Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (8th Edition by Karch)
1. A group of patients are being screened to see which patients would be the best
candidate for a psychotherapeutic drug trial that helps people concentrate longer on
activities. Which patient would be best suited for this trial?
a. A 28-year-old salesperson who alternates between overactivity and periods
of depression
b. A 32-year-old hyperactive nursing student who cannot focus long enough
to take a test
c. A 55-year-old physician who suddenly falls asleep during the day without
warning
d. A 16-year-old youth who say he can make the light turn on by pointing at it
and hears voices
Ans: B
Feedback:
Attention-deficit disorders involve various conditions characterized by an inability to
concentrate on one activity for longer than a few minutes. The nursing student
needing accommodations has an attention-deficit disorder. The salesperson exhibits
signs of mania, which are characterized by periods of extreme overactivity and
excitement followed by extreme depression. The physician is experiencing
narcolepsy, which is defined as daytime sleepiness and sudden periods of loss of
wakefulness. The teenager is schizophrenic and is exhibiting paranoia, hallucinations,
and delusions.
2. What nursing intervention is appropriate for a 70-year-old female patient receiving
lithium?
a. Instruct the patient to use barrier contraceptives.
b. Monitor blood glucose levels.
c. Monitor fluid and sodium intake.
d. Encourage the patient to check daily for weight loss.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Older patients, and especially those with renal impairment, should be encouraged to
maintain adequate hydration and salt intake. Decreased dosages may also be
necessary with the elderly. A 70 -year-old patient would not be concerned about the
use of contraceptives. These drugs alone do not affect glucose levels. Weight loss is
usually not associated with lithium use.
, 3. A nurse is caring for a patient who is taking lithium for mania. The nurse’s
assessment includes a notation of a lithium serum level of 2.4 mEq/L. The nurse
anticipates seeing what?
a. Fine tremors of both hands
b. Slurred speech
c. Clonic movements
d. Nausea and vomiting
Ans: C
Feedback:
Serum levels of 2 to 2.5 mEq/L may produce ataxia, clonic movements, possible
seizures, and hypotension. Fine hand tremors, slurred speech, and nausea and
vomiting are indicative of lithium levels less than 1.5 mEq/L.
4. The nurse administers chlorpromazine intramuscularly to the preoperative patient
who is extremely anxious about surgery in the morning. What priority teaching
point will the nurse provide this patient?
a. Remain recumbent for at least 30 minutes after the injection.
b. Do not eat for 1 hour after the drug is administered.
c. Encourage fluids with the goal of 3,000 mL/d.
d. Avoid eating avocados and oranges when taking this medication.
Ans: A
Feedback:
When giving a parenteral form of an antipsychotic, the patient should remain
recumbent to decrease the risk of injury if orthostatic hypotension occurs. Eating after
drug injection should not interfere with the drug’s absorption and although adequate
hydration should be maintained there is no need to increase fluid intake. Avocados
and oranges are not contraindicated in patients receiving this medication.
5. The nurse is presenting an in-service at a children’s unit on hyperactivity. The
nurse is told that a 6- year-old on the unit is being treated with methylphenidate
(Ritalin). The presenting nurse talks about discharge teaching for this patient and
the importance of monitoring what?
a. Long bone growth
b. Visual acuity
c. Weight and complete blood count
d. Urea and nitrogen levels
Ans: C
Feedback:
Methylphenidate is associated with weight loss, bone marrow suppression, and
cardiac arrhythmias. Weight, blood count, and cardiac function should be monitored
regularly. The drug is not associated with renal dysfunction, visual changes, or growth
1. A group of patients are being screened to see which patients would be the best
candidate for a psychotherapeutic drug trial that helps people concentrate longer on
activities. Which patient would be best suited for this trial?
a. A 28-year-old salesperson who alternates between overactivity and periods
of depression
b. A 32-year-old hyperactive nursing student who cannot focus long enough
to take a test
c. A 55-year-old physician who suddenly falls asleep during the day without
warning
d. A 16-year-old youth who say he can make the light turn on by pointing at it
and hears voices
Ans: B
Feedback:
Attention-deficit disorders involve various conditions characterized by an inability to
concentrate on one activity for longer than a few minutes. The nursing student
needing accommodations has an attention-deficit disorder. The salesperson exhibits
signs of mania, which are characterized by periods of extreme overactivity and
excitement followed by extreme depression. The physician is experiencing
narcolepsy, which is defined as daytime sleepiness and sudden periods of loss of
wakefulness. The teenager is schizophrenic and is exhibiting paranoia, hallucinations,
and delusions.
2. What nursing intervention is appropriate for a 70-year-old female patient receiving
lithium?
a. Instruct the patient to use barrier contraceptives.
b. Monitor blood glucose levels.
c. Monitor fluid and sodium intake.
d. Encourage the patient to check daily for weight loss.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Older patients, and especially those with renal impairment, should be encouraged to
maintain adequate hydration and salt intake. Decreased dosages may also be
necessary with the elderly. A 70 -year-old patient would not be concerned about the
use of contraceptives. These drugs alone do not affect glucose levels. Weight loss is
usually not associated with lithium use.
, 3. A nurse is caring for a patient who is taking lithium for mania. The nurse’s
assessment includes a notation of a lithium serum level of 2.4 mEq/L. The nurse
anticipates seeing what?
a. Fine tremors of both hands
b. Slurred speech
c. Clonic movements
d. Nausea and vomiting
Ans: C
Feedback:
Serum levels of 2 to 2.5 mEq/L may produce ataxia, clonic movements, possible
seizures, and hypotension. Fine hand tremors, slurred speech, and nausea and
vomiting are indicative of lithium levels less than 1.5 mEq/L.
4. The nurse administers chlorpromazine intramuscularly to the preoperative patient
who is extremely anxious about surgery in the morning. What priority teaching
point will the nurse provide this patient?
a. Remain recumbent for at least 30 minutes after the injection.
b. Do not eat for 1 hour after the drug is administered.
c. Encourage fluids with the goal of 3,000 mL/d.
d. Avoid eating avocados and oranges when taking this medication.
Ans: A
Feedback:
When giving a parenteral form of an antipsychotic, the patient should remain
recumbent to decrease the risk of injury if orthostatic hypotension occurs. Eating after
drug injection should not interfere with the drug’s absorption and although adequate
hydration should be maintained there is no need to increase fluid intake. Avocados
and oranges are not contraindicated in patients receiving this medication.
5. The nurse is presenting an in-service at a children’s unit on hyperactivity. The
nurse is told that a 6- year-old on the unit is being treated with methylphenidate
(Ritalin). The presenting nurse talks about discharge teaching for this patient and
the importance of monitoring what?
a. Long bone growth
b. Visual acuity
c. Weight and complete blood count
d. Urea and nitrogen levels
Ans: C
Feedback:
Methylphenidate is associated with weight loss, bone marrow suppression, and
cardiac arrhythmias. Weight, blood count, and cardiac function should be monitored
regularly. The drug is not associated with renal dysfunction, visual changes, or growth
