GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY LATEST ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS | A+ GRADE
A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2
diabetes has been treated for pneumonia for the past week. He has been
receiving intravenous corticosteroids as well as antibiotics as part of his therapy.
At this time, his pneumonia has resolved, but when monitoring his blood glucose
levels, the nurse notices that his blood glucose level is still elevated, and he has
required small amounts of sliding-scale insulin coverage. What is the best
explanation for this elevation?
A. The antibiotics may cause an increase in glucose levels.
B. The corticosteroids may cause an increase in glucose levels.
C. His type 2 diabetes has converted to type 1.
D. The hypoxia caused by the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes an
increased need for insulin.
- ANS -B. The corticosteroids may cause an increase in glucose levels.
. The nurse knows to administer acarbose (Precose), an alpha-glucosidase
inhibitor, at which time?
A. 30 minutes before breakfast
B. With the first bite of each main meal
C. 30 minutes after breakfast
D. Once daily at bedtime
- ANS -B. With the first bite of each main meal
. A 48-year-old is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and is started on metformin
(Glucophage). The purpose of the metformin, in this situation, is to
A. increase the pancreatic secretion of insulin.
B. decrease insulin resistance.
C. increase blood glucose levels.
D. decrease the pancreatic secretion of insulin.
- ANS -B. decrease insulin resistance.
,. When administering morning medications for a newly admitted patient, the
nurse notes that the patient has an allergy to sulfa drugs. There is an order for the
sulfonylurea glipizide (Glucotrol). What is the nurse's best action?
A. Give the drug as ordered 30 minutes before breakfast.
B. Hold the drug and check the order with the prescriber.
C. Give the drug and monitor for adverse effects.
D. Give a reduced dose of the drug with breakfast. - ANS -B. Hold the drug and
check the order with the prescriber.
The nurse is reviewing a patient's medication list and notes that sitagliptin
(Januvia) is ordered. The nurse should question an additional order for which drug
or drug class?
A. glitazone
B. insulin
C. metformin
D. sulfonylurea - ANS -B. insulin
. The nurse is administering adrenal drugs to a patient. Which of the following
actions is appropriate for this patient?
A. Administering oral drugs before meals to maximize absorption
B. Rinsing the oral cavity after using steroid inhalers
C. Administering the corticosteroids before bedtime to minimize adrenal
suppression
D. Discontinuing the med immediately if a weight gain of more than 5 pounds in 1
wk. is experienced - ANS -B. Rinsing the oral cavity after using steroid inhalers
. When starting a patient's drug therapy with corticosteroids, the nurse is aware
that some drug classes can have adverse interactions with corticosteroids, such as
A. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
B. antibiotics.
C. opioid analgesics.
D. antidepressants.
- ANS -A. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
. A patient is concerned about the body changes that have resulted from long-
term prednisone therapy for the treatment of lupus erythematosus. Which effect
,of this drug therapy would be present to support the nursing diagnosis of
disturbed body image?
A. Weight loss
B. Weight gain
C. Pale skin color
D. Loss of hair - ANS -B. Weight gain
. A patient is taking fludrocortisone for Addison's disease, and his wife is
concerned about all the problems that may occur with this therapy. When
teaching them about therapy with this drug, the nurse should include which
information?
A. It may cause severe postural hypotension.
B. It should be taken with food or milk to minimize gastrointestinal upset.
C. The medication should be stopped immediately if nausea or vomiting occurs.
D. Weight gain of 5 pounds or more within a week is an expected adverse effect.
- ANS -B. It should be taken with food or milk to minimize gastrointestinal upset.
A patient is receiving aminoglutethimide (Cytadren) therapy. The nurse knows
that this medication is used for which condition?
A. Acute asthma
B. Addison's disease
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
D. Cushing's syndrome
- ANS -D. Cushing's syndrome (decreases characteristics)
When monitoring a patient who is taking a systemically administered
glucocorticoid, the nurse should monitor for signs of which condition?
A. Dehydration
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypoglycemia - ANS -B. Hypokalemia
. The nurse expects that a patient is experiencing undersecretion of
adrenocortical hormones when which condition is found upon assessment?
A. Osteoporosis
B. Steroid psychosis
C. Dehydration and weight loss
, D. Water retention - ANS -C. Dehydration and weight loss
. A patient who has been on long-term corticosteroid therapy has had surgery to
correct an abdominal hernia. The nurse keeps in mind that which potential effect
of this med may have the most impact on the patient's recovery?
A. Hypotension
B. Delayed wound healing
C. Muscle weakness
D. Osteoporosis - ANS -B. Delayed wound healing
. Which conditions are indications for glucocorticoid drugs? Select all that apply.
A. Glaucoma
B. Cerebral edema
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
D. Organ transplantation
E. Varicella
F. Septicemia
- ANS -B. Cerebral edema
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
D. Organ transplantation
. The nurse is providing teaching for a patient who is to receive estrogen
replacement therapy. Which statement is correct to include in the teaching
session? The patient should
A. double-up on the medication if a dose is missed.
B. not be concerned about breast lumps or bumps that occur.
C. report any weight gain of more than 5 pounds per week.
D. take the medication on an empty stomach to enhance absorption.
- ANS -D. take the medication on an empty stomach to enhance absorption.
. The nurse recognizes that use of estrogen drugs is contraindicated in which of
the following patients?
A. A patient who has atrophic vaginitis
B. A patient who has inoperable prostate cancer
C. A woman who has just given birth and wants to prevent postpartum lactation
D. A woman with a history of thrombophlebitis
- ANS -D. A woman with a history of thrombophlebitis
EXAM QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS | A+ GRADE
A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2
diabetes has been treated for pneumonia for the past week. He has been
receiving intravenous corticosteroids as well as antibiotics as part of his therapy.
