Phathopharmacology Practice Questions

A group of nursing students asks a nurse to explain the blood-brain barrier. The nurse would be correct to say that the blood-brain barrier:

A. prevents some potentially toxic substances from crossing into the central nervous system. Rationale: The blood brain barrier can prevent certain substances from entering the brain. Lipid soluble substances can pass through but not ionized or protein bound drugs. Subject: Central Nervous System Basics Cognitive Level: Knowledge

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about administering medications to older adult patients. Which statement by a student indicates a need for further teaching? (study!)

"Alteration in hepatic function requires more frequent drug dosing." Rationale: Elders who have alteration in hepatic function need to have less frequent dosing of medications. The other statements are accurate. Changes in GI function and changes in renal function affect drug levels. Subject: Geriatric Drug Therapy Cognitive Level: Knowledge

A nursing student asks about drugs that interfere with the termination of transmitter action. Which statement by the nurse is correct?

"These drugs reduce either reuptake or degradation of the transmitter, causing an increase in receptor activation." Rationale: By interfering with transmitter termination there is more neurotransmitter for receptor activation. Subjective: Neuropharmacology Basics Cognitive Level: Comprehension

A person with acute hypoxemia may hyperventilate and develop

Respiratory alkalosis. Rationale: Hyperventilation causes much carbonic acid to be blown off, resulting in respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory acidosis is caused by hypoventilation and retention of carbonic acid. Hyperventilation does not cause metabolic acid or base disturbances. Cogn. Level: Comprehension Subj: Acid Base Imbalances

A report comes back indicating that muscular atrophy has occurred. A nurse recalls that muscular atrophy involves a decrease in muscle cell

size. Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease or shrinkage in cellular size. Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells. Vacuoles are membrane-bound vesicles within the cell that contain cellular debris and hydrolytic enzymes. Atrophy has nothing to do with types of cells, only the size of the cell.

For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by

hyperventilating Rationale: In an attempt to compensate for metabolic acidosis, the lungs hyperventilate to blow off CO2. It is the lungs hyperventilating that would compensate for metabolic acidosis, not the kidneys. CO2 retention would increase the acidotic state. Aldosterone would conserve water, but does not help compensate for acidosis. Cogn. Level: Comprehension Subj: Acid Base Imb

Which task is included in the assessment step of the nursing process?

Collecting and communicating data Rationale: Data are collected and communicated in the assessment phase of the nursing process. Subject: Nursing Practice Cognitive Level: Comprehension Subject: Nursing Practice Cognitive Level: Comprehension

What will the nurse need to determine first in order to mix two drugs in the same syringe?

Compatibility of the drugs Rationale: Knowledge of absorption is important but not in order to mix drugs. In order to mix two drugs, compatibility is determined so there is no deterioration or precipitate when the drugs are mixed in the same syringe. Drug level does not indicate if it is acceptable to mix medications in the same syringe. Adverse effects are important for the nurse to know, but not in order to mix drugs. Cognitive Level: Application Subject: Drug Interactions

Chronic activation of stress hormones can lead to Select all that apply

impaired cognitive function. cardiovascular disease. autoimmune disease. depression. Rationale: Excessive cortisol levels promote hypertension, atherosclerosis, and the development of cardiovascular disease. Chronic overactive stress hormones may result in atrophy and death of brain cells. Elevated levels of stress hormones are found in individuals with depressive disorders. Chronic stress leads to immune function impairment, rather than overactive immune function, and has been implicated in autoimmune disorde

Respiratory acidosis is associated with

increased carbonic acid. Rationale: Respiratory acidosis causes an excess of carbonic acid that may be due to impaired gas exchange, inadequate neuromuscular function, and impairment of respiratory control of the brainstem. Hypokalemia is associated with alkalosis. Acidosis is associated with decreased neuromuscular excitability. Increased pH is associated with alkalosis; in acidosis the pH is low. Cogn. Level: Knowledge Subj: Acid Base Imb

A 25-year-old male is in a car accident and sustains a fracture to his left femur with extensive soft tissue injury. The pain associated with the injury is related to

kinins and prostaglandins Rationale: Prostaglandins cause increased vascular permeability, neutrophil chemotaxis, and pain by direct effects on nerves. Kinins also promote pain.

After suffering a heart attack, a middle-aged man is counseled to take a cholesterol-lowering medication and attend physical therapy. This is an example of

tertiary prevention. Rationale: Tertiary prevention includes rehabilitative and supportive care and attempts to alleviate disability and restore effective functioning such as prescribing a cholesterol lowering medication and physical therpay following a heart attack. Primary prevention is prevention of disease by altering susceptibility or reducing exposure for susceptible individuals. Secondary prevention is the early detection, screening, and management of the disease. Disease treatment involves management of the disease once it has developed. Question Type: Application Topic: Patho Concepts