LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
Chapter 01: Orientation to Pharmacology
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do this, the nurse
will rely on knowledge of which topic?
a Clinical pharmacology
.
b Drug efficacy
.
c Pharmacokinetics
.
d Pharmacotherapeutics
.
ANS: D
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions.
Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human interactions. Drug efficacy
measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics is the
study of the impact of the body on a drug.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation NURSINGTB.COM
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration.
.
b It does not interact significantly with other medications.
.
c It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen.
.
d It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
.
ANS: C
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to
comply with the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed,
but those properties are independent of ease of administration.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 2
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness and will
decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the drug’s effects by the
patient, the nurse will anticipate which outcome?
NURSINGTB.COM
, LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
a Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
.
b Decreased motivation to take the drug
.
c Improved compliance with the drug regimen
.
d Increased likelihood of drug overdose
.
ANS: C
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects. Pa-
tients who understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to com-
ply with the drug regimen.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 2
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. What are the properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.)
a Irreversible action
.
b Predictability
. NURSINGTB.COM
c Ease of administration
.
d Chemical stability
.
e A recognizable trade name
.
ANS: B, C, D
In addition to predictability, ease of administration, and chemical stability, other properties in-
clude a reversible action so that any harm the drug may cause can be undone and a simple ge-
neric name, because generic names are usually complex and difficult to remember and pro-
nounce.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: pp. 1-2
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how individual
patient variability might affect the patient’s response to the medication? (Select all that apply.)
a Chemical stability of the medication
.
b Ease of administration
.
c Family medical history
NURSINGTB.COM
, LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
.
d Patient’s age
.
e Patient’s diagnosis
.
ANS: C, D, E
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a
medication. Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s ill-
ness can affect how drugs are metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the ease
of administration are properties of drugs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: pp. 3-4
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
NURSINGTB.COM
NURSINGTB.COM
, LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
Chapter 02: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The medication label
instructs the patient to administer “2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for coughing or wheezing.”
The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and she doesn’t feel
that the medication is always effective. Which action is outside the nurse’s scope of practice?
a Asking the patient to demonstrate use of the inhaler
.
b Assessing the patient’s exposure to tobacco smoke
.
c Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
.
d Suggesting that the patient use one puff to reduce side effects
.
ANS: D
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order
from a prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the
patient’s ability to administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation. As-
sessing tobacco smoke exposure helps the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a
smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug therapy. Performing a physical assessment
NURSINGTB.COM
helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 9-10
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Lortab] for
pain. The patient asks the nurse about using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is
correct?
a “It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications.”
.
b “Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity.”
.
c “There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe.”
.
d “Tylenol and Lortab are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.”
.
ANS: B
Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the same medication. It is
important to teach patients to be aware of the different names for the same drug to minimize the
risk of overdose. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications may be tak-
en together unless significant harmful drug interactions are possible. Even though no drug inter-
actions are at play in this case, both drugs contain acetaminophen, which could lead to toxicity.
NURSINGTB.COM
Chapter 01: Orientation to Pharmacology
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do this, the nurse
will rely on knowledge of which topic?
a Clinical pharmacology
.
b Drug efficacy
.
c Pharmacokinetics
.
d Pharmacotherapeutics
.
ANS: D
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions.
Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human interactions. Drug efficacy
measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics is the
study of the impact of the body on a drug.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 1
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation NURSINGTB.COM
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration.
.
b It does not interact significantly with other medications.
.
c It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen.
.
d It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
.
ANS: C
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to
comply with the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed,
but those properties are independent of ease of administration.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 2
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness and will
decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the drug’s effects by the
patient, the nurse will anticipate which outcome?
NURSINGTB.COM
, LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
a Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
.
b Decreased motivation to take the drug
.
c Improved compliance with the drug regimen
.
d Increased likelihood of drug overdose
.
ANS: C
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects. Pa-
tients who understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to com-
ply with the drug regimen.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 2
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. What are the properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.)
a Irreversible action
.
b Predictability
. NURSINGTB.COM
c Ease of administration
.
d Chemical stability
.
e A recognizable trade name
.
ANS: B, C, D
In addition to predictability, ease of administration, and chemical stability, other properties in-
clude a reversible action so that any harm the drug may cause can be undone and a simple ge-
neric name, because generic names are usually complex and difficult to remember and pro-
nounce.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: pp. 1-2
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how individual
patient variability might affect the patient’s response to the medication? (Select all that apply.)
a Chemical stability of the medication
.
b Ease of administration
.
c Family medical history
NURSINGTB.COM
, LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
.
d Patient’s age
.
e Patient’s diagnosis
.
ANS: C, D, E
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a
medication. Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s ill-
ness can affect how drugs are metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the ease
of administration are properties of drugs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: pp. 3-4
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
NURSINGTB.COM
NURSINGTB.COM
, LEHNES PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE 10TH EDITION BURCHUM TEST BANK
Chapter 02: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The medication label
instructs the patient to administer “2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for coughing or wheezing.”
The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and she doesn’t feel
that the medication is always effective. Which action is outside the nurse’s scope of practice?
a Asking the patient to demonstrate use of the inhaler
.
b Assessing the patient’s exposure to tobacco smoke
.
c Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
.
d Suggesting that the patient use one puff to reduce side effects
.
ANS: D
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order
from a prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the
patient’s ability to administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation. As-
sessing tobacco smoke exposure helps the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a
smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug therapy. Performing a physical assessment
NURSINGTB.COM
helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 9-10
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Lortab] for
pain. The patient asks the nurse about using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is
correct?
a “It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications.”
.
b “Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity.”
.
c “There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe.”
.
d “Tylenol and Lortab are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.”
.
ANS: B
Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the same medication. It is
important to teach patients to be aware of the different names for the same drug to minimize the
risk of overdose. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications may be tak-
en together unless significant harmful drug interactions are possible. Even though no drug inter-
actions are at play in this case, both drugs contain acetaminophen, which could lead to toxicity.
NURSINGTB.COM
