NURS 6521N FINAL EXAM PHARM
COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO PASS
◉ A patient recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The
patient, who has a history of seasonal allergies, is an athlete who
participates in track. The nurse is teaching the patient about lithium
[Lithobid], which the prescriber has just ordered. Which statement
by the patient indicates the need for further teaching? Answer: "I
can continue to use ibuprofen as needed for muscle pain."
◉ A patient with bipolar disorder is admitted to the hospital. The
patient has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years and has
not been evaluated by a provider for over a year. Besides obtaining a
lithium level, the nurse caring for this patient will anticipate orders
for which laboratory tests? Select all that apply. Answer: Calcium
level
Renal function tests
Thyroid function tests
◉ The spouse of a patient with bipolar disorder (BPD) tells the
nurse that the patient will not stay on the lithium ordered by the
provider longer than 1 or 2 months at a time. The nurse understands
that adherence to medication regimens in patients with BPD is
problematic and will tell the spouse: Answer: "During manic
,episodes, many patients don't see the benefit of prophylactic
medications."
◉ A patient with bipolar disorder has frequent manic episodes
alternating with depressive episodes. The prescriber orders
risperidone [Risperdal] in addition to the lithium [Lithobid] that the
patient is already taking. The patient asks the nurse why another
drug is needed. The nurse will tell the patient that the risperidone is
used to: Answer: help control symptoms during manic episodes.
◉ A patient with a new-onset seizure disorder receives a
prescription for phenobarbital. The patient reports being concerned
about the sedative side effects of this drug. Which response by the
nurse is correct? Answer: "Phenobarbital doses for seizures are
nonsedating."
◉ A patient who travels frequently for business reports occasional
instances of being unable to fall asleep. The patient tells the nurse
that job demands require staying up late and then getting up early
for meetings. The nurse expects that the provider will prescribe
which medication for this patient? Answer: Zaleplon [Sonata]
◉ A patient who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal is given a
benzodiazepine. The nurse understands that this drug is effective
because: Answer: the patient has a cross-dependence to the
benzodiazepine.
,◉ A patient in the emergency department is given intravenous
diazepam [Valium] for seizures. When the seizures stop, the nurse
notes that the patient is lethargic and confused and has a respiratory
rate of 10 breaths/minute. The nurse will expect to administer
which of the following? Answer: Respiratory support
◉ A patient who has been using secobarbital for several months to
treat insomnia tells the nurse that the prescriber has said the
prescription will be changed to temazepam [Restoril] because it is
safer. The patient asks why this agent is safer. The nurse is correct in
telling the patient that temazepam: Answer: potentiates endogenous
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing a finite CNS
depression.
◉ A hospitalized patient who is given one dose of flurazepam
continues to show drowsiness the next day. A nursing student asks
the nurse the reason for this, because the drug's half-life is only 2 to
3 hours. Which response by the nurse is correct? Answer: "When
this drug is metabolized, the resulting compound has longer-lasting
effects."
◉ A patient takes temazepam [Restoril] for insomnia. The patient
tells the nurse that a recent telephone bill lists several calls to
friends that the patient does not remember making. What will the
nurse do? Answer: Ask the patient about any alcohol consumption in
conjunction with the benzodiazepine.
, ◉ A nurse is discussing the use of benzodiazepines as sedative-
hypnotic agents with a group of nursing students. A student asks
about the actions of these drugs in the central nervous system. The
nurse makes which correct statement? Answer: "Benzodiazepines
affect the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex to cause anterograde
amnesia."
◉ A patient who has been taking alprazolam [Xanax] to treat
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) reports recently stopping the
medication after symptoms have improved but reports having
feelings of panic and paranoia. Which initial action by the nurse is
correct? Answer: Ask the patient if the medication was stopped
abruptly.
◉ A patient is diagnosed with anxiety after describing symptoms of
tension, poor concentration, and difficulty sleeping that have
persisted for over 6 months. Which medication will the nurse expect
the provider to order for this patient? Answer: Buspirone [Buspar]
◉ A nurse is preparing a patient who will stop taking lorazepam
[Ativan] for anxiety and begin taking buspirone [Buspar]. Which
statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
Answer: "I should stop taking the Ativan when I start taking the
Buspar."
COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO PASS
◉ A patient recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The
patient, who has a history of seasonal allergies, is an athlete who
participates in track. The nurse is teaching the patient about lithium
[Lithobid], which the prescriber has just ordered. Which statement
by the patient indicates the need for further teaching? Answer: "I
can continue to use ibuprofen as needed for muscle pain."
◉ A patient with bipolar disorder is admitted to the hospital. The
patient has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years and has
not been evaluated by a provider for over a year. Besides obtaining a
lithium level, the nurse caring for this patient will anticipate orders
for which laboratory tests? Select all that apply. Answer: Calcium
level
Renal function tests
Thyroid function tests
◉ The spouse of a patient with bipolar disorder (BPD) tells the
nurse that the patient will not stay on the lithium ordered by the
provider longer than 1 or 2 months at a time. The nurse understands
that adherence to medication regimens in patients with BPD is
problematic and will tell the spouse: Answer: "During manic
,episodes, many patients don't see the benefit of prophylactic
medications."
◉ A patient with bipolar disorder has frequent manic episodes
alternating with depressive episodes. The prescriber orders
risperidone [Risperdal] in addition to the lithium [Lithobid] that the
patient is already taking. The patient asks the nurse why another
drug is needed. The nurse will tell the patient that the risperidone is
used to: Answer: help control symptoms during manic episodes.
◉ A patient with a new-onset seizure disorder receives a
prescription for phenobarbital. The patient reports being concerned
about the sedative side effects of this drug. Which response by the
nurse is correct? Answer: "Phenobarbital doses for seizures are
nonsedating."
◉ A patient who travels frequently for business reports occasional
instances of being unable to fall asleep. The patient tells the nurse
that job demands require staying up late and then getting up early
for meetings. The nurse expects that the provider will prescribe
which medication for this patient? Answer: Zaleplon [Sonata]
◉ A patient who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal is given a
benzodiazepine. The nurse understands that this drug is effective
because: Answer: the patient has a cross-dependence to the
benzodiazepine.
,◉ A patient in the emergency department is given intravenous
diazepam [Valium] for seizures. When the seizures stop, the nurse
notes that the patient is lethargic and confused and has a respiratory
rate of 10 breaths/minute. The nurse will expect to administer
which of the following? Answer: Respiratory support
◉ A patient who has been using secobarbital for several months to
treat insomnia tells the nurse that the prescriber has said the
prescription will be changed to temazepam [Restoril] because it is
safer. The patient asks why this agent is safer. The nurse is correct in
telling the patient that temazepam: Answer: potentiates endogenous
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing a finite CNS
depression.
◉ A hospitalized patient who is given one dose of flurazepam
continues to show drowsiness the next day. A nursing student asks
the nurse the reason for this, because the drug's half-life is only 2 to
3 hours. Which response by the nurse is correct? Answer: "When
this drug is metabolized, the resulting compound has longer-lasting
effects."
◉ A patient takes temazepam [Restoril] for insomnia. The patient
tells the nurse that a recent telephone bill lists several calls to
friends that the patient does not remember making. What will the
nurse do? Answer: Ask the patient about any alcohol consumption in
conjunction with the benzodiazepine.
, ◉ A nurse is discussing the use of benzodiazepines as sedative-
hypnotic agents with a group of nursing students. A student asks
about the actions of these drugs in the central nervous system. The
nurse makes which correct statement? Answer: "Benzodiazepines
affect the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex to cause anterograde
amnesia."
◉ A patient who has been taking alprazolam [Xanax] to treat
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) reports recently stopping the
medication after symptoms have improved but reports having
feelings of panic and paranoia. Which initial action by the nurse is
correct? Answer: Ask the patient if the medication was stopped
abruptly.
◉ A patient is diagnosed with anxiety after describing symptoms of
tension, poor concentration, and difficulty sleeping that have
persisted for over 6 months. Which medication will the nurse expect
the provider to order for this patient? Answer: Buspirone [Buspar]
◉ A nurse is preparing a patient who will stop taking lorazepam
[Ativan] for anxiety and begin taking buspirone [Buspar]. Which
statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
Answer: "I should stop taking the Ativan when I start taking the
Buspar."
