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UPDATED NURS 6521 / NURS6521 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM 2025|ACTUAL EXAM SET QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (CORRECT SOLUTIONS) | GET IT 100% ACCURATE,
EXAMS OF NURSING
A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression for several
months tells the provider that the medication has not helped with symptoms. The provider
plans to switch the patient to an SSRI. The nurse will teach this patient to: - ANSWER-stop taking
the MAOI 2 weeks before starting the SSRI.
A young adult patient has been taking an antidepressant medication for several weeks and
reports having increased thoughts of suicide. The nurse questions further and learns that the
patient has attempted suicide more than once in the past. The patient identifies a concrete plan
for committing suicide. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: - ANSWER-hospitalizing
the patient for closer monitoring.
An older adult patient who is to begin taking imipramine [Tofranil] asks the nurse when the drug
should be taken. The nurse will instruct the patient to: - ANSWER-divide the daily dose into two
equal doses 12 hours apart.
A patient has been taking an SSRI antidepressant for major depression and reports having
headaches and jaw pain. What will the nurse tell the patient? - ANSWER-Discuss these
symptoms with a dentist.
A neonate is born to a patient who reports taking venlafaxine [Effexor XR]. The nurse caring for
the infant will observe the infant for: - ANSWER-irritability, tremor, and respiratory distress.
A patient is brought to the emergency department after taking a handful of TCA pills. The nurse
will expect to provide what when caring for this patient? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-Cardiac
monitoring
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Cholinesterase inhibitors
Gastric lavage and activated charcoal
A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking an
antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the nurse that
the drug is not working. The nurse will counsel this patient to ask the provider about: -
ANSWER-using nondrug therapies to augment the medication.
Which patients are candidates for MAOIs? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-Patients who have
not responded to SSRIs and TCAs
Patients with atypical depression
Patients with bulimia nervosa
A patient whose spouse has died recently reports feeling down most of every day for the past 2
months. On further questioning, the nurse learns that the patient has quit participating in
church and social activities, has difficulty falling asleep, and has lost 5 pounds. The patient
reports feeling tired and confused all the time but does not have suicidal thoughts. What does
the nurse suspect? - ANSWER-Major depression
A patient taking an MAOI is seen in the clinic with a blood pressure of 170/96 mm Hg. What will
the nurse ask this patient? - ANSWER-To list all foods eaten that day
A patient taking fluoxetine [Prozac] complains of decreased sexual interest. A prescriber orders
a "drug holiday." What teaching by the nurse would best describe a drug holiday? - ANSWER-
"Don't take the medication on Friday and Saturday."
A patient with bipolar disorder who wants to minimize the need for drug therapy asks the nurse
what else can be done to treat the disorder. The nurse will recommend which measures? Select
all that apply. - ANSWER-Psychotherapy
Regular sleep and exercise
,3|Page
Using a chart to monitor mood changes
A patient with bipolar disorder who is taking divalproex sodium [Valproate] has just been
admitted to the hospital. During the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse about
recent suicidal ideation. The nurse observes several areas of bruising over soft tissue areas and
notes a weight gain of 10 pounds since the last admission 1 year ago. What will the nurse do? -
ANSWER-Contact the provider to report these findings.
A patient with bipolar disorder takes lamotrigine [Lamictal]. Which statement by the patient
would prompt the nurse to hold the drug and notify the prescriber for further assessment? -
ANSWER-"I've broken out in a rash on my chest and back."
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine [Equetro] for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? - ANSWER-Reassure
the patient that these effects occur early in treatment and will resolve over time.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time symptoms of mania and is
exhibiting euphoric mania. Which medication will the provider order? - ANSWER-Lithium
[Lithobid]
A patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years. The patient
has developed a goiter, and serum tests reveal hypothyroidism. What will the nurse expect the
provider to order for this patient? - ANSWER-Administration of levothyroxine
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a hospitalized patient who has been taking
lithium [Lithobid] for 3 days. The patient is complaining of mild nausea and abdominal bloating.
