NUR 2474|NUR 2474 PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
WITH COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS|
2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE | 100 % RATED & VERIFIED
SOLUTIONs WITH RATINALE
1. A patient is to undergo orthopedic surgery, and the prescriber will order a
cephalosporin to be given preoperatively as prophylaxis against infection. The
nurse expects the provider to order which cephalosporin?
a. First-generation cephalosporin
b. Second-generation cephalosporin
c. Third-generation cephalosporin
d. Fourth-generation cephalosporin
a. First-generation cephalosporin
*due to its efficacy against common skin flora and lower risk of broad-spectrum
resistance.
2. A patient receiving a cephalosporin develops a secondary intestinal infection
caused by Clostridium difficile. What is an appropriate treatment for this patient?
a. Adding an antibiotic, such as vancomycin (Vancocin), to the patient's regimen
b. Discontinuing the cephalosporin and beginning metronidazole (Flagyl)
c. Discontinuing all antibiotics and providing fluid replacement
d. Increasing the dose of the cephalosporin and providing isolation measures
b. Discontinuing the cephalosporin and beginning metronidazole (Flagyl)
*treatment involves discontinuing the inciting antibiotic and initiating specific
therapy against C. difficile.
3. Besides the cost of administering a given drug, which are considerations when a
provider selects a cephalosporin to treat an infection? (Select all that apply.)
a. Adverse effects
b. Antimicrobial spectrum
c. Brand name
d. Manufacturer
e. Pharmacokinetics
,a. Adverse effects
b. Antimicrobial spectrum
e. Pharmacokinetics
*brand names and manufacturers will change over time, but the adverse effects,
antimicrobial spectrum, and pharmacokinetics are considerations for infection
treatment.
4. An adolescent patient recently attended a health fair and had a serum glucose
test. The patient telephones the nurse and says, "My level was 125 mg/dL. Does
that mean I have diabetes?" What is the nurse's most accurate response?
a. "Unless you were fasting for longer than 8 hours, this does not necessarily mean
you have diabetes."
b. "At this level, you probably have diabetes. You will need an oral glucose
tolerance test this week."
c. "This level is conclusive evidence that you have diabetes."
d. "This level is conclusive evidence that you do not have diabetes."
a. "Unless you were fasting for longer than 8 hours, this does not necessarily mean
you have diabetes."
*could be a normal level without fasting and does not mean diabetes unless it was
high for a fasting blood glucose level.
5. Insulin glargine is prescribed for a hospitalized patient who is diabetic. When
will the nurse administer this drug?
a. Approximately 15 to 30 minutes before each meal
b. In the morning and at 4 PM
c. Once daily at bedtime
d. After meals and at bedtime
c. Once daily at bedtime
*goodnight glargine
6. A patient with type 1 diabetes who takes insulin reports taking propranolol for
hypertension. Why is the nurse concerned?
a. The beta blocker can cause insulin resistance.
b. Using the two agents together increases the risk of ketoacidosis.
,c. Propranolol increases insulin requirements because of receptor blocking.
d. The beta blocker can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
d. The beta blocker can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
*beta blockers block adrenaline which signals the liver to release glucose in the
blood when glucose is low to avoid hypoglycemia.
7. Which statement is correct about the contrast between a carbose and miglitol?
a. Miglitol has not been associated with hepatic dysfunction.
b. With miglitol, sucrose can be used to treat hypoglycemia.
c. Miglitol is less effective in African Americans.
d. Miglitol has no gastrointestinal side effects.
a. Miglitol has not been associated with hepatic dysfunction.
*key difference is that acarbose has been associated with rare cases of hepatic
dysfunction
8. A nurse counsels a patient with diabetes who is starting therapy with an alpha-
glucosidase inhibitor. The patient should be educated about the potential for which
adverse reactions? (Select all that apply.)
a. Hypoglycemia
b. Flatulence
c. Elevated iron levels in the blood
d. Fluid retention
e. Diarrhea
b. Flatulence
e. Diarrhea
*due to build up of gasses (flatulence) from to undigested carbohydrates reaching
the colon and causing an osmotic effect (diarrhea)
9. The nurse is caring for a pregnant patient recently diagnosed with
hypothyroidism. The patient tells the nurse she does not want to take medications
while she is pregnant. What will the nurse explain to this patient?
a. Hypothyroidism is a normal effect of pregnancy and usually is of no
consequence.
b. Neuropsychologic deficits in the fetus can occur if the condition is not treated.
c. No danger to the fetus exists until the third trimester.
d. Treatment is required only if the patient is experiencing symptoms.
