WGU D116 Advanced Pharmacology Objective
Assessment Actual Exam Questions and
Answers | Study Guide | Grade A+
• A 70-year-old male calls a clinic complaining of chest pain that started after
sexual activity. He took sildenafil 50 mg about eight hours ago. He has
nitroglycerin 0.3 mg on hand. How should the APRN respond? - ✓✓Do not take
the nitroglycerin and call 911
• Taking the medications together can cause what? - ✓✓A serious drop in blood
pressure leading to cardiovascular collapse.
• A patient with bipolar disorder is discussing beginning lithium. The APRN wants
baseline labs. The patient asks why. Which explanation should be provided? -
✓✓A baseline BUN and creatinine is needed to assess kidney function because
lithium can decrease renal function.
• A new nurse is reviewing sildenafil use. Which patient may take sildenafil
safely? - ✓✓YES A 54-year-old male with controlled hypertension, mild eczema,
and past urolithiasis without complications
• A 30-year-old patient with anxiety is prescribed citalopram. What is its
mechanism of action? - ✓✓YES Influences receptor activity on target cells
• Correct explanation of citalopram's mechanism - ✓✓This medication influences
the activity in the receptors, and it targets cells.
• A Huntington disease patient has twitching, dysphagia, confusion, memory loss.
APRN prescribes baclofen. Mechanism of action? - ✓✓YES Inhibits
neurotransmitter GABA
• NO Modulates the effects of glutamate at NMDA receptors - ✓✓Incorrect.
• NO Halts breakdown of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase - ✓✓Incorrect.
Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent ACh breakdown and are used for Alzheimer's.
,• Alters synthesis and release of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine -
✓✓Incorrect.
• Correct explanation - ✓✓Baclofen enhances GABA; Huntington involves
deficiency of acetylcholine and GABA.
• A 21-year-old patient has a seizure with impaired consciousness followed by
CNS depression. Type of seizure? - ✓✓YES Tonic-clonic
• Atonic - ✓✓NO
• Myoclonic - ✓✓NO — consists of sudden 1-second contractions
• Absence - ✓✓NO
• Correct explanation - ✓✓A tonic-clonic seizure involves convulsions, stiffening,
loss of consciousness, jerking.
• A patient taking oxycodone every 6 hrs for 3 years suddenly stops. What is the
clinical concern? - ✓✓YES Physical dependence
• Correct explanation - ✓✓Stopping abruptly causes withdrawal and can cause
symptoms from nausea to seizures.
• A 44-year-old male with depression and sexual dysfunction history needs an
antidepressant that enhances libido. - ✓✓YES Bupropion
• Explanation - ✓✓Bupropion does not cause sexual dysfunction and may improve
libido.
• A wheezing patient receives a nonspecific beta-agonist. Besides respiratory relief,
what side effect should the nurse monitor? - ✓✓YES Tachycardia
• Explanation - ✓✓Beta1 stimulation causes tachycardia and hypertension.
• A patient has toxic atropine effects (delirium, hallucinations). Which medication
should the provider administer? - ✓✓YES Physostigmine
, • Explanation - ✓✓Physostigmine treats atropine poisoning and crosses the BBB.
• A patient requires sutures. Provider orders local anesthetic with epinephrine.
Epinephrine is used to ________. - ✓✓Allow a reduced dose of the anesthetic
• Explanation - ✓✓Epinephrine (alpha1 agonist) prolongs absorption and reduces
anesthetic needed.
• A Parkinson patient on carbidopa reports no change after months. What should
the provider do? - ✓✓Reevaluate the diagnosis
• Increase the dose of carbidopa - ✓✓Option but less correct
• Discuss "on-off" phenomenon - ✓✓Possible but not primary
• NO Add a dopamine agonist - ✓✓Incorrect
• A woman taking oral contraceptives starts valproic acid and reports nausea. What
should the nurse do? - ✓✓YES Ask if she is taking valproic acid with food
• Explanation - ✓✓GI symptoms are common and reduced by taking with food.
• A cerebral palsy patient receiving baclofen via G-tube has new seizures. Cause? -
✓✓YES Missed doses of baclofen
• Explanation - ✓✓Abrupt withdrawal may cause hallucinations, paranoia, and
seizures.
• A patient received lidocaine with epinephrine for sutures. Which symptom is
most concerning? - ✓✓YES Nervousness and tachycardia
• Explanation - ✓✓Systemic absorption of epinephrine can cause nervousness,
tachycardia.
