Question 1
Midterm Pharmacology Quiz . Select the following medications that fall under the benzodiazepine category (Select all that apply)
- a) Lorazepam
- b) Diazepam
- c) Alprazolam
- d) Buspirone
- e) Haloperidol
Question 2
A postsurgical client is being sent home on enoxaparin. The nurse should describe what benefit of this medication?
- a) Inhibits the formation of clots
- b) Stimulating production of certain clotting factors
- c) Enhancing the flow of blood in peripheral vessels
- d) Dissolving any clots that form
Question 3
A client is being discharged after experiencing angina and will have sublingual nitroglycerin to take if they experience chest pain. Their spouse is at their side and the nurse knows they understand the education when they state what? (Select all that apply)
- a) I need to take my spouse’s blood pressure before they take the medication
- b) The medication bottle should be stored in the refrigerator and is good for a year
- c) I will encourage them to swallow the tablet with small sips of water
- d) Before they take the first tablet, I will make sure they are sitting or lying down
- e) If they still have pain after one dose, they can take a second dose after 5 minutes
Question 4
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) primarily work by inhibiting the reuptake of which neurotransmitters? (Select all that apply)
- a) Dopamine
- b) Serotonin
- c) GABA
- d) Norepinephrine
- e) Acetylcholine
Question 5
A client is taking spironolactone and the nurse is monitoring for potential adverse effects. Which of the following should the nurse prioritize?
- a) Potassium levels
- b) Sodium levels
- c) Blood glucose levels
- d) Prothrombin time (PT)
Question 6
The nurse is reviewing a medication order and notices that the dose is higher than the typical range. What should the nurse do first?
- a) Call the provider and clarify the order
- b) Administer the dose as ordered
- c) Administer the typical dose and document it
- d) Wait for the next shift to double-check the order
Question 7
The nurse is educating a client who has been prescribed levothyroxine. Which of the following is this medication used to replace?
- a) Insulin
- b) Thyroid hormone
- c) Cortisol
- d) Growth hormone
Question 8
The nurse is caring for an older adult client who has multiple chronic conditions and is taking several medications. Which of the following is the primary goal of medication reconciliation?
- a) Ensuring the client is taking the lowest possible dose of each medication
- b) Maximizing the therapeutic effect of each medication
- c) Reducing the client’s likelihood of drug-to-drug interactions
- d) Minimizing the number of medications the client is taking
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus who is unconscious and has a blood glucose level of 32 mg/dL. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
- a) Insulin glargine 10 units subcutaneous
- b) Dextrose 50% in water (D50W) 50 mL IV push
- c) Regular insulin 5 units IV push
- d) Metformin 500 mg orally
Question 10
A client is suspected of having a myocardial infarction. The nurse should anticipate administering which of the following medications to inhibit platelet aggregation?
- a) Heparin
- b) Warfarin
- c) Acetylsalicylic acid
- d) Alteplase
Question 11
A client has been taking haloperidol for the treatment of schizophrenia for many years and is now being switched to an atypical antipsychotic medication. The nurse should anticipate which of the following instructions?
- a) Gradually taper the dose of haloperidol while also taking atypical antipsychotic medication.
- b) Stop the haloperidol immediately and start the atypical antipsychotic medication.
- c) Stop the haloperidol for 2 weeks and then start the atypical antipsychotic medication.
- d) Continue taking the haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic medication at full doses.
Question 24
Midterm Pharmacology Quiz. An older adult client has just been prescribed a benzodiazepine medication. What would be a priority nursing intervention for this client?
- a) Complete a pain assessment
- b) Encourage the client to increase physical activity
- c) Complete a fall risk assessment
- d) Assess blood pressure every 15 minutes
Question 30
What is the primary outcome when a nurse follows the rights of medication administration?
- a) Ensuring the safe administration of medications
- b) Cost-effective use of medications
- c) Obtaining informed consent for drug administration
- d) Ensures that the pharmacy has the medication available
Question 31
The nurse is assessing a client who has just received haloperidol for an acute psychotic episode. For what therapeutic effect should the nurse initially assess following administration?
