safety of taking St. John's wort for postpartum depression. What would be the nurse's best response?
"There is insufficient evidence to support the use of St. John's wort, and drug interactions may be extensive."
A hospitalized client asks the nurse why the health care provider prescribed an anxiolytic medication. What is the nurse's best response?
"This type of medication is typically prescribed to treat excess anxiety that interferes with daily activities."
What instructions should a nurse include when teaching a client who has depression about the use of amitriptyline?
"Use sugarless hard candies and gum to deal with dry mouth."
After teaching the parents of a child who is receiving drug therapy, which statement indicates the need for additional teaching?
"We can use the same medications that we use for similar problems in our child, but we might need to adjust the dosage."
What assessment question would be most appropriate when providing care for a client newly prescribed chlordiazepoxide?
"When did you have your last drink of alcohol?"
The health care provider has ordered 30 mg of Demerol IM for relief of a severe migraine headache. The package insert reads meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol) 50 mg/mL. How many milliliters would the nurse inject?
0.6
The nurse provides health education for a diverse group of clients. For which client should the nurse emphasize the risk of teratogenic drug effects?
20-year-old female client who has been diagnosed with a chlamydial infection
After studying for a test on the brain and spinal cord, the students demonstrate understanding when they identify the spinal cord as being made up of how many pairs of nerves?
31
A community health nurse follows many clients, several of whom have depression and who are taking antidepressants. What assessment finding should the nurse prioritize for reporting to the care provider?
A client who began taking escitalopram two weeks ago says her mood has worsened since starting the drug
What client is most likely to have impaired drug metabolism?
A client who has a diagnosis of hepatitis C
The neurological nurse is caring for a diverse group of clients. For which client would the role of the blood-brain barrier be most significant during treatment?
A client who has been diagnosed with an infection of brain tissue
According to protocol, a nursing student is required to complete metric conversions to ensure accurate administration of medication dosage. What does this indicate?
A nurse must possess a basic understanding of mathematics.
Long-term use of which anxiolytics can result in physical or psychological dependence? (Select all that apply.)
Alprazolam (Xanax) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Magnetic resonance imaging of a client's brain indicates a lesion in Wernicke's area. What assessment should the nurse perform when gauging the effects of this lesion?
Assess the client's ability to comprehend spoken instructions.
Which drug used to treat anxiety would be appropriate for a client who is a school teacher and is concerned about feeling sedated at work?
Buspirone
A client is experiencing difficulty swallowing a large oral tablet. What action by the nurse would be most appropriate?
Check to determine whether the drug can be crushed or mixed with food.
A nurse is preparing to administer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to a group of clients. The nurse would administer the drug cautiously to which clients?
Clients with diabetes mellitus
In addition to relieving agitation and anxiety, what is a rationale for using benzodiazepines in the treatment of a critically ill client?
Decreased cardiac workload
A client who is being treated for cancer developed a serum sickness reaction. The care team has been notified, and the client is being stabilized. What is the nurse's priority action?
Discontinue the drug immediately as ordered.
A client's left adrenal medulla has been injured in a motor vehicle accident. What is a possible implication of this injury?
Disruptions in the levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine
An instructor is preparing a class that describes the toxic effects of drugs. Which effect would the instructor expect to include?
Drugs cause unexpected or unacceptable reactions despite screening and testing.
A client with newly diagnosed hypertension has received a prescription from the care provider reading "Vasotec 5 mg PO daily." The client has expressed concern to the nurse about the possible cost of the medication. What is the nurse's best action?
Encourage the client to inquire about purchasing a generic equivalent.
A client has been taking citalopram for 2 weeks and has expressed a desire to discontinue it, stating, "I don't feel any better than I did before I started these pills." What should the nurse teach the client?
It may take up to two more weeks before the client feels better
The nurse admitted a client who overdosed on an unknown drug. The fact that the client appears to be experiencing psychosis should suggest what possible drug to the nurse?
