Question 1

The nurse is providing care for a patient with recurrent lymphocytic leukemia who is receiving weekly treatment with Campath (alemtuzumab). Which of the following lab results would the nurse be expected to monitor prior to initiating therapy? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  Prothrombin time (PTT) 
B)  Urine-specific gravity 
C)  White blood cell count (WB
C)  
D)  Platelet count 
E)  CD-8 count
F) Red blood cell count (RB
C)

Question 2

Which laboratory value should be monitored during pharmacological therapy of Januvia (sitagliptin)?

Accepted Answer

A)  CBC 
B)  Hemoglobin A1C 
C)  Phosphorus levels 
D)  Thiamine levels

Question 3

A nurse caring for a patient with a history of diabetes mellitus notes that his prebreakfast blood glucose is 268. The nurse understands the patient most likely has sliding scale insulin using which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Novolog Mix 70/30 
B)  Humulin R 
C)  Humulin N 
D)  Lantus

Question 4

A 52-year-old patient is going home with NitroMist (nitroglycerine translingual spray). How should the patient be taught to take this medication?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shake canister, spray in mouth, and rinse with glass of water 5 min after administration. 
B)  Roll canister between hands and spray on tongue. 
C)  Inhale as the medication is being sprayed into the mouth. 
D)  Lift the tongue and spray under the tongue.

Question 5

The nurse receives a call from a patient who recently started taking Actos (pioglitazone) 15 mg every morning. The patient states, "I forgot to take it for the past 2 days. What should I do?" Which of the following is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Simply take the medication as planned today." 
B)  "Take two today and then one a day from this point forward." 
C)  "You will need to come in and have some blood drawn." 
D)  "Are you experiencing any pain today?"

Question 6

The nurse providing patient education about Questran (cholestyramine) would include which of the following statements in the education? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  "Diarrhea may occur." 
B)  "This medication should be taken before meals." 
C)  "It can be mixed with water, milk, juice, or another noncarbonated beverage." 
D)  "It is still important to follow a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet." 
E)  "Notify the physician if your stool becomes frothy or foul smelling."
F) "This medication may cause dry mouth or a rapid heart rate; that is normal."

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a 56-year-old patient with a history of atrial fibrillation who takes Lanoxin (digoxin) 0.5 mg/day. Which of the following assessments should cause the nurse to hold the patient's dose?

Accepted Answer

A)  BP = 112/70 mmHg 
B)  Lung sounds with fine bibasilar crackles 
C)  Urine output = 300 mL in 3 hr 
D)  P = 58 bpm

Question 8

A 26-year-old female prescribed Axert (almotriptan) for use with migraine headache attacks, calls the nurse, stating, "I took a home pregnancy test last week and I know I'm pregnant but I haven't seen the doctor yet. I have a terrible migraine starting and I don't know what I should do." Which of the following statements by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  "When was your last menstrual cycle?" 
B)  "It is usually safe to take medications early in a pregnancy." 
C)  "What other migraine treatments have worked in the past?" 
D)  "You should not take Axert if you think you are pregnant."

Question 9

A nurse working in hospice is providing care for a patient reporting increased instances of pain. Which of the following factors would indicate the patient is a good candidate for Fentanyl /transmucosal (ACTIQ) therapy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The patient reports breakthrough pain 8 out of 10. 
B)  The patient currently takes greater than 60 mg of oral morphine scheduled around the clock per day. 
C)  The patient has pancreatic cancer. 
D)  The patient has an allergy to hydromorphone.

Question 10

The nurse caring for patients on a gynecological surgery unit would monitor which of the following women most closely for evidence of a deep vein thrombosis?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 64-year-old patient taking Apriso (mesalamine) who has a history of ulcerative colitis. 
B)  A 47-year-old patient admitted for lumpectomy with a family history of breast cancer. 
C)  A 58-year-old patient taking Estrace (estradiol) with a 42-pack-per-year history of smoking. 
D)  A 61-year-old patient who had a bladder-sling procedure whose platelet count is 167,000 cells/mm3.

Question 11

Prior to initiating continuous drip intravenous therapy with dopamine, the nurse checks the infusion bag that lists 250 mg dopamine has been added to 250 mL of 0.9 NS. The nurse determines the concentration, expressed as mg/mL, is ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Prior to initiating continuous drip intravenous therapy...