- a) Increased insight into delusional thinking
- b) Increased sophistication of thinking
- c) Decreased agitation and combativeness
- d) Decreased central nervous system (CNS) stimulation
Question 32
The nurse is caring for a client who is going home on warfarin. The nurse is providing education for the client and determines the client understands the education when they state what? Midterm Pharmacology Quiz
- a) I will get Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) checked weekly
- b) I will need to have Prothrombin time (PT), and international normalized ratio (INR) labs checked periodically
- c) My platelet levels will need to be followed closely
- d) I will need daily hemoglobin and hematocrit labs checked
Question 33
A client is observed wandering in the hallways and talking with people who are not present. What behavior does the nurse document the client is experiencing?
- a) Paranoia
- b) Delusions
- c) Hallucinations
- d) Depression
Question 34
The nurse provides dietary teaching to the client with hypertension and determines the client understands the information when what meal is selected?
- a) Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy
- b) Grilled salmon with steamed broccoli
- c) Cheeseburger with French fries
- d) Pasta with red sauce, meatballs, and garlic bread
Question 35
The nurse is caring for a post-anesthesia client who has had fentanyl. The nurse notes a respiratory rate of 6 breaths/min, and they are no longer responding to questions. What drug should be administered?
- a) Naloxone
- b) Hydrocodone
- c) Butorphanol
- d) Pentazocine
Question 36
A client has a history of atrial fibrillation and is taking an oral anticoagulant. The client has been newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism and placed on levothyroxine. What assessment should the nurse prioritize?
- a) Monitoring electrolyte levels
- b) Asses for signs/symptoms of infection
- c) Assessing level of consciousness
- d) Monitor for increased bleeding
Question 37
The nurse is discharging a client to home who has been prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. What should the nurse include when providing education to the client? (Select all that apply) Midterm Pharmacology Quiz
- a) Ensure the pathway to the restroom is clear
- b) Change positions slowly
- c) Eat foods high in potassium
- d) Monitor blood pressure regularly
- e) Limit fluid intake to 1 L/day, unless contraindicated
Question 38
Which of these assessment findings would lead the nurse to suspect their client is experiencing digoxin toxicity? (Select all that apply)
- a) Irregular heart rhythms
- b) Hemorrhage
- c) Visual disturbance of seeing halos around lights
- d) Nausea
- e) Peripheral edema
Question 39
Which assessment finding will the nurse hold a scheduled dose of digoxin for a client and contact the provider?
- a) Pulse is 53 beats/minute
- b) Respiratory rate falls below 14
- c) Decreased urine output
- d) Blood pressure is 135/86 mmHg
Question 40
A patient taking lithium is having problems with coordination and unstable gait. The patient’s lithium level is 2.3 mEq/L. The nurse should do which of the following? Midterm Pharmacology Quiz
- a) Continue to administer the lithium three times per day since this is an expected result.
- b) Skip a dose of lithium and then resume the regular medication schedule.
- c) Administer an extra dose of lithium.
- d) Withhold the lithium, offer fluids, and notify the prescriber of the high lithium level.
Question 52
Which of the following are symptoms of serotonin syndrome? (Select all that apply)
- a) hypertensive crisis
- b) hypoxia
- c) extreme agitation
- d) diuresis
- e) muscle rigidity
Question 53
The nurse is providing a client with education regarding the administration of levothyroxine. The client understands their education when they state what?
- a) I will take the medication after breakfast to decrease GI upset
- b) I need to remain in the upright position for 30 minutes after taking it
- c) I will take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach
- d) I need to take the medication before going to bed at night with my other medications.
Question 54
A client has been taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for the treatment of depression. Which represents the action of the medication?
- a) SSRIs prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed.
- b) SSRIs block GABA function.
- c) SSRIs increase serotonin production in the brain.
- d) SSRIs increase the number of serotonin binding sites.
Question 55
The nurse is caring for a teenage client with bipolar disorder who has recently been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). What assessment should the nurse prioritize?
