1
WGU
WGU D116 PHARMACOLOGY
REVIEW EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED (2026/2027)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
An advanced practice registered nurse has diagnosed a 44-year-old male
with depression. A plan is developed to start treatment with medication.
The patient has a history of sexual dysfunction and is concerned about
taking medication that may worsen this condition.
Which antidepressant has the benefit of enhancing libido? - ANS ✓YES
Bupropion
Correct! Bupropion does not cause sexual dysfunction. This will help the
patient with a history of sexual dysfunction. This will enhance the patient's
libido, which will help with both depression and sexual dysfunction.
A patient is wheezing and short of breath. The nurse assesses a heart rate of
88 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, and a blood
pressure of 124/78 mm Hg. The prescriber orders a nonspecific beta-agonist
medication.
Besides evaluating the patient for a reduction in respiratory distress, the
nurse should monitor for which side effect? - ANS ✓YES Tachycardia
Correct! Beta-agonists are used for asthma because of their beta2 effects on
bronchial smooth muscle, causing dilation. Beta1 effects cause tachycardia
and hypertension. Beta receptors do not exert effects on the bladder.
WGU D116
, 2
WGU
A patient is experiencing toxic side effects from atropine, including
delirium and hallucinations. Which medication should the provider
administer? - ANS ✓YES Physostigmine
Correct! Physostigmine is the drug of choice for treating poisoning from
atropine and other drugs that cause muscarinic blockade. Donepezil is used
to treat Alzheimer disease. Edrophonium is used to distinguish between a
myasthenic crisis and a cholinesterase inhibitor overdose. Neostigmine
does not cross the blood-brain barrier and would not effectively treat this
patient's central nervous system (CNS) symptoms.
A patient brought to the emergency department requires sutures. The
prescriber orders a local anesthetic with epinephrine.
The epinephrine is ordered to . - ANS ✓allow a reduced dose of
the anesthetic
Correct! Epinephrine prolongs absorption of the anesthetic because it is an
alpha1 agonist. It is frequently combined with a local anesthetic for this
purpose so the amount of anesthetic required may be reduced. Local
anesthetics do not induce hypertension; therefore, epinephrine would not
be needed to prevent it. Epinephrine does not act as an antiemetic and
would not reduce anesthetic-induced nausea. Epinephrine is not used to
reduce the pain of an injection.
A patient has been diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) and begins
treatment with carbidopa. After several months of therapy, the patient
reports no change in symptoms.
As the provider, you should do which of the following? - ANS ✓Increase the
dose of carbidopa
Discuss the "on-off" phenomenon
WGU D116
, 3
WGU
Reevaluate the diagnosis
NO Add a dopamine agonist
Incorrect. Adding a dopamine agonist is not indicated.
A patient who is taking oral contraceptives begins taking valproic acid for
seizures. After a week of therapy with valproic acid, the patient tells the
nurse that she is experiencing nausea.
What should the nurse do? - ANS ✓YES Ask the patient if she is taking the
valproic acid with food because taking the drug on an empty stomach can
cause gastrointestinal side effects
Correct! Gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, and
indigestion, are common with valproic acid and can be minimized by
taking the drug with food or using an enteric-coated product.
Hyperammonemia can occur when valproic acid is combined with
topiramate. Signs of pregnancy usually do not occur within a week, so this
is less likely. Hepatotoxicity is a rare adverse effect.
A patient with cerebral palsy who has been receiving baclofen via
gastrostomy tube for three months is admitted to the hospital for evaluation
of new-onset seizures.
What might you suspect to be the cause of these seizures? - ANS ✓YES
Missed doses of baclofen
Correct! Baclofen does not appear to cause physical dependence, but abrupt
discontinuation has been associated with adverse reactions. Abrupt
withdrawal of oral baclofen can cause visual hallucinations, paranoid
ideation, and seizures and should be considered when a patient develops
these symptoms. Seizures are not a symptom of baclofen toxicity.
WGU D116
, 4
WGU
A nurse is preparing a patient to go home from the emergency department
after receiving sutures for a laceration on one hand. The provider used
lidocaine with epinephrine as a local anesthetic.
Which symptom in this patient causes the most concern? - ANS ✓YES
Nervousness and tachycardia
Correct! Absorption of the vasoconstrictor can cause systemic effects,
including nervousness and tachycardia. If severe, alpha- and beta-
adrenergic antagonists can be given. Local anesthetics are nonselective
modifiers of neuronal function and can block motor neurons, so it is
expected that patients may have difficulty with movement. The sensation of
pressure also is affected and is an expected effect. As the local anesthetic
wears off, the sensation of pain will return.
A patient who has recurrent migraine headaches is prescribed sumatriptan.
Which aspect of this patient's history is of concern when taking this drug? -
ANS ✓Coronary artery disease
Adverse events include coronary vasospasm.
Incorrect. There is no contraindication for asthma, diabetes, or renal
disease.
A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for
depression for several months tells the provider that the medication has not
helped with symptoms. You plan to switch the patient to an SSRI.
What should you instruct the nurse to teach this patient? - ANS ✓YES "Stop
taking the MAOI two weeks before starting the SSRI."
Correct! MAOIs increase serotonin receptor (5-HT) availability, thus greatly
increasing the risk of serotonin syndrome. MAOIs should be withdrawn at
least 14 days before an SSRI is started. An SSRI should never be given at
the same time as an MAOI. It is not necessary to wait five weeks before
starting an SSRI.
