Pharmacology for Nurses Ch15, 17, 20
and 50 Practice Test
1) The patient says to the nurse, "My doctor said I have epilepsy and need to take medicine for those
seizures I had. Do I really need medicine?" What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "Having epilepsy is the same as having a mental illness; the medications are very similar."
b. "You will need medicine for a little while to cure the seizures."
c. "You might not need medicine; you may be controlled by a ketogenic diet."
d. "Yes, you need to take medication on a continual basis to control the seizures."
2) The nurse is teaching a class for patients who have been recently diagnosed with epilepsy. The nurse
determines that learning has occurred when the patients make which statements? Select all that
apply.
a. "Excessive stress levels cause disruptions in how the brain receives oxygen, leading to
epilepsy." b. "Epilepsy may be caused by a head injury."
c. "Eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, increase the risk for developing
epilepsy." d. "A stroke, or brain attack, could increase the risk for developing
epilepsy."
e. "With some cases of epilepsy, the cause is never determined."
3) A parent says to the nurse, "The doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin) for my child, who has
absence seizures. What does this mean?" What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "Absence seizures are basically the same kind of seizures as grand mal, but they are less
frequent." b. "Your daughter's seizures manifest as a staring into space for a few seconds.
Ethosuximide
(Zarontin) is a good medication for this type of seizure."
c. "Explaining the types of seizure activity is complicated. Have you spoken to your doctor about it?"
d. "Are you sure your doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin)? Phenobarbital (Luminal) is
used much more frequently with children."
4) The patient has epilepsy and receives phenytoin (Dilantin). The patient has been seizure-free, and asks the
nurse why he still needs blood tests when he is not having seizures. What is the best response by the
nurse?
a. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) has a very narrow range between a therapeutic dose and a
toxic dose."
b. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) can cause blood-thinning in some patients."
c. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which will show up in
the blood tests."
d. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) can deplete your system of potassium."
5) The nurse has been conducting medication education for a patient with epilepsy. What is the best
outcome for this patient?
a. The patient will recognize that the antiseizure medication must be continued indefinitely.
b. The patient will recognize the need to be on a tyramine-free diet while on antiseizure medications.
c. The patient will recognize the need to be on a ketogenic diet in combination with
antiseizure medications.
d. The patient will recognize the need to be on antiseizure medication for 1 year after the last seizure.
Page 1 of 25
, 2
6) The physician has ordered intravenous (IV) diazepam (Valium) for the patient in status epilepticus.
During administration, which assessment by the nurse is most important?
a. Assessing respirations
b. Assessing level of consciousness
c. Assessing pulse for bradycardia
d. Assessing blood pressure for hypertension
7) The physician has ordered intravenous (IV) phenytoin (Dilantin). The nurse does not read the drug
label and administers the medication intramuscularly (IM). What is the most likely response in the
patient?
a. Local tissue damage following extravasation will most likely occur.
b. A phenomenon known as purple gluteus syndrome will most likely occur.
c. A marked decrease in serum glucose levels will most likely occur.
d. Nothing adverse, the medication may be administered intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM).
8) The physician has ordered intravenous phenytoin (Dilantin). The patient is also receiving 5% dextrose
in water (D5W) intravenously (IV). What will the nurse plan to do before administering this
medication? Select all that apply.
a. Use a large vein for the infusion.
b. Use an intravenous (IV) line with a filter.
c. Flush the intravenous (IV) line with
saline.
d. Monitor the patient for hypertension.
e. Monitor the patient for Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
9) The patient is receiving valproic acid (Depakene) for treatment of seizures. The patient has also been taking
a daily 81 mg aspirin tablet prophylactically for a cardiac condition. What would the nurse be most likely
to observe?
a. An increase in seizure activity
b. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
c. Migraine headaches and generalized irritability
d. Bleeding from the gums and bruising of the skin
10) The patient is receiving Phenobarbital (Luminal) for control of seizures. The patient tells the nurse
she plans to become pregnant. What is the best response of the nurse?
a. "Your medication dose will need to be decreased during your
pregnancy." b. "Please talk to your doctor; this drug is contraindicated
in pregnancy."
c. "Your medication dose will need to be increased during your pregnancy."
d. "Please talk to your doctor; you will need a safer drug like valproic acid (Depakene)."
11) The patient tells the nurse that she has been taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for 2 years now and is still
having too many side effects. She wants to stop taking it. What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "Please do not stop the medication abruptly, as you will have withdrawal seizures."
b. "Side effects are a problem, but they are not as bad as the seizures you were having."
c. "This is the best medication for you; we can add another medication to decrease side effects."
d. "You have probably been on the medication long enough; I'll let your doctor know you
are stopping it."
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, 3
12) The physician has prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin) for a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. What does
the nurse include in the plan of care for this patient?
