Deck 33: Pharmacology and Preparation for Drug Administration

Question 1

A patient who is to receive a daily medication by the oral route has had nausea and vomiting for the last 24 hours. The best action to ensure that the patient receives the scheduled dose is to:

A) have the patient take the pill with sips of water.
B) have the patient take the pill with crackers.
C) acquire an order to administer by the rectal or parenteral route.
D) withhold the dose for 1 hour and see whether the nausea subsides.

Answer 1

acquire an order to administer by the rectal or parenteral route.

Question 2

A patient with liver disease is beginning medication therapy with a drug that is metabolized in the liver. The nurse anticipates the dose of the medication to be:

A) increased above the normal dose.
B) double the normal dose.
C) unchanged from the normal dose.
D) lower than the normal dose.

Answer 2

lower than the normal dose.

Question 3

A nurse is administering a dose of insulin to a patient. To practice nursing safely and effectively, the nurse should:

A) confirm with the patient the site of the last injection.
B) give the drug before a meal.
C) inject the insulin in the deltoid muscle.
D) have another licensed nurse double check the dose.

Answer 3

have another licensed nurse double check the dose.

Question 4

The nurse explains that a drug may have several names. The trade name is the only name that can be:

A) used in an order.
B) trademarked.
C) recognized as its chemical makeup.
D) used by retailers to sell the drug.

Question 5

An older adult patient with arthritis who has been taking anti-inflammatory drugs for the last 5 years should be monitored for:

A) dizziness and fever.
B) abdominal cramps and bloating.
C) restlessness and dyspnea.
D) gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and anemia.

Question 6

A nurse is administering a medication to an older adult patient who is normally highly protein bound. The nurse would be concerned about increased drug activity and possible toxicity if the patient's laboratory values show:

A) low albumin levels.
B) high glucose levels.
C) low sodium levels.
D) high potassium levels.

Question 7

When the nurse is administering a medication to a patient, the patient states that the tablet looks different from the one usually taken. The most prudent action by the nurse would be to:

A) reassure the patient that the medication is the same as the one ordered.
B) determine why the patient is refusing to take the medication and call the primary care provider.
C) assess for possible causes of this patient's confusion.
D) withhold the dose and verify the drug order.

Question 8

Before administering a medication to a newly assigned patient, the nurse should determine why the patient is receiving it by checking the:

A) medication administration record (MAR) or electronic medication administration record (eMAR).
B) medical history.
C) laboratory test results.
D) intake and output record.

Question 9

The nurse is aware that for a drug to be effectively eliminated from the body, the patient must have a fluid intake of 50 mL/kg/day. The nurse would provide for a patient who weighs 125 pounds ______ mL of water per day.

A) 1560
B) 899.2
C) 2840.9
D) 3039.1

Question 10

A nurse is administering medications to a group of patients. The safest way to identify each patient is to:

A) call each patient by his given name, ask for his birthday, and compare with the MAR or eMAR.
B) check the patient's name on the wristband and compare it with the MAR or eMAR.
C) check the name and identification number on the wristband and compare them to the MAR.
D) check the patient's identification number on the wristband.

Question 11

A nurse has an order to administer a schedule II drug to a patient. When working with medications of this type, the responsibility of the nurse is to:

A) leave the medication in a cup at the bedside.
B) ask another licensed nurse to check the dose.
C) sign out the drug on a narcotic control inventory sheet.
D) tell the patient to drink extra water with the pill.

Question 12

A hospitalized 3-year-old toddler is to receive an oral medication. For the most effective approach, the nurse should tell the child:

A) firmly that the drug is important to take as soon possible.
B) in a confident manner what the medication is for and how it will be given.
C) that the medication is candy and tastes good.
D) that it will make him feel better right away.

Question 13

A nurse is reinforcing instructions to a patient who is beginning medication therapy with a central nervous system (CNS) depressant drug. The nurse cautions the patient not to drink alcohol, because alcohol and the drug could cause a synergic effect, which means

A) the alcohol makes the drug have less than the desired effect.
B) the drug undergoes a rapid breakdown and is rapidly excreted.
C) the drug and alcohol increase the effect on the central nervous system.
D) the drug changes the alcohol to a toxic substance.