• A patient with migraine is prescribed sumatriptan. Which history finding is
concerning? - ✓✓Coronary artery disease
Assessment Actual Exam Questions and
Answers | Study Guide | Grade A+
• A 70-year-old male calls a clinic complaining of chest pain that started after
sexual activity. He took sildenafil 50 mg about eight hours ago. He has
nitroglycerin 0.3 mg on hand. How should the APRN respond? - ✓✓Do not take
the nitroglycerin and call 911
• Taking the medications together can cause what? - ✓✓A serious drop in blood
pressure leading to cardiovascular collapse.
• A patient with bipolar disorder is discussing beginning lithium. The APRN wants
baseline labs. The patient asks why. Which explanation should be provided? -
✓✓A baseline BUN and creatinine is needed to assess kidney function because
lithium can decrease renal function.
• A new nurse is reviewing sildenafil use. Which patient may take sildenafil
safely? - ✓✓YES A 54-year-old male with controlled hypertension, mild eczema,
and past urolithiasis without complications
• A 30-year-old patient with anxiety is prescribed citalopram. What is its
mechanism of action? - ✓✓YES Influences receptor activity on target cells
• Correct explanation of citalopram's mechanism - ✓✓This medication influences
the activity in the receptors, and it targets cells.
• A Huntington disease patient has twitching, dysphagia, confusion, memory loss.
APRN prescribes baclofen. Mechanism of action? - ✓✓YES Inhibits
neurotransmitter GABA
• NO Modulates the effects of glutamate at NMDA receptors - ✓✓Incorrect.
• NO Halts breakdown of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase - ✓✓Incorrect.
Cholinesterase inhibitors prevent ACh breakdown and are used for Alzheimer's.
,• Alters synthesis and release of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine -
✓✓Incorrect.
• Correct explanation - ✓✓Baclofen enhances GABA; Huntington involves
deficiency of acetylcholine and GABA.
• A 21-year-old patient has a seizure with impaired consciousness followed by
CNS depression. Type of seizure? - ✓✓YES Tonic-clonic
• Atonic - ✓✓NO
• Myoclonic - ✓✓NO — consists of sudden 1-second contractions
• Absence - ✓✓NO
• Correct explanation - ✓✓A tonic-clonic seizure involves convulsions, stiffening,
loss of consciousness, jerking.
• A patient taking oxycodone every 6 hrs for 3 years suddenly stops. What is the
clinical concern? - ✓✓YES Physical dependence
• Correct explanation - ✓✓Stopping abruptly causes withdrawal and can cause
symptoms from nausea to seizures.
• A 44-year-old male with depression and sexual dysfunction history needs an
antidepressant that enhances libido. - ✓✓YES Bupropion
• Explanation - ✓✓Bupropion does not cause sexual dysfunction and may improve
libido.
• A wheezing patient receives a nonspecific beta-agonist. Besides respiratory relief,
what side effect should the nurse monitor? - ✓✓YES Tachycardia
• Explanation - ✓✓Beta1 stimulation causes tachycardia and hypertension.
• A patient has toxic atropine effects (delirium, hallucinations). Which medication
should the provider administer? - ✓✓YES Physostigmine
, • Explanation - ✓✓Physostigmine treats atropine poisoning and crosses the BBB.
• A patient requires sutures. Provider orders local anesthetic with epinephrine.
Epinephrine is used to ________. - ✓✓Allow a reduced dose of the anesthetic
• Explanation - ✓✓Epinephrine (alpha1 agonist) prolongs absorption and reduces
anesthetic needed.
• A Parkinson patient on carbidopa reports no change after months. What should
the provider do? - ✓✓Reevaluate the diagnosis
• Increase the dose of carbidopa - ✓✓Option but less correct
• Discuss "on-off" phenomenon - ✓✓Possible but not primary
• NO Add a dopamine agonist - ✓✓Incorrect
• A woman taking oral contraceptives starts valproic acid and reports nausea. What
should the nurse do? - ✓✓YES Ask if she is taking valproic acid with food
• Explanation - ✓✓GI symptoms are common and reduced by taking with food.
• A cerebral palsy patient receiving baclofen via G-tube has new seizures. Cause? -
✓✓YES Missed doses of baclofen
• Explanation - ✓✓Abrupt withdrawal may cause hallucinations, paranoia, and
seizures.
• A patient received lidocaine with epinephrine for sutures. Which symptom is
most concerning? - ✓✓YES Nervousness and tachycardia
• Explanation - ✓✓Systemic absorption of epinephrine can cause nervousness,
tachycardia.
• A patient with migraine is prescribed sumatriptan. Which history finding is
concerning? - ✓✓Coronary artery disease
