FOCUS ON NURSING PHARMACOLOGY

1. Several nursing students are creating a poster on the mechanism of the heart. What structure would they label as separating the right half of the heart from the left? a. Auricle b. Bundle of His c. Syncytia d. Septum Ans: D Feedback: The septum is a partition that separates the right and left halves of the heart. The right half receives deoxygenated blood from everywhere in the body and the left half receives oxygenated blood from the lungs. The auricle is an appendage attached to ea...

1. What does the clinic nurse anticipate as initial drug therapy for a 39-year-old African American man who is 25 pounds overweight and newly diagnosed with hypertension? a. An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor b. A beta-blocker c. A calcium channel blocker d. A diuretic Ans: D Feedback: African Americans are at highest risk for developing hypertension with men more likely than women to develop the disease. African Americans have documented differences in response to antihyp...

1. A nurse is caring for an adolescent with hypogonadism who has been prescribed fluoxymesterone (Androxy) for replacement. What adverse effect of this drug will the nurse alert the patient to that could result in self-esteem concerns? a. Acne b. Dizziness c. Insomnia d. Fatigue Ans: A Feedback: All these options are possible adverse effects of the drug. However, for the adolescent, acne is the only one that could cause image concerns, which could lead to low self-esteem. Dizziness, ins...

1. What hormone stimulates the release of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from both male and female glands? a. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) b. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) c. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) d. Prolactin-releasing hormone (PRH) Ans: C Feedback: The male and female glands respond to luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH, which are released from the anterior pituitary in response to stimulation from GnRH that is released from the hypothalamus. GHR...

1. The nurse is caring for a female patient who would like to start taking oral contraceptives. What assessment finding may indicate the patient is not a good candidate for these drugs? a. Decreased appetite b. Dehydration c. Occasional headaches d. History of deep vein thrombosis Ans: D Feedback: Estrogens are contraindicated in the presence of a history of thromboembolic disorders because of the increased risk of thrombus and embolus development. A loss of appetite would not contraind...

1. The nurse is teaching the patient, newly diagnosed with Graves’s disease, about the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. What hormone will the nurse tell the patient controls production and release of thyroid hormones? a. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) b. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) c. Tetraiodothyronine d. Triiodothyronine Ans: B Feedback: Thyroid hormone production and release are regulated by the anterior pituitary hormone called thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH)...

1. The nurse administers fludrocortisone (Florinef) to a patient diagnosed with salt-losing adrenogenital syndrome and then assesses for what therapeutic action? a. Development of hypokalemia and elevated serum glucose level b. An increase in sodium and water reabsorption and potassium excretion c. Headache, edema, weakness, arrhythmias, and hypertension d. Sodium and water depletion along with potassium retention Ans: B Feedback: Fludrocortisone’s therapeutic effects include an incre...

1. The nurse is discussing the endocrine system with a class of nursing students. What substance would the nurse label as a hormone? a. Acetylcholine b. Norepinephrine c. Nucleic acid d. Serotonin Ans: B Feedback: A hormone is secreted directly into the bloodstream and travels from the site of production to react with specific receptor sites to cause an action. Norepinephrine, which is a neurotransmitter, is a hormone when it is produced in the adrenal medulla, secreted into circulation...

1. A patient suspected of having Cushing’s disease comes to the clinic. What drug might the nurse administer to test for adrenal function and responsiveness? a. Corticotropin b. Menotropins c. Thyrotropin alfa d. Chorionic gonadotropin Ans: A Feedback: Corticotropin (ACTH) and cosyntropin are used for diagnostic purposes to test adrenal function and responsiveness. Menotropin is a purified preparation of gonadotropins and is used as a fertility drug. Thyrotropin alfa is used as adjunc...

1. A student asks the pharmacology instructor to explain the action of anticholinergic agents. What would be the instructor’s best response? a. They block nicotinic receptors. b. They compete with serotonin for muscarinic acetylcholine receptor sites. c. They act to block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system. d. They increase norepinephrine at the neuromuscular junction. Ans: C Feedback: Drugs that are used to block the effects of acetylcholine are called anticholinergic ...