Deck 3: Rational Drug Selection

Question 1

The first step in the prescribing process according to the World Health Organization is:

A) Choosing the treatment
B) Educating the patient about the medication
C) Diagnosing the patient's problem
D) Starting the treatment

Answer 1

Diagnosing the patient's problem

Question 2

A client asks the NP about the differences in drug effects between men and women. What is known about the differences between the pharmacokinetics of men and women?

A) Body temperature varies between men and women.
B) Muscle mass is greater in women.
C) Percentage of fat differs between genders.
D) Proven subjective factors exist between the genders.

Answer 2

Percentage of fat differs between genders.

Question 3

An NP would prescribe the liquid form of ibuprofen for a 6-year-old child because:

A) Drugs given in liquid form are less irritating to the stomach.
B) A 6-year-old child may have problems swallowing a pill.
C) Liquid forms of medication eliminate the concern for first-pass effect.
D) Liquid ibuprofen does not have to be dosed as often as the tablet form.

Answer 3

A 6-year-old child may have problems swallowing a pill.

Question 4

The therapeutic goals when prescribing include(s):

A) Curative
B) Palliative
C) Preventive
D) All of the above

Question 5

Passive monitoring of drug effectiveness includes:

A) Therapeutic drug levels
B) Adding or subtracting medications from the treatment regimen
C) Ongoing provider visits
D) Instructing the patient to report if the drug is not effective

Question 6

In deciding which of multiple drugs used to use to treat a condition, the NP chooses Drug A because it:

A) Has serious side effects and it is not being used for a life-threatening condition
B) Will be taken twice daily and will be taken at home
C) Is expensive, but covered by health insurance
D) None of these are important in choosing a drug

Question 7

Patient education regarding prescribed medication includes:

A) Instructions written at the high school reading level
B) Discussion of expected adverse drug reactions
C) How to store leftover medication such as antibiotics
D) Verbal instructions always in English

Question 8

Treatment goals in prescribing should:

A) Always be curative
B) Be patient-centered
C) Be convenient for the provider
D) Focus on the cost of therapy

Question 9

Under new U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling, Pregnancy Categories will be:

A) Strengthened with a new coding such as C+ or C- to discern when a drug is more or less toxic to the fetus
B) Changed to incorporate a pregnancy risk summary and clinical considerations on the drug label
C) Eliminated, and replaced with a link to the National Library of Medicine TOXNET Web site for in-depth information regarding pregnancy concerns
D) Clarified to include information such as safe dosages in each trimester of pregnancy

Question 10

When determining drug treatment the NP prescriber should:

A) Always use evidence-based guidelines
B) Individualize the drug choice for the specific patient
C) Rely on his or her experience when prescribing for complex patients
D) Use the newest drug on the market for the condition being treated

Question 11

Pharmacokinetic factors that affect prescribing include:

A) Therapeutic index
B) Minimum effective concentration
C) Bioavailability
D) Ease of titration

Question 12

Pharmaceutical promotion may affect prescribing. To address the impact of pharmaceutical promotion, the following recommendations have been made by the Institute of Medicine:

A) Conflicts of interest and financial relationships should be disclosed by those providing education.
B) Providers should ban all pharmaceutical representatives from their office setting.
C) Drug samples should be used for patients who have the insurance to pay for them, to ensure the patient can afford the medication.
D) Providers should only accept low-value gifts, such as pens and pads of paper, from the pharmaceutical representative.