Pharmacology practice questions

Which information is of highest priority when obtaining a pharmacologic history from a patient?

a. Allergies
b.Use of over-the-counter medications
c. Home remedy use
d. Alcohol intake

a. allergies

During the implementation phase of the nursing process, which action will the nurse perform when administering medications?

a. Switch the route of administration based on drug availability.
b. Call the patient by name when entering the room to verify the drug is for the right person.
c. Check the patient's armband before administering the medication.
d. Prepare medications for all patients first, then administer by room to manage time appropriately.

c. check the patients armband before administering the medication

For which activity is the nurse responsible during the evaluation phase of drug administration?

a. Preparing and administering prescribed medications safely
b.Planning measurable outcomes for the patient related to drug therapy
c. Monitoring the patient continuously for therapeutic as well as adverse effects
d. Gathering data in a drug and dietary history

c. monitoring the patient continuously for therapeutic as well as adverse effects

The nurse should include which information when evaluating the outcome after a patient's medication has been administered?

A. Dose of medication administered
B. Time medication administered
C. Patient allergies to medications
D. Therapeutic effect on patient

D. therapeutic effect on the patient

The nurse should check a medication how many times before administration of a medication under the "right drug" part of the Six Rights?

a.One time
b.Three times
c.Five times
d.Depends on the drug being administered

b. three times

The nurse notes that a medication was scheduled to be administered at 0900. A medication error has occurred if the medication was administered at which time?

a. 0800
b. 0830
c. 0900
d. 0930

a. 0800

While the nurse is taking an admission history, the patient reports having a previous allergic reaction to penicillins. What will the nurse document as part of the patient's allergic reaction response to penicillins?

a. Hives
b. Dry eyes
c. Frequent urination
d.Constipation

a. hives

The nurse has an order for administering a medication to the patient. Which providers have legal authority to prescribe medications for patients? (Select all that apply.)

a.Physician
b.Physical therapist
c. Pharmacist
d.Dentist
e. Physician assistant
f.Nurse practitioner

a, d, e, f

which phase of the nursing process requires the nurse to establish a comprehensive baseline of data concerning a particular patient?
a. assessment
b.planning
c.implenmentation
d.evaluation

a. assessment

the nurse monitors the fulfillment of goals, and may revise them, during which phase of the nursing process?
a.assessment
b.planning
c.implementation
d.evaluation

d. evaluation

the nurse prepares and administers prescribed medications during which phase of the nursing process?
a.assessment
b.planning
c.implementation
d.evaluation

c. implementation

when developing a plan of care, which nursing action ensures the goal statement is patient centered?
a.considering family input
b.involving the patient
c.developing the goal first, and then sharing it
d. including the physician

b. involving the patient

during which phase of the nursing process does the nurse prioritize the nursing diagnose?
a. assessment
b.planning
c.implementation
d. evaluation

b. planning

What is the study of the physiochemical properties of drugs and how they influence the body called?

a.Pharmacokinetics
b.Pharmacotherapeutics
c.Pharmacodynamics
d. Pharmacology

c. pharmacodynamics

Pharmacokinetics involves the study of

a. physiologic interactions of drugs.
b.distribution rates among various body compartments.
c. interactions between various drugs.
d. adverse reactions to medications.

b. distribution rate among various body compartments

What is an alternate name for biotransformation of a drug?

a. Absorption
b. Dilution
c.Excretion
d. Metabolism

d. metabolism

A drug given by which route is altered by the first-pass effect?

a. Sublingual
b. Subcutaneous
c. Oral
d. Intravenous

c. oral

Drug half-life is defined as the amount of time required for 50% of a drug to

a. be absorbed by the body.
b. exert a response.
c. be eliminated by the body.
d. reach a therapeutic level.

c. be eliminated by the body

Which action, when performed by the nurse, will increase the absorption of a medication administered intramuscularly?

a. Applying cold packs to the injection site
b. Lowering the extremity below the level of the heart
c. Administering the medication via the Z-track method
d. Massaging the site after injection

d. massage the site after injection

Highly protein-bound drugs

a. increase the risk of drug-drug interactions.
b. typically provide a short duration of action.
c. must be administered with 8 ounces of water.
d. have a decreased effect in patients with a low albumin level.

a. increase the risk of drug-drug interactions

To achieve the most rapid onset of action, the health care provider will prescribe the medication to be administered by which route?

a. Subcutaneously
b. Intravenously
c. Intramuscularly
d. Intrathecally

b. intravenously

What is the ratio between a drug's therapeutic effects and toxic effects called?

