Full Pharmacology Review
for Nursing Students
Qns & Ans
2025
Which assessment best determines the effectiveness of Sumatriptan (triptans
are used for treatment of Migraines so…
Termination of the migraine
Pt with schizophrenia is prescribed chlorpromazine (Thorazine – first
generation antipsychotic) oral concentrate
The medication may cause excessive salivation
- A patient with schizophrenia is prescribed chlorpromazine (Thorazine) oral
concentrate. Which of the following discharge instructions should the nurse
complete?
A. Sexual arousal may be enhanced with this medication.
B. Avoid direct skin contact with the medication.
C. The medication may cause excessive salivation.
D. Do not limit salt intake while taking the medication.
Which assessment best determines the pt is developing tardive dyskinesia
Twisting, writhing, worm-like movements of tongue
Pt with depression is proscribed Fluoxitine (Prozac)
“It may take 3-4 weeks before my mood is elevated”
Pt is on Marplan (MAOIs – have the most food interactions) for depression
Bananas, smoked fish, and cheese
,Pt on Lithium
Polydypsia (increased thirst), slurred speech, and fine hand tremors
Pt is prescribed Lunesta for insomnia
Anterograde amnesia (memory loss of events right before taking drug)
A 24 yo female gets Triazolam (Halcion) for insomnia at home (remember to
use the process of elimination)
“The medication will not alter my breathing”
A pt is prescribed Venlafaxine and the pt asks what the purpose of medication
is, you should state
Depression and anxiety
A pt with OCD is prescribed Zoloft – which is not a true statement about the
medication
“I will get better in 3 weeks.” (full effect in 1 – 2 months, you won’t get
“better” necessarily)
An RN is teaching a parent about administration of adderall to treat their
child’s ADD
Give the dose in the morning b4 school. (amphetamine – child needs it to
concentrate)
Amphetamines can cause growth suppression in children
Provide snack or meal b4 giving med (because amphetamines suppress
appetite)
Pt states that he’s on Oxycodone and the dose that he currently receives does
not provide the same pain relief
Tolerance
A pt with HF is getting Furosemide (Lasix) (loop diuretic is K+ wasting)
Oranges, spinach, and potatoes high in potassium
A client in renal failure asks why he is being given antacids
Calcium and aluminum antacids bind phosphates and help to keep
phosphates from being absorbed into blood stream thereby preventing rising
phosphate levels, and must be taken with meals
,Receiving Digoxin for the onset supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
hypokalemnia
- A client is receiving digoxin for the onset of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
Which laboratory findings should the nurse identify that places this client at risk?
A) Hypokalemia.
B) Hyponatremia.
C) Hypercalcemia.
D) Low uric acid levels.
- Hypokalemia affects myocardial contractility, so (A) places this client at
greatest risk for dysrhythmias that may be unresponsive to drug therapy.
Although an imbalance of serum electrolytes, (B and C), can effect cardiac
rhythm, the greatest risk for the client receiving digoxin is (A). (D) does not
cause any interactions related to digoxin therapy for supraventricular
tachycardia (SVT).
Receiving Albuterol (Proventil) tablets complains of nausea every evening
with her 9pm dose
administer the dose with a snack
The healthcare provider prescribes naloxone (Narcan) for a client in the
emergency room
The clients’ respiratory rate is 16 breaths/min
- The healthcare provider prescribes naloxone (Narcan) for a client in the
emergency room. Which assessment data would indicate that the naloxone
has been effective? The client's...
A. Statement that the chest pain is better
B) respiratory rate is 16 breaths/minute.
C) seizure activity has stopped temporarily.
D) pupils are constricted bilaterally.