Question 14

An older adult patient who lives in a skilled nursing facility and who likes to walk is taking a medication that lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. The best nursing action for this patient is to:

A) suggest total bed rest.
B) monitor intake and output.
C) assist the patient when ambulating in the hall.
D) instruct the resident to rise slowly when getting out of bed or a chair.

Question 15

A patient is receiving an initial dose of penicillin for pneumonia. The nurse should be alert and monitor for:

A) hives.
B) nausea.
C) fever.
D) dizziness.

Question 16

The nurse is going to administer a medication that must be crushed for the patient to take it. This medication is best given to the patient by:

A) adding it to water.
B) dissolving it in juice.
C) mixing it in applesauce or soft food.
D) sprinkling it on meat or vegetables.

Question 17

A patient is due for a 40 mg dose of furosemide (Lasix), at 9:00 AM on May 5, 2013. The drug label reads "20 mg per tablet." The tablets in the bottle appear firm and unbroken. The expiration date on the bottle reads "April 2, 2013." The best nursing action is to:

A) administer two tablets.
B) administer one half tablet.
C) call the pharmacy to see if 40 mg tablets are available.
D) call the pharmacy for a new bottle of the medication.

Question 18

The nurse is aware that the primary care provider has ordered a pain relief drug to be delivered in the manner in which postoperative pain would be relieved most rapidly. This method is:

A) intradermally.
B) orally.
C) intramuscularly.
D) intravenously.

Question 19

When preparing medications for delivery to an assigned patient, the nurse should check each medication for accuracy of drug and dose:

A) five times.
B) three times.
C) two times.
D) one time.

Question 20

A patient is receiving antibiotic drug therapy. It is important to ensure the scheduled dose is not given late to keep the circulating drug level above the:

A) peak concentration level.
B) minimum concentration level.
C) average concentration level.
D) baseline concentration level.

Question 21

The nurse is administering an enteric-coated oral medication to a patient who is unable to swallow tablets. The best nurse action is to:

A) give the patient extra water to take with the pill.
B) crush the tablet for easier swallowing.
C) discontinue the medication and document why.
D) ask the primary care provider to consider a liquid form.

Question 22

A patient is being prepared for surgery. There is an on call order for meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol) 75 mg, with 50 mg/mL available. The patient should receive _________ mL.

Question 23

An older adult patient visits an outpatient clinic for the third time this month to be seen for hypertension. The nurse finds that the patient has not taken his blood pressure medication for 10 days. The most therapeutic response from the nurse would be:

A) "You really need to take your blood pressure medicine."
B) "Your medicine will keep your blood pressure down in a safe range."
C) "Why haven't you taken your blood pressure medicine?"
D) "Did you stop adding salt on your food like we asked you to?"

Question 24

An arthritic patient will be discharged home with a variety of medications. The best way for the home health nurse to assist the patient who lives alone in taking his medications is to:

A) ensure the medications are secured with childproof caps.
B) arrange the medication in a user-friendly pill organizer.
C) verbally tell the patient about what to report to the doctor.
D) leave outdated medications in the medicine cabinet for future use.

Question 25

Identify the concepts considered one of the six rights of medication administration. (Select all that apply.)

A) The right patient
B) The right time
C) The right route
D) The right dose
E) The right room
F) The right drug

Question 26

The nurse must be aware of how drugs enter the body and how they are metabolized and excreted. The name of this information is _____________.

Question 27

When categorizing medications, drug classifications may be defined by the effects of the drug and:

A) the symptoms the drug relieves.
B) patient tolerance.
C) the nursing implications.
D) the dosage amounts.

Question 28

The nurse explains that the common aspirin can be classified as an: (Select all that apply.)

A) antipyretic
B) analgesic
C) anti-inflammatory
D) antibiotic
E) anti-clotting

Question 29

A patient will be started on furosemide (Lasix). The primary care provider has also ordered potassium chloride (KCl) 40 mEq. There is a bottle of KCl labeled 45 mEq per 15 mL. How many milliliters should the patient receive?

A) 10.8 mL
B) 12.6 mL
C) 13.3 mL
D) 14 mL