PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 3
PROFESSIONAL EXAMPREP 2026 TESTED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS FULL REVIEW
GRADED A+
◉ The nurse is reviewing the function of the cranial nerves (CNs).
Which CN is responsible for conducting nerve impulses to the brain
from the organ of Corti?
a. I
b. III
c. VIII
d. XI Answer: c. VIII
The nerve impulses are conducted by the auditory portion of CN VIII
to the brain.
◉ The nurse is assessing a patient who may have hearing loss.
Which of these statements is true concerning air conduction?
a. Air conduction is the normal pathway for hearing.
b. Vibrations of the bones in the skull cause air conduction.
c. Amplitude of sound determines the pitch that is heard.
d. Loss of air conduction is called a conductive hearing loss. Answer:
a. Air conduction is the normal pathway for hearing.
,◉ A patient has been shown to have a sensorineural hearing loss.
During the assessment, it would be important for the nurse to:
a. Speak loudly so the patient can hear the questions.
b. Assess for middle ear infection as a possible cause.
c. Ask the patient what medications he is currently taking.
d. Look for the source of the obstruction in the external ear. Answer:
c. Ask the patient what medications he is currently taking.
A simple increase in amplitude may not enable the person to
understand spoken words. Sensorineural hearing loss may be
caused by presbycusis, which is a gradual nerve degeneration that
occurs with aging and by ototoxic drugs, which affect the hair cells in
the cochlea.
◉ A 31-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed a
progressive loss in his hearing. He says that it does seem to help
when people speak louder or if he turns up the volume of a
television or radio. The most likely cause of his hearing loss is:
a. Otosclerosis.
b. Presbycusis.
c. Trauma to the bones.
d. Frequent ear infections. Answer: a. Otosclerosis.
,Otosclerosis is a common cause of conductive hearing loss in young
adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Presbycusis is a type of
hearing loss that occurs with aging. Trauma and frequent ear
infections are not a likely cause of his hearing loss.
◉ A 70-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed that he is
having trouble hearing, especially in large groups. He says that he
cant always tell where the sound is coming from and the words often
sound mixed up. What might the nurse suspect as the cause for this
change?
a. Atrophy of the apocrine glands
b. Cilia becoming coarse and stiff
c. Nerve degeneration in the inner ear
d. Scarring of the tympanic membrane Answer: c. Nerve
degeneration in the inner ear
Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs in 60% of those
older than 65 years of age, even in those living in a quiet
environment. This sensorineural loss is gradual and caused by nerve
degeneration in the inner ear. Words sound garbled, and the ability
to localize sound is also impaired. This communication dysfunction
is accentuated when background noise is present.
◉ In performing a voice test to assess hearing, which of these
actions would the nurse perform?
, a. Shield the lips so that the sound is muffled.
b. Whisper a set of random numbers and letters, and then ask the
patient to repeat them.
c. Ask the patient to place his finger in his ear to occlude outside
noise.
d. Stand approximately 4 feet away to ensure that the patient can
really hear at this distance. Answer: b. Whisper a set of random
numbers and letters, and then ask the patient to repeat them.
With the head 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) from the patients ear, the
examiner exhales and slowly whispers a set of random numbers and
letters, such as 5, B, 6. Normally, the patient is asked to repeat each
number and letter correctly after hearing the examiner say them.
◉ The nurse is performing an ear examination of an 80-year-old
patient. Which of these findings would be considered normal?
a. High-tone frequency loss
b. Increased elasticity of the pinna
c. Thin, translucent membrane
d. Shiny, pink tympanic membrane Answer: ANS: A
A high-tone frequency hearing loss is apparent for those affected
with presbycusis, the hearing loss that occurs with aging. The pinna
loses elasticity, causing earlobes to be pendulous. The eardrum may
be whiter in color and more opaque and duller in the older person
than in the younger adult.
PROFESSIONAL EXAMPREP 2026 TESTED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS FULL REVIEW
GRADED A+
◉ The nurse is reviewing the function of the cranial nerves (CNs).
Which CN is responsible for conducting nerve impulses to the brain
from the organ of Corti?
a. I
b. III
c. VIII
d. XI Answer: c. VIII
The nerve impulses are conducted by the auditory portion of CN VIII
to the brain.
◉ The nurse is assessing a patient who may have hearing loss.
Which of these statements is true concerning air conduction?
a. Air conduction is the normal pathway for hearing.
b. Vibrations of the bones in the skull cause air conduction.
c. Amplitude of sound determines the pitch that is heard.
d. Loss of air conduction is called a conductive hearing loss. Answer:
a. Air conduction is the normal pathway for hearing.
,◉ A patient has been shown to have a sensorineural hearing loss.
During the assessment, it would be important for the nurse to:
a. Speak loudly so the patient can hear the questions.
b. Assess for middle ear infection as a possible cause.
c. Ask the patient what medications he is currently taking.
d. Look for the source of the obstruction in the external ear. Answer:
c. Ask the patient what medications he is currently taking.
A simple increase in amplitude may not enable the person to
understand spoken words. Sensorineural hearing loss may be
caused by presbycusis, which is a gradual nerve degeneration that
occurs with aging and by ototoxic drugs, which affect the hair cells in
the cochlea.
◉ A 31-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed a
progressive loss in his hearing. He says that it does seem to help
when people speak louder or if he turns up the volume of a
television or radio. The most likely cause of his hearing loss is:
a. Otosclerosis.
b. Presbycusis.
c. Trauma to the bones.
d. Frequent ear infections. Answer: a. Otosclerosis.
,Otosclerosis is a common cause of conductive hearing loss in young
adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Presbycusis is a type of
hearing loss that occurs with aging. Trauma and frequent ear
infections are not a likely cause of his hearing loss.
◉ A 70-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed that he is
having trouble hearing, especially in large groups. He says that he
cant always tell where the sound is coming from and the words often
sound mixed up. What might the nurse suspect as the cause for this
change?
a. Atrophy of the apocrine glands
b. Cilia becoming coarse and stiff
c. Nerve degeneration in the inner ear
d. Scarring of the tympanic membrane Answer: c. Nerve
degeneration in the inner ear
Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs in 60% of those
older than 65 years of age, even in those living in a quiet
environment. This sensorineural loss is gradual and caused by nerve
degeneration in the inner ear. Words sound garbled, and the ability
to localize sound is also impaired. This communication dysfunction
is accentuated when background noise is present.
◉ In performing a voice test to assess hearing, which of these
actions would the nurse perform?
, a. Shield the lips so that the sound is muffled.
b. Whisper a set of random numbers and letters, and then ask the
patient to repeat them.
c. Ask the patient to place his finger in his ear to occlude outside
noise.
d. Stand approximately 4 feet away to ensure that the patient can
really hear at this distance. Answer: b. Whisper a set of random
numbers and letters, and then ask the patient to repeat them.
With the head 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) from the patients ear, the
examiner exhales and slowly whispers a set of random numbers and
letters, such as 5, B, 6. Normally, the patient is asked to repeat each
number and letter correctly after hearing the examiner say them.
◉ The nurse is performing an ear examination of an 80-year-old
patient. Which of these findings would be considered normal?
a. High-tone frequency loss
b. Increased elasticity of the pinna
c. Thin, translucent membrane
d. Shiny, pink tympanic membrane Answer: ANS: A
A high-tone frequency hearing loss is apparent for those affected
with presbycusis, the hearing loss that occurs with aging. The pinna
loses elasticity, causing earlobes to be pendulous. The eardrum may
be whiter in color and more opaque and duller in the older person
than in the younger adult.
