Page 1
Pharmacology Exam 1 Questions-Case Studies (65
Correct Qs & As 2023)
1. The nurse is preparing to give medications. Which is an appropriate nursing action for
intravenous (IV) phenytoin (Dilantin)? (select all that apply)
a. Give IV doses via rapid IV push
b. Administer in normal saline solutions
c. Administer in dextrose solutions
d. Use a filter for IV infusion
e. Ensure continuous infusion of the drug - Correct answer B, D
2. The pharmacology champion question is: Which of the following are adverse effects of a
CNS stimulant? (Select all that apply)
a. Anxiety
b. Increased BP
c. Tremors
d. Bradycardia - Correct answer a, b, c
3. What is the Mechanism of Action of Antipsychotics?
a. Block dopamine receptors in the brain (limbic system, basal ganglia).
b. Dopamine levels in the CNS are decreased.
c. Activate dopamine receptors in the brain (limbic system, basal ganglia).
d. Both A and B - Correct answer D.
4. Clinical Presentation of Schizophrenia include:
A. Positive symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, and conceptual
disorganization
B. Negative symptoms: apathy, social withdrawal, blunted affect, poverty
of sp
C. Cognitive symptoms: Impaired cognition
D. all of the above - Correct answer D.
5. Which of the following drugs is an antipsychotic and antiemetic?
A. Risperidone (Risperdal)
B. Clozapine (Clozaril)
C. Metoclopramide (Reglan)
D. Prochlorperazine - Correct answer D
6. Antipsychotic drugs adverse effects include_______ ?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrom (NMS)
B. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS): pseudoparkinsonism-akathisia
C. Tardive Dyskinesia
D. All of the above - Correct answer D
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, Page 2
7. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) of Antipsychotic Drugs are usually treated
with________?
A. benztropine (Cogentin) and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
B. benztropine (Cogentin) and atropine
C. Vasopressor
D. all of the above - Correct answer A.
8. True or False: Valbenazine (Ingrezza) is used to treat tardive dyskinesia in adults? -
Correct answer True
9. Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs include_____?
A. insulin resistance and weight gain,
B. changes in serum lipid levels
C. Metabolic syndrome
D. all of the above - Correct answer D.
10. T/F: Haloperidol (Haldol) is useful in treating patients with schizophrenia who were
nonadherent with their drug regimen - Correct answer True
11. What is the Mechanism of Action of Atypical Antipsychotics?
A. Block specific dopamine receptors: dopamine-2 (D2) receptors
B. Block specific serotonin receptors: serotonin 2 (5-HT2) receptors
C. Both A and B
D. Activate specific serotonin receptors: serotonin 2 (5-HT2) receptors -
Correct answer C
12. Risperidone (Risperdal) is an Atypical Antipsychotic that is indicated for________?
A. schizophrenia, including negative symptoms
B. anxiety
C. insomnia
D. all of the above - Correct answer A.
13. Psychotherapeutic Drugs Nursing Implications include which of the following?
A. Obtain baseline vital signs, including postural BP readings.
B. obtain liver and renal function test
C. complete suicide assessment scale
D. all of the above - Correct answer D
14. Psychotherapeutic Drugs Nursing Implications include which of the following?
A. Check the patients mouth to make sure oral doses are swallowed
B. advise patients to avoid abrupt withdrawls
b. advise patients to change positions slowly to avoid postural hypotension
c. all of the above - Correct answer D.
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, Page 3
15. True or False: Foods high in Tyramine should be avoided with monoamine oxidase
inhibitors ex. Isocarboxazid. - Correct answer True to avoid hypertensive crisis
16. Nursing implications for a patient taking antidepressant include _________?
A. tricyclics may need to be weaned and discontinued before undergoing
surgery
B. With MAOIs, instruct patients and family regarding tyramine-food
C. Patient to wear medication ID badges naming the drug being taken
D. all of the above - Correct answer D
17. Nursing implications for a patient taking phenothiazines include_______?
A. Instruct patients to wear sunscreen because of photosensivity
B. avoid taking antacids or antidiarrheal preparations within 1 hour of a
dose
C. oral forms may be taken with meals to decrease GI upset
D. All of the above - Correct answer D
18. T/F: Long-term haloperidol therapy may result in tremors, nausea, vomiting, or
uncontrollable shaking of small muscles? - Correct answer True
The patient's medication administration record lists two
antiepileptic medications that are due at 0900, but the patient is
NPO for a barium study. The nurse's coworker suggests giving the
medications via IV because the patient is NPO. What will the
nurse do?
A. Give the medications PO with a small sip of water.
B. Give the medications via the IV route because the patient is NPO.
C. Hold the medications until after the test is completed.
D. Call the health care provider to clarify the instructions. - Correct answer D. Call the health
care provider to clarify the instructions
19. Rationale
The dosage for the IV route would not be the same as for the PO
route. Holding the medications may cause drug levels to drop and
result in seizure activity and giving the medications PO without
consent may alter the test results. The nurse must never assume
the route of medication administration and should consult the
physician for clarification of the orders.
Need to check if ok to switch route to IV, we as nurses prevents
us from changing dose or route need to get new prescription even
if route changed, always seek clarification from HCP especially if
NPO and taking oral meds can affect them greatly.
