2025 Pharmacology Exam For Nursing Students – Realistic
NCLEX-Style Questions With Verified Answers & Explanations
A nurse is assessing a client prior to administering a seasonal influenza vaccine. The client says
he read about an influenza vax that is given as a nasal spray and wants to receive it. The nurse
should recognize that which of the following findings is a contraindication for the client
receiving the live attenuated influenza vax (LAIV)?
A. The client's age is 62
B. The client smokes one pack of cigarettes a day
C. The client has a history of myocardial infarction
D. The client has recently traveled to Europe ---Correct---Ans.A. The client's age is 62
The nurse is teaching a client who has a UTI and is taking ciprofloxacin. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse give to the client?
A. If the medicine causes an upset stomach, take an antacid at the same time
B. Limit your daily fluid intake while taking this medication
C. This medication can cause photophobia, so be sure to wear sunglasses outdoors
D. You should report any tendon discomfort you experience while taking this medication ---
Correct---Ans.D. You should report any tendon discomfort you experience while taking this
medication
A nurse is teaching a client who has a UTI and is taking ciprofloxacin. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse give to the client?
A. Draw a trough level at 0900 and a peak level at 2100
B. Draw a peak level 90 min prior to administering the med and a trough level 90 min after the
dose
C. Draw a tough level immediately prior to administering the med and a peak level 30 min after
the dose
D. Draw a peak level at 0900 and a trough level at 2100 ---Correct---Ans.C. Draw a tough level
immediately prior to administering the med and a peak level 30 min after the dose - peak level
,is highest level of the drug. Trough is before dose since it is lowest level of medication in your
system
A nurse is caring for a client who has a bacterial infection and is receiving gentamicin. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take to minimize the risk of an adverse effect of the
medication?
A. Limit the client's fluid intake
B. Instruct the client to report agitation
C. Monitor the serum medication levels
D. Administer the medicine with food ---Correct---Ans.C. Monitor the serum medication levels -
want to make sure no toxicity
A nurse is assessing a client who is taking oxacillin to treat an infection. The nurse should
recognize which of the following findings as most likely a manifestation of an allergic reaction:
A. Pruritus
B. Diarrhea
C. Dark urine
D. Fever ---Correct---Ans.A. Pruritus
Which practice would serve to limit the development of antibiotic resistance?
A. Using broad spectrum antibiotics whenever possible
B. Stopping therapy when symptoms resolve
C. Encouraging compliance with full course of treatment
D. Pretreating with diphenhydramine ---Correct---Ans.C. Encouraging compliance with full
course of treatment
The disease Cushing's syndrome is most similar to side effects of what drug?
A. Thyroid hormone
,B. Insulin
C. Prednisone
D. Testosterone ---Correct---Ans.C. Prednisone
A patient with Addison's is prescribed fludrocortisone to replace aldosterone. What teaching is
most important?
A. Monitor blood glucose for hypoglycemia
B. Instruct patient to never abruptly discontinue the medication
C. Avoid foods high in potassium
D. Anticipate increasing urine output within 1 hour of taking medications ---Correct---Ans.B.
Instruct patient to never abruptly discontinue the medication - abrupt withdrawal may cause
rebound symptoms. Drug reabsorbs Na in exchange for K, so may cause low K. causes fluid
retention, not a diuretic. Has some glucocorticoid properties so increased BG and risk of
infection
A common side effect of glucocorticosteroids like SoluMedrol is:
A. Low WBC
B. Low sodium
C. High potassium
D. High blood sugar ---Correct---Ans.D. High blood sugar - steroids increase SNS effects
A common side effect of glucocorticosteroids like SoluMedrol is:
A. Dehydration
B. Low blood sugar
C. Easy bruising
D. Hypotension ---Correct---Ans.C. Easy bruising - skin thins since robbing from resources to
supply sugar for the brain & fatty acids to the muscle
, The nurse is conducting a test which involves injecting a small amount of ACTH and measuring
cortisol blood levels. If the cortisol level is low, what condition will likely be diagnosed?
A. Cushing's
B. Adrenal insufficiency
C. Myxedema hypothyroidism
D. Hashimoto's thyroiditis ---Correct---Ans.B. Adrenal insufficiency
Which of the following statements informs that the patient needs additional teaching about
long term risks of hyperglycemia?
A. I would hate to lose my vision
B. I am not really comfortable talking about impotence
C. It will be nice to get by with less sleep
D. Requiring dialysis would really change my lifestyle ---Correct---Ans.C. It will be nice to get by
with less sleep
An average blood glucose of 300 mg/dl would translate to an A1C of about:
A. 4%
B. 7%
C. 10%
D. 12% ---Correct---Ans.D. 12%
A more stringent A1C goal (<6.5%) is appropriate when:
A. Life expectancy is short
B. The patient has had diabetes for more than 10 years
C. The patient has had episodes of hypoglycemia
D. There are no significant vascular complications ---Correct---Ans.D. There are no significant
vascular complications
NCLEX-Style Questions With Verified Answers & Explanations
A nurse is assessing a client prior to administering a seasonal influenza vaccine. The client says
he read about an influenza vax that is given as a nasal spray and wants to receive it. The nurse
should recognize that which of the following findings is a contraindication for the client
receiving the live attenuated influenza vax (LAIV)?
