PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 3
2026 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MASTER FILE
◉ what is hyperkalemia? what are the causes? what is the
treatment? Answer: -high K+
causes: increased K intake, decreased K output (kidney failure), shift
of K+ from ICF to ECF, massive cell injury occurred when K+ escapes
into serum
emergency treatment:
-sodium bicarb (NaHCO3): neutralizes acid in blood, pulls H out of
cell, push K in
-calcium gluconate: stabilize heart muscle
-glucose/insulin: push K through kidneys
subacute treatment:
-treat underlying cause, limit K rich foods
kayexelate: helps loose K through stool
,◉ what is hypomagnesemia? what are the causes? S/S? treatment?
Answer: -low magnesium
causes: decreased intake (malnourished, alcoholism), decreased
absorption, increased losses (GI, renal), drug induced (laxatives,
diuretics)
S/S: weak muscles
treatment: oral replacement, IV magnesium sulfate
◉ what is hypermagnesemia? what are the causes? s/s? treatment?
Answer: -high magnesium
causes: exogenous ingestion (take in too much), impaired renal
excretion
S/S: not usually any
treatment: eliminate exogenous source of MG
◉ what are the three types of fluid replacement? Answer:
crystalloid, colloid, blood products
,◉ What do crystalloids do? what are the names of some? Answer: -
replace water and sodium
-maintenance and replacement of fluids or specific electrolytes
-inexpensive
-no risk for anaphylaxis, viral transmission, or coagulation problems
names: sodium chloride, dextrose, lactate ringers
◉ what do colloids do? what are the names of some? Answer: -
increase osmotic pressure (pull fluid back into BV)
-fluid pulled from interstitial space to the intravascular space
-plasma expanders, no oxygen carrying ability
-consists of proteins, carbs, collagen
-more expensive than crystalloids
-can affect coagulation
names: albumin, dextran, hespan
◉ what do blood products do? what are adverse effects? what the
different kinds? Answer: -carry O2, clotting factors, increases COP
and volume
-give to some because they have lost blood
-most expensive, least available, require human donors
, AE: incompatibility with recipient's immune system, transmission of
pathogen's from donor to recipient
packed RBC:increase oxygen carrying capacity of blood
fresh frozen plasma: increases clotting factors and volume
expansion
whole blood: increases volume and oxygen carrying capacity of
blood, adds clotting factors
pooled platelets: indicated to treat acute hemorrhage, secondary to
thrombocytopenia/to provide prophylaxis from hemorrhage in
patient with bone marrow disorders
◉ What do alpha cells secrete? Answer: glucagon
◉ What do beta cells secrete? Answer: insulin and amylin
◉ what do delta cells secrete? Answer: somatostatin and gastrin
◉ what is the islet of langerhans? Answer: part of pancreas where
cells are located to help maintain the body's fat, carb, and protein
metabolism
◉ what does glucagon do? Answer: -acts in the liver to increase
glucose
2026 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MASTER FILE
◉ what is hyperkalemia? what are the causes? what is the
treatment? Answer: -high K+
causes: increased K intake, decreased K output (kidney failure), shift
of K+ from ICF to ECF, massive cell injury occurred when K+ escapes
into serum
emergency treatment:
-sodium bicarb (NaHCO3): neutralizes acid in blood, pulls H out of
cell, push K in
-calcium gluconate: stabilize heart muscle
-glucose/insulin: push K through kidneys
subacute treatment:
-treat underlying cause, limit K rich foods
kayexelate: helps loose K through stool
,◉ what is hypomagnesemia? what are the causes? S/S? treatment?
Answer: -low magnesium
causes: decreased intake (malnourished, alcoholism), decreased
absorption, increased losses (GI, renal), drug induced (laxatives,
diuretics)
S/S: weak muscles
treatment: oral replacement, IV magnesium sulfate
◉ what is hypermagnesemia? what are the causes? s/s? treatment?
Answer: -high magnesium
causes: exogenous ingestion (take in too much), impaired renal
excretion
S/S: not usually any
treatment: eliminate exogenous source of MG
◉ what are the three types of fluid replacement? Answer:
crystalloid, colloid, blood products
,◉ What do crystalloids do? what are the names of some? Answer: -
replace water and sodium
-maintenance and replacement of fluids or specific electrolytes
-inexpensive
-no risk for anaphylaxis, viral transmission, or coagulation problems
names: sodium chloride, dextrose, lactate ringers
◉ what do colloids do? what are the names of some? Answer: -
increase osmotic pressure (pull fluid back into BV)
-fluid pulled from interstitial space to the intravascular space
-plasma expanders, no oxygen carrying ability
-consists of proteins, carbs, collagen
-more expensive than crystalloids
-can affect coagulation
names: albumin, dextran, hespan
◉ what do blood products do? what are adverse effects? what the
different kinds? Answer: -carry O2, clotting factors, increases COP
and volume
-give to some because they have lost blood
-most expensive, least available, require human donors
, AE: incompatibility with recipient's immune system, transmission of
pathogen's from donor to recipient
packed RBC:increase oxygen carrying capacity of blood
fresh frozen plasma: increases clotting factors and volume
expansion
whole blood: increases volume and oxygen carrying capacity of
blood, adds clotting factors
pooled platelets: indicated to treat acute hemorrhage, secondary to
thrombocytopenia/to provide prophylaxis from hemorrhage in
patient with bone marrow disorders
◉ What do alpha cells secrete? Answer: glucagon
◉ What do beta cells secrete? Answer: insulin and amylin
◉ what do delta cells secrete? Answer: somatostatin and gastrin
◉ what is the islet of langerhans? Answer: part of pancreas where
cells are located to help maintain the body's fat, carb, and protein
metabolism
◉ what does glucagon do? Answer: -acts in the liver to increase
glucose