A client who has been taking levadopa PO Tid to control the symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease has a new prescription for sustained-release
levadopa/carbidopa (Simemet 25/100) PO Bid and took his levadopa at 0800
“You can begin taking the Sinemet this evening, but do not take any more
levadopa”
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement during the
administration of the antiarrhythmic drug adenosine (Adenocard)
Apply continuous cardiac monitoring
Nurse is teaching a client with cancer about opioid management for
intractable pain and tolerance related side effects. The nurse should prepare
the client for which side effect that is most likely to persist during long-term
, use of opioids?
Constipation
Which dosing schedule should the nurse teach the client to observe for a
controlled release oxycodone Rx
q12h
The healthcare provider prescribes digitalis (Digoxin) for a client Dx with
congestive heart failure
Assess the serum potassium level
- The healthcare provider prescribes digitalis (Digoxin) for a client diagnosed
with congestive heart failure. Which intervention should the nurse implement
prior to administering the digoxin?
A. Observe resp rate and depth
B. assess the serum potassium level
C. Obtain the clients blood pressure
D. Monitor the serum glucose level
- hypokalemia (decreased serum potassium) will precipitate digitalis toxicity in persons
receiving digoxin
Which method of medication administration provides the client with the
greatest first pass effect
Oral
- The first-pass effect is a pharmacokinetic phenomenon that is related to the
drug's metabolism in the liver. After oral (A) medications are absorbed from
the gastrointestinal tract, the drug is carried directly to the liver via the hepatic
portal circulation where hepatic inactivation occurs and reduces the
bioavailability of the drug. Alternative method of administration, such as
sublingual (B), IV (C), and subcutaneous (D) routes, avoid this first-pass
effect.
Most important when caring for a client receiving the antimetabolite cytosine
arabinoside (ARC-C) for chemotherapy
Inspect the clients’ oral mucosa for ulcerations
- Cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) affects the rapidly growing cells of the body, therefore
stomatitis and mucosal ulcerations are key signs of antimetabolite toxicity
Identify as being at high risk for complications during the use of an opioid
analgesic
A young adult with inflammatory bowel Dz
- Which client should the nurse identify as being at the highest risk for
complications during the use of an opioid analgesic?
A. an older client with type 2 diabetes
for Nursing Students
Qns & Ans
2025
Which assessment best determines the effectiveness of Sumatriptan (triptans
are used for treatment of Migraines so…
Termination of the migraine
Pt with schizophrenia is prescribed chlorpromazine (Thorazine – first
generation antipsychotic) oral concentrate
The medication may cause excessive salivation
- A patient with schizophrenia is prescribed chlorpromazine (Thorazine) oral
concentrate. Which of the following discharge instructions should the nurse
complete?
A. Sexual arousal may be enhanced with this medication.
B. Avoid direct skin contact with the medication.
C. The medication may cause excessive salivation.
D. Do not limit salt intake while taking the medication.
Which assessment best determines the pt is developing tardive dyskinesia
Twisting, writhing, worm-like movements of tongue
Pt with depression is proscribed Fluoxitine (Prozac)
“It may take 3-4 weeks before my mood is elevated”
Pt is on Marplan (MAOIs – have the most food interactions) for depression
Bananas, smoked fish, and cheese
,Pt on Lithium
Polydypsia (increased thirst), slurred speech, and fine hand tremors
Pt is prescribed Lunesta for insomnia
Anterograde amnesia (memory loss of events right before taking drug)
A 24 yo female gets Triazolam (Halcion) for insomnia at home (remember to
use the process of elimination)
“The medication will not alter my breathing”
A pt is prescribed Venlafaxine and the pt asks what the purpose of medication
is, you should state
Depression and anxiety
A pt with OCD is prescribed Zoloft – which is not a true statement about the
medication
“I will get better in 3 weeks.” (full effect in 1 – 2 months, you won’t get
“better” necessarily)
An RN is teaching a parent about administration of adderall to treat their
child’s ADD
Give the dose in the morning b4 school. (amphetamine – child needs it to
concentrate)
Amphetamines can cause growth suppression in children
Provide snack or meal b4 giving med (because amphetamines suppress
appetite)
Pt states that he’s on Oxycodone and the dose that he currently receives does
not provide the same pain relief
Tolerance
A pt with HF is getting Furosemide (Lasix) (loop diuretic is K+ wasting)
Oranges, spinach, and potatoes high in potassium
A client in renal failure asks why he is being given antacids
Calcium and aluminum antacids bind phosphates and help to keep
phosphates from being absorbed into blood stream thereby preventing rising
phosphate levels, and must be taken with meals
,Receiving Digoxin for the onset supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
hypokalemnia
- A client is receiving digoxin for the onset of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
Which laboratory findings should the nurse identify that places this client at risk?
