NUR 312 Introduction to Pharmacology Practice Questions NUR 312 Introduction to Pharmacology Practice Questions La Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences Pharmacology 1. The nurse is monitoring a 22-year-old client who is in the 26th week of pregnancy and has developed gestational diabetes and pneumonia. She is given medications that pose a possible fetal risk, but the potential benefits may warrant the use of the medications in her situation. The nurse recognizes that these medications are in which U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pregnancy safety category? A. Category B B. Category C C. Category D D. Category X Pregnancy category D fits the description given. Category B indicates no risk to animal fetus; information for humans is not available. Category C indicates adverse effects reported in animal fetus; information for humans is not available. Category X consists of drugs that should not be used in pregnant women because of reports of fetal abnormalities and positive evidence of fetal risk in humans. 2. The nurse is instructing a client about their new medication, a sedative. Considering that this client admits to occasionally having a glass of wine, which of the following instructions is critical to include? A. Alcohol and sedatives are contraindicated B. As long as liver function is normal there is no risk C. Alcohol and sedatives can have additive effect D. The client will have a paradoxical effect 3. The nurse is having difficulty transcribing one order because of the prescriber’s handwriting. Which is the best action for the nurse to take at this time? A. Ask a colleague what the order says. B. Contact the prescriber to clarify the order. C. Wait until the prescriber makes rounds again to clarify the order. D. Ask the client what medications he takes at home. Rationale: If a prescriber writes an order that is illegible, the nurse should contact the prescriber for clarification. Asking a colleague is not useful because the colleague did not write the order. Waiting for the prescriber to return is incorrect because it would delay implementation of the order. Asking the client about medications is incorrect because this question will not clarify the current order written by the prescriber. 4. When given a scheduled morning medication, the client states, “I haven’t seen that pill before. Are you sure it’s correct?” The nurse checks the medication administration record and verifies that it is listed. Which is the nurse’s best response to the client? A. “It’s listed here on the medication sheet, so you should take it.” B. “Go ahead and take it, and then I’ll check with your doctor about it.” C. “It wouldn’t be listed here if it were not ordered for you!” D. “I’ll check on the order first before you take it.” R Rationale: D, When giving medications, the nurse should always listen to and honor any concerns or doubts expressed by the client. If the client doubts an order, the nurse should check the written order and/or check with the prescriber. The other options illustrate that the nurse is not listening to the client’s concerns.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer epinephrine to a client who is having a severe allergic reaction. Which route of administration would provide the fastest and most complete absorption of epinephrine? A. Intravenous B. Intramuscular C. Subcutaenous D. Oral 6. The nurse is obtaining a client history on admission to the nursing unit. The client states they drink occasionally – 3 times a week and enjoy 6 – 8 beers. While monitoring this client’s status, the nurse understands that this client may have impaired A. absorption B. distribution C. metabolism D. excretion Rationale: C is true because the liver is the primary organ involved in metabolism. The GI tract is mainly involved in absorption of oral drugs; the cardiovascular system is concerned with distribution; and the kidneys are concerned with excretion. 7. The most important factor in adverse drug reactions in the elderly population is: A. treatment with multiple drugs. B. declining renal function. C. use of over-the-counter drugs. D. use of drugs with a high therapeutic index. 8. Two hours after taking a dose of penicillin, a client arrives in the emergency department complaining of tightness in the throat, pruritus, and red wheals. During the physical assessment, the client develops difficulty breathing, respirations 36/min, blood pressure 90/42, pulse rate of 120/min. The priority nursing action would be to A. administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl), because the client is experiencing a moderate allergic reaction that should improve shortly B. sit the client up in bed, administer oxygen until the symptoms subside, and notify the prescriber. C. question the client about any previous allergy to penicillin and report the symptoms to the prescriber. D. call for assistance, apply oxygen, administer epinephrine as ordered, and notify the prescriber.
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