, b. Neuropsychologic deficits in the fetus can occur if the condition is not treated.
*Thyroid hormones are crucial for the normal development of the fetal brain and
nervous system and must be treated in pregnancy.
10. A nurse is teaching a patient who has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism
about levothyroxine (Synthroid). Which statement by the patient indicates a need
for further teaching?
a. "I should not take heartburn medication without consulting my provider."
b. "I should report insomnia, tremors, and an increased heart rate to my provider."
c. "If I take a multivitamin with iron, I should take it 4 hours after the Synthroid."
d."If I take calcium supplements, I may need to decrease my dose of Synthroid."
d."If I take calcium supplements, I may need to decrease my dose of Synthroid."
*this statement is incorrect since calcium interferes with the absorption of
Synthroid, it may need to be increased not decreased.
11. A patient with hypothyroidism begins taking PO levothyroxine (Synthroid).
The nurse assesses the patient at the beginning of the shift and notes a heart rate of
62 beats per minute and a temperature of 97.2° F. The patient is lethargic and
difficult to arouse. The nurse will contact the provider to request an order for
which drug?
a. Beta blocker
b. Increased dose of PO levothyroxine
c. Intravenous levothyroxine
d. Methimazole (Tapazole)
c. Intravenous levothyroxine
*IV allows for a more rapid correction of thyroid hormone levels especially
hypothyroidism with symptoms of myxedema coma or severe hypothyroidism.
This is considered a medical emergency.
12. A patient is admitted to the hospital and will begin taking levothyroxine
(Synthroid). The nurse learns that the patient also takes warfarin (Coumadin). The
nurse will notify the provider to discuss _____ the _____ dose.
a. reducing levothyroxine
b. reducing warfarin
c. increasing levothyroxine
d. increasing warfarin
WITH COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS|
2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE | 100 % RATED & VERIFIED
SOLUTIONs WITH RATINALE
1. A patient is to undergo orthopedic surgery, and the prescriber will order a
cephalosporin to be given preoperatively as prophylaxis against infection. The
nurse expects the provider to order which cephalosporin?
a. First-generation cephalosporin
b. Second-generation cephalosporin
c. Third-generation cephalosporin
d. Fourth-generation cephalosporin
a. First-generation cephalosporin
*due to its efficacy against common skin flora and lower risk of broad-spectrum
resistance.
2. A patient receiving a cephalosporin develops a secondary intestinal infection
caused by Clostridium difficile. What is an appropriate treatment for this patient?
a. Adding an antibiotic, such as vancomycin (Vancocin), to the patient's regimen
b. Discontinuing the cephalosporin and beginning metronidazole (Flagyl)
c. Discontinuing all antibiotics and providing fluid replacement
d. Increasing the dose of the cephalosporin and providing isolation measures
b. Discontinuing the cephalosporin and beginning metronidazole (Flagyl)
*treatment involves discontinuing the inciting antibiotic and initiating specific
therapy against C. difficile.
3. Besides the cost of administering a given drug, which are considerations when a
provider selects a cephalosporin to treat an infection? (Select all that apply.)
a. Adverse effects
b. Antimicrobial spectrum
c. Brand name
d. Manufacturer
e. Pharmacokinetics
,a. Adverse effects
b. Antimicrobial spectrum
e. Pharmacokinetics
*brand names and manufacturers will change over time, but the adverse effects,
antimicrobial spectrum, and pharmacokinetics are considerations for infection
treatment.
4. An adolescent patient recently attended a health fair and had a serum glucose
test. The patient telephones the nurse and says, "My level was 125 mg/dL. Does
that mean I have diabetes?" What is the nurse's most accurate response?
a. "Unless you were fasting for longer than 8 hours, this does not necessarily mean
you have diabetes."
b. "At this level, you probably have diabetes. You will need an oral glucose
tolerance test this week."
c. "This level is conclusive evidence that you have diabetes."
d. "This level is conclusive evidence that you do not have diabetes."
a. "Unless you were fasting for longer than 8 hours, this does not necessarily mean
you have diabetes."
