Test Bank for Introductory
Clinical Pharmacology 12th
Edition by Susan M Ford
Chapter 16-20
C HAPTER 16: A NESTHETIC D RUGS
Ford: Introductory Clinical Pharmacol ogy 12th Edition
Multiple Choice
1. The nurse is assessing a client in the PACU following surgery. The nurse notes
the client received an anesthetic agent via a special vaporizer to prevent which
reaction?
A) Gastric upset
B) Respiratory tract irritation
C) Cardiac dysrhythmias
D) Hypoxemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Desflurane is a volatile liquid that must be administered with a
special vaporizer because delivery to the client without a vaporizer can result
in irritation of the client's respiratory tract. It is the onl y agent which must
use this special vaporizer. Some anesthetics will cause gastric upset and some
preanesthetic agents are used to prevent this. Fentanyl can cause cardiac
dysrhythmias and nitrous oxide can lead to hypoxemia. However, none of
these agents require the vaporizer.
, Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3 Cognitive
Level: Understand
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 211, Gases and Volatile Liquids
2. A nurse working in an outpatient surgical setting may see which general
anesthetic agent administered via inhalation?
A) Sevoflurane
B) Desflurane
C) Isoflurane
D) Propofol
Answer: A
Rationale: A nurse working in an outpatient surgical setting may see
sevoflurane used in outpatient general anesthesia. Propofol is used for the
induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Desflurane and isoflurane are
volatile liquids which are also used for anesthesia.
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3 Cognitive
Level: Understand
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 211, Gases and Volatile Liquids
3. The nurse is preparing a client for minor surgery in the lower extremit y. The
nurse will explain to the client that regional anesthesia will be used for the
procedure and placed in which location in the body?
A) In the veins
B) In the arteries
, C) In the nerves
D) In the capillaries
Answer: C
Rationale: Regional anesthesia involves injection around the client's nerves.
Doing so prevents these nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
Regional anesthesia is never injected into the veins, arteries, or capillaries.
General anesthesia can be injected in the veins.
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 1
Cognitive Level: Appl y
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Thera pies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 207, Regional Anesthesia
4. A client admitted to a local health care facilit y is to undergo surgery with spinal
anesthesia. Which actions is the nurse most likel y to assess when caring for this
client?
A) Moderate muscle relaxation
B) Loss of feeling in the lower abdomen
C) Hypotension as anesthesia deepens
D) Increase in the client's heart rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Spinal anesthesia involves the injection of a local anesthetic drug
into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord. There is a loss of feeling
(anesthesia) and movement in the lower extremities, lower abdomen, and
perineum. Spinal anesthesia is not known to increase a client's heart rate.
Spinal anesthesia also does not cause hypotension or moderate muscle
relaxation. Sevoflurane maybe responsible for hypotension. In general
anesthesia, the medications will decrease the heart rate.
Question Form at: Multiple Choice
, Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3
Cognitive Level: Appl y
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 208, Spinal Anesthesia
5. The nurse prepares to teach a client about methohexital. The nurse will explain
to the client this drug will have which effect?
A) Skeletal muscle relaxation
B) Profound analgesia
C) CNS depression
D) Neuroleptanalgesia
Answer: C
Rationale: Methohexital is a n ultrashort -acting barbiturate that depresses the
CNS to produce hypnosis and anesthesia, but it does not produce analgesia.
Skeletal muscle relaxation is caused by skeletal muscle relaxants, halothane,
and enflurane. An anesthetic state characterized by profound analgesia is
produced by ketamine, which is a rapid -acting general anesthetic.
Neuroleptanalgesia is caused by a combination of fentanyl and droperidol.
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3
Cognitive Level: Appl y
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 211, 13, Barbiturate and Similar Agents
6. The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which action should the nurse
prioritize before administering the preanesthetic agent?
A) Explain postoperative client activities.
B) Check the client every 5 to 15 minutes.
