INTRODUCTORY CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
1. After teaching a class to a group of nursing students about immunity, the instructor
determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which of the
following as an example of passive immunity? Select all that apply.
A) An individual who is exposed to chickenpox for the first time and has no
immunity to the disease
B) Administration of botulism immune globulin (BabyBIG) for the treatment of
infant botulism
C) An individual who is exposed to pertussis for the first time and has no immunity
to the disease
D) Administration of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (CroFab) for the treatment
of mild to moderate North American rattlesnake bites
E) Administration of the rubella vaccine to an individual who has no immunity to the
disease Answer: B, D Response:
Passive immunity occurs when immune globulins or antivenins are administered. This
type of immunity provides the individual with ready-made antibodies from another
human or an animal. Administration of botulism immune globulin (BabyBIG) for the
treatment of infant botulism or administration of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab
(CroFab) for the treatment of mild to moderate North American rattlesnake bites are
examples of passive immunity.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an immunologic drug that produces active immunity.
Which of the following might the nurse be administering? Select all that apply.
A) Vaccines
B) Antibodies
C) Toxoids
D) Antigens
E) Immune globulin Answer: A, C Response:
Both vaccines and toxoids are administered to stimulate the body's immune response to
specific antigens or toxins. These agents must be administered before exposure to the
disease-causing organism. The initiation of the immune response, in turn, produces
resistance to a specific infectious disease. The immunity produced in this manner is
active immunity.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of immune globulin. Which of the following
would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
A) Globulins are proteins present in blood serum or plasma that contain antibodies.
B) Globulins are given to provide active immunity against disease.
C) Immune globulin can be obtained from human and animal blood.
D) Clients receiving immune globulins receive antibodies only to the diseases to
which donor blood is immune.
E) The onset of protection is rapid but the duration of action is long (6 to 12 months).
Answer: A, C, D Response:
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, The following is true in regard to the use of immune globulin: globulins are proteins
present in blood serum or plasma that contain antibodies, globulins are given as passive
immunity against disease, immune globulin can be obtained from human and animal
blood, clients receiving immune globulins receive antibodies only to the diseases to
which donor blood is immune, and the onset of protection is rapid but the duration of
action is short (1 to 3 months).
4. When administering antivenin to a client, the nurse is aware that this drug is used for
passive, transwerient protection from which of the following bites? Select all that apply.
A) Black widow spider
B) Canine
C) Human
D) Rattlesnake
E) Copperhead snake Answer: A, D, E Response:
Antivenins are used for passive, transwerient protection from the toxic effects of bites
by black widow spiders and rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, cottonmouth snakes,
and coral snakes.
5. A nurse should warn a client about which of the following adverse reactions that can
occur after the administration of influenza vaccine (Fluzone)? Select all that apply.
A) Chills
B) Fever
C) Hypotension
D) Lethargy E) Muscle aches Answer: A, B, D, E Response:
Adverse reactions from the administration of vaccines or toxoids are usually mild and
include chills, fever, muscle aches and pains, rash, and lethargy. Hypotension is not
associated with vaccine administration.
6. When teaching a client who is receiving cytomegalovirus immune globulin, the nurse
would alert the client to the possibility of which of the following ? Select all that apply.
A) Urticaria
B) Angioedema
C) Constipation
D) Headache
E) Chills Answer: A, B,
D, E Response:
The most common adverse reactions to the administration of cytomegalovirus immune
globulin (CytoGam) include urticaria, angioedema, erythema, malaise, nausea, diarrhea,
headache, chills, and fever. Constipation is not a common adverse reaction.
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PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
1. After teaching a class to a group of nursing students about immunity, the instructor
determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which of the
following as an example of passive immunity? Select all that apply.
A) An individual who is exposed to chickenpox for the first time and has no
immunity to the disease
B) Administration of botulism immune globulin (BabyBIG) for the treatment of
infant botulism
C) An individual who is exposed to pertussis for the first time and has no immunity
to the disease
D) Administration of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (CroFab) for the treatment
of mild to moderate North American rattlesnake bites
E) Administration of the rubella vaccine to an individual who has no immunity to the
disease Answer: B, D Response:
Passive immunity occurs when immune globulins or antivenins are administered. This
type of immunity provides the individual with ready-made antibodies from another
human or an animal. Administration of botulism immune globulin (BabyBIG) for the
treatment of infant botulism or administration of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab
(CroFab) for the treatment of mild to moderate North American rattlesnake bites are
examples of passive immunity.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an immunologic drug that produces active immunity.
Which of the following might the nurse be administering? Select all that apply.
A) Vaccines
B) Antibodies
C) Toxoids
D) Antigens
E) Immune globulin Answer: A, C Response:
Both vaccines and toxoids are administered to stimulate the body's immune response to
specific antigens or toxins. These agents must be administered before exposure to the
disease-causing organism. The initiation of the immune response, in turn, produces
resistance to a specific infectious disease. The immunity produced in this manner is
active immunity.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of immune globulin. Which of the following
would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
A) Globulins are proteins present in blood serum or plasma that contain antibodies.
B) Globulins are given to provide active immunity against disease.
C) Immune globulin can be obtained from human and animal blood.
D) Clients receiving immune globulins receive antibodies only to the diseases to
which donor blood is immune.
E) The onset of protection is rapid but the duration of action is long (6 to 12 months).
Answer: A, C, D Response:
Page 3
, The following is true in regard to the use of immune globulin: globulins are proteins
present in blood serum or plasma that contain antibodies, globulins are given as passive
immunity against disease, immune globulin can be obtained from human and animal
blood, clients receiving immune globulins receive antibodies only to the diseases to
which donor blood is immune, and the onset of protection is rapid but the duration of
action is short (1 to 3 months).
4. When administering antivenin to a client, the nurse is aware that this drug is used for
passive, transwerient protection from which of the following bites? Select all that apply.
A) Black widow spider
B) Canine
C) Human
D) Rattlesnake
E) Copperhead snake Answer: A, D, E Response:
Antivenins are used for passive, transwerient protection from the toxic effects of bites
by black widow spiders and rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, cottonmouth snakes,
and coral snakes.
5. A nurse should warn a client about which of the following adverse reactions that can
occur after the administration of influenza vaccine (Fluzone)? Select all that apply.
A) Chills
B) Fever
C) Hypotension
D) Lethargy E) Muscle aches Answer: A, B, D, E Response:
Adverse reactions from the administration of vaccines or toxoids are usually mild and
include chills, fever, muscle aches and pains, rash, and lethargy. Hypotension is not
associated with vaccine administration.
6. When teaching a client who is receiving cytomegalovirus immune globulin, the nurse
would alert the client to the possibility of which of the following ? Select all that apply.
A) Urticaria
B) Angioedema
C) Constipation
D) Headache
E) Chills Answer: A, B,
D, E Response:
The most common adverse reactions to the administration of cytomegalovirus immune
globulin (CytoGam) include urticaria, angioedema, erythema, malaise, nausea, diarrhea,
headache, chills, and fever. Constipation is not a common adverse reaction.
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