*could be a normal level without fasting and does not mean diabetes unless it was
high for a fasting blood glucose level.
5. Insulin glargine is prescribed for a hospitalized patient who is diabetic. When
will the nurse administer this drug?
a. Approximately 15 to 30 minutes before each meal
b. In the morning and at 4 PM
c. Once daily at bedtime
d. After meals and at bedtime
c. Once daily at bedtime
*goodnight glargine
6. A patient with type 1 diabetes who takes insulin reports taking propranolol for
hypertension. Why is the nurse concerned?
a. The beta blocker can cause insulin resistance.
b. Using the two agents together increases the risk of ketoacidosis.
,c. Propranolol increases insulin requirements because of receptor blocking.
d. The beta blocker can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
d. The beta blocker can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
*beta blockers block adrenaline which signals the liver to release glucose in the
blood when glucose is low to avoid hypoglycemia.
7. Which statement is correct about the contrast between a carbose and miglitol?
a. Miglitol has not been associated with hepatic dysfunction.
b. With miglitol, sucrose can be used to treat hypoglycemia.
c. Miglitol is less effective in African Americans.
d. Miglitol has no gastrointestinal side effects.
a. Miglitol has not been associated with hepatic dysfunction.
*key difference is that acarbose has been associated with rare cases of hepatic
dysfunction
8. A nurse counsels a patient with diabetes who is starting therapy with an alpha-
glucosidase inhibitor. The patient should be educated about the potential for which
adverse reactions? (Select all that apply.)
a. Hypoglycemia
b. Flatulence
c. Elevated iron levels in the blood
d. Fluid retention
e. Diarrhea
b. Flatulence
e. Diarrhea
*due to build up of gasses (flatulence) from to undigested carbohydrates reaching
the colon and causing an osmotic effect (diarrhea)
9. The nurse is caring for a pregnant patient recently diagnosed with
hypothyroidism. The patient tells the nurse she does not want to take medications
while she is pregnant. What will the nurse explain to this patient?
a. Hypothyroidism is a normal effect of pregnancy and usually is of no
consequence.
b. Neuropsychologic deficits in the fetus can occur if the condition is not treated.
c. No danger to the fetus exists until the third trimester.
d. Treatment is required only if the patient is experiencing symptoms.
, b. Neuropsychologic deficits in the fetus can occur if the condition is not treated.
*Thyroid hormones are crucial for the normal development of the fetal brain and
nervous system and must be treated in pregnancy.
10. A nurse is teaching a patient who has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism
about levothyroxine (Synthroid). Which statement by the patient indicates a need
for further teaching?
a. "I should not take heartburn medication without consulting my provider."
b. "I should report insomnia, tremors, and an increased heart rate to my provider."
c. "If I take a multivitamin with iron, I should take it 4 hours after the Synthroid."
d."If I take calcium supplements, I may need to decrease my dose of Synthroid."
d."If I take calcium supplements, I may need to decrease my dose of Synthroid."
*this statement is incorrect since calcium interferes with the absorption of
Synthroid, it may need to be increased not decreased.
11. A patient with hypothyroidism begins taking PO levothyroxine (Synthroid).
The nurse assesses the patient at the beginning of the shift and notes a heart rate of
62 beats per minute and a temperature of 97.2° F. The patient is lethargic and
difficult to arouse. The nurse will contact the provider to request an order for
which drug?
a. Beta blocker
b. Increased dose of PO levothyroxine
c. Intravenous levothyroxine
d. Methimazole (Tapazole)
c. Intravenous levothyroxine
*IV allows for a more rapid correction of thyroid hormone levels especially
hypothyroidism with symptoms of myxedema coma or severe hypothyroidism.
This is considered a medical emergency.
12. A patient is admitted to the hospital and will begin taking levothyroxine
(Synthroid). The nurse learns that the patient also takes warfarin (Coumadin). The
nurse will notify the provider to discuss _____ the _____ dose.
a. reducing levothyroxine
b. reducing warfarin
c. increasing levothyroxine
d. increasing warfarin
