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NSG 6005 Midterm Exam 2026/2027 Latest Actual
Exam Questions with Verified Correct Answers and
Detailed Rationales Grade A Study Guide
Question 1
A nursing student is studying anticoagulant therapy. Heparin exerts its therapeutic
action primarily through which mechanism?
A. Directly inhibiting thrombin
B. Preventing platelet aggregation
C. Upregulating the activity of antithrombin III
D. Degrading fibrin strands in clots
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Heparin works as an anticoagulant by binding to and potentiating
antithrombin III, which inactivates thrombin and factor Xa. It does not work directly,
prevent platelet aggregation like antiplatelet drugs, or degrade fibrin like thrombolytics.
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Question 2
When a medication triggers an anaphylactic reaction, which physiologic action occurs
immediately?
A. Systemic vasoconstriction
B. Bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
C. Mast cells liberating large doses of histamine
D. Massive stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction where an allergen cross-links
IgE antibodies on mast cells and basophils, causing rapid degranulation and release of
histamine and other inflammatory mediators, leading to the clinical symptoms.
Question 3
What is the primary therapeutic effect of cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin?
A. Decreasing cardiac conduction velocity
B. Increasing the force of cardiac contraction
C. Causing peripheral vasodilation
D. Stimulating diuresis
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The positive inotropic effect (increased force of myocardial contraction) is
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the primary desired effect of digoxin in treating heart failure. Its negative chronotropic
effect (slowing heart rate) is also useful but secondary for this purpose.
Question 4
A client with hypertension is prescribed a medication that competes with epinephrine
for available beta-receptor sites. This describes the action of which drug?
A. Prazosin
B. Enalapril
C. Atenolol
D. Amlodipine
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Atenolol is a selective beta-1 adrenergic blocker. It competes with
catecholamines like epinephrine for binding at beta-receptor sites, primarily in the
heart, leading to decreased heart rate and contractility.
Question 5
The nurse understands that the mechanism of action for Class IV anti-dysrhythmic drugs
(calcium channel blockers like verapamil) is:
A. Blocking sodium channels
B. Prolonging repolarization by blocking potassium channels
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C. Depressing phase 4 depolarization and lengthening phases 1 and 2 repolarization
D. Blocking beta-adrenergic stimulation
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Class IV antiarrhythmics are non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.
They work by inhibiting calcium influx during phase 4 (slowing automaticity in SA/AV
nodes) and during phases 1 and 2 (slowing conduction and prolonging repolarization in
the AV node).
Question 6
A client with angina is prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin. What is a primary vascular
action of nitrates?
A. Construction of coronary arteries
B. Reduction in systemic venous tone
C. Increased cardiac afterload
D. Stimulation of the sinoatrial (SA) node
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Nitrates cause venodilation (reduction in venous tone), which decreases
venous return (preload), reducing myocardial oxygen demand. They also cause some
arterial dilation, which reduces afterload.
NSG 6005 Midterm Exam 2026/2027 Latest Actual
Exam Questions with Verified Correct Answers and
Detailed Rationales Grade A Study Guide
Question 1
A nursing student is studying anticoagulant therapy. Heparin exerts its therapeutic
action primarily through which mechanism?
A. Directly inhibiting thrombin
B. Preventing platelet aggregation
C. Upregulating the activity of antithrombin III
D. Degrading fibrin strands in clots
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Heparin works as an anticoagulant by binding to and potentiating
antithrombin III, which inactivates thrombin and factor Xa. It does not work directly,
prevent platelet aggregation like antiplatelet drugs, or degrade fibrin like thrombolytics.
,2|Page
Question 2
When a medication triggers an anaphylactic reaction, which physiologic action occurs
immediately?
A. Systemic vasoconstriction
B. Bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
C. Mast cells liberating large doses of histamine
D. Massive stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction where an allergen cross-links
IgE antibodies on mast cells and basophils, causing rapid degranulation and release of
histamine and other inflammatory mediators, leading to the clinical symptoms.
Question 3
What is the primary therapeutic effect of cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin?
A. Decreasing cardiac conduction velocity
B. Increasing the force of cardiac contraction
C. Causing peripheral vasodilation
D. Stimulating diuresis
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The positive inotropic effect (increased force of myocardial contraction) is
,3|Page
the primary desired effect of digoxin in treating heart failure. Its negative chronotropic
effect (slowing heart rate) is also useful but secondary for this purpose.
Question 4
A client with hypertension is prescribed a medication that competes with epinephrine
for available beta-receptor sites. This describes the action of which drug?
A. Prazosin
B. Enalapril
C. Atenolol
D. Amlodipine
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Atenolol is a selective beta-1 adrenergic blocker. It competes with
catecholamines like epinephrine for binding at beta-receptor sites, primarily in the
heart, leading to decreased heart rate and contractility.
Question 5
The nurse understands that the mechanism of action for Class IV anti-dysrhythmic drugs
(calcium channel blockers like verapamil) is:
A. Blocking sodium channels
B. Prolonging repolarization by blocking potassium channels
, 4|Page
C. Depressing phase 4 depolarization and lengthening phases 1 and 2 repolarization
D. Blocking beta-adrenergic stimulation
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Class IV antiarrhythmics are non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.
They work by inhibiting calcium influx during phase 4 (slowing automaticity in SA/AV
nodes) and during phases 1 and 2 (slowing conduction and prolonging repolarization in
the AV node).
Question 6
A client with angina is prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin. What is a primary vascular
action of nitrates?
A. Construction of coronary arteries
B. Reduction in systemic venous tone
C. Increased cardiac afterload
D. Stimulation of the sinoatrial (SA) node
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Nitrates cause venodilation (reduction in venous tone), which decreases
venous return (preload), reducing myocardial oxygen demand. They also cause some
arterial dilation, which reduces afterload.
