NR 508: Advanced Pharmacology Midterm Exam
1. A patient asks a primary care NP whether over-the-counter drugs are safer than
prescription drugs. The NP should explain that over-the-counter drugs are: (Points : 2)
generally safe when label information is understood and followed.
safer because over-the-counter doses are lower than prescription doses of the same
drug.
less safe because they are not well regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
not extensively tested, so claims made by manufacturers cannot be substantiated.
Question 2.2. A woman who is being treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer asks her
primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about using dietary supplements to improve her chance
of recovery. The NP should tell her that: (Points : 2)
vitamin E is not harmful but has not been shown to change outcomes.
no supplements have been shown to alter outcomes or response to therapy.
folic acid and other B vitamins may improve ability to tolerate chemotherapy.
vitamin C, taken at least 6 days per week, may lower her risk of cancer recurrence.
Question 3.3. A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus takes metformin (Glucophage) 1000 mg
twice daily and glyburide (Micronase) 12 mg daily. At an annual physical examination, the BMI
is 29 and hemoglobin A1c is 7.3%. The NP should: (Points : 2)
begin insulin therapy.
change to therapy with colesevelam (Welchol).
add a third oral antidiabetic agent to this patient’s drug regimen.
enroll the patient in a weight loss program to achieve better glycemic control.
Question 4.4. A patient comes to the clinic to discuss weight loss. The primary care NP notes
a BMI of 32 and performs a health risk assessment that reveals no obesity-related risk factors.
The NP should recommend: (Points : 2)
orlistat (Xenical).
surgical intervention.
changes in diet and exercise.
changes in diet and exercise along with short-term phentermine.
Question 5.5. Which of the following statements is true about the prescribing practices of
physicians? (Points : 2)
Older physicians tend to prescribe more appropriate medications than younger
physicians.
Antibiotic medications remain in the top five classifications of medications prescribed.
Most physicians rely on a “therapeutic armamentarium” that consists of less than 100
drug preparations per physician.
, The dominant form of drug information used by primary care physicians continues to
be that provided by pharmaceutical companies.
Question 6.6. A primary care NP is aware that many patients in the community use herbal
remedies to treat various conditions. The NP understands the importance of: (Points : 2)
learning about the actions, uses, doses, and toxicities of these agents.
prescribing these agents when possible to ensure safe dosing.
counseling patients to stop using herbal products to avoid toxic side effects.
teaching patients that these products are unregulated and unsafe to use.
Question 7.7. A patient who is at risk for DVT tells the primary care NP she has just learned
she is pregnant. The NP should expect that this patient will use which of the following
anticoagulant medications? (Points : 2)
Aspirin
Heparin
Dabigatran
Warfarin
Question 8.8. As primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) continue to develop their role as
prescribers of medications, it will be important to: (Points : 2)
attain the same level of expertise as physicians who currently prescribe medications.
learn from the experiences of physicians and develop expertise based on evidence-
based practice.
maintain collaborative and supervisorial relationships with physicians who will
oversee prescribing practices.
develop relationships with pharmaceutical representatives to learn about new
medications as they are developed.
Question 9.9. A patient with a previous history of myocardial infarction (MI) who takes
nitroglycerin for angina develops hypertension. The primary care NP is considering ordering
an ACE inhibitor. Preliminary laboratory tests reveal decreased renal function. The NP should:
(Points : 2)
begin therapy with a low-dose ACE inhibitor.
choose an ARB instead.
add a low-dose thiazide diuretic to the drug regimen.
order a renal perfusion study before starting treatment.
Question 10.10. A 40-year-old woman tells the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) that she
does not want more children and would like a contraceptive. She does not smoke and has
no personal or family history of cardiovascular disease. She has frequent tension headaches.
For
1. A patient asks a primary care NP whether over-the-counter drugs are safer than
prescription drugs. The NP should explain that over-the-counter drugs are: (Points : 2)
generally safe when label information is understood and followed.
safer because over-the-counter doses are lower than prescription doses of the same
drug.
less safe because they are not well regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
not extensively tested, so claims made by manufacturers cannot be substantiated.
Question 2.2. A woman who is being treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer asks her
primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about using dietary supplements to improve her chance
of recovery. The NP should tell her that: (Points : 2)
vitamin E is not harmful but has not been shown to change outcomes.
no supplements have been shown to alter outcomes or response to therapy.
folic acid and other B vitamins may improve ability to tolerate chemotherapy.
vitamin C, taken at least 6 days per week, may lower her risk of cancer recurrence.
Question 3.3. A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus takes metformin (Glucophage) 1000 mg
twice daily and glyburide (Micronase) 12 mg daily. At an annual physical examination, the BMI
is 29 and hemoglobin A1c is 7.3%. The NP should: (Points : 2)
begin insulin therapy.
change to therapy with colesevelam (Welchol).
add a third oral antidiabetic agent to this patient’s drug regimen.
enroll the patient in a weight loss program to achieve better glycemic control.
Question 4.4. A patient comes to the clinic to discuss weight loss. The primary care NP notes
a BMI of 32 and performs a health risk assessment that reveals no obesity-related risk factors.
The NP should recommend: (Points : 2)
orlistat (Xenical).
surgical intervention.
changes in diet and exercise.
changes in diet and exercise along with short-term phentermine.
Question 5.5. Which of the following statements is true about the prescribing practices of
physicians? (Points : 2)
Older physicians tend to prescribe more appropriate medications than younger
physicians.
Antibiotic medications remain in the top five classifications of medications prescribed.
Most physicians rely on a “therapeutic armamentarium” that consists of less than 100
drug preparations per physician.
, The dominant form of drug information used by primary care physicians continues to
be that provided by pharmaceutical companies.
Question 6.6. A primary care NP is aware that many patients in the community use herbal
remedies to treat various conditions. The NP understands the importance of: (Points : 2)
learning about the actions, uses, doses, and toxicities of these agents.
prescribing these agents when possible to ensure safe dosing.
counseling patients to stop using herbal products to avoid toxic side effects.
teaching patients that these products are unregulated and unsafe to use.
Question 7.7. A patient who is at risk for DVT tells the primary care NP she has just learned
she is pregnant. The NP should expect that this patient will use which of the following
anticoagulant medications? (Points : 2)
Aspirin
Heparin
Dabigatran
Warfarin
Question 8.8. As primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) continue to develop their role as
prescribers of medications, it will be important to: (Points : 2)
attain the same level of expertise as physicians who currently prescribe medications.
learn from the experiences of physicians and develop expertise based on evidence-
based practice.
maintain collaborative and supervisorial relationships with physicians who will
oversee prescribing practices.
develop relationships with pharmaceutical representatives to learn about new
medications as they are developed.
Question 9.9. A patient with a previous history of myocardial infarction (MI) who takes
nitroglycerin for angina develops hypertension. The primary care NP is considering ordering
an ACE inhibitor. Preliminary laboratory tests reveal decreased renal function. The NP should:
(Points : 2)
begin therapy with a low-dose ACE inhibitor.
choose an ARB instead.
add a low-dose thiazide diuretic to the drug regimen.
order a renal perfusion study before starting treatment.
Question 10.10. A 40-year-old woman tells the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) that she
does not want more children and would like a contraceptive. She does not smoke and has
no personal or family history of cardiovascular disease. She has frequent tension headaches.
For
