Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
Chapter 01: Orientation to Pharmacology
Burchum: Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do this, the nurse
will rely on knowledge of which topic?
a. Clinical pharmacology
b. Drug efficacy
c. Pharmacokinetics
d. Pharmacotherapeutics
ANS: D
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions.
Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human interactions. Drug efficacy
measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics is the
study of the impact of the body on a drug.
PTS: 1
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a. It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration.
b. It does not interact significantly with other medications.
c. It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen.
d. It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
ANS: C
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to
comply with the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed,
but those properties are independent of ease of administration.
PTS: 1
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness and will
decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the drug’s effects by the
patient, the nurse will anticipate which outcome?
a. Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
b. Decreased motivation to take the drug
c. Improved compliance with the drug regimen
d. Increased likelihood of drug overdose
ANS: C
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects.
Patients who understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to
comply with the drug regimen.
PTS: 1
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. What are considered the ‘Big Three’ properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.)
a. Irreversible action
b. Effectiveness
c. Safety
d. Selectivity
e. A recognizable trade name
ANS: B, C, D
The ‘Big Three’ properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.
PTS: 1
2. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how individual
patient variability might affect the patient’s response to the medication? (Select all that apply.)
a. Chemical stability of the medication
b. Ease of administration
c. Family medical history
d. Patient’s age
e. Patient’s diagnosis
ANS: C, D, E
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a
medication. Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s
illness can affect how drugs are metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the
ease of administration are properties of drugs.
PTS: 1
Chapter 02: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
Burchum: Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The medication label
instructs the patient to administer “2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for coughing or wheezing.”
The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and doesn’t feel that
the medication is always effective. Which action is outside the nurse’s scope of practice?
a. Asking the patient to demonstrate the use of the inhaler
b. Assessing the patient’s exposure to tobacco smoke
c. Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
d. Suggesting that the patient use 1 puff to reduce side effects
ANS: D
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order
from a prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the
patient’s ability to administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation.
Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a
smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug therapy. Performing a physical assessment
helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
PTS: 1
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Norco] for
pain. The patient asks the nurse about using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is
correct?
a. “It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications.”
b. “Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity.”
c. “There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe.”
d. “Tylenol and Norco are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.”
ANS: B
Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the same medication. It is
important to teach patients to be aware of the different names for the same drug to minimize the
risk of overdose. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications may be
taken together unless significant harmful drug interactions are possible. Even though no drug
interactions are at play in this case, both drugs contain acetaminophen, which could lead to
toxicity.
PTS: 1
3. The nurse is preparing to care for a patient who will be taking an antihypertensive medication.
Which action by the nurse is part of the assessment step of the nursing process?
a. Asking the prescriber for an order to monitor serum drug levels
b. Monitoring the patient for drug interactions after giving the medication
c. Questioning the patient about over-the-counter medications
d. Taking the patient’s blood pressure throughout the course of treatment
ANS: C
The assessment part of the nursing process involves gathering information before beginning
treatment, and this includes asking about other medications the patient may be taking.
Monitoring serum drug levels, watching for drug interactions, and checking vital signs after
giving the medication are all part of the evaluation phase.
PTS: 1
4. A postoperative patient reports pain, which the patient rates as an 8 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10
being the most extreme pain). The prescriber has ordered acetaminophen [Tylenol] 650 mg PO
every 6 hours PRN pain. What will the nurse do?
a. Ask the patient what medications have helped with pain in the past.
b. Contact the provider to request a different analgesic medication.
c. Give the pain medication and reposition the patient to promote comfort.
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
d. Request an order to administer the medication every 4 hours.
ANS: B
The nursing diagnosis for this patient is severe pain. Acetaminophen is given for mild to
moderate pain, so the nurse should ask the prescriber to order a stronger analgesic medication.
Asking the patient to tell the nurse what has helped in the past is part of an initial assessment and
should be done preoperatively and not when the patient is having severe pain. Because the
patient is having severe pain, acetaminophen combined with nondrug therapies will not be
sufficient. Increasing the frequency of the dose of a medication for mild pain will not be
effective.
PTS: 1
5. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes is to be discharged from the hospital. The nurse
teaching this patient about home management should begin by doing what?
a. Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
b. Discussing methods of storing insulin and discarding syringes
c. Giving information about how diet and exercise affect insulin requirements
d. Teaching the patient about the long-term consequences of poor diabetes control
ANS: A
Because insulin must be given correctly to control symptoms and because an overdose can be
fatal, it is most important for the patient to know how to administer it. Asking for a
demonstration of technique is the best way to determine whether the patient has understood the
teaching. When a patient is receiving a lot of new information, the information presented first is
the most likely to be remembered. The other teaching points are important as well, but they are
not as critical and can be taught later.
PTS: 1
6. The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. Which action is
not part of the six rights of drug administration?
a. Assessing the patient’s pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication
b. Checking the medication administration record to see when the last dose was
administered
c. Consulting a drug manual to determine whether the amount the prescriber ordered
is appropriate
d. Documenting the reason the medication was given in the patient’s electronic
medical record
ANS: A
Assessing the patient’s pain after administering the medication is an important part of the nursing
process when giving medications, but it is not part of the six rights of drug administration.
Checking to see when the last dose was given helps ensure that the medication is given at the
right time. Consulting a drug manual helps ensure that the medication is given in the right dose.
Documenting the reason for a pain medication is an important part of the right documentation—
the sixth right.