LSD
An older adult client calls the health care provider's office and tells the nurse that prescriptions for three medications have run out and the pharmacy will not refill them this close together. A home health referral is made and the client is found to be taking the medication more often than prescribed. What is a priority nursing diagnosis for this client?
Nonadherence to therapeutic medication regimen
The anatomy and physiology instructor is discussing neurotransmitters with the pre-nursing A&P class. What would the instructor tell the students is a catecholamine that is classed as a hormone when it is released from the adrenal medulla?
Norepinephrine
Which nursing intervention would the nurse expect to do during implementation?
Providing client teaching about a drug therapy regimen.
The nurse has learned that a client has begun supplementing the prescribed medication regimen with a series of herbal remedies. Which is the most important nursing intervention regarding the safe use of herbal supplements?
Research for potential interactions with medications.
A client who was previously taking paroxetine is being switched to phenelzine due to a lack of response. The nurse would expect that the phenelzine will be started at which time?
Several weeks after stopping the paroxetine
A client, admitted for the treatment of a fracture, has a history of heavy alcohol use. What event should suggest the implementation of pharmacologic treatment for alcohol withdrawal?
Signs/symptoms of withdrawal are noted.
The nurse is preparing to perform a neurologic assessment of a new client. What principle should guide the nurse's care of client's with neurologic disorders?
Some of the functions of the nervous system are not well understood
A client is ordered to receive diazepam as part of the treatment for status epilepticus. The client has an intravenous (IV) infusion running, which is being used to administer another drug for seizure control. The IV line is in the client's left arm. Which action by the nurse would be mostappropriate?
Start another IV line in the client's right arm.
A client has been prescribed a benzodiazepine daily for treatment of an anxiety disorder. In order to minimize the chances of withdrawal symptoms, the nurse knows to include what precaution in client teaching?
Tapering the dose of drug over a prolonged period of time
A client with lymphoma is scheduled to begin chemotherapy tomorrow. When providing health education for the client regarding the risk for stomatitis, what should the nurse teach the client?
Techniques for providing safe and effective mouth care
Which entity or act classifies herbal products, vitamins, and minerals as "dietary supplements"?
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994
A 70-year-old man who enjoys good health began taking low-dose aspirin several months ago based on recommendations that he read in a magazine article. During the man's most recent visit to his care provider, routine blood work was ordered and the results indicated an unprecedented rise in the man's serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. How should a nurse best interpret these findings?
The man may be experiencing nephrotoxic effects of aspirin
A female client has been diagnosed with depression. She also has a history of alcoholism. She has been sober now for 4 months, but at her last physical examination, the health care provider noted right-upper-quadrant tenderness and elevated liver enzyme levels. The provider has prescribed sertraline to treat the client's depression. Which factor would need to be considered prior to administering this medication?
The medication should be started at a lower dose due to liver dysfunction, and the client should be monitored for side effects.
Why are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors considered the first line of drug therapy for patients with depression?
The medications have fewer anticholinergic effects than alternatives.
Which statement is true about a nursing diagnosis?
The nursing diagnosis relates the client's status.
A client with cancer is taking the prescribed dose of morphine sulfate and a family member informs the nurse that the client is extremely sedated. What finding by the nurse would indicate the causative factor of the increased sedation experienced by the client?
There is a bottle of St. John's wort the client is taking for depression.
An older adult client has an elevated serum creatinine level. This client is at greatest risk for which medication-related effect?
Toxicity
The brain stem holds the medulla oblongata. What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
Transmits motor impulses from the brain to the spinal cord
A patient is receiving an antidepressant that helps to decrease addictive behavior. Which drug most likely would be prescribed?
Venlafaxine
A male client is admitted to the emergency department via ambulance. He is attempting to pull out his IV line, exhibiting symptoms of agitation, and thrashing about. The physician orders a benzodiazepine-type sedative. What information is needed prior to administration of the drug?
Whether the client is experiencing drug intoxication or withdrawal
What statement should the nurse rely upon to describe to a client the general characteristic associated with antidepressant therapy? Select all that apply.
