Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (8th Edition by Karch)
1. The nurse administers an adrenergic blocking agent in order to prevent release of
what neurotransmitter?
a. Epinephrine
b. Norepinephrine
c. Serotonin
d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Ans: B
Feedback:
Adrenergic blocking agents prevent norepinephrine from being released from the
adrenal medulla or from the nerve terminal from activating the receptor, which blocks
sympathetic nervous system effects. Epinephrine, serotonin, and GABA are not
associated with this process.
2. What medication, if ordered for an 8-year-old patient, should the nurse question?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Amiodarone (Cordarone) 400 mg orally per 24 hours
b. Labetalol (Normodyne) 100 mg orally b.i.d.
c. Phentolamine (Regitine) 1 mg intramuscularly 1 to 2 hours before surgery
d. Prazosin (Minipress) 3 mg orally t.i.d.
e. Carvedilol (Coreg) 6.25 mg orally b.i.d.
Ans: A, B, E
Feedback:
Amiodarone, labetalol, and carvedilol are not indicated for pediatric use and do not
have established pediatric dosages. Phentolamine and prazosin have established
pediatric dosages and would not need to be questioned.
3. A nurse is working with a patient who is taking an adrenergic blocking agent.
While assessing the patient’s medication history, the nurse discovers that the
patient takes several alternative therapies. What herb is the nurse concerned may
interact with the adrenergic blocking agent and affect the patient’s blood glucose
level?
a. Ginseng
b. Nightshade
c. Di huang
d. Saw Palmetto
Ans: C
, Feedback:
Di huang is an alternative therapy that can lower blood glucose when used in
combination with adrenergic blocking agents. Ginseng increases antihypertensive
effects; nightshade slows the heart rate; and saw palmetto increases the risk of urinary
tract complications when used in combination with adrenergic blocking agents.
4. A priority nursing assessment for a patient who is to receive an alpha- or beta-
adrenergic blocking agent would be what?
a. Monitoring respiratory rate
b. Checking blood glucose level
c. Measuring urine output
d. Assessing heart rate
Ans: D
Feedback:
The most serious adverse effect would be severe bradycardia, so the nurse’s priority
would be assessing the heart rate. If the patient were identified as having diabetes,
then monitoring blood glucose levels would become important because these drugs
can aggravate diabetes by blocking sympathetic response including masking the usual
signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Respiratory rate could be
impacted if the patient was identified as having a condition causing bronchospasm
and diabetes because the combination could worsen both conditions. Measuring urine
output should be part of the patient’s care, but it is not the priority assessment.
5. Bisoprolol (Zebeta) would be the drug of choice for which patient with a diagnosis
of hypertension?
a. A 7-year-old patient
b. A 15-year-old patient
c. A 37-year-old patient
d. A 69-year-old patient
Ans: D
Feedback:
Bisoprolol is the drug of choice for older adults. It is not associated with as many
adverse effects in the elderly and regular dosing profiles can be used. This drug does
not have an established pediatric dosage. Although the 37-year-old patient is an adult,
there are additional choices for this patient, with a more favorable adverse effect
profile.
6. What would be the teaching priority for a diabetic patient being treated with a
nonselective betablocker?
a. To take his own pulse
b. To weigh himself once a week at the same time of day
c. To avoid smoke-filled rooms
1. The nurse administers an adrenergic blocking agent in order to prevent release of
what neurotransmitter?
a. Epinephrine
b. Norepinephrine
c. Serotonin
d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Ans: B
Feedback:
Adrenergic blocking agents prevent norepinephrine from being released from the
adrenal medulla or from the nerve terminal from activating the receptor, which blocks
sympathetic nervous system effects. Epinephrine, serotonin, and GABA are not
associated with this process.
2. What medication, if ordered for an 8-year-old patient, should the nurse question?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Amiodarone (Cordarone) 400 mg orally per 24 hours
b. Labetalol (Normodyne) 100 mg orally b.i.d.
c. Phentolamine (Regitine) 1 mg intramuscularly 1 to 2 hours before surgery
d. Prazosin (Minipress) 3 mg orally t.i.d.
e. Carvedilol (Coreg) 6.25 mg orally b.i.d.
Ans: A, B, E
Feedback:
Amiodarone, labetalol, and carvedilol are not indicated for pediatric use and do not
have established pediatric dosages. Phentolamine and prazosin have established
pediatric dosages and would not need to be questioned.
3. A nurse is working with a patient who is taking an adrenergic blocking agent.
While assessing the patient’s medication history, the nurse discovers that the
patient takes several alternative therapies. What herb is the nurse concerned may
interact with the adrenergic blocking agent and affect the patient’s blood glucose
level?
a. Ginseng
b. Nightshade
c. Di huang
d. Saw Palmetto
Ans: C
, Feedback:
Di huang is an alternative therapy that can lower blood glucose when used in
combination with adrenergic blocking agents. Ginseng increases antihypertensive
effects; nightshade slows the heart rate; and saw palmetto increases the risk of urinary
tract complications when used in combination with adrenergic blocking agents.
4. A priority nursing assessment for a patient who is to receive an alpha- or beta-
adrenergic blocking agent would be what?
a. Monitoring respiratory rate
b. Checking blood glucose level
c. Measuring urine output
d. Assessing heart rate
Ans: D
Feedback:
The most serious adverse effect would be severe bradycardia, so the nurse’s priority
would be assessing the heart rate. If the patient were identified as having diabetes,
then monitoring blood glucose levels would become important because these drugs
can aggravate diabetes by blocking sympathetic response including masking the usual
signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Respiratory rate could be
impacted if the patient was identified as having a condition causing bronchospasm
and diabetes because the combination could worsen both conditions. Measuring urine
output should be part of the patient’s care, but it is not the priority assessment.
5. Bisoprolol (Zebeta) would be the drug of choice for which patient with a diagnosis
of hypertension?
a. A 7-year-old patient
b. A 15-year-old patient
c. A 37-year-old patient
d. A 69-year-old patient
Ans: D
Feedback:
Bisoprolol is the drug of choice for older adults. It is not associated with as many
adverse effects in the elderly and regular dosing profiles can be used. This drug does
not have an established pediatric dosage. Although the 37-year-old patient is an adult,
there are additional choices for this patient, with a more favorable adverse effect
profile.
6. What would be the teaching priority for a diabetic patient being treated with a
nonselective betablocker?
a. To take his own pulse
b. To weigh himself once a week at the same time of day
c. To avoid smoke-filled rooms