PTS: 1
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
Chapter 01: Orientation to Pharmacology
Burchum: Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do this, the nurse
will rely on knowledge of which topic?
a. Clinical pharmacology
b. Drug efficacy
c. Pharmacokinetics
d. Pharmacotherapeutics
ANS: D
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions.
Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human interactions. Drug efficacy
measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics is the
study of the impact of the body on a drug.
PTS: 1
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a. It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration.
b. It does not interact significantly with other medications.
c. It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen.
d. It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
ANS: C
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to
comply with the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed,
but those properties are independent of ease of administration.
PTS: 1
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness and will
decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the drug’s effects by the
patient, the nurse will anticipate which outcome?
a. Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
b. Decreased motivation to take the drug
c. Improved compliance with the drug regimen
d. Increased likelihood of drug overdose
ANS: C
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects.
Patients who understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to
comply with the drug regimen.
PTS: 1
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. What are considered the ‘Big Three’ properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.)
a. Irreversible action
b. Effectiveness
c. Safety
d. Selectivity
e. A recognizable trade name
ANS: B, C, D
The ‘Big Three’ properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.
PTS: 1
2. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how individual
patient variability might affect the patient’s response to the medication? (Select all that apply.)
a. Chemical stability of the medication
b. Ease of administration
c. Family medical history
d. Patient’s age
e. Patient’s diagnosis
ANS: C, D, E
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a
medication. Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s
illness can affect how drugs are metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the
ease of administration are properties of drugs.
PTS: 1
Chapter 02: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
Burchum: Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The medication label
instructs the patient to administer “2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for coughing or wheezing.”
The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and doesn’t feel that
the medication is always effective. Which action is outside the nurse’s scope of practice?
a. Asking the patient to demonstrate the use of the inhaler
b. Assessing the patient’s exposure to tobacco smoke
c. Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
d. Suggesting that the patient use 1 puff to reduce side effects
ANS: D
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order
from a prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the
patient’s ability to administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation.
Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a
smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug therapy. Performing a physical assessment
helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
PTS: 1
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Norco] for
pain. The patient asks the nurse about using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is
correct?
a. “It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications.”
b. “Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity.”
c. “There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe.”
d. “Tylenol and Norco are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.”
ANS: B
Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the same medication. It is
important to teach patients to be aware of the different names for the same drug to minimize the
risk of overdose. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications may be
taken together unless significant harmful drug interactions are possible. Even though no drug
interactions are at play in this case, both drugs contain acetaminophen, which could lead to
toxicity.
PTS: 1
3. The nurse is preparing to care for a patient who will be taking an antihypertensive medication.
Which action by the nurse is part of the assessment step of the nursing process?
a. Asking the prescriber for an order to monitor serum drug levels
b. Monitoring the patient for drug interactions after giving the medication
c. Questioning the patient about over-the-counter medications
d. Taking the patient’s blood pressure throughout the course of treatment
ANS: C
The assessment part of the nursing process involves gathering information before beginning
treatment, and this includes asking about other medications the patient may be taking.
Monitoring serum drug levels, watching for drug interactions, and checking vital signs after
giving the medication are all part of the evaluation phase.
PTS: 1
4. A postoperative patient reports pain, which the patient rates as an 8 on a scale from 1 to 10 (10
being the most extreme pain). The prescriber has ordered acetaminophen [Tylenol] 650 mg PO
every 6 hours PRN pain. What will the nurse do?
a. Ask the patient what medications have helped with pain in the past.
b. Contact the provider to request a different analgesic medication.
c. Give the pain medication and reposition the patient to promote comfort.
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The Marketplace to Buy and Sell your Study Material
d. Request an order to administer the medication every 4 hours.
ANS: B
The nursing diagnosis for this patient is severe pain. Acetaminophen is given for mild to
moderate pain, so the nurse should ask the prescriber to order a stronger analgesic medication.
Asking the patient to tell the nurse what has helped in the past is part of an initial assessment and
should be done preoperatively and not when the patient is having severe pain. Because the
patient is having severe pain, acetaminophen combined with nondrug therapies will not be
sufficient. Increasing the frequency of the dose of a medication for mild pain will not be
effective.
PTS: 1
5. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes is to be discharged from the hospital. The nurse
teaching this patient about home management should begin by doing what?
a. Asking the patient to demonstrate how to measure and administer insulin
b. Discussing methods of storing insulin and discarding syringes
c. Giving information about how diet and exercise affect insulin requirements
d. Teaching the patient about the long-term consequences of poor diabetes control
ANS: A
Because insulin must be given correctly to control symptoms and because an overdose can be
fatal, it is most important for the patient to know how to administer it. Asking for a
demonstration of technique is the best way to determine whether the patient has understood the
teaching. When a patient is receiving a lot of new information, the information presented first is
the most likely to be remembered. The other teaching points are important as well, but they are
not as critical and can be taught later.
PTS: 1
6. The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. Which action is
not part of the six rights of drug administration?
a. Assessing the patient’s pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication
b. Checking the medication administration record to see when the last dose was
administered
c. Consulting a drug manual to determine whether the amount the prescriber ordered
is appropriate
d. Documenting the reason the medication was given in the patient’s electronic
medical record
ANS: A
Assessing the patient’s pain after administering the medication is an important part of the nursing
process when giving medications, but it is not part of the six rights of drug administration.
Checking to see when the last dose was given helps ensure that the medication is given at the
right time. Consulting a drug manual helps ensure that the medication is given in the right dose.
Documenting the reason for a pain medication is an important part of the right documentation—
the sixth right.
PTS: 1
Downloaded by: obinwaro |
Distribution of this document is illegal