a. Tolerance
b. Cumulative effect
c. Therapeutic index
d. Affinity

c. therapeutic index

When a patient asks the nurse why a lower dose of intravenous pain medication is being given than the previous oral dose, what knowledge will the nurse draw on to respond to the patient?

a. Medications given intravenously are not affected by the first-pass effect.
b. Medications given orally bypass the portal circulatory system.
c. A large percentage of an intravenously administered drug is metabolized into inactive metabolites in the liver.
d. Drugs administered intravenously enter the portal system prior to systemic distribution.

a. medications given intravenously are not affected by the first-pass effect

when considering the various routes of drug elimination, the nurse is aware that elimination occurs mainly by which route?
a.renal tubules and skin
b.skin and lungs
c.bowel and renal tubules
d.lungs and GI tract

c.bowel and renal tubules

the nurse is aware that excessive drug dosages, impaired metabolism, or inadequate excretion may result in which drug effect?
a.tolerance
b.cumulative effect
c.incompatibility
d.antagonist effect

b. cumulative effect

the nurse recognizes that drugs given by which route will be altered by the first pass effect?
(select all that apply)
a.oral
b.sublingual
c.subcutaneous
d.IV
e.rectal

a, e

if a drug binds with an enzyme and thereby prevents the enzyme from binding to its normal target cell, it will produce which effect?
a.receptor interaction
b.enzyme interaction
c.enzyme interaction
d.nonspecific interaction

c. enzyme interaction

the nurse is reviewing a list of a petitions medications, and notes that on of the drugs is known to have a low therapeutic index. which statement accurately explains this concept?
a.the difference between a therapeutic dose and toxic dose is large
b.the difference between a therapeutic dose and toxic dose is small
c.the does needed to reach a therapeutic level is small
d.the drug has only a slight chance of being effective

b.the difference between a therapeutic dose and toxic dose is small

the nurse prepares to obtain a patient blood sample from a central line for a drug level that is to be drawn just before that medications next dose. what is the timing of this blood draw known as?
a.half-life
b.therapeutic level
c.peak level
d.trough level

d.trough level

lisa is researching botanical and zoologic sources of drugs to treat MS. she is part of a university research team that is currently experimenting with varying the biochemical composition and therapeutic effects of several possible new drug
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics

e. pharmacognosy

jeffery works for a pharmaceutical corporation. one of its new drugs looks very promising, and jefferys company is experimenting with dosage forms for this investigational new drug.he is responsible for measuring the relationship between the physiochemical properties of the dosage form and the clinical therapeutic response
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics

a. pharmaceutics

micah is performing a cost benefit analysis to compare the effectiveness of two blood pressure medications for a health insurance company
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics

g. pharmacoeconomics

devon researches various poisons and is particularly concerned with the detection and treatment of the effects of drugs and other chemicals in certain mammals

f. toxicology

diane and phil have spent the last 3 years gathering family histories, legal case reports, and current clinical data to identify possible genetic factors that influence individuals responses to meperdine and related drugs
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics

c. pharmacogenomics

david works on a study that is gathering data on the use of two different drugs for the treatment of RA
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics
h.pharmodynamics

d. pharmacotherapeutics

leslies lab monitors drug distribution rates between various body compartments, from absorption to excretion. recently, her lab was able to suggest a positive change in the dosage regimen for an injectable drug, brining her firm a prestigious award
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics
h.pharmodynamics

b. pharmacokinetics

gregorys research unit recently recommended two new contraindications for the use of a newly marketed drug after discovering previously unknown biochemical and phsysiologic interactions of this drug with another unrelated drug
a.pharmaceutics
b.pharmacokinetics
c.pharmacogenomics
d.pharmacotherapeutics
e.pharmacognosy
f.toxicology
g.pharmacoeconomics
h. pharmodynamics

h. pharmodynamics

a client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (luminal) for seizure disorder. the medications has a long half life of 4 days. based on this half life, the medication will most likely be prescribed
a.once a day
b.twice a day
d.every few hours
e. once ever 2 days

a. once a day

a nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication metabolism with a group of nurses. medication dosages may need to be decreased for the following reasons:

liver failure and concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway

a nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. which of the following are appropriate nurse interventions related to this procedure:

asking the client to loop up to the celling, dropping medication into the center of the clients conjunctival sac, and instructing the client to close the eye gently

a nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a transdermal medication. which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?

