Pharmacology Exam #4 All Questions
With Correct Solutions Updated
1. The nurse is aware that adrenergic drugs produce effects similar to which
of these nervous systems?
a. Central nervous system
b. Somatic nervous system
c. Sympathetic nervous system
d. Parasympathetic nervous system - Ans--C
Adrenergic drugs mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering (Knowledge) REF: p. 300
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: General
2. When an adrenergic drug stimulates beta1-adrenergic receptors, the
result is an increased force of contraction, which is known as what type of
effect?
a. Positive inotropic
b. Anti-adrenergic
c. Negative dromotropic
d. Positive chronotropic - Ans--A
An increased force of contraction is known as a positive inotropic effect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 302
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: General
3. When a patient is taking an adrenergic drug, the nurse expects to observe
which effect?
a. Increased heart rate
b. Bronchial constriction
c. Constricted pupils
d. Increased intestinal peristalsis - Ans--A
,Increased heart rate is one of the effects of adrenergic drugs. Sympathetic
nervous system stimulation also results in bronchodilation, dilated pupils,
and decreased gastrointestinal mobility, depending upon which receptors
are stimulated.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 300
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
4. An adrenergic agonist is ordered for a patient in shock. The nurse will
note that this drug has had its primary intended effect if which expected
outcome occurs?
a. Volume restoration
b. Increased blood pressure
c. Decreased urine output
d. Reduced anxiety - Ans--B
For a patient in shock, a primary benefit of an adrenergic agonist drug is to
increase blood pressure. A drug in this category should not be used in place
of volume restoration, nor does it provide volume restoration (IV fluids do
this). Adrenergic agonists may enhance urine output if cardiac output and
perfusion to the kidneys increase. These drugs do not reduce anxiety.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 310
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Evaluation
5. The nurse is administering a stat dose of epinephrine. Epinephrine is
appropriate for which situation?
a. Severe hypertension
b. Angina
c. Cardiac arrest
d. Tachycardia - Ans--C
Treatment of cardiac arrest is an indication for the use of epinephrine. The
other options are not indications for epinephrine.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 305
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
6. A patient is on a low-dose dobutamine drip for heart failure. She had been
feeling better but now has a sense of tightness in her chest, palpitations,
,and a bit of anxiety. Her heart rate is up to 110 per minute, and her blood
pressure is 150/98 mm Hg (increased from previous readings of 86 per
minute and 120/80 mm Hg). What is the nurse's immediate concern for this
patient?
a. She is experiencing normal adverse effects of dobutamine therapy.
b. She may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the dobutamine.
c. The medication may be causing a worsening of a preexisting cardiac
disorder.
d. The dosage of the dobutamine needs to be increased to control the
symptoms better. - Ans--C
Because dobutamine is a vasoactive adrenergic, it works by increasing the
cardiac output in heart failure patients by increasing myocardial contractility
and stroke volume. However, adrenergic drugs may worsen a preexisting
cardiac disorder, such as causing a myocardial infarction in a patient with
coronary artery disease. The other options are incorrect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Analyzing (Analysis) REF: pp. 305-306
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation
7. A 14-year-old patient has been treated for asthma for almost 4 months.
Two weeks ago, she was given salmeterol as part of her medication
regimen. However, her mother has called the clinic to report that it does not
seem to work when her daughter is having an asthma attack. Which
response by the nurse is appropriate?
a. "It takes time for a therapeutic response to develop."
b. "She is too young for this particular medication; it will be changed."
c. "She needs to take up to two puffs every 4 hours to ensure adequate
blood levels."
d. "This medication is indicated for prevention of bronchospasms, not for
relief of acute symptoms." - Ans--D
Salmeterol is indicated for the prevention of bronchospasms, not treatment
of acute symptoms. The dosage is usually two puffs twice daily, 12 hours
apart, for maintenance effects in patients older than 12 years of age. The
other options are incorrect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 309
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation
, 8. A hospitalized patient is experiencing a severe anaphylactic reaction to a
dose of intravenous penicillin. Which drug will the nurse expect to use to
treat this condition?
a. Ephedra
b. Epinephrine
c. Phenylephrine
d. Pseudoephedrine - Ans--B
Epinephrine is the drug of choice for the treatment of anaphylaxis. The other
drugs listed are incorrect choices.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 305
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Planning
9. The nurse recognizes that adrenergic drugs cause relaxation of the
bronchi and bronchodilation by stimulating which type of receptors?
a. Dopaminergic
b. Beta1-adrenergic
c. Beta2-adrenergic
d. Alpha1-adrenergic - Ans--C
Stimulation of beta2-adrenergic receptors results in bronchodilation. The
other choices are incorrect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 300
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation
10. A patient is receiving a moderate-level dose of dobutamine for shock
and is complaining of feeling more "skipping beats" than yesterday. What is
the nurse's next action?
a. Assess the patient's vital signs and cardiac rhythm.
b. Discontinue the dobutamine immediately.
c. Titrate the rate to a higher dose to reduce the palpitations.
d. Monitor for other signs of a therapeutic response to the drug. - Ans--B
During the administration of adrenergic drugs, adverse effects such as
cardiac irregularities, hypertension, and tachycardia may occur. Stopping
the drug should cause the toxic symptoms to subside quickly because of the
drug's short half-life.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 303
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
With Correct Solutions Updated
1. The nurse is aware that adrenergic drugs produce effects similar to which
of these nervous systems?