- a) Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
- b) Cardiac rate and rhythm
- c) Hypermanic state
- d) Suicidal ideation
Question 56
A client began taking acetylsalicylic acid several years ago to prevent platelet aggregation following a myocardial infarction. Which dose of aspirin is the client most likely taking daily? Midterm Pharmacology Quiz
- a) 81 mg
- b) 180 mg
- c) 325 mg
- d) 650 mg
Question 57
A client with hyperlipidemia has been taking atorvastatin for several months. The therapeutic effect of the medication can be best determined by:
- a) Assessing the client’s resting heart rate and postural blood pressures
- b) Reviewing the client’s laboratory blood work results
- c) Assessing the client’s exercise tolerance and activities
Question 62
A client is admitted to the emergency department for a benzodiazepine overdose. The nurse administers flumazenil. What is the most critical assessment for the nurse to make during the withdrawal?
- a) Tachycardia and hypertension
- b) Bradycardia and hypotension
- c) Increased appetite and weight gain
- d) Lethargy and sedation
Question 63
The parathyroid gland is responsible for the regulation of calcium levels in the body. When the body detects a low calcium level, what is the initial response?
- a) Increased release of parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- b) Decreased release of parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- c) Increased release of calcitonin
- d) Decreased release of vitamin D
Question 64
When administering topical medications, which is an important nursing action?
- a) Applying the medication liberally
- b) Cleaning the skin with alcohol before applying
- c) Using sterile technique
- d) Wearing gloves
Question 65
A client diagnosed with hypothyroidism is taking levothyroxine. The client returns to the clinic 1 week after beginning the medication and tells the nurse that the medication has not helped. What is the appropriate nursing response to the client?
- a) A higher dose is required
- b) The medication may need to be changed
- c) Full therapeutic effect may take 1 to 3 weeks
- d) Full therapeutic effect may take up to 4 months
Question 66
A client asks the nurse why they feel relief from their pain medication quicker when it is given intravenously (IV) than when they take it in tablet form by mouth. The nurse correctly states:
- a) “The IV route of administration allows the medication to enter the bloodstream immediately, while the tablet form needs to first be broken down in the GI tract.”
- b) “Both the IV and the oral routes are absorbed at the same rate, there shouldn’t be any difference of when you feel relief.”
- c) “IV medications go through a different metabolism process than tablets.”
- d) “IV medications have a different chemical makeup than tablets which allows IV medications to interact with pain receptors in the brain in a different way.”
Question 67
A client reports taking a prescribed antidepressant for the treatment of insomnia. What medication does the nurse suspect the client is using?
- a) Fluoxetine
- b) Trazodone
- c) Olanzapine
- d) Citalopram
Question 68
The nurse is explaining heart failure to the family of their client who has just been diagnosed. What would the nurse say to this family?
- a) The heart rate has been very high, causing the heart to be overworked
- b) There is a decrease in blood pressure that is causing a systemic back up of blood
- c) The body is rejecting the heart, causing a failure of cardiac output
- d) The heart muscle cannot pump as effectively as normal, causing a backup of blood
Question 69
A nurse is giving a medication with a half-life of four hours. The nurse understands that this means that after four hours what will occur?
- a) The medication will reach its peak concentration in the bloodstream
- b) The client is at the point of highest risk for adverse effects
- c) The serum level of the medication will fall by 50%
- d) The liver will have metabolized 50% of the medication
Question 70
A patient comes to the clinic with complaints of being tired during the day because of getting up at night to go to the bathroom. When reviewing her medications, the nurse notes the patient takes furosemide. Which statement by the client would the nurse need to address?
- a) I drink 10 glasses of water a day.
- b) I take my Lasix with my meals.
- c) I get up slowly when I stand up.
- d) I take my medication right before bed.
Question 71
The nurse is caring for a patient who takes digoxin and furosemide for heart failure. What lab will the nurse want to monitor?
- a) Magnesium
- b) Chloride
- c) Iron
- d) Potassium