WGU D116
WGU
WGU D116 PHARMACOLOGY
REVIEW EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED (2026/2027)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
An advanced practice registered nurse has diagnosed a 44-year-old male
with depression. A plan is developed to start treatment with medication.
The patient has a history of sexual dysfunction and is concerned about
taking medication that may worsen this condition.
Which antidepressant has the benefit of enhancing libido? - ANS ✓YES
Bupropion
Correct! Bupropion does not cause sexual dysfunction. This will help the
patient with a history of sexual dysfunction. This will enhance the patient's
libido, which will help with both depression and sexual dysfunction.
A patient is wheezing and short of breath. The nurse assesses a heart rate of
88 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, and a blood
pressure of 124/78 mm Hg. The prescriber orders a nonspecific beta-agonist
medication.
Besides evaluating the patient for a reduction in respiratory distress, the
nurse should monitor for which side effect? - ANS ✓YES Tachycardia
Correct! Beta-agonists are used for asthma because of their beta2 effects on
bronchial smooth muscle, causing dilation. Beta1 effects cause tachycardia
and hypertension. Beta receptors do not exert effects on the bladder.
WGU D116
, 2
WGU
A patient is experiencing toxic side effects from atropine, including
delirium and hallucinations. Which medication should the provider
administer? - ANS ✓YES Physostigmine
Correct! Physostigmine is the drug of choice for treating poisoning from
atropine and other drugs that cause muscarinic blockade. Donepezil is used
to treat Alzheimer disease. Edrophonium is used to distinguish between a
myasthenic crisis and a cholinesterase inhibitor overdose. Neostigmine
does not cross the blood-brain barrier and would not effectively treat this
patient's central nervous system (CNS) symptoms.
A patient brought to the emergency department requires sutures. The
prescriber orders a local anesthetic with epinephrine.
The epinephrine is ordered to . - ANS ✓allow a reduced dose of
the anesthetic
Correct! Epinephrine prolongs absorption of the anesthetic because it is an
alpha1 agonist. It is frequently combined with a local anesthetic for this
purpose so the amount of anesthetic required may be reduced. Local
anesthetics do not induce hypertension; therefore, epinephrine would not
be needed to prevent it. Epinephrine does not act as an antiemetic and
would not reduce anesthetic-induced nausea. Epinephrine is not used to
reduce the pain of an injection.
A patient has been diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) and begins
treatment with carbidopa. After several months of therapy, the patient
reports no change in symptoms.
As the provider, you should do which of the following? - ANS ✓Increase the
dose of carbidopa
Discuss the "on-off" phenomenon
WGU D116
, 3
WGU
Reevaluate the diagnosis
NO Add a dopamine agonist
Incorrect. Adding a dopamine agonist is not indicated.
A patient who is taking oral contraceptives begins taking valproic acid for
seizures. After a week of therapy with valproic acid, the patient tells the
nurse that she is experiencing nausea.
What should the nurse do? - ANS ✓YES Ask the patient if she is taking the
valproic acid with food because taking the drug on an empty stomach can
cause gastrointestinal side effects
Correct! Gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting, and
indigestion, are common with valproic acid and can be minimized by
taking the drug with food or using an enteric-coated product.
Hyperammonemia can occur when valproic acid is combined with
topiramate. Signs of pregnancy usually do not occur within a week, so this
is less likely. Hepatotoxicity is a rare adverse effect.
A patient with cerebral palsy who has been receiving baclofen via
gastrostomy tube for three months is admitted to the hospital for evaluation
of new-onset seizures.
What might you suspect to be the cause of these seizures? - ANS ✓YES
Missed doses of baclofen
Correct! Baclofen does not appear to cause physical dependence, but abrupt
discontinuation has been associated with adverse reactions. Abrupt
withdrawal of oral baclofen can cause visual hallucinations, paranoid
ideation, and seizures and should be considered when a patient develops
these symptoms. Seizures are not a symptom of baclofen toxicity.
WGU D116
, 4
WGU
A nurse is preparing a patient to go home from the emergency department
after receiving sutures for a laceration on one hand. The provider used
lidocaine with epinephrine as a local anesthetic.
Which symptom in this patient causes the most concern? - ANS ✓YES
Nervousness and tachycardia
Correct! Absorption of the vasoconstrictor can cause systemic effects,
including nervousness and tachycardia. If severe, alpha- and beta-
adrenergic antagonists can be given. Local anesthetics are nonselective
modifiers of neuronal function and can block motor neurons, so it is
expected that patients may have difficulty with movement. The sensation of
pressure also is affected and is an expected effect. As the local anesthetic
wears off, the sensation of pain will return.
A patient who has recurrent migraine headaches is prescribed sumatriptan.
Which aspect of this patient's history is of concern when taking this drug? -
ANS ✓Coronary artery disease
Adverse events include coronary vasospasm.
Incorrect. There is no contraindication for asthma, diabetes, or renal
disease.
A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for
depression for several months tells the provider that the medication has not
helped with symptoms. You plan to switch the patient to an SSRI.
What should you instruct the nurse to teach this patient? - ANS ✓YES "Stop
taking the MAOI two weeks before starting the SSRI."
Correct! MAOIs increase serotonin receptor (5-HT) availability, thus greatly
increasing the risk of serotonin syndrome. MAOIs should be withdrawn at
least 14 days before an SSRI is started. An SSRI should never be given at
the same time as an MAOI. It is not necessary to wait five weeks before
starting an SSRI.
WGU D116