i will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair

a nurse is reviewing a clients health record and notes a new prescription by the provider to verify the trough level of the clients medication. which of the following actions should the nurse take?

have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of medication

the nurse includes which information as part of a complete medication history?
a. use of street drugs
b.current lab work
c.history of surgeries
d.family history

a.use of street drugs

a drug has a half life of 12 hours, when would you expect the drug to be dosed?
a.once a day
b.every 8 hours
c.three times a day
d.once a week

a. once a day

a nurse is about to administer a new dose of penicillin. the patient states she took penicillin last year for a dental procedure and she developed a rah. what should be the nurses next action?
a.give the medication as prescribed and observe for reaction
b.adminsiter the medication IV to bypass gastric absorption
c.withhold the medication and inform the provider of the patients previous reaction
d.combine the medication with an antihistamine to decrease possibility of a reaction

c. withhold the medication and inform the provider of the patients previous reaction

What does it mean when a drug has a high "first-pass effect"?
a. It causes hypotension
b. Much of the drug is inactivated by the liver so only a small amount of the drug can be utilized
c. It starts working immediately when entering the stomach
d. It is completely excreted by the kidneys

b. much of the drug is inactivated by the liver so only a small amount of the drug can be utilized

A patient is having a hypoglycemic reaction in the hospital waiting room and not responding when you call her name. Which form of drug should you attempt to give the patient to immediately bring up her blood sugar?
Select one:
a. IV
b. Topical
c. Oral
d. Sublingual or buccal

d, sublingual or buccal

a nurse is caring for a client who is taking oral oxycodone (percolate). the client states he is also taking ibuprofen (advil) in three doses daily. the interaction between these 2 medications will cause which of the following:

an increase in the expected therapeutic effect of both medications

The patient's family member who is caring for a bedridden father with constipation asks how to give a rectal suppository. Which of the following is NOT part of the instructions you will give to the family member?
Select one:
a. Have the patient bear down during insertion
b. Hold the buttocks together for 5-10 minutes if the patient has lost sphincter control
c. Put the patient in the side lying position
d. Have a pad or bedpan to place under the patient

a. have the patient bear down during insertion

a nurse is reviewing a clients health record and notes that the client experiences permanent extrapyramidal effects caused by a previous medication. the nurse recognizes that this medication affects the clients

CNS

What information needs to be obtained during the initial patient assessment of a patient receiving prescription medications?
Select one:
a. Whether or not they ever smoked marijuana in high school
b. All the side effects of every medications they are taking
c. A list of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and herbal supplements they use regularly
d. The Pharmacy they prefer to use

c. a list of OTC medication and herbal supplements they use regularly

The five phases of the nursing process are:
Select one:
a. Planning, intervention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment
b. Diagnosis, intervention, treatment, documentation, follow-up
c. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
d. Assessment, intervention, evaluation, diagnosis, documentation

c

When calculating pediatric dosages, what will the nurse take into consideration?

a. Utilization of drug reference recommendations based on mg/kg of body weight is the preferred method.
b. Calculated doses based on body weight need to be increased by 10% due to immature renal and hepatic function.
c. Dosage calculation according to body weight is the most accurate method because it takes into account differences in maturational development.
d. Dosage calculation by body surface area is the most accurate method because it takes into account the difference in size of the child and/or neonate.

d

Knowing that the albumin in neonates and infants has a lower binding capacity for medications, the nurse can expect the prescriber to perform which action to minimize the risk of toxicity?

a. Decrease the amount of drug given
b. Increase the amount of drug given
c. Shorten the time interval between doses
d. Administer the medication intravenously

a

The physiologic changes that normally occur in the older adult have which implication for drug response in this patient?

a. Drug metabolism is faster.
b. Drug half-life is lengthened.
c. Drug elimination is faster.
d. Protein binding is more efficient.

b

The nurse is admitting an 82-year-old patient for treatment of heart failure. During assessment of the patient's history, the nurse notes a subjective complaint of chronic constipation. Of the prescribed medications the patient was taking prior to admission, which would the nurse suspect might contribute to this gastrointestinal complaint?

a. naproxen (Aleve), a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
b. warfarin sodium (Coumadin), an anticoagulant
c. verapamil (Calan), a calcium channel-blocking drug
d. spironolactone (Aldactone), a potassium-sparing diuretic

c

A mother of a 1-month-old infant calls the clinic and asks the nurse if the medication she is taking can be passed to her infant during breastfeeding. What is the appropriate response for this patient?