Question 12

The nurse is caring for a patient in the intensive care unit with an NG tube to low intermittent suction after bowel surgery. Morning lab results include the following: Na+ = 136 mEq, K+ = 3.3 mEq, Cl- = 100 mEq, Ca++ = 10 mg/dL. The patient has scheduled medications, which include potassium bicarbonate/potassium chloride 40 mEq via NG and Lasix (furosemide) 20 mg intravenous push daily. Which of the following actions should the nurse take next?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evaluate the patient's telemetry reading. 
B)  Hold the patient's daily dose of potassium chloride. 
C)  Assess the amount and color of the NG output over the past 2 hr. 
D)  Provide the patient's scheduled Lasix (furosemide).

Question 13

For chondroitin to be effective it should be taken:

Accepted Answer

A)  As needed 
B)  Once a week 
C)  Once a month 
D)  For an extended period of time

Question 14

The nurse caring for a patient taking Zyrtec (cetirizine) recognizes the treatment plan is effective by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I don't feel nearly as tired as I used to feel." 
B)  "I am able to sleep at least 6 or 7 hr every night now." 
C)  "My eyes itch less and I'm not sneezing as often." 
D)  "My heartburn has essentially gone away."

Question 15

A nurse caring for a patient who recently started taking Pletal (cilostazol) recognizes the further need for teaching by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I'm able to walk three blocks a day now instead of one." 
B)  "I take the medication with breakfast every day." 
C)  "I've given up grapefruit juice and grapefruits entirely." 
D)  "I've stopped smoking all together."

Question 16

The nurse is providing care for a patient who is being considered for treatment with Actonel (risedronate). Prior to initiating therapy, the nurse should evaluate the results from which of the following diagnostic tests?

Accepted Answer

A)  Echocardiogram 
B)  Pulmonary function tests 
C)  Fasting blood sugar 
D)  Bone density study

Question 17

While checking orders for a patient newly admitted with abdominal pain and suspected pancreatitis, the nurse notes the following order, "meperidine 50-100 mg IM q 3-4 hr prn for pain." Which of the following medications currently taken by the patient would cause the nurse to contact the physician?

Accepted Answer

A)  Isordil (isosorbide) 20 mg po q 6 hr 
B)  Trandate (labetalol) 100 mg BID 
C)  Nardil (phenelzine) 15 mg po TID 
D)  Indocin (indomethacin) 25 mg po QID

Question 18

A 38-year-old woman asks the nurse, "Can I just use Tums (calcium carbonate) to help prevent osteoporosis?" Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Tums are really an antacid, so there isn't any research to support their use that way." 
B)  "You can use them that way, but they aren't very effective." 
C)  "Did your doctor tell you to start taking a calcium supplement?" 
D)  "It is safe to use them as a calcium supplement, but make sure you're getting enough vitamin D as well."

Question 19

The nurse is providing care for a 54-year-old woman with insulin-dependent diabetes. The woman is pale, diaphoretic, groggy, and difficulty to arouse. Her blood glucose result is 49. Which of the following actions should the nurse take next?

Accepted Answer

A)  Notify the physician. 
B)  Encourage the patient to drink orange juice with a teaspoon of added sugar. 
C)  Request a stat lab blood draw and await results. 
D)  Provide 1 mg IV glucagon per protocol.

Question 20

While providing initial chemotherapy teaching for a patient who is scheduled to receive cisplatin for metastatic ovarian cancer, the nurse recognizes that teaching has been effective by which of the following client statements? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  "This medication is usually taken as a pill every day for a week." 
B)  "You will need to check my lab values each time I'm due for chemotherapy to make sure I can safely take each scheduled treatment." 
C)  "It is very important that I continue to take the medication that prevents nausea and vomiting consistently throughout my day of treatment." 
D)  "Aside from nausea, this medication has few other side effects." 
E)  "I may have nausea or loss of appetite for up to a week after taking this medication."
F) "I will come into an infusion center to get my chemotherapy in an IV."

Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses Test 1

The nurse is providing care for a patient with recurrent lymphocytic leukemia who is receiving weekly treatment with Campath (alemtuzumab) . Which of the following lab results would the nurse be expected to monitor prior to initiating therapy? Select all that apply.

Which laboratory value should be monitored during pharmacological therapy of Januvia (sitagliptin) ?