Clinical Pharmacology 12th
Edition by Susan M Ford
Chapter 16-20
C HAPTER 16: A NESTHETIC D RUGS
Ford: Introductory Clinical Pharmacol ogy 12th Edition
Multiple Choice
1. The nurse is assessing a client in the PACU following surgery. The nurse notes
the client received an anesthetic agent via a special vaporizer to prevent which
reaction?
A) Gastric upset
B) Respiratory tract irritation
C) Cardiac dysrhythmias
D) Hypoxemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Desflurane is a volatile liquid that must be administered with a
special vaporizer because delivery to the client without a vaporizer can result
in irritation of the client's respiratory tract. It is the onl y agent which must
use this special vaporizer. Some anesthetics will cause gastric upset and some
preanesthetic agents are used to prevent this. Fentanyl can cause cardiac
dysrhythmias and nitrous oxide can lead to hypoxemia. However, none of
these agents require the vaporizer.
, Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3 Cognitive
Level: Understand
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 211, Gases and Volatile Liquids
2. A nurse working in an outpatient surgical setting may see which general
anesthetic agent administered via inhalation?
A) Sevoflurane
B) Desflurane
C) Isoflurane
D) Propofol
Answer: A
Rationale: A nurse working in an outpatient surgical setting may see
sevoflurane used in outpatient general anesthesia. Propofol is used for the
induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Desflurane and isoflurane are
volatile liquids which are also used for anesthesia.
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3 Cognitive
Level: Understand
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 211, Gases and Volatile Liquids
3. The nurse is preparing a client for minor surgery in the lower extremit y. The
nurse will explain to the client that regional anesthesia will be used for the
procedure and placed in which location in the body?
A) In the veins
B) In the arteries
, C) In the nerves
D) In the capillaries
Answer: C
Rationale: Regional anesthesia involves injection around the client's nerves.
Doing so prevents these nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
Regional anesthesia is never injected into the veins, arteries, or capillaries.
General anesthesia can be injected in the veins.
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 1
Cognitive Level: Appl y
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Thera pies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 207, Regional Anesthesia
4. A client admitted to a local health care facilit y is to undergo surgery with spinal
anesthesia. Which actions is the nurse most likel y to assess when caring for this
client?
A) Moderate muscle relaxation
B) Loss of feeling in the lower abdomen
C) Hypotension as anesthesia deepens
D) Increase in the client's heart rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Spinal anesthesia involves the injection of a local anesthetic drug
into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord. There is a loss of feeling
(anesthesia) and movement in the lower extremities, lower abdomen, and
perineum. Spinal anesthesia is not known to increase a client's heart rate.
Spinal anesthesia also does not cause hypotension or moderate muscle
relaxation. Sevoflurane maybe responsible for hypotension. In general
anesthesia, the medications will decrease the heart rate.
Question Form at: Multiple Choice
, Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3
Cognitive Level: Appl y
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 208, Spinal Anesthesia
5. The nurse prepares to teach a client about methohexital. The nurse will explain
to the client this drug will have which effect?
A) Skeletal muscle relaxation
B) Profound analgesia
C) CNS depression
D) Neuroleptanalgesia
Answer: C
Rationale: Methohexital is a n ultrashort -acting barbiturate that depresses the
CNS to produce hypnosis and anesthesia, but it does not produce analgesia.
Skeletal muscle relaxation is caused by skeletal muscle relaxants, halothane,
and enflurane. An anesthetic state characterized by profound analgesia is
produced by ketamine, which is a rapid -acting general anesthetic.
Neuroleptanalgesia is caused by a combination of fentanyl and droperidol.
Question Format: Multiple Choice
Chapter: 16
Learning Objective: 3
Cognitive Level: Appl y
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological Therapies
Integrated Process: Clinical Problem -solving Process (Nursing Process)
Reference: p. 211, 13, Barbiturate and Similar Agents
6. The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which action should the nurse
prioritize before administering the preanesthetic agent?
A) Explain postoperative client activities.
B) Check the client every 5 to 15 minutes.
