PHARM 180 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
Glucocorticoid drugs have the ability to suppress inflammation, it can mask symptoms of infection
and should not be given to patients with actual infection. Remember that Cushing syndrome
symptoms will only happen with Long Term Therapy with Glucocorticoids - Answers pts w/ infections
shouldn't take Glucocorticoid drugs because it can hide infection symptoms
Cushing syndrome will happen with long term use of glucocorticoid / increase intake of corticoid
steroids
Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone that is chemically identical to thyroxine (T4). It is used in
the treatment of hypothyroidism. The nurse should prepare to instruct a client with hypothyroidism
on the use of this medication - Answers levothyroxine is very similar to thyroxine T4
Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism
nurse should educated pt on the use of levothyroxine
Reglan is a gastrointestinal stimulant used to relieve nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain,
bloating, and a persistent feeling of fullness after meals. Reglan works by promoting gastric emptying.
It is a prokinetic drug. - Answers G.I. stimulant = Replan used ti relieve nausea vomitting heartburn
stomach pain bloating and a persistent feeling of fullness after meals
works by gastric emptying
prokinetic drug
Loop diuretics inhibit sodium and chloride reabsorption in the loop of Henle and increase urine
output. It also excretes potassium. Thiazide diuretics block sodium and chloride in the distal tubule
and nephron. Potassium-sparing diuretics block aldosterone. It also does not allow for excretion of
potassium; thus, patient should stay away from high potassium containing foods. / Review all
different types of diuretics and their mechanism of action. - Answers Loop Diuretics- med :
FUROSEMIDE (Lasix) or torsemide for hypotension, stops sodium and chloride reabsorption in the
loop of Henle and increases urine output and releases potassium
Thiazide Diuretics- med: Hydrochlorotiazide (Microzide) blocks sodium and chloride in the distal
tubule and nephron
Potassium sparing diuretic- med: SPIRONOLACTONE/ Aldactone block aldosterone and doesn't let
potassium leave. Pts should not consume high potassium foods while on potassium sparing diuretics
foods high in potassium - Answers dried fruit potatoes cantaloupe bananas oranges broccoli tomatoes
avocados dried peas and meats
Fosamax (alendronate) needs to be taken on an empty stomach/ 30 minutes before breakfast, with a
full glass of water and the patient needs to sit upright for at least 30 minutes after taking the
medication. These are important education points to explain to the patient. - Answers educate pt on
fosamax (alendronate) - pt must take med on: empty stomach 30 mins before fast must sit upright 30
mins after and must take med with a full glass of water
When prioritizing care...you should always first look at safety than the ABC (Airway, Breathing and
Circulation) and next comes pain. - Answers 1st priority: ABC Airway Breathing Circulation
If potassium is to be given in liquid form, it must be diluted in water because it is very irritating to the
mucosal lining of the GI Tract - Answers Liquid form potassium MUST be diluted in H2O because it can
irritate the mucosal lining of the G.I. tract
Aspirin is an antiplatelet, and if patient will be having surgery, MDs will educate the patient to stop
aspirin 1 week prior to the surgical procedure - Answers pt must stop aspirin one week before surgery
date
Aspirin is an anti platelet doesn't let blood clot
If you have orders to give oral medications, one must assess the patient's ability to swallow the
medication prior to administering the drug - Answers assess that pt can swallow before administering
an oral medication
, If a patient has a renal condition, it is very important that the nurse identify any nephrotoxic meds the
patient may be taking and let the MD knows. They may need to reduce the dose or change the choice
of meds to a non-nephrotoxic drug - Answers if a pt w/ a renal condition is taking nephrotoxic meds
nurse needs to identify and let and MD know
MD may need to reduce the dosage/ change the med type to a NON-nephrotoxic drug
As a nurse it is very important that prior to administering a drug that the nurse knows the following:
The reason the medication was prescribed, knowing how the medication is to be administered,
knowing how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy and knowing the name of the medication -
Answers Before a nurse administers medications he/she must know : why it was prescribed, how will
it be administered, how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy, and know the name of the
medication
Know the name of the prototype diuretics: hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and spironolactone -
Answers Loop Diuretic: FUROSEMIDE
Thiazide Diuretic: HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE
Potassium-sparing Diuretic: SPIRONOLACTONE
Colchicine is a medication that can be used for acute gout attack by reducing uric acid crystals in the
joint. It prevents the inflammatory response caused by the presence of uric acid in the joints. It is to