a. Central nervous system
b. Somatic nervous system
c. Sympathetic nervous system
d. Parasympathetic nervous system - Ans--C
Adrenergic drugs mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering (Knowledge) REF: p. 300
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: General
2. When an adrenergic drug stimulates beta1-adrenergic receptors, the
result is an increased force of contraction, which is known as what type of
effect?
a. Positive inotropic
b. Anti-adrenergic
c. Negative dromotropic
d. Positive chronotropic - Ans--A
An increased force of contraction is known as a positive inotropic effect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 302
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: General
3. When a patient is taking an adrenergic drug, the nurse expects to observe
which effect?
a. Increased heart rate
b. Bronchial constriction
c. Constricted pupils
d. Increased intestinal peristalsis - Ans--A
,Increased heart rate is one of the effects of adrenergic drugs. Sympathetic
nervous system stimulation also results in bronchodilation, dilated pupils,
and decreased gastrointestinal mobility, depending upon which receptors
are stimulated.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 300
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
4. An adrenergic agonist is ordered for a patient in shock. The nurse will
note that this drug has had its primary intended effect if which expected
outcome occurs?
a. Volume restoration
b. Increased blood pressure
c. Decreased urine output
d. Reduced anxiety - Ans--B
For a patient in shock, a primary benefit of an adrenergic agonist drug is to
increase blood pressure. A drug in this category should not be used in place
of volume restoration, nor does it provide volume restoration (IV fluids do
this). Adrenergic agonists may enhance urine output if cardiac output and
perfusion to the kidneys increase. These drugs do not reduce anxiety.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 310
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Evaluation
5. The nurse is administering a stat dose of epinephrine. Epinephrine is
appropriate for which situation?
a. Severe hypertension
b. Angina
c. Cardiac arrest
d. Tachycardia - Ans--C
Treatment of cardiac arrest is an indication for the use of epinephrine. The
other options are not indications for epinephrine.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 305
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
6. A patient is on a low-dose dobutamine drip for heart failure. She had been
feeling better but now has a sense of tightness in her chest, palpitations,
,and a bit of anxiety. Her heart rate is up to 110 per minute, and her blood
pressure is 150/98 mm Hg (increased from previous readings of 86 per
minute and 120/80 mm Hg). What is the nurse's immediate concern for this
patient?
a. She is experiencing normal adverse effects of dobutamine therapy.
b. She may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the dobutamine.
c. The medication may be causing a worsening of a preexisting cardiac
disorder.
d. The dosage of the dobutamine needs to be increased to control the
symptoms better. - Ans--C
Because dobutamine is a vasoactive adrenergic, it works by increasing the
cardiac output in heart failure patients by increasing myocardial contractility
and stroke volume. However, adrenergic drugs may worsen a preexisting
cardiac disorder, such as causing a myocardial infarction in a patient with
coronary artery disease. The other options are incorrect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Analyzing (Analysis) REF: pp. 305-306
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation
7. A 14-year-old patient has been treated for asthma for almost 4 months.
Two weeks ago, she was given salmeterol as part of her medication
regimen. However, her mother has called the clinic to report that it does not
seem to work when her daughter is having an asthma attack. Which
response by the nurse is appropriate?
a. "It takes time for a therapeutic response to develop."
b. "She is too young for this particular medication; it will be changed."
c. "She needs to take up to two puffs every 4 hours to ensure adequate
blood levels."
d. "This medication is indicated for prevention of bronchospasms, not for
relief of acute symptoms." - Ans--D
Salmeterol is indicated for the prevention of bronchospasms, not treatment
of acute symptoms. The dosage is usually two puffs twice daily, 12 hours
apart, for maintenance effects in patients older than 12 years of age. The
other options are incorrect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 309
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation
, 8. A hospitalized patient is experiencing a severe anaphylactic reaction to a
dose of intravenous penicillin. Which drug will the nurse expect to use to
treat this condition?
a. Ephedra
b. Epinephrine
c. Phenylephrine
d. Pseudoephedrine - Ans--B
Epinephrine is the drug of choice for the treatment of anaphylaxis. The other
drugs listed are incorrect choices.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 305
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Planning
9. The nurse recognizes that adrenergic drugs cause relaxation of the
bronchi and bronchodilation by stimulating which type of receptors?
a. Dopaminergic
b. Beta1-adrenergic
c. Beta2-adrenergic
d. Alpha1-adrenergic - Ans--C
Stimulation of beta2-adrenergic receptors results in bronchodilation. The
other choices are incorrect.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 300
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation
10. A patient is receiving a moderate-level dose of dobutamine for shock
and is complaining of feeling more "skipping beats" than yesterday. What is
the nurse's next action?
a. Assess the patient's vital signs and cardiac rhythm.
b. Discontinue the dobutamine immediately.
c. Titrate the rate to a higher dose to reduce the palpitations.
d. Monitor for other signs of a therapeutic response to the drug. - Ans--B
During the administration of adrenergic drugs, adverse effects such as
cardiac irregularities, hypertension, and tachycardia may occur. Stopping
the drug should cause the toxic symptoms to subside quickly because of the
drug's short half-life.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 303
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