A. The client's age is 62
B. The client smokes one pack of cigarettes a day
C. The client has a history of myocardial infarction
D. The client has recently traveled to Europe ---Correct---Ans.A. The client's age is 62
The nurse is teaching a client who has a UTI and is taking ciprofloxacin. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse give to the client?
A. If the medicine causes an upset stomach, take an antacid at the same time
B. Limit your daily fluid intake while taking this medication
C. This medication can cause photophobia, so be sure to wear sunglasses outdoors
D. You should report any tendon discomfort you experience while taking this medication ---
Correct---Ans.D. You should report any tendon discomfort you experience while taking this
medication
A nurse is teaching a client who has a UTI and is taking ciprofloxacin. Which of the following
instructions should the nurse give to the client?
A. Draw a trough level at 0900 and a peak level at 2100
B. Draw a peak level 90 min prior to administering the med and a trough level 90 min after the
dose
C. Draw a tough level immediately prior to administering the med and a peak level 30 min after
the dose
D. Draw a peak level at 0900 and a trough level at 2100 ---Correct---Ans.C. Draw a tough level
immediately prior to administering the med and a peak level 30 min after the dose - peak level
,is highest level of the drug. Trough is before dose since it is lowest level of medication in your
system
A nurse is caring for a client who has a bacterial infection and is receiving gentamicin. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take to minimize the risk of an adverse effect of the
medication?
A. Limit the client's fluid intake
B. Instruct the client to report agitation
C. Monitor the serum medication levels
D. Administer the medicine with food ---Correct---Ans.C. Monitor the serum medication levels -
want to make sure no toxicity
A nurse is assessing a client who is taking oxacillin to treat an infection. The nurse should
recognize which of the following findings as most likely a manifestation of an allergic reaction:
A. Pruritus
B. Diarrhea
C. Dark urine
D. Fever ---Correct---Ans.A. Pruritus
Which practice would serve to limit the development of antibiotic resistance?
A. Using broad spectrum antibiotics whenever possible
B. Stopping therapy when symptoms resolve
C. Encouraging compliance with full course of treatment
D. Pretreating with diphenhydramine ---Correct---Ans.C. Encouraging compliance with full
course of treatment
The disease Cushing's syndrome is most similar to side effects of what drug?
A. Thyroid hormone
,B. Insulin
C. Prednisone
D. Testosterone ---Correct---Ans.C. Prednisone
A patient with Addison's is prescribed fludrocortisone to replace aldosterone. What teaching is
most important?
A. Monitor blood glucose for hypoglycemia
B. Instruct patient to never abruptly discontinue the medication
C. Avoid foods high in potassium
D. Anticipate increasing urine output within 1 hour of taking medications ---Correct---Ans.B.
Instruct patient to never abruptly discontinue the medication - abrupt withdrawal may cause
rebound symptoms. Drug reabsorbs Na in exchange for K, so may cause low K. causes fluid
retention, not a diuretic. Has some glucocorticoid properties so increased BG and risk of
infection
A common side effect of glucocorticosteroids like SoluMedrol is:
A. Low WBC
B. Low sodium
C. High potassium
D. High blood sugar ---Correct---Ans.D. High blood sugar - steroids increase SNS effects
A common side effect of glucocorticosteroids like SoluMedrol is:
A. Dehydration
B. Low blood sugar
C. Easy bruising
D. Hypotension ---Correct---Ans.C. Easy bruising - skin thins since robbing from resources to
supply sugar for the brain & fatty acids to the muscle
, The nurse is conducting a test which involves injecting a small amount of ACTH and measuring
cortisol blood levels. If the cortisol level is low, what condition will likely be diagnosed?
A. Cushing's
B. Adrenal insufficiency
C. Myxedema hypothyroidism
D. Hashimoto's thyroiditis ---Correct---Ans.B. Adrenal insufficiency
Which of the following statements informs that the patient needs additional teaching about
long term risks of hyperglycemia?
A. I would hate to lose my vision
B. I am not really comfortable talking about impotence
C. It will be nice to get by with less sleep
D. Requiring dialysis would really change my lifestyle ---Correct---Ans.C. It will be nice to get by
with less sleep
An average blood glucose of 300 mg/dl would translate to an A1C of about:
A. 4%
B. 7%
C. 10%
D. 12% ---Correct---Ans.D. 12%
A more stringent A1C goal (<6.5%) is appropriate when:
A. Life expectancy is short
B. The patient has had diabetes for more than 10 years
C. The patient has had episodes of hypoglycemia
D. There are no significant vascular complications ---Correct---Ans.D. There are no significant
vascular complications