be used short term during acute attacks - Answers Colchicine= used for short term acute gout attack
this med reduces uric acid crystals in the joint
prevents inflammatory response caused by the uric acid in joints
Patient with gout should avoid beef, sardines, liver, organ meet, salmon, high purine foods and
alcohol ingestion (mainly beer). These are foods that produce high amounts of uric acid in the body -
Answers Pts w/ gout shouldn't eat High Uric Acid Foods: Beef, sardines, liver, organ meet, salmon,
high purine foods, alcohol (beer)
The primary reason oral drugs should be administered with food is because it helps protect the gastric
mucosa - Answers Taking oral drugs w/ food helps protect the gastric mucosa
Some of the symptoms of Cushing syndrome is that the patient can develop a round face (moon face)
and ecchymosis in the arms and other areas in the body. A buffalo Hump might also develop -
Answers Cushing syndrome S&S = round face (moon face), ecchymosis in the arms and other body
parts, buffalo hump
If the client with Cushing's disease starts showing signs of infection like a temperature (even if low
temp), should go the clinic to see a physician right away to get antibiotic orders - Answers Cushing pt
starts showing signs of infection like : temp (even if its a low temp) pt should seek MD help ASAP for
antibiotics
A patient using Glucocorticoids should avoid being around patients that are sick with infections -
Answers pts on glucocorticoids shouldn't be around other sick its that have infections
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) commonly present by inflammation in multiple joints - Answers
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)= inflammation in multiple joints
Complementary alternative medicine if used in conjunction with main drug therapy will allow for
lower doses of the drugs and fewer side effects - Answers Complementary alternative medicine:
acupuncture helps reduce amount/dosage of main drug therapy
Oral medication routes usually carry less side effects than the IV version of the same drug. This is also
due to the first pass effect - Answers oral meds go through first pass have less side effects than IV
version
Patients with positive CTs for Hemorrhage requires level of consciousness monitoring every 15
minutes to ensure that Intracranial pressure is not increasing. Thus, opiates like morphine is
contraindicated because it would increase the levels of sedation - Answers Positive CT hemorrhage
pts need LOC monitoring every 15 mins to ensure intracranial pressure is not increased
Opiates ex Morphine shouldn't be given because it messes with LOC
Glucocorticoid drugs have the ability to suppress inflammation, it can mask symptoms of infection
and should not be given to patients with actual infection. Remember that Cushing syndrome
symptoms will only happen with Long Term Therapy with Glucocorticoids - Answers pts w/ infections
shouldn't take Glucocorticoid drugs because it can hide infection symptoms
Cushing syndrome will happen with long term use of glucocorticoid / increase intake of corticoid
steroids
Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone that is chemically identical to thyroxine (T4). It is used in
the treatment of hypothyroidism. The nurse should prepare to instruct a client with hypothyroidism
on the use of this medication - Answers levothyroxine is very similar to thyroxine T4
Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism
nurse should educated pt on the use of levothyroxine
Reglan is a gastrointestinal stimulant used to relieve nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain,
bloating, and a persistent feeling of fullness after meals. Reglan works by promoting gastric emptying.
It is a prokinetic drug. - Answers G.I. stimulant = Replan used ti relieve nausea vomitting heartburn
stomach pain bloating and a persistent feeling of fullness after meals
works by gastric emptying
prokinetic drug
Loop diuretics inhibit sodium and chloride reabsorption in the loop of Henle and increase urine
output. It also excretes potassium. Thiazide diuretics block sodium and chloride in the distal tubule
and nephron. Potassium-sparing diuretics block aldosterone. It also does not allow for excretion of
potassium; thus, patient should stay away from high potassium containing foods. / Review all
different types of diuretics and their mechanism of action. - Answers Loop Diuretics- med :
FUROSEMIDE (Lasix) or torsemide for hypotension, stops sodium and chloride reabsorption in the
loop of Henle and increases urine output and releases potassium
Thiazide Diuretics- med: Hydrochlorotiazide (Microzide) blocks sodium and chloride in the distal
tubule and nephron
Potassium sparing diuretic- med: SPIRONOLACTONE/ Aldactone block aldosterone and doesn't let
potassium leave. Pts should not consume high potassium foods while on potassium sparing diuretics
foods high in potassium - Answers dried fruit potatoes cantaloupe bananas oranges broccoli tomatoes
avocados dried peas and meats
Fosamax (alendronate) needs to be taken on an empty stomach/ 30 minutes before breakfast, with a
full glass of water and the patient needs to sit upright for at least 30 minutes after taking the
