NURS 293 Introduction to Pharmacology Detailed Exam 2026

NURS 293 Introduction to Pharmacology Detailed Exam 2026 A nurse reviewing a medication list sees that a patient is on albuterol (beta-agonist) for their asthma, and on propranolol (beta-antagonist) for migraines. The nurse understands which of the following? - ANSWER-These medications oppose each other. The nurse is administering a medication to an elderly patient. The nurse understands that age-related changes can affect pharmacokinetics. Which of the following is accurate about medication and the elderly? (SATA) - ANSWER-Excretion is decreased due to fewer intact nephrons Absorption is affected by decreased gastric pH The nurse medicated Mr. Jones with Morphine 4mg IV about four hours ago. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of this medication including a half life of 3 hours, which of the following is accurate? - ANSWER-It may be about time for another dose of the medication, but he should still be experiencing some relief. Feedback Response for clarification: The half life of morphine is about 3 hours. Which means that half of it has metabolized, but there still should be some pain relief noted. It is, however, about time for another dose depending on their level of pain. Charlie is a 56-year-old father of two children who is married to his high school sweetheart, Betty. He drives a truck for a large company doing cross-country trips and often eats at fast food restaurants. Charlie recently went to see his primary health care provider for bilateral foot itching. He was diagnosed with onychomycosis and prescribed itraconazole 200mg daily. - ANSWER-Itraconazole (Sporanox) 200mg one daily Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg one daily Aspirin 325mg one daily Calcium Carbonate 400mg 4 tablets every 8 hours as needed Charlie asks when the itraconazole will start working. In reviewing the medication's pharmacodynamics and noting that the half-life is about 40 hours, which of the following is accurate? - ANSWER-The drug will reach steady state in 8 days, it is after this point that the blood levels will be high enough that the drug will be effective. As the nurse caring for Charlie, you review his current medication regimen. Prior to providing teaching instructions regarding Itraconazole, which home medication could decrease the effectiveness of Itraconazole? - ANSWER-Calcium carbonate Charlie has been increasing his use of calcium carbonate for heart burn to 5 to 6 times a day. After reviewing his home medications again, the nurse asks a few assessment questions to identify a possible drug interaction. Which one of Charlie's statements NURS 293 NURS 293 could indicate an interaction between his increased calcium carbonate usage and aspirin? - ANSWER-"My back pain and knee pain have increased in severity." After discovering the drug interaction, what action should the nurse take immediately? - ANSWER-Notify the prescribing health care provider of the medication combination. Carson is a 10 year old boy who is being treated in the ER with a complaint of severe, difficulty breathing. He recent started a new antibiotic for a lower respiratory infection. Which principle best describes the scenario? - ANSWER-Anaphylactic Reaction Connor, a 57 year old man, has been taking a non-steroidal analgesic for pain for five years. He contacts his health care provider to make an appointment to discuss another medication alternative because the medication is no longer managing his pain. Which principle best describes the scenario? - ANSWER-Tolerance Walter, a 65 year man, is being seen in a local medical clinic for dizziness, weakness, and a possible low blood pressure. For the past month, he has been taking a calcium channel blocking drug to lower his pressure. Walter tells the nurse that he knows that grapefruits can cause increase the amount of medication in his blood and lower his blood pressure. When asked about his daily diet, Walter informs the nurse that he drinks a half a glass of pink grapefruit juice and white toast for breakfast every morning. The nurse checks his blood pressure on the left alarm and it is alarmingly low. Which principle best describes the scenario? - ANSWER-Drug or Food Interaction Amanda is a 43 year old woman who has been diagnosed in the early stages of liver failure. She asks the nurse, as her disease worsens, will the effects of her oral medications change? Which principle best describes the scenario? - ANSWER-Bioavailability Corleen is a 72 year old woman who is being hospitalized for a hip repair surgery. After the procedure, Corleen was given a small dose intravenous morphine for pain. A few hours later, Corleen notifies the nurse that she still is experiencing pain. The nurse adds an oral pain medication to increase the effects of the pain medication therapy. Which principle best describes the scenario? - ANSWER-Additive Effect Ariana is a 25 year old who is being treated for a bacterial infection. The health care provider prescribed vancomycin, an antibiotic used to treat methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, two days ago. The nurse has an order to determine Ariana's vancomycin blood levels. The dose of vancomycin was started at 8:00 AM and takes 2 hours to infuse below are her laboratory results. - ANSWER Trough Level Ariana's vancomycin infusion is completed at 10:00 AM and the nurse has also received another order to determine Ariana's vancomycin blood levels. The image to the right shows her laboratory results. - ANSWER-Peak Level