NUR 2474 PHARMACOLOGY FINAL
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A patient is to begin taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizures. The
patient tells the nurse that she is taking oral contraceptives. What
will the nurse tell the patient?
a.She may need to increase her dose of phenytoin while taking oral
contraceptives.
b.She should consider a different form of birth control while taking
phenytoin.
c.She should remain on oral contraceptives, because phenytoin
causes birth defects.
d.She should stop taking oral contraceptives, because they reduce
the effectiveness of phenytoin. Answer: b.She should consider a
different form of birth control while taking phenytoin.
◉ A nurse is completing a discharge plan for a 24-year-old patient
who will begin taking phenytoin. Which information is important to
teach this patient?
,a.She may stop taking the drug when she is seizure free for a year.
b.Taking the medication will ensure that she no longer has seizures.
c.She may need to discontinue the drug if serious side effects occur.
d.She should be sure to use an effective contraceptive method.
Answer: d.She should be sure to use an effective contraceptive
method.
◉ A patient who has had abdominal surgery has been receiving
morphine sulfate via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The
nurse assesses the patient and notes that the patient's pupils are
dilated and that the patient is drowsy and lethargic. The patient's
heart rate is 84 beats per minute, the respiratory rate is 10 breaths
per minute, and the blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. What will the
nurse do?
a.Discuss possible opiate dependence with the patient's provider.
b.Encourage the patient to turn over and cough and take deep
breaths.
c.Note the effectiveness of the analgesia in the patient's chart.
d.Prepare to administer naloxone and possibly ventilatory support.
Answer: d.Prepare to administer naloxone and possibly ventilatory
support
,◉ A patient with cancer has been taking an opioid analgesic four
times daily for several months and reports needing increased doses
for pain. What will the nurse tell the patient?
a.PRN dosing of the drug may be more effective.
b.The risk of respiratory depression increases over time.
c.The patient should discuss increasing the dose with the provider.
d.The patient should request the addition of a benzodiazepine to
augment pain relief. Answer: c.The patient should discuss increasing
the dose with the provider.
◉ A woman in labor receives meperidine (Demerol) for pain. The
nurse caring for the infant will observe the infant closely for:
a.congenital anomalies.
b.excessive crying and sneezing.
c.respiratory depression.
d.tremors and hyperreflexia. Answer: c.respiratory depression.
◉ A postoperative patient has received an epidural infusion of
morphine sulfate. The patient's respiratory rate decreases to 8
breaths per minute, and he has a decreased level of consciousness
and miosis. Which medication would the nurse anticipate
administering?
, a.Naloxone (Narcan)
b.Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
c.Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
d.Physostigmine (Antilirium) Answer: a.Naloxone (Narcan)
◉ A patient is brought to the emergency department by friends, who
report finding the patient difficult to awaken. The friends report
removing two fentanyl transdermal patches from the patient's arm.
On admission to the emergency department, the patient has
pinpoint pupils and a respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute. A few
minutes after administration of naloxone, the respiratory rate is 8
breaths per minute and the patient's pupils are dilated. The nurse
recognizes these symptoms as signs of:
a.a mild opioid overdose.
b.decreased opioid drug levels.
c.improved ventilation.
d.worsening hypoxia. Answer: d.worsening hypoxia.
◉ A nurse is administering morphine sulfate to a postoperative
patient. Which are appropriate routine nursing actions when giving
this drug? (Select all that apply.)
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A patient is to begin taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizures. The
patient tells the nurse that she is taking oral contraceptives. What
will the nurse tell the patient?
a.She may need to increase her dose of phenytoin while taking oral
contraceptives.
b.She should consider a different form of birth control while taking
phenytoin.
c.She should remain on oral contraceptives, because phenytoin
causes birth defects.
d.She should stop taking oral contraceptives, because they reduce
the effectiveness of phenytoin. Answer: b.She should consider a
different form of birth control while taking phenytoin.
◉ A nurse is completing a discharge plan for a 24-year-old patient
who will begin taking phenytoin. Which information is important to
teach this patient?
,a.She may stop taking the drug when she is seizure free for a year.
b.Taking the medication will ensure that she no longer has seizures.
c.She may need to discontinue the drug if serious side effects occur.
d.She should be sure to use an effective contraceptive method.
Answer: d.She should be sure to use an effective contraceptive
method.
◉ A patient who has had abdominal surgery has been receiving
morphine sulfate via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The
nurse assesses the patient and notes that the patient's pupils are
dilated and that the patient is drowsy and lethargic. The patient's
heart rate is 84 beats per minute, the respiratory rate is 10 breaths
per minute, and the blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. What will the
nurse do?
a.Discuss possible opiate dependence with the patient's provider.
b.Encourage the patient to turn over and cough and take deep
breaths.
c.Note the effectiveness of the analgesia in the patient's chart.
d.Prepare to administer naloxone and possibly ventilatory support.
Answer: d.Prepare to administer naloxone and possibly ventilatory
support
,◉ A patient with cancer has been taking an opioid analgesic four
times daily for several months and reports needing increased doses
for pain. What will the nurse tell the patient?
a.PRN dosing of the drug may be more effective.
b.The risk of respiratory depression increases over time.
c.The patient should discuss increasing the dose with the provider.
d.The patient should request the addition of a benzodiazepine to
augment pain relief. Answer: c.The patient should discuss increasing
the dose with the provider.
◉ A woman in labor receives meperidine (Demerol) for pain. The
nurse caring for the infant will observe the infant closely for:
a.congenital anomalies.
b.excessive crying and sneezing.
c.respiratory depression.
d.tremors and hyperreflexia. Answer: c.respiratory depression.
◉ A postoperative patient has received an epidural infusion of
morphine sulfate. The patient's respiratory rate decreases to 8
breaths per minute, and he has a decreased level of consciousness
and miosis. Which medication would the nurse anticipate
administering?
, a.Naloxone (Narcan)
b.Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
c.Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
d.Physostigmine (Antilirium) Answer: a.Naloxone (Narcan)
◉ A patient is brought to the emergency department by friends, who
report finding the patient difficult to awaken. The friends report
removing two fentanyl transdermal patches from the patient's arm.
On admission to the emergency department, the patient has
pinpoint pupils and a respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute. A few
minutes after administration of naloxone, the respiratory rate is 8
breaths per minute and the patient's pupils are dilated. The nurse
recognizes these symptoms as signs of:
a.a mild opioid overdose.
b.decreased opioid drug levels.
c.improved ventilation.
d.worsening hypoxia. Answer: d.worsening hypoxia.
◉ A nurse is administering morphine sulfate to a postoperative
patient. Which are appropriate routine nursing actions when giving
this drug? (Select all that apply.)