The patient's lithium level is 0.8 mEq/L. What will the nurse do? - ANSWER-Administer the dose
and tell the patient that the side effects are temporary.
A patient recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The patient, who has a history of
seasonal allergies, is an athlete who participates in track. The nurse is teaching the patient
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about lithium [Lithobid], which the prescriber has just ordered. Which statement by the patient
indicates the need for further teaching? - ANSWER-"I can continue to use ibuprofen as needed
for muscle pain."
A patient with bipolar disorder is admitted to the hospital. The patient has been taking lithium
[Lithobid] for several years and has not been evaluated by a provider for over a year. Besides
obtaining a lithium level, the nurse caring for this patient will anticipate orders for which
laboratory tests? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-Calcium level
Renal function tests
Thyroid function tests
The spouse of a patient with bipolar disorder (BPD) tells the nurse that the patient will not stay
on the lithium ordered by the provider longer than 1 or 2 months at a time. The nurse
understands that adherence to medication regimens in patients with BPD is problematic and
will tell the spouse: - ANSWER-"During manic episodes, many patients don't see the benefit of
prophylactic medications."
A patient with bipolar disorder has frequent manic episodes alternating with depressive
episodes. The prescriber orders risperidone [Risperdal] in addition to the lithium [Lithobid] that
the patient is already taking. The patient asks the nurse why another drug is needed. The nurse
will tell the patient that the risperidone is used to: - ANSWER-help control symptoms during
manic episodes.
A patient with a new-onset seizure disorder receives a prescription for phenobarbital. The
patient reports being concerned about the sedative side effects of this drug. Which response by
the nurse is correct? - ANSWER-"Phenobarbital doses for seizures are nonsedating."
A patient who travels frequently for business reports occasional instances of being unable to fall
asleep. The patient tells the nurse that job demands require staying up late and then getting up
early for meetings. The nurse expects that the provider will prescribe which medication for this
patient? - ANSWER-Zaleplon [Sonata]
UPDATED NURS 6521 / NURS6521 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM 2025|ACTUAL EXAM SET QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (CORRECT SOLUTIONS) | GET IT 100% ACCURATE,
EXAMS OF NURSING
A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression for several
months tells the provider that the medication has not helped with symptoms. The provider
plans to switch the patient to an SSRI. The nurse will teach this patient to: - ANSWER-stop taking
the MAOI 2 weeks before starting the SSRI.
A young adult patient has been taking an antidepressant medication for several weeks and
reports having increased thoughts of suicide. The nurse questions further and learns that the
patient has attempted suicide more than once in the past. The patient identifies a concrete plan
for committing suicide. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: - ANSWER-hospitalizing
the patient for closer monitoring.
An older adult patient who is to begin taking imipramine [Tofranil] asks the nurse when the drug
should be taken. The nurse will instruct the patient to: - ANSWER-divide the daily dose into two
equal doses 12 hours apart.
A patient has been taking an SSRI antidepressant for major depression and reports having
headaches and jaw pain. What will the nurse tell the patient? - ANSWER-Discuss these
symptoms with a dentist.
A neonate is born to a patient who reports taking venlafaxine [Effexor XR]. The nurse caring for
the infant will observe the infant for: - ANSWER-irritability, tremor, and respiratory distress.
A patient is brought to the emergency department after taking a handful of TCA pills. The nurse
will expect to provide what when caring for this patient? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-Cardiac
monitoring
,2|Page
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Gastric lavage and activated charcoal
A patient is diagnosed with major depression with severe symptoms and begins taking an
antidepressant medication. Three weeks after beginning therapy, the patient tells the nurse that
the drug is not working. The nurse will counsel this patient to ask the provider about: -
ANSWER-using nondrug therapies to augment the medication.