While all of these drugs are effective in relieving depression, the drugs differ in adverse effects. These drugs are metabolized by the body's cytochrome P450 enzymes. Antidepressants are commonly administrated by the oral route.
A nurse is caring for a client who has had part of her small intestine removed due to cancer. She has also now developed hypertension and has been prescribed a new medication to decrease her blood pressure. While planning the client's care, the nurse should consider a possible alteration in which aspect of pharmacokinetics?
absorption
What represents a pharmacokinetic phase? (Select all that apply.)
absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
A client is being seen in the emergency department for a sprained ankle and is given a drug to relieve pain. When a second dose of the pain medication is given, the client develops redness of the skin, itching, and swelling at the site of injection of the drug. The most likely cause of this response is:
an allergic response.
Venlafaxine is an antidepressant that has become more popular with adults in treating their depression. Why has it become more popular?
an extended release form is available
The nurse is called to a client's room 15 minutes after the client has received a new medication. The client reports pruritus as well as nausea. The nurse notes that the client appears pale, is sweating, and has begun to cough and wheeze. The nurse determines that the client is experiencing what type of reaction related to the new medication?
anaphylactic shock
The health care provider orders NPH U100 insulin 16 units SC every AM for a client. The nurse prepares the insulin dose. To ensure safety, what does the nurse do?
ask another nurse to double check
The nurse is scheduled to administer a tablet of medication to a client and the medication is available as a unit dose. Where would the nurse remove the wrappings of the unit dose?
at clients bedside
A truck driver has been diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and lorazepam has been prescribed. The client asked the nurse how this medication will affect his job. The nurse would advise him how?
avoid driving until he is aware of the adverse effects.
A nurse is working with a client who is taking an MAOI. What would be the most important instruction to the client?
avoid the use of soy sauce in diet
A nurse is caring for a 77-year-old. The nurse would know that a normal physiologic change that must be considered when planning drug therapy, and is associated with aging is:
blood volume decrease
A 2-year-old client is diagnosed with stomach flu and is suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. What is the most important factor in determining the correct dosage for his infection?
body surface area
What unique characteristic is present in lipid soluble drugs?
can cross the blood-brain barrier
What part of the brain controls and coordinates muscle movement?
cerebellum
The CNS structure involved in all higher order functions, including conscious processes containing both motor and sensory areas, is the:
cerebral cortex
A client is experiencing acute alcohol withdrawal. What medication does the nurse anticipate the prescriber to order?
chlordiazepoxide
What aspect of a client's health is most likely to cause insomnia?
chronic pain
A client is receiving a drug to lower blood glucose level. What would lead the nurse to suspect that the client's blood glucose level was too low?
cold clamy skin
The nurse should not administer sedatives or hypnotic drugs to which client?
comatose client
Which is a psychological factor affecting the body's response to a drug?
compliance
A home care nurse is to administer one aspirin a day to the client. The client has the over-the-counter medication in two forms. The first is available in the form of 325-mg scored tablets. The second is a Lo-dose aspirin of 81mg aspirin. What would the nurse's action be?
consult HCP
A 72-year-old man with pain issues is being given a drug by the intramuscular route. His serum blood level concentrations have been erratic. The nurse suspects that this may be due to
decreased blood flow to tissues and muscles.
What changes due to aging in the geriatric client may affect excretion and promote accumulation of drugs in the body?
decreased glomerular filtration rate.
