NCLEX Pharmacology Practice Questions 2026: 500+
Drug Dosage, Safety, and Medication Administration
Questions with Answers & Rationales
Question 1
A patient on long-term warfarin therapy is admitted with an international normalized
ratio (INR) of 8.2 and signs of internal bleeding. Which antidote does the nurse
anticipate administering?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K (Phytonadione)
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Naloxone
Question 2
The nurse is caring for a patient who has taken a toxic dose of acetaminophen
(Tylenol). Which medication, if administered promptly, is most effective in preventing
hepatotoxicity?
A. Activated charcoal
B. Naloxone (Narcan)
C. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
D. Flumazenil
Question 3
A patient in the emergency department is unresponsive with a respiratory rate of 6
breaths per minute. The patient's friends state he may have taken too much of his
pain medication. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Acetylcysteine
B. Flumazenil
C. Naloxone (Narcan)
D. Vitamin K
,Question 4
A patient is started on atorvastatin (Lipitor) for hyperlipidemia. Which statement by
the patient indicates a need for further teaching regarding this medication?
A. "I will need to have regular blood tests to check my liver function."
B. "I should report any unexplained muscle pain or weakness to my doctor."
C. "I can continue to drink grapefruit juice every morning with my medication."
D. "I will follow a low-fat diet to help this medication work better."
Question 5
The nurse is administering furosemide (Lasix) IV push to a patient with heart failure.
Which laboratory value requires immediate intervention?
A. Sodium: 138 mEq/L
B. Potassium: 3.1 mEq/L
C. Glucose: 100 mg/dL
D. Calcium: 9.0 mg/dL
Question 6
A patient is prescribed lithium for bipolar disorder. Which statement by the patient
indicates a good understanding of the medication teaching?
A. "If I miss a dose, I can double up on my next dose."
B. "I should maintain a consistent sodium and fluid intake."
C. "I can stop taking the medication once I feel better."
D. "It is safe to take ibuprofen for headaches while on lithium."
Question 7
A patient is prescribed digoxin and furosemide. Before administering the digoxin, the
nurse checks the apical pulse and finds it is 54 beats per minute. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer the digoxin and document the finding.
,B. Withhold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider.
C. Administer the furosemide first to see if the pulse increases.
D. Re-check the pulse in 30 minutes.
Question 8
A patient is about to receive their first dose of IV vancomycin. The nurse plans to
infuse the medication slowly over at least 60 minutes to prevent which potential
adverse effect?
A. Ototoxicity
B. Nephrotoxicity
C. Red Man Syndrome
D. Steven-Johnson Syndrome
Question 9
A patient on IV heparin therapy for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has developed
bleeding gums and dark, tarry stools. The nurse anticipates that the healthcare
provider will order the administration of which antidote?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Sodium bicarbonate
Question 10
A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record for a patient taking
phenytoin (Dilantin). The nurse should prioritize monitoring for which adverse effect,
especially with long-term use?
A. Ototoxicity
B. Gingival hyperplasia
C. Persistent cough
D. Tendonitis
, Question 11
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient prescribed levofloxacin
(Levaquin) for pneumonia. Which instruction is most important to include?
A. "Take this medication with a full glass of milk to prevent stomach upset."
B. "Report any tendon pain or swelling immediately."
C. "Avoid direct sunlight and wear sunscreen."
D. "You may stop the medication when you feel better."
Question 12
A patient with heart failure is prescribed lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril). The nurse teaches
the patient that which potential side effect, though bothersome, is not usually
dangerous?
A. Persistent dry cough
B. Swelling of the tongue
C. Yellow-tinged vision
D. Muscle twitching
Correct Answers and Rationales
Answer to Question 1
• Correct Answer: B. Vitamin K (Phytonadione)
• Rationale: The flashcards explicitly state the antidote for warfarin is Vitamin K.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant that works by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting
factors. In cases of severe over-anticoagulation with bleeding, vitamin K is
administered to reverse its effects.
o Incorrect Options:
▪ A: Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin.
▪ C: Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
▪ D: Naloxone (Narcan) is the antidote for opioid overdose.
