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NU 150/ NU150 EXAM 3: (NEW 2026/ 2027 UPDATE)
PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW| QUESTIONS & ANSWERS|
GRADE A| 100% CORRECT (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
1. A nurse is caring for an older adult patient receiving morphine for pain management.
Which considerations are most important for this population?
A. Increased dosage requirements and longer duration of action
B. Fall risk, respiratory depression, and need for smaller doses
C. Decreased risk of constipation and urinary retention
D. Enhanced drug metabolism requiring higher doses
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Older adult considerations for opioids (morphine/meperidine) include increased fall
risk, higher risk of respiratory depression, and the need for smaller doses due to age-related
changes in metabolism and elimination.
2. A patient is being prepared for surgery. Which are appropriate preoperative nursing
actions? Select all that apply.
A. Patient teaching about the surgical experience
B. Pain management before, during, and after the procedure
C. Discharge planning instructions only
D. Assessment of baseline vital signs
E. Review of allergies and current medications
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CORRECT ANSWER: A, B, D, E
Rationale: Preoperative actions include patient teaching, pain management before, during, and
postoperatively, assessment of baseline vital signs, and review of allergies and medications.
Discharge planning (C) begins preoperatively but is not the primary focus of immediate
preoperative care.
3. A patient is using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump postoperatively. What
teaching should the nurse provide?
A. "Press the button as often as you want for maximum pain relief."
B. "The pump has a lockout feature to prevent overdose; press the button when you need pain
relief."
C. "Only the nurse should press the button when you report pain."
D. "The pump delivers continuous pain medication without patient input."
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: PCA allows self-administration to control pain with a lockout feature to prevent
overdose. The nurse should teach the patient about the purpose of PCA, how to use it, and the
lockout mechanism. The patient, not the nurse, should press the button (C is incorrect). PCA is
patient-controlled, not continuous only (D).
4. Naloxone (Narcan) is administered to a patient. What is the mechanism of action of this
medication?
A. Activates opioid receptors to enhance pain relief
B. Binds to opioid receptors to reverse the effects of opioids (opioid overdose)
C. Blocks the reuptake of serotonin
D. Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis
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CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors to reverse the effects
of opioids, used primarily in opioid overdose. It does not activate receptors (A), block serotonin
reuptake (C), or inhibit prostaglandins (D).
5. Which medication classes are used as pre-anesthetic medications? Select all that apply.
A. Anti-anxiety medications (reduce anxiety)
B. H2 receptor antagonists (reduce HCl)
C. Anticholinergics
D. Neuromuscular blocking agents (relax skeletal muscle)
E. Opioids (sedate and decrease anesthesia amount)
CORRECT ANSWER: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: Pre-anesthesia medication classes include anti-anxiety agents (reduce anxiety), H2
receptor antagonists (reduce HCl), anticholinergics, neuromuscular blocking agents (relax
skeletal muscle), opioids (sedate and decrease anesthesia amount), sedatives (sleep, amnesia,
anxiety), and antibiotics (destroy enteric microorganisms). All options are correct.
6. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which nursing responsibilities are
appropriate for pre-anesthetic medication administration? Select all that apply.
A. Assess physical status pre and post op
B. Teach deep breathing, coughing, and leg exercises
C. Give patient instructions in their preferred language
D. Administer medications without patient education
E. Document vital signs and baseline assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: A, B, C, E
NU 150/ NU150 EXAM 3: (NEW 2026/ 2027 UPDATE)
PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW| QUESTIONS & ANSWERS|
GRADE A| 100% CORRECT (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
1. A nurse is caring for an older adult patient receiving morphine for pain management.
Which considerations are most important for this population?
A. Increased dosage requirements and longer duration of action
B. Fall risk, respiratory depression, and need for smaller doses
C. Decreased risk of constipation and urinary retention
D. Enhanced drug metabolism requiring higher doses
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Older adult considerations for opioids (morphine/meperidine) include increased fall
risk, higher risk of respiratory depression, and the need for smaller doses due to age-related
changes in metabolism and elimination.
2. A patient is being prepared for surgery. Which are appropriate preoperative nursing
actions? Select all that apply.
A. Patient teaching about the surgical experience
B. Pain management before, during, and after the procedure
C. Discharge planning instructions only
D. Assessment of baseline vital signs
E. Review of allergies and current medications
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CORRECT ANSWER: A, B, D, E
Rationale: Preoperative actions include patient teaching, pain management before, during, and
postoperatively, assessment of baseline vital signs, and review of allergies and medications.
Discharge planning (C) begins preoperatively but is not the primary focus of immediate
preoperative care.
3. A patient is using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump postoperatively. What
teaching should the nurse provide?
A. "Press the button as often as you want for maximum pain relief."
B. "The pump has a lockout feature to prevent overdose; press the button when you need pain
relief."
C. "Only the nurse should press the button when you report pain."
D. "The pump delivers continuous pain medication without patient input."
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: PCA allows self-administration to control pain with a lockout feature to prevent
overdose. The nurse should teach the patient about the purpose of PCA, how to use it, and the
lockout mechanism. The patient, not the nurse, should press the button (C is incorrect). PCA is
patient-controlled, not continuous only (D).
4. Naloxone (Narcan) is administered to a patient. What is the mechanism of action of this
medication?
A. Activates opioid receptors to enhance pain relief
B. Binds to opioid receptors to reverse the effects of opioids (opioid overdose)
C. Blocks the reuptake of serotonin
D. Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis
, 3|Page
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors to reverse the effects
of opioids, used primarily in opioid overdose. It does not activate receptors (A), block serotonin
reuptake (C), or inhibit prostaglandins (D).
5. Which medication classes are used as pre-anesthetic medications? Select all that apply.
A. Anti-anxiety medications (reduce anxiety)
B. H2 receptor antagonists (reduce HCl)
C. Anticholinergics
D. Neuromuscular blocking agents (relax skeletal muscle)
E. Opioids (sedate and decrease anesthesia amount)
CORRECT ANSWER: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: Pre-anesthesia medication classes include anti-anxiety agents (reduce anxiety), H2
receptor antagonists (reduce HCl), anticholinergics, neuromuscular blocking agents (relax
skeletal muscle), opioids (sedate and decrease anesthesia amount), sedatives (sleep, amnesia,
anxiety), and antibiotics (destroy enteric microorganisms). All options are correct.
6. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which nursing responsibilities are
appropriate for pre-anesthetic medication administration? Select all that apply.
A. Assess physical status pre and post op
B. Teach deep breathing, coughing, and leg exercises
C. Give patient instructions in their preferred language
D. Administer medications without patient education
E. Document vital signs and baseline assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: A, B, C, E
