UNITEK PHARMACOLOGY CMS EXAM |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED
ANSWERS (100% CORRECT) | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE
1. A nurse is administering the first dose of ramipril to a client who has
hypertension. The client reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Which of the
following should the nurse administer?
• A. Oral glucose
• B. IV fluid bolus
• C. Naloxone
• D. Oxygen
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor that can cause first-dose hypotension,
leading to dizziness and lightheadedness. IV fluid bolus helps restore intravascular
volume and blood pressure.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has hypertension and has been taking
hydrochlorothiazide. Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse evaluate?
• A. Serum glucose
• B. Serum electrolyte levels
• C. Serum creatinine
• D. Serum albumin
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
,Rationale: Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that can cause electrolyte
imbalances, particularly hypokalemia and hyponatremia. Serum electrolyte levels
should be monitored regularly.
3. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is to start therapy with
digoxin for atrial fibrillation. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
• A. Take with antacids
• B. Notify your provider if you develop blurred vision
• C. Double the dose if you miss a day
• D. Take on an empty stomach
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity can cause visual disturbances, including blurred
vision, yellow-green halos, and diplopia. Clients should notify their provider
immediately if these occur.
4. Which laboratory value increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?
• A. Hypokalemia
• B. Hyperkalemia
• C. Hyponatremia
• D. Hypercalcemia
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because digoxin
competes with potassium for binding sites on the sodium-potassium ATPase pump.
Low potassium levels allow more digoxin to bind, increasing its effects.
5. Which of the following should the nurse assess before administering
digoxin?
, • A. Blood pressure
• B. Respiratory rate
• C. Apical heart rate for one full minute
• D. Temperature
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Before administering digoxin, the nurse should auscultate the apical
pulse for one full minute. Digoxin should be withheld if the heart rate is below 60
beats per minute in adults.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is to start therapy with
furosemide. The nurse determines that teaching is effective when the client
states they will increase intake of which of the following foods?
• A. Apple juice
• B. Baked potato
• C. White bread
• D. Ice cream
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting. Clients
should increase intake of potassium-rich foods such as baked potatoes, bananas,
oranges, and tomatoes to prevent hypokalemia.
7. Which of the following is the antidote for heparin overdose?
• A. Vitamin K
• B. Protamine sulfate
• C. Naloxone
• D. Flumazenil
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
, Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific antidote for heparin. It binds to heparin
and neutralizes its anticoagulant effects.
8. A nurse is reviewing a client's 0800 laboratory values at 1100. The nurse
notes that the client received heparin at 1100. Which of the following
laboratory values warrants an incident report?
• A. aPTT 45 seconds
• B. aPTT 60 seconds
• C. aPTT 90 seconds
• D. aPTT 75 seconds
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: An aPTT of 90 seconds is significantly elevated above the therapeutic
range (typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline, or 60-80 seconds). This indicates a
high risk of bleeding and warrants an incident report.
9. Which laboratory test should be monitored for a client receiving heparin
therapy?
• A. INR
• B. aPTT
• C. Platelet count
• D. Both B and C
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: For heparin therapy, both aPTT (to monitor therapeutic effect) and
platelet count (to monitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) should be
monitored.
10. A client receiving heparin develops a sudden drop in platelet count. Which
of the following complications should the nurse suspect?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED
ANSWERS (100% CORRECT) | LATEST
EXAM UPDATE
1. A nurse is administering the first dose of ramipril to a client who has
hypertension. The client reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Which of the
following should the nurse administer?
• A. Oral glucose
• B. IV fluid bolus
• C. Naloxone
• D. Oxygen
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor that can cause first-dose hypotension,
leading to dizziness and lightheadedness. IV fluid bolus helps restore intravascular
volume and blood pressure.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has hypertension and has been taking
hydrochlorothiazide. Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse evaluate?
• A. Serum glucose
• B. Serum electrolyte levels
• C. Serum creatinine
• D. Serum albumin
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
,Rationale: Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that can cause electrolyte
imbalances, particularly hypokalemia and hyponatremia. Serum electrolyte levels
should be monitored regularly.
3. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is to start therapy with
digoxin for atrial fibrillation. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
• A. Take with antacids
• B. Notify your provider if you develop blurred vision
• C. Double the dose if you miss a day
• D. Take on an empty stomach
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity can cause visual disturbances, including blurred
vision, yellow-green halos, and diplopia. Clients should notify their provider
immediately if these occur.
4. Which laboratory value increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?
• A. Hypokalemia
• B. Hyperkalemia
• C. Hyponatremia
• D. Hypercalcemia
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because digoxin
competes with potassium for binding sites on the sodium-potassium ATPase pump.
Low potassium levels allow more digoxin to bind, increasing its effects.
5. Which of the following should the nurse assess before administering
digoxin?
, • A. Blood pressure
• B. Respiratory rate
• C. Apical heart rate for one full minute
• D. Temperature
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Before administering digoxin, the nurse should auscultate the apical
pulse for one full minute. Digoxin should be withheld if the heart rate is below 60
beats per minute in adults.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is to start therapy with
furosemide. The nurse determines that teaching is effective when the client
states they will increase intake of which of the following foods?
• A. Apple juice
• B. Baked potato
• C. White bread
• D. Ice cream
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting. Clients
should increase intake of potassium-rich foods such as baked potatoes, bananas,
oranges, and tomatoes to prevent hypokalemia.
7. Which of the following is the antidote for heparin overdose?
• A. Vitamin K
• B. Protamine sulfate
• C. Naloxone
• D. Flumazenil
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
, Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific antidote for heparin. It binds to heparin
and neutralizes its anticoagulant effects.
8. A nurse is reviewing a client's 0800 laboratory values at 1100. The nurse
notes that the client received heparin at 1100. Which of the following
laboratory values warrants an incident report?
• A. aPTT 45 seconds
• B. aPTT 60 seconds
• C. aPTT 90 seconds
• D. aPTT 75 seconds
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: An aPTT of 90 seconds is significantly elevated above the therapeutic
range (typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline, or 60-80 seconds). This indicates a
high risk of bleeding and warrants an incident report.
9. Which laboratory test should be monitored for a client receiving heparin
therapy?
• A. INR
• B. aPTT
• C. Platelet count
• D. Both B and C
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: For heparin therapy, both aPTT (to monitor therapeutic effect) and
platelet count (to monitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) should be
monitored.
10. A client receiving heparin develops a sudden drop in platelet count. Which
of the following complications should the nurse suspect?