medication. These are important education points to explain to the patient. - Answers educate pt on
fosamax (alendronate) - pt must take med on: empty stomach 30 mins before fast must sit upright 30
mins after and must take med with a full glass of water
When prioritizing care...you should always first look at safety than the ABC (Airway, Breathing and
Circulation) and next comes pain. - Answers 1st priority: ABC Airway Breathing Circulation
If potassium is to be given in liquid form, it must be diluted in water because it is very irritating to the
mucosal lining of the GI Tract - Answers Liquid form potassium MUST be diluted in H2O because it can
irritate the mucosal lining of the G.I. tract
Aspirin is an antiplatelet, and if patient will be having surgery, MDs will educate the patient to stop
aspirin 1 week prior to the surgical procedure - Answers pt must stop aspirin one week before surgery
date
Aspirin is an anti platelet doesn't let blood clot
If you have orders to give oral medications, one must assess the patient's ability to swallow the
medication prior to administering the drug - Answers assess that pt can swallow before administering
an oral medication
, If a patient has a renal condition, it is very important that the nurse identify any nephrotoxic meds the
patient may be taking and let the MD knows. They may need to reduce the dose or change the choice
of meds to a non-nephrotoxic drug - Answers if a pt w/ a renal condition is taking nephrotoxic meds
nurse needs to identify and let and MD know
MD may need to reduce the dosage/ change the med type to a NON-nephrotoxic drug
As a nurse it is very important that prior to administering a drug that the nurse knows the following:
The reason the medication was prescribed, knowing how the medication is to be administered,
knowing how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy and knowing the name of the medication -
Answers Before a nurse administers medications he/she must know : why it was prescribed, how will
it be administered, how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy, and know the name of the
medication
Know the name of the prototype diuretics: hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and spironolactone -
Answers Loop Diuretic: FUROSEMIDE
Thiazide Diuretic: HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE
Potassium-sparing Diuretic: SPIRONOLACTONE
Colchicine is a medication that can be used for acute gout attack by reducing uric acid crystals in the
joint. It prevents the inflammatory response caused by the presence of uric acid in the joints. It is to
be used short term during acute attacks - Answers Colchicine= used for short term acute gout attack
this med reduces uric acid crystals in the joint
prevents inflammatory response caused by the uric acid in joints
Patient with gout should avoid beef, sardines, liver, organ meet, salmon, high purine foods and
alcohol ingestion (mainly beer). These are foods that produce high amounts of uric acid in the body -
Answers Pts w/ gout shouldn't eat High Uric Acid Foods: Beef, sardines, liver, organ meet, salmon,
high purine foods, alcohol (beer)
The primary reason oral drugs should be administered with food is because it helps protect the gastric
mucosa - Answers Taking oral drugs w/ food helps protect the gastric mucosa
Some of the symptoms of Cushing syndrome is that the patient can develop a round face (moon face)
and ecchymosis in the arms and other areas in the body. A buffalo Hump might also develop -
Answers Cushing syndrome S&S = round face (moon face), ecchymosis in the arms and other body
parts, buffalo hump
If the client with Cushing's disease starts showing signs of infection like a temperature (even if low
temp), should go the clinic to see a physician right away to get antibiotic orders - Answers Cushing pt
starts showing signs of infection like : temp (even if its a low temp) pt should seek MD help ASAP for
antibiotics
A patient using Glucocorticoids should avoid being around patients that are sick with infections -
Answers pts on glucocorticoids shouldn't be around other sick its that have infections
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) commonly present by inflammation in multiple joints - Answers
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)= inflammation in multiple joints
Complementary alternative medicine if used in conjunction with main drug therapy will allow for
lower doses of the drugs and fewer side effects - Answers Complementary alternative medicine:
acupuncture helps reduce amount/dosage of main drug therapy
Oral medication routes usually carry less side effects than the IV version of the same drug. This is also
due to the first pass effect - Answers oral meds go through first pass have less side effects than IV
version
Patients with positive CTs for Hemorrhage requires level of consciousness monitoring every 15
minutes to ensure that Intracranial pressure is not increasing. Thus, opiates like morphine is
contraindicated because it would increase the levels of sedation - Answers Positive CT hemorrhage
pts need LOC monitoring every 15 mins to ensure intracranial pressure is not increased
Opiates ex Morphine shouldn't be given because it messes with LOC
