Purdue University Global
8 TINU • 355NM
★ ★
P School of Nursing · MN553 Advanced Pharmacology
M A K I N G T H E D I F F E R E N C E · C A R E E R- O R I E N T E D H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N
EST. 1998
MN553 — Unit 8 Examination
A D VA N C E D P H A R M A CO LO G Y: A N S , C N S & PA I N M A N A G E M E N T
INSTITUTION Purdue University Global COURSE CODE MN553
PROGRAM Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-FNP) ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Unit 8 — Comprehensive Pharmacology TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions
COURSE TITLE Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Practice Nursing Answer
UNIT 8 EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content covers cholinergic/adrenergic agents, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, ADHD medications, migraine
therapy, and pain management.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for board review and clinical application.
▸ Pay careful attention to drug interactions, contraindications, monitoring parameters, and special population considerations.
SECTION I — AUTONOMIC, CNS PHARMACOLOGY & PAIN Questions 1 –
THERAPEUTICS 25
1. A patient taking a cholinergic agonist reports constricted pupils, increased salivation, and bronchoconstriction.
These effects are classified as:
A. Adrenergic effects — sympathetic nervous system activation
B. Cholinergic effects — parasympathetic nervous system activation
C. Anticholinergic effects — blocking parasympathetic activity
D. Dopaminergic effects — central dopamine pathway activation
CORRECT ANSWER B — Cholinergic effects — parasympathetic nervous system activation
RATIONALE Cholinergic effects result from parasympathetic nervous system activation and include: constricted pupils
(miosis), increased saliva, bronchoconstriction, increased GI mucus, and bladder fundus contraction.
Adrenergic effects (sympathetic) produce the opposite: dry mouth, dilated pupils, increased heart
rate/contractility, bronchodilation, and bladder fundus relaxation. This fundamental ANS distinction is critical
for understanding drug actions and predicting adverse effects.
, 2. Prazosin (Minipress) and Tamsulosin (Flomax) are alpha blocker medications. What are their primary clinical uses?
A. Angina and migraine prophylaxis
B. Heart failure and post-MI antidysrhythmias
C. Hypertension (HTN) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
D. Asthma and COPD
CORRECT ANSWER C — Hypertension (HTN) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
RATIONALE Alpha blockers like Prazosin and Tamsulosin are primarily used for hypertension (by reducing peripheral
vascular resistance) and BPH (by relaxing smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate, improving urine
flow). Beta blockers are used for angina, HTN, heart failure, tachycardia, post-MI antidysrhythmias, and
migraine prophylaxis. Asthma/COPD are not treated with alpha blockers. This distinction between alpha and
beta blocker indications is essential for safe prescribing.
3. Bethanechol (Urecholine) increases detrusor muscle tone and causes bladder contractions. What is its primary
clinical use?
A. Treatment of overactive bladder
B. Neurogenic bladder atony
C. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D. Urinary incontinence
CORRECT ANSWER B — Neurogenic bladder atony
RATIONALE Bethanechol is a direct-acting cholinergic drug that increases detrusor muscle tone and stimulates bladder
contractions. It is used specifically for neurogenic bladder atony — a condition where the bladder lacks
muscle tone. It is NOT used for GERD/reflux — the statement "Bethanechol can be used for reflux" is FALSE.
Overactive bladder and urinary incontinence are treated with anticholinergics (e.g., oxybutynin), not
cholinergics. Understanding the clinical applications of cholinergic vs. anticholinergic drugs is essential.
4. Which of the following is a direct-acting cholinergic drug used to decrease intraocular pressure in glaucoma?
A. Neostigmine bromide (Prostigmin) — indirect-acting cholinesterase inhibitor
B. Pilocarpine (Pilocar) — direct-acting muscarinic agonist
C. Scopolamine — anticholinergic blocker
D. Benztropine — anticholinergic for Parkinsonism
CORRECT ANSWER B — Pilocarpine (Pilocar) — direct-acting muscarinic agonist
RATIONALE Pilocarpine is a direct-acting cholinergic drug (muscarinic agonist) used to decrease intraocular pressure in
glaucoma. Direct-acting cholinergic drugs also include Bethanechol. Indirect-acting cholinergic drugs
(cholinesterase inhibitors) include Neostigmine. The main uses of cholinergic drugs are: decrease IOP in
glaucoma, treat atony of GI tract and urinary bladder, and diagnose/treat myasthenia gravis. Scopolamine
and Benztropine are anticholinergic blockers, not cholinergic agents.