Answer to Question 2
• Correct Answer: C. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
• Rationale: The flashcards identify acetylcysteine as the specific antidote for
acetaminophen overdose. It works by replenishing glutathione stores in the liver,
Drug Dosage, Safety, and Medication Administration
Questions with Answers & Rationales
Question 1
A patient on long-term warfarin therapy is admitted with an international normalized
ratio (INR) of 8.2 and signs of internal bleeding. Which antidote does the nurse
anticipate administering?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K (Phytonadione)
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Naloxone
Question 2
The nurse is caring for a patient who has taken a toxic dose of acetaminophen
(Tylenol). Which medication, if administered promptly, is most effective in preventing
hepatotoxicity?
A. Activated charcoal
B. Naloxone (Narcan)
C. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
D. Flumazenil
Question 3
A patient in the emergency department is unresponsive with a respiratory rate of 6
breaths per minute. The patient's friends state he may have taken too much of his
pain medication. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Acetylcysteine
B. Flumazenil
C. Naloxone (Narcan)
D. Vitamin K
,Question 4
A patient is started on atorvastatin (Lipitor) for hyperlipidemia. Which statement by
the patient indicates a need for further teaching regarding this medication?
A. "I will need to have regular blood tests to check my liver function."
B. "I should report any unexplained muscle pain or weakness to my doctor."
C. "I can continue to drink grapefruit juice every morning with my medication."
D. "I will follow a low-fat diet to help this medication work better."
Question 5
The nurse is administering furosemide (Lasix) IV push to a patient with heart failure.
Which laboratory value requires immediate intervention?
A. Sodium: 138 mEq/L
B. Potassium: 3.1 mEq/L
C. Glucose: 100 mg/dL
D. Calcium: 9.0 mg/dL
Question 6
A patient is prescribed lithium for bipolar disorder. Which statement by the patient
indicates a good understanding of the medication teaching?
A. "If I miss a dose, I can double up on my next dose."
B. "I should maintain a consistent sodium and fluid intake."
C. "I can stop taking the medication once I feel better."
D. "It is safe to take ibuprofen for headaches while on lithium."
Question 7
A patient is prescribed digoxin and furosemide. Before administering the digoxin, the
nurse checks the apical pulse and finds it is 54 beats per minute. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer the digoxin and document the finding.
,B. Withhold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider.
C. Administer the furosemide first to see if the pulse increases.
D. Re-check the pulse in 30 minutes.
Question 8
A patient is about to receive their first dose of IV vancomycin. The nurse plans to
infuse the medication slowly over at least 60 minutes to prevent which potential
adverse effect?
A. Ototoxicity
B. Nephrotoxicity
C. Red Man Syndrome
D. Steven-Johnson Syndrome
Question 9
A patient on IV heparin therapy for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has developed
bleeding gums and dark, tarry stools. The nurse anticipates that the healthcare
provider will order the administration of which antidote?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Sodium bicarbonate
Question 10
A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record for a patient taking
phenytoin (Dilantin). The nurse should prioritize monitoring for which adverse effect,
especially with long-term use?
A. Ototoxicity
B. Gingival hyperplasia
C. Persistent cough
D. Tendonitis
, Question 11
The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient prescribed levofloxacin
(Levaquin) for pneumonia. Which instruction is most important to include?
A. "Take this medication with a full glass of milk to prevent stomach upset."
B. "Report any tendon pain or swelling immediately."
C. "Avoid direct sunlight and wear sunscreen."
D. "You may stop the medication when you feel better."
Question 12
A patient with heart failure is prescribed lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril). The nurse teaches
the patient that which potential side effect, though bothersome, is not usually
dangerous?
A. Persistent dry cough
B. Swelling of the tongue
C. Yellow-tinged vision
D. Muscle twitching
Correct Answers and Rationales
Answer to Question 1
• Correct Answer: B. Vitamin K (Phytonadione)
• Rationale: The flashcards explicitly state the antidote for warfarin is Vitamin K.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant that works by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting
factors. In cases of severe over-anticoagulation with bleeding, vitamin K is
administered to reverse its effects.
o Incorrect Options:
▪ A: Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin.
▪ C: Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity.
▪ D: Naloxone (Narcan) is the antidote for opioid overdose.
Answer to Question 2
• Correct Answer: C. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
• Rationale: The flashcards identify acetylcysteine as the specific antidote for
acetaminophen overdose. It works by replenishing glutathione stores in the liver,