P a g e 3 | 24
Pharmacology Exam 1 Questions-Case Studies (65
Correct Qs & As 2023)
1. The nurse is preparing to give medications. Which is an appropriate nursing action for
intravenous (IV) phenytoin (Dilantin)? (select all that apply)
a. Give IV doses via rapid IV push
b. Administer in normal saline solutions
c. Administer in dextrose solutions
d. Use a filter for IV infusion
e. Ensure continuous infusion of the drug - Correct answer B, D
2. The pharmacology champion question is: Which of the following are adverse effects of a
CNS stimulant? (Select all that apply)
a. Anxiety
b. Increased BP
c. Tremors
d. Bradycardia - Correct answer a, b, c
3. What is the Mechanism of Action of Antipsychotics?
a. Block dopamine receptors in the brain (limbic system, basal ganglia).
b. Dopamine levels in the CNS are decreased.
c. Activate dopamine receptors in the brain (limbic system, basal ganglia).
d. Both A and B - Correct answer D.
4. Clinical Presentation of Schizophrenia include:
A. Positive symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, and conceptual
disorganization
B. Negative symptoms: apathy, social withdrawal, blunted affect, poverty
of sp
C. Cognitive symptoms: Impaired cognition
D. all of the above - Correct answer D.
5. Which of the following drugs is an antipsychotic and antiemetic?
A. Risperidone (Risperdal)
B. Clozapine (Clozaril)
C. Metoclopramide (Reglan)
D. Prochlorperazine - Correct answer D
6. Antipsychotic drugs adverse effects include_______ ?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrom (NMS)
B. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS): pseudoparkinsonism-akathisia
C. Tardive Dyskinesia
D. All of the above - Correct answer D
P a g e 1 | 24
, Page 2
7. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) of Antipsychotic Drugs are usually treated
with________?
A. benztropine (Cogentin) and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
B. benztropine (Cogentin) and atropine
C. Vasopressor
D. all of the above - Correct answer A.
8. True or False: Valbenazine (Ingrezza) is used to treat tardive dyskinesia in adults? -
Correct answer True
9. Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs include_____?
A. insulin resistance and weight gain,
B. changes in serum lipid levels
C. Metabolic syndrome
D. all of the above - Correct answer D.
10. T/F: Haloperidol (Haldol) is useful in treating patients with schizophrenia who were
nonadherent with their drug regimen - Correct answer True
11. What is the Mechanism of Action of Atypical Antipsychotics?
A. Block specific dopamine receptors: dopamine-2 (D2) receptors
B. Block specific serotonin receptors: serotonin 2 (5-HT2) receptors
C. Both A and B
D. Activate specific serotonin receptors: serotonin 2 (5-HT2) receptors -
Correct answer C
12. Risperidone (Risperdal) is an Atypical Antipsychotic that is indicated for________?
A. schizophrenia, including negative symptoms
B. anxiety
C. insomnia
D. all of the above - Correct answer A.
13. Psychotherapeutic Drugs Nursing Implications include which of the following?
A. Obtain baseline vital signs, including postural BP readings.
B. obtain liver and renal function test
C. complete suicide assessment scale
D. all of the above - Correct answer D
14. Psychotherapeutic Drugs Nursing Implications include which of the following?
A. Check the patients mouth to make sure oral doses are swallowed
B. advise patients to avoid abrupt withdrawls
b. advise patients to change positions slowly to avoid postural hypotension
c. all of the above - Correct answer D.
P a g e 2 | 24
, Page 3
15. True or False: Foods high in Tyramine should be avoided with monoamine oxidase
inhibitors ex. Isocarboxazid. - Correct answer True to avoid hypertensive crisis
16. Nursing implications for a patient taking antidepressant include _________?
A. tricyclics may need to be weaned and discontinued before undergoing
surgery
B. With MAOIs, instruct patients and family regarding tyramine-food
C. Patient to wear medication ID badges naming the drug being taken
D. all of the above - Correct answer D
17. Nursing implications for a patient taking phenothiazines include_______?
A. Instruct patients to wear sunscreen because of photosensivity
B. avoid taking antacids or antidiarrheal preparations within 1 hour of a
dose
C. oral forms may be taken with meals to decrease GI upset
D. All of the above - Correct answer D
18. T/F: Long-term haloperidol therapy may result in tremors, nausea, vomiting, or
uncontrollable shaking of small muscles? - Correct answer True
The patient's medication administration record lists two
antiepileptic medications that are due at 0900, but the patient is
NPO for a barium study. The nurse's coworker suggests giving the
medications via IV because the patient is NPO. What will the
nurse do?
A. Give the medications PO with a small sip of water.
B. Give the medications via the IV route because the patient is NPO.
C. Hold the medications until after the test is completed.
D. Call the health care provider to clarify the instructions. - Correct answer D. Call the health
care provider to clarify the instructions
19. Rationale
The dosage for the IV route would not be the same as for the PO
route. Holding the medications may cause drug levels to drop and
result in seizure activity and giving the medications PO without
consent may alter the test results. The nurse must never assume
the route of medication administration and should consult the
physician for clarification of the orders.
Need to check if ok to switch route to IV, we as nurses prevents
us from changing dose or route need to get new prescription even
if route changed, always seek clarification from HCP especially if
NPO and taking oral meds can affect them greatly.
P a g e 3 | 24