Ketamine belongs to which class of street drugs?
depressant
What is the prototype for the classification of drugs referred to as benzodiazepines?
diazepam
A client's most recent laboratory result indicate an elevated potassium level. What drug in this client's medication regimen should the care team consider discontinuing?
diuretic
A client with a severe depression has been hospitalized, and the health care provider has ordered amitriptyline. What common adverse effect might this client have?
dry mouth
Dendrites route information away from the nerve cell while axons bring information to the nerve.
false
Which aspect of medical care is an overriding concern of a health maintenance organization (HMO)?
financial
What is the most reliable measure to evaluate renal function?
glomerular filtration rate
Which substance is required for brain cell metabolism?
glucose
In the metric system, what is the unit of weight?
gram
Cimetidine (Tagamet) is an OTC drug used to treat:
heartburn
With buccal medications, what factor affects absorption?
integrity of the mucous membranes
The CNS structure containing groups of neurons responsible for vital cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor functions is the:
medulla oblongata
A nurse has been taught to observe for adverse reactions whenever administering a medication. One non-nervous system reaction after giving a sedative is:
nausea
What would be identified as the basic unit of the nervous system?
neuron
A 35-year-old client is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. The client was originally being treated at home, but the client's condition became worse upon discontinuation of medication. What would be an appropriate nursing diagnosis for this client?
noncompliance
What is the nursing diagnosis the framework for?
nursing interventions
What adverse effect could be related to a fall experienced by an older client prescribed amitriptyline?
orthostatic hypotension
A client comes to the clinic reporting of a ringing sound in the ears and dizziness. When the nurse takes the client's history, the nurse discovers that the client has been taking several ibuprofen every day for various discomforts. What does the nurse understand has occurred with this client?
ototoxicity from the ibuprofen
A 7-year-old child fell off a wood pile while playing and has been admitted to the ICU with multiple broken bones and internal bleeding. What factor related to drug therapy will be altered in this client?
pharmodynamics may be altered
The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed suvorexant (Belsomra). The nurse should teach the client to:
plan to stay in bed for seven hours after taking the drug.
A client prescribed fluoxetine 1 week ago presents for a scheduled follow-up appointment. What should be the focus of the client's nursing assessment to best assure client safety?
presence of suicidal ideation
Which is an important function of serotonin?
prevention of depression
The nurse has begun the intravenous infusion of the first dose of a client's prescribed antibiotic. A few minutes later, the client is diaphoretic, gasping for breath and has a heart rate of 145 beats per minute. After calling for help, what is the nurse's priority action?
protecting and maintaining the patency of the client's airway
A nurse is administering a prescribed dose of chlordiazepoxide to a client. The nurse should closely assess the client for what adverse reaction?
respiratory depression
When instructing a client who is taking an antibiotic about the possibility of nausea and diarrhea, the nurse understands that these effects are examples of:
secondary actions
A client is experiencing major depressive disorder. Which neurotransmitter is most likely implicated?
serotonin
A client reports feelings of gloom and the inability to perform activities of daily living. The normal function of which neurotransmitter is most likely impaired?
serotonin
The nurse is assessing a client who may be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. What assessment finding is most consistent with this diagnosis?
shortness of breath
When levels of serotonin are high in the RAS, the system shuts off and what occurs?
sleep
A client's nerve has been stimulated and depolarization of the nerve has occurred. What event will take place during depolarization?
sodium will rapidly enter the cell
One of the most common occurrences in drug therapy is the development of adverse effects from simple overdose. In such cases, the client suffers from effects that are merely an extension of the desired effect. Which are examples of this primary action? Select all that apply.
spontaneous bleeding after taking warfarin dizziness after starting amlodipine
A client has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to treat depression. The regular use of which herbal supplement requires intervention by the nurse?
st. Johns wort
The nurse, when using the method of dispensing drugs in which each tablet or capsule is packaged separately. Which dispensing method is this?
unit-dose method
The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old client. Which prescription would the nurse question based on concerns related to the medication's absorption?
vancomycin 50 mg/kg/day IM divided in 4 doses
A nurse is preparing to administer a nebulized bronchodilator to a young child with asthma. The nurse will base the dosage primarily on which nursing intervention?
weight of the child
The 68-year-old client states, "I have been taking aspirin on occasion for my arthritis for many years but notice that it takes longer for it to start working now." What is the best response by the nurse?
"As you get older, absorption is prolonged and medications may take a little longer to act than normal."
A client comes to the clinic reporting vaginal discharge with itching. Which statement would alert the nurse to the possibility that the client's reports are related to a superinfection?
