Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (8th Edition by Karch)
1. The nurse teaches the patient to best maintain optimal GI function by including
what in the daily routine?
a. Exercise, adequate sleep, and avoiding caffeine
b. Proper diet, fluid intake, and exercise
c. Proper diet, avoiding alcohol, and cautious use of laxatives
d. Avoiding prescription medications, increased fluid intake, and vigorous
exercise
Ans: B
Feedback:
The best way to maintain gastrointestinal (GI) function is through proper diet
including optimizing fiber intake, adequate fluid intake, and exercise, which will
stimulate GI activity. Drugs should only be used when normal function cannot be
maintained. Options A, C, and D are not correct.
2. The nurse admits to the clinic a 7-month-old infant whose mother reports that the
baby has not had a bowel movement in 6 days. What drug would be appropriate to
treat this patient?
a. Cascara (generic)
b. Magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia)
c. Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution (GoLYTELY)
d. Glycerin (Sani-Supp)
Ans: D
Feedback:
Glycerin suppositories are the best choice for infants and young children when
constipation is a problem. The other choices are not recommended for infants or
children.
3. The nurse provides drug teaching to the patient who will begin taking
polycarbophil (FiberCon). What is the nurse’s priority teaching point?
a. Do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours after taking the medication.
b. Drink lots of water when taking the drug.
c. Take at night before bedtime.
d. The drug can be taken up to six times per day.
Ans: B
, Feedback:
Patients must take plenty of water with polycarbophil. If only a little water is
consumed, the medication may absorb enough fluid in the esophagus to swell the food
into a gelatin-like mass that can cause obstruction and other severe problems. The
drug should be taken no more than four times a day and should not be taken at night.
4. A new mother required an episiotomy during the birth of her baby. Two days after
delivery, the patient is in need of a laxative. What will be the most effective drug
for the nurse to administer?
a. Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
b. Castor oil (Neolid)
c. Magnesium sulfate (epsom salts)
d. Docusate (Colace)
Ans: D
Feedback:
Docusate is a stool softener that will make expulsion of stool easier in a traumatized
body area following an episiotomy. Care must be taken to choose a mild laxative that
will not enter breast milk and not affect the newborn if the mother is nursing.
Docusate is the drug of choice from this list because it is mild and will produce a soft
stool and decrease the need to strain. The other options would not be appropriate
because they do not soften the stool and are harsher laxatives that can enter breast
milk.
5. The nurse, teaching a patient to be discharged with an order to use chemical
stimulant laxatives PRN, instructs the patient that one of the most common adverse
effects of this type of laxative is what?
a. Abdominal cramping
b. Rectal bleeding
c. Confusion
d. Iron deficiency anemia
Ans: A
Feedback:
Common adverse effects of laxatives are diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea.
Central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects such as dizziness, headache, and
weakness can occur. Rectal bleeding, confusion, and iron deficiency anemia are not
associated with appropriate use of laxatives but may occur when laxatives are abused.
6. A patient taking a chemical stimulant laxative and medications for heart failure and
osteoarthritis calls the clinic and reports to the nurse that she is not feeling right.
What is the priority question the nurse should ask this patient?
a. Effectiveness of laxatives
b. Timing of medication administration
1. The nurse teaches the patient to best maintain optimal GI function by including
what in the daily routine?
a. Exercise, adequate sleep, and avoiding caffeine
b. Proper diet, fluid intake, and exercise
c. Proper diet, avoiding alcohol, and cautious use of laxatives
d. Avoiding prescription medications, increased fluid intake, and vigorous
exercise
Ans: B
Feedback:
The best way to maintain gastrointestinal (GI) function is through proper diet
including optimizing fiber intake, adequate fluid intake, and exercise, which will
stimulate GI activity. Drugs should only be used when normal function cannot be
maintained. Options A, C, and D are not correct.
2. The nurse admits to the clinic a 7-month-old infant whose mother reports that the
baby has not had a bowel movement in 6 days. What drug would be appropriate to
treat this patient?
a. Cascara (generic)
b. Magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia)
c. Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution (GoLYTELY)
d. Glycerin (Sani-Supp)
Ans: D
Feedback:
Glycerin suppositories are the best choice for infants and young children when
constipation is a problem. The other choices are not recommended for infants or
children.
3. The nurse provides drug teaching to the patient who will begin taking
polycarbophil (FiberCon). What is the nurse’s priority teaching point?
a. Do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours after taking the medication.
b. Drink lots of water when taking the drug.
c. Take at night before bedtime.
d. The drug can be taken up to six times per day.
Ans: B
, Feedback:
Patients must take plenty of water with polycarbophil. If only a little water is
consumed, the medication may absorb enough fluid in the esophagus to swell the food
into a gelatin-like mass that can cause obstruction and other severe problems. The
drug should be taken no more than four times a day and should not be taken at night.
4. A new mother required an episiotomy during the birth of her baby. Two days after
delivery, the patient is in need of a laxative. What will be the most effective drug
for the nurse to administer?
a. Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
b. Castor oil (Neolid)
c. Magnesium sulfate (epsom salts)
d. Docusate (Colace)
Ans: D
Feedback:
Docusate is a stool softener that will make expulsion of stool easier in a traumatized
body area following an episiotomy. Care must be taken to choose a mild laxative that
will not enter breast milk and not affect the newborn if the mother is nursing.
Docusate is the drug of choice from this list because it is mild and will produce a soft
stool and decrease the need to strain. The other options would not be appropriate
because they do not soften the stool and are harsher laxatives that can enter breast
milk.
5. The nurse, teaching a patient to be discharged with an order to use chemical
stimulant laxatives PRN, instructs the patient that one of the most common adverse
effects of this type of laxative is what?
a. Abdominal cramping
b. Rectal bleeding
c. Confusion
d. Iron deficiency anemia
Ans: A
Feedback:
Common adverse effects of laxatives are diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea.
Central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects such as dizziness, headache, and
weakness can occur. Rectal bleeding, confusion, and iron deficiency anemia are not
associated with appropriate use of laxatives but may occur when laxatives are abused.
6. A patient taking a chemical stimulant laxative and medications for heart failure and
osteoarthritis calls the clinic and reports to the nurse that she is not feeling right.
What is the priority question the nurse should ask this patient?
a. Effectiveness of laxatives
b. Timing of medication administration