A) Hypokalemia.
B) Hyponatremia.
C) Hypercalcemia.
D) Low uric acid levels.
- Hypokalemia affects myocardial contractility, so (A) places this client at
greatest risk for dysrhythmias that may be unresponsive to drug therapy.
Although an imbalance of serum electrolytes, (B and C), can effect cardiac
rhythm, the greatest risk for the client receiving digoxin is (A). (D) does not
cause any interactions related to digoxin therapy for supraventricular
tachycardia (SVT).
Receiving Albuterol (Proventil) tablets complains of nausea every evening
with her 9pm dose
administer the dose with a snack
The healthcare provider prescribes naloxone (Narcan) for a client in the
emergency room
The clients’ respiratory rate is 16 breaths/min
- The healthcare provider prescribes naloxone (Narcan) for a client in the
emergency room. Which assessment data would indicate that the naloxone
has been effective? The client's...
A. Statement that the chest pain is better
B) respiratory rate is 16 breaths/minute.
C) seizure activity has stopped temporarily.
D) pupils are constricted bilaterally.
A client who has been taking levadopa PO Tid to control the symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease has a new prescription for sustained-release
levadopa/carbidopa (Simemet 25/100) PO Bid and took his levadopa at 0800
“You can begin taking the Sinemet this evening, but do not take any more
levadopa”
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement during the
administration of the antiarrhythmic drug adenosine (Adenocard)
Apply continuous cardiac monitoring
Nurse is teaching a client with cancer about opioid management for
intractable pain and tolerance related side effects. The nurse should prepare
the client for which side effect that is most likely to persist during long-term
, use of opioids?
Constipation
Which dosing schedule should the nurse teach the client to observe for a
controlled release oxycodone Rx
q12h
The healthcare provider prescribes digitalis (Digoxin) for a client Dx with
congestive heart failure
Assess the serum potassium level
- The healthcare provider prescribes digitalis (Digoxin) for a client diagnosed
with congestive heart failure. Which intervention should the nurse implement
prior to administering the digoxin?
A. Observe resp rate and depth
B. assess the serum potassium level
C. Obtain the clients blood pressure
D. Monitor the serum glucose level
- hypokalemia (decreased serum potassium) will precipitate digitalis toxicity in persons
receiving digoxin
Which method of medication administration provides the client with the
greatest first pass effect
Oral
- The first-pass effect is a pharmacokinetic phenomenon that is related to the
drug's metabolism in the liver. After oral (A) medications are absorbed from
the gastrointestinal tract, the drug is carried directly to the liver via the hepatic
portal circulation where hepatic inactivation occurs and reduces the
bioavailability of the drug. Alternative method of administration, such as
sublingual (B), IV (C), and subcutaneous (D) routes, avoid this first-pass
effect.
Most important when caring for a client receiving the antimetabolite cytosine
arabinoside (ARC-C) for chemotherapy
Inspect the clients’ oral mucosa for ulcerations
- Cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) affects the rapidly growing cells of the body, therefore
stomatitis and mucosal ulcerations are key signs of antimetabolite toxicity
Identify as being at high risk for complications during the use of an opioid
analgesic
A young adult with inflammatory bowel Dz
- Which client should the nurse identify as being at the highest risk for
complications during the use of an opioid analgesic?
A. an older client with type 2 diabetes