8 TINU • 355NM
★ ★
P School of Nursing · MN553 Advanced Pharmacology
M A K I N G T H E D I F F E R E N C E · C A R E E R- O R I E N T E D H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N
EST. 1998
MN553 — Unit 8 Examination
A D VA N C E D P H A R M A CO LO G Y: A N S , C N S & PA I N M A N A G E M E N T
INSTITUTION Purdue University Global COURSE CODE MN553
PROGRAM Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-FNP) ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Unit 8 — Comprehensive Pharmacology TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions
COURSE TITLE Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Practice Nursing Answer
UNIT 8 EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content covers cholinergic/adrenergic agents, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, ADHD medications, migraine
therapy, and pain management.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for board review and clinical application.
▸ Pay careful attention to drug interactions, contraindications, monitoring parameters, and special population considerations.
SECTION I — AUTONOMIC, CNS PHARMACOLOGY & PAIN Questions 1 –
THERAPEUTICS 25
1. A patient taking a cholinergic agonist reports constricted pupils, increased salivation, and bronchoconstriction.
These effects are classified as:
A. Adrenergic effects — sympathetic nervous system activation
B. Cholinergic effects — parasympathetic nervous system activation
C. Anticholinergic effects — blocking parasympathetic activity
D. Dopaminergic effects — central dopamine pathway activation
CORRECT ANSWER B — Cholinergic effects — parasympathetic nervous system activation
RATIONALE Cholinergic effects result from parasympathetic nervous system activation and include: constricted pupils
(miosis), increased saliva, bronchoconstriction, increased GI mucus, and bladder fundus contraction.
Adrenergic effects (sympathetic) produce the opposite: dry mouth, dilated pupils, increased heart
rate/contractility, bronchodilation, and bladder fundus relaxation. This fundamental ANS distinction is critical
for understanding drug actions and predicting adverse effects.
, 2. Prazosin (Minipress) and Tamsulosin (Flomax) are alpha blocker medications. What are their primary clinical uses?
A. Angina and migraine prophylaxis
B. Heart failure and post-MI antidysrhythmias
C. Hypertension (HTN) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
D. Asthma and COPD
CORRECT ANSWER C — Hypertension (HTN) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
RATIONALE Alpha blockers like Prazosin and Tamsulosin are primarily used for hypertension (by reducing peripheral
vascular resistance) and BPH (by relaxing smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate, improving urine
flow). Beta blockers are used for angina, HTN, heart failure, tachycardia, post-MI antidysrhythmias, and
migraine prophylaxis. Asthma/COPD are not treated with alpha blockers. This distinction between alpha and
beta blocker indications is essential for safe prescribing.
3. Bethanechol (Urecholine) increases detrusor muscle tone and causes bladder contractions. What is its primary
clinical use?
A. Treatment of overactive bladder
B. Neurogenic bladder atony
C. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D. Urinary incontinence
CORRECT ANSWER B — Neurogenic bladder atony
RATIONALE Bethanechol is a direct-acting cholinergic drug that increases detrusor muscle tone and stimulates bladder
contractions. It is used specifically for neurogenic bladder atony — a condition where the bladder lacks
muscle tone. It is NOT used for GERD/reflux — the statement "Bethanechol can be used for reflux" is FALSE.
Overactive bladder and urinary incontinence are treated with anticholinergics (e.g., oxybutynin), not
cholinergics. Understanding the clinical applications of cholinergic vs. anticholinergic drugs is essential.
4. Which of the following is a direct-acting cholinergic drug used to decrease intraocular pressure in glaucoma?
A. Neostigmine bromide (Prostigmin) — indirect-acting cholinesterase inhibitor
B. Pilocarpine (Pilocar) — direct-acting muscarinic agonist
C. Scopolamine — anticholinergic blocker
D. Benztropine — anticholinergic for Parkinsonism
CORRECT ANSWER B — Pilocarpine (Pilocar) — direct-acting muscarinic agonist
RATIONALE Pilocarpine is a direct-acting cholinergic drug (muscarinic agonist) used to decrease intraocular pressure in
glaucoma. Direct-acting cholinergic drugs also include Bethanechol. Indirect-acting cholinergic drugs
(cholinesterase inhibitors) include Neostigmine. The main uses of cholinergic drugs are: decrease IOP in
glaucoma, treat atony of GI tract and urinary bladder, and diagnose/treat myasthenia gravis. Scopolamine
and Benztropine are anticholinergic blockers, not cholinergic agents.
