Drugs Affecting Blood Pressure Exam Questions
and Correct Answers
1. What does the clinic nurse anticipate as initial drug therapy for a
39-year-old African American man who is 25 pounds overweight and
newly diagnosed with hypertension?
A) An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
B) A beta-blocker
C) A calcium channel blocker
D) A diuretic
answer: Ans
answer: D
Feedback answer:
African Americans are at highest risk for developing hypertension with men more likely than women to
develop the disease. African Americans have documented ditterences in response to antihypertensive
therapy. They are most responsive to single-drug therapy and diuretics. The first line use of a diuretic is
in combination with diet and
other lifestyle changes. The use of a calcium channel blocker and/or alpha-adrenergic blocker should
follow. African Americans are less responsive to ACE inhibitors and beta-blocker.
2. The clinic nurse assesses a patient taking benazepril (Lotensin)
to control hypertension. What is the priority nursing assessment
related to this drug?
A) Mental illness
B) Hepatic disease
C) Renal disease
D) Peptic ulcer disease
answer: Ans answer: C
Feedback answer:
Benazepril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; drugs in this class are contraindicated in the
presence of impaired renal function. Mental illness, hepatic disease, or peptic ulcer disease is not a
contraindication with this drug.
,3. A patient has been prescribed losartan (Cozaar) for
hypertension. What pa- tient teaching points will the nurse include
about this drug include?
A) "Report onset of a cough or fever to health care provider."
B) "Limit fluid intake to decrease urinary output."
C) "Monitor blood pressure once a week."
D) "Take the drug late in the day to prevent sleepiness."
answer: Ans answer: A Feedback answer:
Losartan is an angiotensin II-receptor blocker that is associated with a cough, back pain, fever, muscle
weakness, and upper respiratory tract infections, so the patient should be taught to report a fever or
cough to his health care provider.
, Fluid intake should be normal and the drug is best taken in the morning. Blood pressure should be
monitored daily, especially when first starting the drug when adverse ettects are not yet known.
4. A patient newly diagnosed with hypertension has just been given a
prescrip- tion for medication. Along with promoting safety, what is
the other goal of the nurse's teaching plan?
A) A blood pressure of 120/80
B) Medication compliance
C) A discussion with his insurance company about the cost of the drug
D) Verbalization of why drugs should be kept out of the reach of
children answer: Ans answer: B Feedback answer:
The nurse provides thorough patient teaching, including the name of the drug, dosage prescribed,
measures to avoid adverse ettects, warning signs of problems, and the need for periodic monitoring and
evaluation, to enhance patient knowledge about drug therapy and to promote compliance. All of the
options are realistic outcomes for this patient. However, compliance is a great concern for people who
are in need of hypertensive agents. It would be most important for his or her health care provider to
know that he or she has filled the prescription and is taking his or her medication as prescribed. Keeping
the drug out of the reach of children would be a safety measure.
5. A stepped care management approach to treating
hypertension includes weight loss, smoking cessation, decreased
use of alcohol, reducing salt in the diet, and increased physical
exercise. In which step of a stepped-care manage- ment approach
will the nurse teach about these changes in lifestyle?
A) Step 1 only
B) Steps 1 and 2
C) Steps 1, 2, and 3
D) Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4
answer: Ans answer: D
Feedback answer:
Lifestyle changes are encouraged in all four steps and should be advocated for the maintenance of good
health. These changes are stressed in steps 1 and 2 in the hope that drug therapy will not be
necessary. However, these changes should occur in steps 3 and 4 as well.
6. A patient taking diltiazem (Cardizem) for hypertension has come to
and Correct Answers
1. What does the clinic nurse anticipate as initial drug therapy for a
39-year-old African American man who is 25 pounds overweight and
newly diagnosed with hypertension?
A) An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
B) A beta-blocker
C) A calcium channel blocker
D) A diuretic
answer: Ans
answer: D
Feedback answer:
African Americans are at highest risk for developing hypertension with men more likely than women to
develop the disease. African Americans have documented ditterences in response to antihypertensive
therapy. They are most responsive to single-drug therapy and diuretics. The first line use of a diuretic is
in combination with diet and
other lifestyle changes. The use of a calcium channel blocker and/or alpha-adrenergic blocker should
follow. African Americans are less responsive to ACE inhibitors and beta-blocker.
2. The clinic nurse assesses a patient taking benazepril (Lotensin)
to control hypertension. What is the priority nursing assessment
related to this drug?
A) Mental illness
B) Hepatic disease
C) Renal disease
D) Peptic ulcer disease
answer: Ans answer: C
Feedback answer:
Benazepril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; drugs in this class are contraindicated in the
presence of impaired renal function. Mental illness, hepatic disease, or peptic ulcer disease is not a
contraindication with this drug.
,3. A patient has been prescribed losartan (Cozaar) for
hypertension. What pa- tient teaching points will the nurse include
about this drug include?
A) "Report onset of a cough or fever to health care provider."
B) "Limit fluid intake to decrease urinary output."
C) "Monitor blood pressure once a week."
D) "Take the drug late in the day to prevent sleepiness."
answer: Ans answer: A Feedback answer:
Losartan is an angiotensin II-receptor blocker that is associated with a cough, back pain, fever, muscle
weakness, and upper respiratory tract infections, so the patient should be taught to report a fever or
cough to his health care provider.
, Fluid intake should be normal and the drug is best taken in the morning. Blood pressure should be
monitored daily, especially when first starting the drug when adverse ettects are not yet known.
4. A patient newly diagnosed with hypertension has just been given a
prescrip- tion for medication. Along with promoting safety, what is
the other goal of the nurse's teaching plan?
A) A blood pressure of 120/80
B) Medication compliance
C) A discussion with his insurance company about the cost of the drug
D) Verbalization of why drugs should be kept out of the reach of
children answer: Ans answer: B Feedback answer:
The nurse provides thorough patient teaching, including the name of the drug, dosage prescribed,
measures to avoid adverse ettects, warning signs of problems, and the need for periodic monitoring and
evaluation, to enhance patient knowledge about drug therapy and to promote compliance. All of the
options are realistic outcomes for this patient. However, compliance is a great concern for people who
are in need of hypertensive agents. It would be most important for his or her health care provider to
know that he or she has filled the prescription and is taking his or her medication as prescribed. Keeping
the drug out of the reach of children would be a safety measure.
5. A stepped care management approach to treating
hypertension includes weight loss, smoking cessation, decreased
use of alcohol, reducing salt in the diet, and increased physical
exercise. In which step of a stepped-care manage- ment approach
will the nurse teach about these changes in lifestyle?
A) Step 1 only
B) Steps 1 and 2
C) Steps 1, 2, and 3
D) Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4
answer: Ans answer: D
Feedback answer:
Lifestyle changes are encouraged in all four steps and should be advocated for the maintenance of good
health. These changes are stressed in steps 1 and 2 in the hope that drug therapy will not be
necessary. However, these changes should occur in steps 3 and 4 as well.
6. A patient taking diltiazem (Cardizem) for hypertension has come to