At this time, his pneumonia has resolved, but when monitoring his blood glucose
levels, the nurse notices that his blood glucose level is still elevated, and he has
required small amounts of sliding-scale insulin coverage. What is the best
explanation for this elevation?
A. The antibiotics may cause an increase in glucose levels.
B. The corticosteroids may cause an increase in glucose levels.
C. His type 2 diabetes has converted to type 1.
D. The hypoxia caused by the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes an
increased need for insulin.
- ANS -B. The corticosteroids may cause an increase in glucose levels.
. The nurse knows to administer acarbose (Precose), an alpha-glucosidase
inhibitor, at which time?
A. 30 minutes before breakfast
B. With the first bite of each main meal
C. 30 minutes after breakfast
D. Once daily at bedtime
- ANS -B. With the first bite of each main meal
. A 48-year-old is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and is started on metformin
(Glucophage). The purpose of the metformin, in this situation, is to
A. increase the pancreatic secretion of insulin.
B. decrease insulin resistance.
C. increase blood glucose levels.
D. decrease the pancreatic secretion of insulin.
- ANS -B. decrease insulin resistance.
,. When administering morning medications for a newly admitted patient, the
nurse notes that the patient has an allergy to sulfa drugs. There is an order for the
sulfonylurea glipizide (Glucotrol). What is the nurse's best action?
A. Give the drug as ordered 30 minutes before breakfast.
B. Hold the drug and check the order with the prescriber.
C. Give the drug and monitor for adverse effects.
D. Give a reduced dose of the drug with breakfast. - ANS -B. Hold the drug and
check the order with the prescriber.
The nurse is reviewing a patient's medication list and notes that sitagliptin
(Januvia) is ordered. The nurse should question an additional order for which drug
or drug class?
A. glitazone
B. insulin
C. metformin
D. sulfonylurea - ANS -B. insulin
. The nurse is administering adrenal drugs to a patient. Which of the following
actions is appropriate for this patient?
A. Administering oral drugs before meals to maximize absorption
B. Rinsing the oral cavity after using steroid inhalers
C. Administering the corticosteroids before bedtime to minimize adrenal
suppression
D. Discontinuing the med immediately if a weight gain of more than 5 pounds in 1
wk. is experienced - ANS -B. Rinsing the oral cavity after using steroid inhalers
. When starting a patient's drug therapy with corticosteroids, the nurse is aware
that some drug classes can have adverse interactions with corticosteroids, such as
A. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
B. antibiotics.
C. opioid analgesics.
D. antidepressants.
- ANS -A. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
. A patient is concerned about the body changes that have resulted from long-
term prednisone therapy for the treatment of lupus erythematosus. Which effect
,of this drug therapy would be present to support the nursing diagnosis of
disturbed body image?
A. Weight loss
B. Weight gain
C. Pale skin color
D. Loss of hair - ANS -B. Weight gain
. A patient is taking fludrocortisone for Addison's disease, and his wife is
concerned about all the problems that may occur with this therapy. When
teaching them about therapy with this drug, the nurse should include which
information?
A. It may cause severe postural hypotension.
B. It should be taken with food or milk to minimize gastrointestinal upset.
C. The medication should be stopped immediately if nausea or vomiting occurs.
D. Weight gain of 5 pounds or more within a week is an expected adverse effect.
- ANS -B. It should be taken with food or milk to minimize gastrointestinal upset.
A patient is receiving aminoglutethimide (Cytadren) therapy. The nurse knows
that this medication is used for which condition?
A. Acute asthma
B. Addison's disease
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
D. Cushing's syndrome
- ANS -D. Cushing's syndrome (decreases characteristics)
When monitoring a patient who is taking a systemically administered
glucocorticoid, the nurse should monitor for signs of which condition?
A. Dehydration
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypoglycemia - ANS -B. Hypokalemia
. The nurse expects that a patient is experiencing undersecretion of
adrenocortical hormones when which condition is found upon assessment?
A. Osteoporosis
B. Steroid psychosis
C. Dehydration and weight loss
, D. Water retention - ANS -C. Dehydration and weight loss
. A patient who has been on long-term corticosteroid therapy has had surgery to
correct an abdominal hernia. The nurse keeps in mind that which potential effect
of this med may have the most impact on the patient's recovery?
A. Hypotension
B. Delayed wound healing
C. Muscle weakness
D. Osteoporosis - ANS -B. Delayed wound healing
. Which conditions are indications for glucocorticoid drugs? Select all that apply.
A. Glaucoma
B. Cerebral edema
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
D. Organ transplantation
E. Varicella
F. Septicemia
- ANS -B. Cerebral edema
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
D. Organ transplantation
. The nurse is providing teaching for a patient who is to receive estrogen
replacement therapy. Which statement is correct to include in the teaching
session? The patient should
A. double-up on the medication if a dose is missed.
B. not be concerned about breast lumps or bumps that occur.
C. report any weight gain of more than 5 pounds per week.
D. take the medication on an empty stomach to enhance absorption.
- ANS -D. take the medication on an empty stomach to enhance absorption.
. The nurse recognizes that use of estrogen drugs is contraindicated in which of
the following patients?
A. A patient who has atrophic vaginitis
B. A patient who has inoperable prostate cancer
C. A woman who has just given birth and wants to prevent postpartum lactation
D. A woman with a history of thrombophlebitis
- ANS -D. A woman with a history of thrombophlebitis