a. "You should not take any medication while breastfeeding."
b. "Only certain medications pass to infants while breastfeeding."
c. "I will leave the doctor a message to return your call."
d. "Drugs can cross from mother to infant in breast milk, so it will depend on the drug you are taking."

d

The nurse working in a prenatal clinic recognizes that the safety or potential harm of drug therapy during pregnancy relates to which factor?

a. Maternal blood type
b. Fetal sex
c. Drug properties
d. Diet of the mother

c

a nurse in a providers office is reviewing the health care record of a client who is pregnant an is being seen for her first prenatal visit. which of the following immunizations can be administer safely to the client
a. MMR
b.inactivated influenza vaccine
c.shingles
d.live influenza vaccine

b.inactivated influenza vaccine

a nurse on a med-surge unti administered a hypnotic medication in an older adult client at 2100. the next morning, the client is drowsy and wants to sleep instead of eating breakfast. which of the following may be responsible for the clients drowsiness?

reduced hepatic function

which physiologic factor is most responsible for the differences between the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior of drugs in neonates and adults?
a.infants stature
b.infants smaller weight
c.immaturity of neonatal organs
d.adults longer exposure to toxins

c. immaturity of neonatal organs

the nurse recognizes that drug dosages in older adults are based on which factors?
a.more on age than on height or weight
b.on body weight and organ function
c.on the total body water count
d.on the strength of the drug

b.on body wight and organ function

Look-alike, sound-alike medications are usually in the same general category so not much harm is done if the wrong drug is accidentally given.
Select one:
True
False

False

Medication reconciliation is when health care providers help maintain an updated list of all patient medication lists.
Select one:
True
False

True

An elderly patient comes for a medication injection for chronic pain. When asked about how the home medications have been controlling the pain in between treatments, the patient tells you he only gets one pill a day and it doesn't help. You suspect misuse of the opioids is taking place, but you have no ethical or legal responsibility to report your suspicions.
Select one:
True
False

False

Age is more important than weight in a pediatric patient.
Select one:
True
False

False

Checking patient identification is one of the easiest ways to prevent common medication errors.
Select one:
True
False

True

A patient who is blind who has been properly educated about their home medication is safer than one with sight who has not been properly educated.
Select one:
True
False

True

Both elderly and pediatric patients need to have a thorough head-to-toe assessment completed before administering medications.
Select one:
True
False

True

ADR stands for advanced drug reaction.
Select one:
True
False

False

A patient calls the clinic to ask about her home medications. She states she has the printouts from the nurse, the pharmacy, and she still doesn't understand how to take her prednisone. You are confused, because written instructions should be adequate patient education, right?
Select one:
True
False

False

A pregnant woman comes in having a seizure and the physician orders a class D medication to stop the seizure. There could be legal implications to using this medication.
Select one:
True
False

True

A patient taking two medications at once due to a missed dose could be considered a medication error.
Select one:
True
False

False

The nurse is assessing a patient's culture and race on admission to the hospital. Which concept is important for the nurse to understand regarding drug therapy as it relates to different races of individuals?

a. Polypharmacy
b. Polymorphism
c. Pharmacokinetics
d. Pharmacodynamics

b. polymorphism

New drugs must go through extensive research and testing before approval for use in humans. The nurse is providing education to a patient on a new medication and will inform the patient that the average length of time a medication is researched before being prescribed for humans is

a. 2 to 4 years.
b. 6 to 8 years.
c. 10 to 12 years.
d. 14 to 16 years.

c. 10 to 12 years

A pharmaceutical company is voluntarily conducting a postmarketing study to obtain further proof of the therapeutic effects of a new drug. What phase of drug study is this considered?

a. Phase I
b. Phase II
c. Phase III
d. Phase IV

d. phase IV

When teaching a patient about the legalities regarding a prescription for methylphenidate (Ritalin), which statement is most accurate?

a. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a C-I narcotic that can only be prescribed according to an approved protocol.
b. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a C-II narcotic that cannot be refilled and can only be filled with a written prescription.
c. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a C-III narcotic for which a prescription will expire in 6 months.
d. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a C-IV narcotic that is only allowed to be refilled five times per prescription.

b

Ethically, a nurse has the responsibility to

a. employ beneficence, the duty to do no harm to a patient.
b. withhold information from the patient as requested by the family.
c. impose his or her own values upon the patient when doing so would help the patient.
d. transfer care of a patient to another professional nurse if caring for the patient would violate personal ethical principles.

d

What is the nurse's role in the development of new and investigational drugs?

