pharm
1
Pharmacology Final Review
1. Calcium supplement for osteoporosis--why would they have flank pain
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of lactulose to a client who has cirrhosis. The
client states, "I don't need this medication. I am not constipated." The nurse should
explain that in clients who have cirrhosis, lactulose is used to decrease levels of which of
the following components in the bloodstream?
a. Glucose
b. Ammonia
i. Rationale: Lactulose, a disaccharide, is a sugar that works as an osmotic
diuretic. It prevents absorption of ammonia in the colon. Accumulation of
ammonia in the bloodstream, which occurs in pathologic conditions of the
liver, such as cirrhosis, may affect the central nervous system, causing
hepatic encephalopathy or coma.
c. Potassium
d. Bicarbonate
3. A nurse on a medical unit is planning care for an older adult client who takes several
medications. Which of the following prescribed medications places the client at risk for
orthostatic hypotension? (Select all that apply.)
a. Furosemide
b. Telmisartan
c. Duloxetine
d. Clopidogrel
e. Atorvastatin
4. Someone has a-fib on coumadin, know what normal PT is
5. Someone is on atorvastatin (statin) what kind of labs do we look at
a. Liver function
6. CKD nephrotoxicity
a. Antibiotic
7. Heart failure and on Lasix, what are adverse effects of Lasix and what would happen if
hypokalemic
8. Celecoxib for osteoarthritis (adverse effects??)
a. Not stroke
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing medications and is prescribed
enteric-coated aspirin PO once daily. The client asks if the medication can be crushed to
make it easier to swallow. Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?
,2
Pharmacology Final Review
a. "Crushing the medication might cause you to have a stomachache or indigestion.
i. Rationale: The pill is enteric-coated to prevent breakdown in the stomach
and decrease the possibility of GI distress. Crushing destroys protection.
b. "Crushing the medication is a good idea, and I can mix it in some ice cream for
you.”
c. "Crushing the medication would release all the medication at once, rather than
over time."
d. "Crushing is unsafe, as it destroys the ingredients in the medication."
10. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
mellitus and has a prescription for glipizide. Which of the following statements by the
nurse best describes the action of glipizide?
a. "Glipizide absorbs the excess carbohydrates in your system."
b. "Glipizide stimulates your pancreas to release insulin."
i. Rationale: Glipizide is an oral antidiabetic medication in the
pharmacological classification of sulfonylurea agents. These medications
help to lower blood glucose levels in clients who have type 2 diabetes
mellitus using several methods, including reducing glucose output by the
liver, increasing peripheral sensitivity to insulin, and stimulating the
release of insulin from the functioning beta cells of the pancreas.
c. "Glipizide replaces insulin that is not being produced by your pancreas."
d. "Glipizide prevents your liver from destroying your insulin."
11. Having transdermal analgesic-- look up emla cream
12. SAA--how to use cream with child ^^^
a. Use visual pain rating scale
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and is to be
started on intravenous rifampin therapy. The nurse should instruct the client that this
medication can cause which of the following adverse effects?
a. Constipation
b. Black colored stools
c. Staining of teeth
d. Body secretions turning a red-orange color
i. Rationale: Rifampin is used in combination with other medicines to treat
TB. Rifampin will cause the urine, stool, saliva
, 3
Pharmacology Final Review
14. A nurse is caring for a client who has congestive heart failure and is taking digoxin daily.
The client refused breakfast and is complaining of nausea and weakness. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
a. A. Check the client's vital signs.
i. Rationale: It is possible that the client's nausea is secondary to digoxin
toxicity. Assess for bradycardia, a symptom of digoxin toxicity. The nurse
should withhold the medication and call the provider if the client's heart
rate is less than 60 bpm.
b. Request a dietitian consult.
c. Suggest that the client rests before eating the meal.
d. Request an order for an antiemetic.
15. A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and has been taking lithium for 1
year. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check to see that which of the
following tests have been completed?
a. Thyroid hormone assay
i. Rationale: Thyroid testing is important because long-term use of lithium
may lead to thyroid dysfunction.
b. Liver function tests:
i. Rationale: LFTs must be monitored before and during valproic acid
therapy
c. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
i. Rationale: This is not a necessary test related to lithium therapy.
d. Brain natriuretic peptide
16. A nurse is caring for a client who has thrombophlebitis and is receiving heparin by
continuous IV infusion. The client asks the nurse how long it will take for the heparin to
dissolve the clot. Which of the following responses should the nurse give?
a. "It usually takes heparin at least 2 to 3 days to reach a therapeutic blood level."
b. "A pharmacist is the person to answer that question."
c. "Heparin does not dissolve clots. It stops new clots from forming."
i. Rationale: This statement accurately answers the client's question.
d. "The oral medication you will take after this IV will dissolve the clot.