"I just completed a course of antibiotics prescribed by my dentist to treat a tooth abscess."
A young mother asks the nurse why she cannot give her 2-year-old child an adult dose of acetaminophen. The nurse explains why this is unsafe. What statement would indicate that the mother needs further education?
"My baby's dose of acetaminophen is based on a healthy adult male."
The nurse is providing education to the family of a client recently admitted for treatment of a substance use disorder. How should the nurse best explain the etiology of this disorder?
"Substance abuse is multifactorial and involves genetics, personality, and culture."
The nurse educates an older adult about the seven prescribed medications to prevent medication-related reactions and adverse effects. Which client statement indicates the need for further clarification?
"The dietary supplement I used to take before admission to the hospital is all right to restart."
A client taking a beta blocker for hypertension tells the nurse he will no longer take the medication because it is causing an inability for him to maintain an erection. What is the best explanation for this issue by the nurse?
"This is an expected adverse effect of the medication, but it is very important that you continue to take it. We can talk about other methods for sexual expression."
The nurse is providing care for a client who has been prescribed a diuretic to treat hypertension. The client states that the effects of the drug are problematic, causing the client to wake up numerous times during the night to urinate. What assessment question should the nurse prioritize?
"When are you taking your medication?"
A pediatric client is admitted to the hospital. The nurse weighs the client and expresses the weight as:
10.1
When a drug is discontinued, what percentage of that drug will remain in the body after three half-lives?
12.5%
How long does a patient need to wait after stopping a phenelzine before starting paroxetine?
14 days
A child weighs 11 kilograms. The health care provider orders a drug as follows: 0.2 mg/kg intravenously. What dose should the nurse administer?
2.2
A client is receiving an SSRI. The nurse would inform the client that the full benefits of the drug may not occur for which time period?
4 weeks
The nurse is preparing medication for a 30-month-old with right otitis media. The child weighs 33 pounds. The health care provider has ordered cephalexin, 50 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours. The medication concentration is 250mg/5mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give the toddler at each dose?
5
A client receives an oral dose of diazepam at 4:00 PM. The nurse would expect to see the maximum effect of this drug at approximately which time?
5:30
The health care provider orders a client to receive 1000 mL of intravenous fluid over the next 12 hours. The intravenous delivery system is a microdrip system. The nurse would set the infusion to run at which rate?
83 gtts/minute
Several clients are prescribed sertraline therapy on the unit. Which client would require the closest monitoring by the nurse?
A 45-year-old man with liver impairment
A nurse is providing care on a psychiatric unit with many clients that take antidepressants. What client factor would the nurse have to consider when administering these medications?
A client has dysphagia
A nurse is caring for a patient who has just been transported to the operating room. Twenty minutes prior to leaving for the operating room, this patient was medicated with topical promethazine. What is the rationale for giving promethazine prior to surgery?
Anxiety, nausea, and vomiting
Which factor should the nurse take into account when administering medications to older adults on the unit?
As a result of age-related changes, older adults face an increased risk of adverse medication effects.
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client and needs to confirm identification of the client. What may the nurse use to identify this client? (Select all that apply.)
Ask the client to state the birthdate. Check the client's wristband for the name. Request that the client state their name.
The nurse is conducting an admission assessment of a new client. When asked about any food or drug allergies, the client states that the client is allergic to tetracycline. What action should the nurse next perform?
Ask the client, "What happens when you take a dose of tetracycline?"
The nurse is caring for a 32-year-old client who is taking amitriptyline for depression. What nursing intervention would be appropriate if this client developed orthostatic hypotension?
Asking the client to sit on the side of the bed for 1 minute before getting up
In today's health care environment, there is often more contact between the client and the nurse than between the client and the health care provider. What does this put the nurse in the bestposition to do?
Assess the therapeutic success of the drug therapy.
What is the primary role of protein binding on drug action?