Page 3 of 25
and 50 Practice Test
1) The patient says to the nurse, "My doctor said I have epilepsy and need to take medicine for those
seizures I had. Do I really need medicine?" What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "Having epilepsy is the same as having a mental illness; the medications are very similar."
b. "You will need medicine for a little while to cure the seizures."
c. "You might not need medicine; you may be controlled by a ketogenic diet."
d. "Yes, you need to take medication on a continual basis to control the seizures."
2) The nurse is teaching a class for patients who have been recently diagnosed with epilepsy. The nurse
determines that learning has occurred when the patients make which statements? Select all that
apply.
a. "Excessive stress levels cause disruptions in how the brain receives oxygen, leading to
epilepsy." b. "Epilepsy may be caused by a head injury."
c. "Eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, increase the risk for developing
epilepsy." d. "A stroke, or brain attack, could increase the risk for developing
epilepsy."
e. "With some cases of epilepsy, the cause is never determined."
3) A parent says to the nurse, "The doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin) for my child, who has
absence seizures. What does this mean?" What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "Absence seizures are basically the same kind of seizures as grand mal, but they are less
frequent." b. "Your daughter's seizures manifest as a staring into space for a few seconds.
Ethosuximide
(Zarontin) is a good medication for this type of seizure."
c. "Explaining the types of seizure activity is complicated. Have you spoken to your doctor about it?"
d. "Are you sure your doctor prescribed ethosuximide (Zarontin)? Phenobarbital (Luminal) is
used much more frequently with children."
4) The patient has epilepsy and receives phenytoin (Dilantin). The patient has been seizure-free, and asks the
nurse why he still needs blood tests when he is not having seizures. What is the best response by the
nurse?
a. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) has a very narrow range between a therapeutic dose and a
toxic dose."
b. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) can cause blood-thinning in some patients."
c. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which will show up in
the blood tests."
d. "Because phenytoin (Dilantin) can deplete your system of potassium."
5) The nurse has been conducting medication education for a patient with epilepsy. What is the best
outcome for this patient?
a. The patient will recognize that the antiseizure medication must be continued indefinitely.
b. The patient will recognize the need to be on a tyramine-free diet while on antiseizure medications.
c. The patient will recognize the need to be on a ketogenic diet in combination with
antiseizure medications.
d. The patient will recognize the need to be on antiseizure medication for 1 year after the last seizure.
Page 1 of 25
, 2
6) The physician has ordered intravenous (IV) diazepam (Valium) for the patient in status epilepticus.
During administration, which assessment by the nurse is most important?
a. Assessing respirations
b. Assessing level of consciousness
c. Assessing pulse for bradycardia
d. Assessing blood pressure for hypertension
7) The physician has ordered intravenous (IV) phenytoin (Dilantin). The nurse does not read the drug
label and administers the medication intramuscularly (IM). What is the most likely response in the
patient?
a. Local tissue damage following extravasation will most likely occur.
b. A phenomenon known as purple gluteus syndrome will most likely occur.
c. A marked decrease in serum glucose levels will most likely occur.
d. Nothing adverse, the medication may be administered intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM).
8) The physician has ordered intravenous phenytoin (Dilantin). The patient is also receiving 5% dextrose
in water (D5W) intravenously (IV). What will the nurse plan to do before administering this
medication? Select all that apply.
a. Use a large vein for the infusion.
b. Use an intravenous (IV) line with a filter.
c. Flush the intravenous (IV) line with
saline.
d. Monitor the patient for hypertension.
e. Monitor the patient for Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
9) The patient is receiving valproic acid (Depakene) for treatment of seizures. The patient has also been taking
a daily 81 mg aspirin tablet prophylactically for a cardiac condition. What would the nurse be most likely
to observe?
a. An increase in seizure activity
b. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
c. Migraine headaches and generalized irritability
d. Bleeding from the gums and bruising of the skin
10) The patient is receiving Phenobarbital (Luminal) for control of seizures. The patient tells the nurse
she plans to become pregnant. What is the best response of the nurse?
a. "Your medication dose will need to be decreased during your
pregnancy." b. "Please talk to your doctor; this drug is contraindicated
in pregnancy."
c. "Your medication dose will need to be increased during your pregnancy."
d. "Please talk to your doctor; you will need a safer drug like valproic acid (Depakene)."
11) The patient tells the nurse that she has been taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for 2 years now and is still
having too many side effects. She wants to stop taking it. What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "Please do not stop the medication abruptly, as you will have withdrawal seizures."
b. "Side effects are a problem, but they are not as bad as the seizures you were having."
c. "This is the best medication for you; we can add another medication to decrease side effects."
d. "You have probably been on the medication long enough; I'll let your doctor know you
are stopping it."
Page 2 of 25
, 3
12) The physician has prescribed phenytoin (Dilantin) for a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. What does
the nurse include in the plan of care for this patient?
Page 3 of 25