17. Suspension --vigorously shake for 5 minutes , room temp
18. A nurse caring for a client who has hypertension and asks the nurse about a prescription
for propranolol. The nurse should inform the client that this medication is contraindicated
in clients who have a history of which of the following conditions?
a) Asthma
1. Rationale: Propranolol, a beta-blocker, is contraindicated in clients who
have asthma because it can cause bronchospasms. Propranolol blocks the
sympathetic stimulation, which prevents smooth muscle relaxation.
b) Glaucoma
c) Depression
1
Pharmacology Final Review
1. Calcium supplement for osteoporosis--why would they have flank pain
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of lactulose to a client who has cirrhosis. The
client states, "I don't need this medication. I am not constipated." The nurse should
explain that in clients who have cirrhosis, lactulose is used to decrease levels of which of
the following components in the bloodstream?
a. Glucose
b. Ammonia
i. Rationale: Lactulose, a disaccharide, is a sugar that works as an osmotic
diuretic. It prevents absorption of ammonia in the colon. Accumulation of
ammonia in the bloodstream, which occurs in pathologic conditions of the
liver, such as cirrhosis, may affect the central nervous system, causing
hepatic encephalopathy or coma.
c. Potassium
d. Bicarbonate
3. A nurse on a medical unit is planning care for an older adult client who takes several
medications. Which of the following prescribed medications places the client at risk for
orthostatic hypotension? (Select all that apply.)
a. Furosemide
b. Telmisartan
c. Duloxetine
d. Clopidogrel
e. Atorvastatin
4. Someone has a-fib on coumadin, know what normal PT is
5. Someone is on atorvastatin (statin) what kind of labs do we look at
a. Liver function
6. CKD nephrotoxicity
a. Antibiotic
7. Heart failure and on Lasix, what are adverse effects of Lasix and what would happen if
hypokalemic
8. Celecoxib for osteoarthritis (adverse effects??)
a. Not stroke
9. A nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing medications and is prescribed
enteric-coated aspirin PO once daily. The client asks if the medication can be crushed to
make it easier to swallow. Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?
,2
Pharmacology Final Review
a. "Crushing the medication might cause you to have a stomachache or indigestion.
i. Rationale: The pill is enteric-coated to prevent breakdown in the stomach
and decrease the possibility of GI distress. Crushing destroys protection.
b. "Crushing the medication is a good idea, and I can mix it in some ice cream for
you.”
c. "Crushing the medication would release all the medication at once, rather than
over time."
d. "Crushing is unsafe, as it destroys the ingredients in the medication."
10. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
mellitus and has a prescription for glipizide. Which of the following statements by the
nurse best describes the action of glipizide?
a. "Glipizide absorbs the excess carbohydrates in your system."
b. "Glipizide stimulates your pancreas to release insulin."
i. Rationale: Glipizide is an oral antidiabetic medication in the
pharmacological classification of sulfonylurea agents. These medications
help to lower blood glucose levels in clients who have type 2 diabetes
mellitus using several methods, including reducing glucose output by the
liver, increasing peripheral sensitivity to insulin, and stimulating the
release of insulin from the functioning beta cells of the pancreas.
c. "Glipizide replaces insulin that is not being produced by your pancreas."
d. "Glipizide prevents your liver from destroying your insulin."
11. Having transdermal analgesic-- look up emla cream
12. SAA--how to use cream with child ^^^
a. Use visual pain rating scale
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and is to be
started on intravenous rifampin therapy. The nurse should instruct the client that this
medication can cause which of the following adverse effects?
a. Constipation
b. Black colored stools
c. Staining of teeth
d. Body secretions turning a red-orange color
i. Rationale: Rifampin is used in combination with other medicines to treat
TB. Rifampin will cause the urine, stool, saliva
, 3
Pharmacology Final Review
14. A nurse is caring for a client who has congestive heart failure and is taking digoxin daily.
The client refused breakfast and is complaining of nausea and weakness. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
a. A. Check the client's vital signs.
i. Rationale: It is possible that the client's nausea is secondary to digoxin
toxicity. Assess for bradycardia, a symptom of digoxin toxicity. The nurse
should withhold the medication and call the provider if the client's heart
rate is less than 60 bpm.
b. Request a dietitian consult.
c. Suggest that the client rests before eating the meal.
d. Request an order for an antiemetic.
15. A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and has been taking lithium for 1
year. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check to see that which of the
following tests have been completed?
a. Thyroid hormone assay
i. Rationale: Thyroid testing is important because long-term use of lithium
may lead to thyroid dysfunction.
b. Liver function tests:
i. Rationale: LFTs must be monitored before and during valproic acid
therapy
c. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
i. Rationale: This is not a necessary test related to lithium therapy.
d. Brain natriuretic peptide
16. A nurse is caring for a client who has thrombophlebitis and is receiving heparin by
continuous IV infusion. The client asks the nurse how long it will take for the heparin to
dissolve the clot. Which of the following responses should the nurse give?
a. "It usually takes heparin at least 2 to 3 days to reach a therapeutic blood level."
b. "A pharmacist is the person to answer that question."
c. "Heparin does not dissolve clots. It stops new clots from forming."
i. Rationale: This statement accurately answers the client's question.
d. "The oral medication you will take after this IV will dissolve the clot.
17. Suspension --vigorously shake for 5 minutes , room temp
18. A nurse caring for a client who has hypertension and asks the nurse about a prescription
for propranolol. The nurse should inform the client that this medication is contraindicated
in clients who have a history of which of the following conditions?
a) Asthma
1. Rationale: Propranolol, a beta-blocker, is contraindicated in clients who
have asthma because it can cause bronchospasms. Propranolol blocks the
sympathetic stimulation, which prevents smooth muscle relaxation.
b) Glaucoma
c) Depression