Decreasing the medication's speed of action
Assessment of a client receiving drug therapy reveals that the client has been experiencing gastrointestinal upset related to the drug. The client states, "My stomach has been so upset that all I've been able to eat is soup and dry crackers." Which nursing diagnosis would be most likely?
Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
After assessing a client, the nurse determines a nursing diagnosis of Deficient Knowledge related to drug self-administration applies to this client. Which findings would support this nursing diagnosis? Select all that apply.
Inability to remember Cognitive limitation Lack of interest in learning
The client suffers from GERD and diverticulosis and has been admitted to a medical floor. The admitting physician orders cimetidine and a sedative to calm the client. What should the nurse be concerned about?
Increased sedative effect
A 79-year-old woman who takes several medications for a variety of chronic health problems has been prescribed an oral antiplatelet aggregator that is to be taken once daily. The nurse has encouraged the woman to take the pill at the same time of day that she takes some of her other medications. What is the most likely rationale for the nurse's advice?
Integrating the new drug into the client's existing schedule promotes adherence.
A client with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder has begun lithium therapy. What is the primaryrationale for the nurse's instructions regarding the need for regular monitoring of the client's serum drug levels?
It is necessary to ensure that the client's drug levels are therapeutic but not toxic.
The nurse knows that which medication prescription as written has the potential to cause a medication error? (Select all that apply.)
MS 10 mg IM every 4-6 hours for pain Ensure 240 cc every 5 hours per feeding tube Hydromorphone 2 mg IV @ 3 PM
When administering drug therapy for a client, how can the nurse ensure beneficial outcomes? (Select all that apply.)
Maximize therapeutic effects. Minimize adverse effects and drug interactions. Provide appropriate drug education for the client and family.
The daughter of an older adult client asks the nurse if her father should be aware of any special precautions while taking lorazepam (Ativan). What is the nurse's best response?
Monitor for increased signs of confusion or forgetfulness.
A client develops bone marrow suppression related to a drug's effects. What would be mostimportant for the nurse to do?
Monitor laboratory blood values.
The nurse on a busy medical floor is caring for several clients whose medication regimens vary widely. What action best addresses a client's risk for adverse effects related to primary actions?
Monitoring the international normalized ratio (INR) of a client taking warfarin
During which neurologic disease process do the Schwann cells become enlarged and block the nodes of Ranvier?
Multiple sclerosis
A client is receiving an antineoplastic medication for treatment of breast cancer and begins having tonic-clonic seizure activity. What type of toxicity does the nurse recognize that this client is experiencing?
Neurotoxicity
A client began a new medication four days ago and presents with a temperature of 38.2° C (100.8 °F), dependent edema, and swollen cervical lymph nodes. The nurse has informed the client's provider, who has discontinued the medication. What subsequent intervention should the nurse prioritize?
Provide supportive care to manage fever and inflammation.
A client receiving drug therapy develops numbness and tingling in the extremities and muscle cramps. What assessment should the nurse perform?
Review the client's most recent potassium level.
A male patient is being discharged home from the hospital after having pneumonia. At home, the patient will be taking the same drugs he was taking before he was hospitalized. These drugs include an anti-anxiety medication and a medication for insomnia. During the home care nurse's initial visit, what should the nurse review with the patient?
The risks of injuries if mental and physical responses are slowed by drugs
What statement best explains the central and peripheral nervous system?
The two main divisions that control the nervous system are the central and peripheral nervous system.
What is true concerning the "placebo effect" in drug administration?
Thinking that the drug will help the patient creates the placebo effect.
An elderly client has been taking a new medication for 2 months. During a follow-up visit, the client's son tells the nurse that he feels his mother's memory is getting worse. What concerns should the nurse have at this time?
This may be coincidental, and the memory loss may be attributed to changes with aging.
An experienced nurse has observed that female clients sometimes experience a drug's effects for a longer time than male clients of similar age and size. The nurse should attribute this to what factor?
Women have more fat cells so drugs depositing in fat will have a prolonged effect.