Which patients are candidates for MAOIs? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-Patients who have
not responded to SSRIs and TCAs
Patients with atypical depression
Patients with bulimia nervosa
A patient whose spouse has died recently reports feeling down most of every day for the past 2
months. On further questioning, the nurse learns that the patient has quit participating in
church and social activities, has difficulty falling asleep, and has lost 5 pounds. The patient
reports feeling tired and confused all the time but does not have suicidal thoughts. What does
the nurse suspect? - ANSWER-Major depression
A patient taking an MAOI is seen in the clinic with a blood pressure of 170/96 mm Hg. What will
the nurse ask this patient? - ANSWER-To list all foods eaten that day
A patient taking fluoxetine [Prozac] complains of decreased sexual interest. A prescriber orders
a "drug holiday." What teaching by the nurse would best describe a drug holiday? - ANSWER-
"Don't take the medication on Friday and Saturday."
A patient with bipolar disorder who wants to minimize the need for drug therapy asks the nurse
what else can be done to treat the disorder. The nurse will recommend which measures? Select
all that apply. - ANSWER-Psychotherapy
Regular sleep and exercise
,3|Page
Using a chart to monitor mood changes
A patient with bipolar disorder who is taking divalproex sodium [Valproate] has just been
admitted to the hospital. During the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse about
recent suicidal ideation. The nurse observes several areas of bruising over soft tissue areas and
notes a weight gain of 10 pounds since the last admission 1 year ago. What will the nurse do? -
ANSWER-Contact the provider to report these findings.
A patient with bipolar disorder takes lamotrigine [Lamictal]. Which statement by the patient
would prompt the nurse to hold the drug and notify the prescriber for further assessment? -
ANSWER-"I've broken out in a rash on my chest and back."
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine [Equetro] for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? - ANSWER-Reassure
the patient that these effects occur early in treatment and will resolve over time.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time symptoms of mania and is
exhibiting euphoric mania. Which medication will the provider order? - ANSWER-Lithium
[Lithobid]
A patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years. The patient
has developed a goiter, and serum tests reveal hypothyroidism. What will the nurse expect the
provider to order for this patient? - ANSWER-Administration of levothyroxine
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a hospitalized patient who has been taking
lithium [Lithobid] for 3 days. The patient is complaining of mild nausea and abdominal bloating.
The patient's lithium level is 0.8 mEq/L. What will the nurse do? - ANSWER-Administer the dose
and tell the patient that the side effects are temporary.
A patient recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The patient, who has a history of
seasonal allergies, is an athlete who participates in track. The nurse is teaching the patient
, 4|Page
about lithium [Lithobid], which the prescriber has just ordered. Which statement by the patient
indicates the need for further teaching? - ANSWER-"I can continue to use ibuprofen as needed
for muscle pain."
A patient with bipolar disorder is admitted to the hospital. The patient has been taking lithium
[Lithobid] for several years and has not been evaluated by a provider for over a year. Besides
obtaining a lithium level, the nurse caring for this patient will anticipate orders for which
laboratory tests? Select all that apply. - ANSWER-Calcium level
Renal function tests
Thyroid function tests
The spouse of a patient with bipolar disorder (BPD) tells the nurse that the patient will not stay
on the lithium ordered by the provider longer than 1 or 2 months at a time. The nurse
understands that adherence to medication regimens in patients with BPD is problematic and
will tell the spouse: - ANSWER-"During manic episodes, many patients don't see the benefit of
prophylactic medications."
A patient with bipolar disorder has frequent manic episodes alternating with depressive
episodes. The prescriber orders risperidone [Risperdal] in addition to the lithium [Lithobid] that
the patient is already taking. The patient asks the nurse why another drug is needed. The nurse
will tell the patient that the risperidone is used to: - ANSWER-help control symptoms during
manic episodes.
A patient with a new-onset seizure disorder receives a prescription for phenobarbital. The
patient reports being concerned about the sedative side effects of this drug. Which response by
the nurse is correct? - ANSWER-"Phenobarbital doses for seizures are nonsedating."
A patient who travels frequently for business reports occasional instances of being unable to fall
asleep. The patient tells the nurse that job demands require staying up late and then getting up
early for meetings. The nurse expects that the provider will prescribe which medication for this
patient? - ANSWER-Zaleplon [Sonata]