a. Monitoring for and reporting any adverse effects noted during Phase IV studies
b. Selecting patients to participate in Phase I studies
c. Identifying patients who are receiving placebo drugs during Phase III studies
d. Informing patients of the specific drug they are receiving within a blinded investigational study during Phase III

a

when reviewing drug classifications, the nurse knows that drugs classified as category C-I, which are to be dispensed "only with an provide protocol" include:
a. coediene, cocaine, and meperidine (demerol)
b. heroin, LSD, marijuana
c.phenobarbital, chloral hydrate, and benzodiazepines
d.cough preparations and diarrhea-control drugs

b. heroin, LSD, merijuana

when a health care provider is writing a prescription for a drug, he or she is not permitted to mark a refill on the prescription is the drug falls into which category?
a.C-II
b.C-III
c.C-IV
d.C-V

a. C-II

which legal act required drug manufacturer to establish the safety and efficiency of a new drug before its approval for use?
a.federal food and drugs act of 1906
b.federal food, drug, and cosmetic act of 1983
c.kefauver-harris amendment of 1962
d.durham-humphrey amendment of 1962

c

the nurse is assessing an unresponsive patient when a visitor enters the room. the visitor asks "oh what happened to him? he was fine yesterday!" which is the most appropriate response from the nurse?
a."sorry, but i am not allowed to tell you"
b. "he has a stroke yesterday and there is little hope for recovery"
c."you will need to speak to his physician about his condition"
d. "before I can give any information about him, I need to as who you are. lets go outside the room and talk"

d

some may seek a balance between the body and mind through the use of "cold" remedies or foods for "hot" illnesses, and vice versa; which culture?

hispanic

some may use folk medicine, protective bracelets, and laying on of hands; which culture?

african american

some believe that opposing forces lead to illness or health, depending on which force is dominant in the individual and whether the forces are balanced. balance produces healthy states; what culture?

asian

some believe in the need for a balance among body, mind, and environment to maintain and harmony with nature; what culture?

native american

a study using small numbers of volunteers who have the disease or disorder that the drug is meant to diagnose to treat, subjects are monitored for drug effectiveness and adverse effects; what phase?

phase II

postmarking studies conducted by drug companies to obtain further proof of the drugs therapeutic and adverse effects; what phase?

phase IV

a study that uses small numbers of healthy volunteers, as opposed to volunteers with the target alignment, to determine dosage range and pharmacokinetics; what phase?

Phase I

a study that involves a large number of patients at research centers designed to monitor for infrequent adverse effects and to identify any associated risks. double-blind, placebo-controlled studies eliminate patient and researches bias; what phase?

Phase III

When admitting an elderly patient to an acute care setting, which nursing strategy is most appropriate to prevent medication errors?

a. Call the primary care physician to verify current medications.
b. Ask the patient's family to verify medications the patient was taking at home.
c. Ask the patient to provide you with a written list of all medications being taken at home.
d. Ask the patient and/or family to bring in all medications the patient was taking at home.

d

Why are specific medications classified as "high-alert" medications?

a. Potential for patient harm is higher with these medications.
b. Medications always cause certain adverse effects.
c. States require that these medications be on the high-alert list.
d. Only RNs are allowed to administer these medications.

a

The nurse administers a medication to the wrong client. Which is the appropriate nursing action following this error?

a. Assess the client for an adverse reaction and report if an adverse event occurs.
b. Document the medication error. No further action is required.
c. Report the error and document the medication on the patient chart.
d. Notify the provider and document the error on an incident report.

d

Which action assists the nurse in prevention of a potential medication error?

a. Ask the patient what disease the medication is for before administering.
b. Encourage the patient to question medications if the medications are different than he or she expects.
c. Allow the patient to take home medications when desired.
d. Administer the patient's medications from his or her personal bottles while in the hospital.

b

In which step of the medication process can a medication error occur? (Select all that apply.)

a. Procurement
b. Prescribing
c. Transcribing
d. Verification
e. Administration

a, b, c, e

The nurse knows that the medication reconciliation process involves which three steps? (Select all that apply.)

a.Reporting
b.Reconciliation
c.Verification
d. Administration
e. Clarification

b, c, e

True or False: high alert medications are involved in more errors

false

True or False: all adverse drug events are caused by medication errors

false

The nurse is aware that the most appropriate time to begin patient education and begin the teaching-learning process is

a. upon the patient's admission to the health care setting.
b. once the medical diagnosis is established. Incorrect
c. when there are written orders for teaching.
d. at the time discharge planning is begun.

a. upon admission to the health care setting