The nurse is assessing a number of clients on the acute medicine unit. What client is most likely experiencing an adverse effect from the primary action of the medication?
a client taking antihypertensives who reports dizziness upon standing
The nurse is caring for a client receiving an aminoglycoside (antibiotic) that can be nephrotoxic. Which will alert the nurse that the client may be experiencing nephrotoxicity?
a decrease in urine output
A 70-year-old patient has just started taking lorazepam 10 days ago for anxiety issues related the death of her husband. She is staying with her daughter for a couple of weeks. The patient's daughter has noticed that her mother is having difficulty walking and seems to be confused at times and calls the clinic to report this to the nurse. The nurse will inform the daughter that:
a dose adjustment should be made if these symptoms persist.
Many drugs can affect the functioning of the nerves in the periphery and central nervous system. Which are examples of potential neurologic effects of drugs? Select all that apply.
a postoperative client with extrapyramidal symptoms, hyperthermia, and autonomic disturbances a client taking an antipsychotic who exhibits akinesia, muscular tremors, drooling, changes in gait, jitters (akathisia), or spasms (dyskinesia) a postoperative client who had atropine and exhibits dry mouth, altered taste perception, dysphagia, heartburn, constipation, and bloating
Preoperative atropine belongs to what classification of drugs?
anticholinergic
A 30-year-old client is taking phenelzine 30mg PO tid. The nurse knows that at that dosage, the client will need to be carefully monitored for which?
dizziness
A client is admitted to a long-term care facility for an acute respiratory problem. The nurse completing the client's admission assessment conducts an extensive interview involving health status, life span, gender, lifestyle, and habits. In addition to these, which other components of core client variables should the nurse consider? (Select all that apply.)
environment culture and inherited traits
A nurse is caring for a patient with depression. Which symptom should the nurse closely monitor for in the patient?
extreme sadness
Clients taking benzodiazepines, especially older adult clients, are at high risk for which effect?
falls
A nurse should recognize what as a metric system unit? (Select all that apply.)
gram milliliter kilogram
A client is diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia and is prescribed a statin. As part of client education, the nurse should teach the client to avoid eating:
grapefruit
A client presented with signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and subsequent diagnostic testing revealed low levels of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyroid stimulating hormone. The care team should focus assessments and interventions on the client's:
hypothalamus
The nurse is teaching the client to self-administer insulin. This occurs during which phase of the nursing process?
implementation
The nurse is caring for a client taking fluoxetine for depression. Which assessment findings indicate that the medication is effective? Select all that apply.
improved sleep decreased anxiety interest in physical activity
What does the nurse need to do when there is any indication of an allergic reaction in clients?
maintain the client's safety during drug therapy.
A nurse is instructing a client concerning a newly prescribed drug. What should be included to help improve client compliance and safety?
measures to alleviate any discomfort associated with adverse effects
One week ago, a 74-year-old was started on a benzodiazepine for the treatment of an anxiety disorder. The client comes into the clinic for a follow-up visit and states feeling nervous, is having trouble sleeping, and feels hyperactive. What does the nurse understand may be occurring as a result of this medication?
paradoxical excitement
The nurse is assessing a client whose debilitating headache did not respond to the recommended dose of an OTC analgesic. In response, the client took another dose 30 minutes later and then a double dose one hour after that. The nurse's assessment should focus on the possibility of:
poisoning
The nurse administers a loop diuretic to the client. In addition to sodium and water, what other electrolyte would the nurse expect to be excreted in significant amounts?
potassium
The nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results of a client receiving drug therapy. What would the nurse suspect if the results reveal an elevation in the blood urea nitrogen level and creatinine concentration?
renal injury
A client has had an injury to the cerebellum. The nurse is collecting data from the client and family to document in preparing an individualized nursing care plan. Which is the best description of the function of the cerebellum that has to be considered when collecting data from the client?
responsible for muscle control
A black box warning alerts health care providers to risks in young adults 18 to 24 years of age when taking antidepressant medications. Which symptoms of concern should be included?
statements or resignation and futility and a desire to die