NURSING NR508 Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam with 100% Correct Answers provided
1. A patient asks a primary care NP whether over-the-counter drugs
... [Show More] are safer than
prescription drugs. The NP should explain that over-the-counter drugs are: (Points : 2)
generally safe when label information is understood and followed.
safer because over-the-counter doses are lower than prescription doses of the same
drug.
less safe because they are not well regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
not extensively tested, so claims made by manufacturers cannot be substantiated.
Question 2.2. A woman who is being treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer asks her
primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about using dietary supplements to improve her chance
of recovery. The NP should tell her that: (Points : 2)
vitamin E is not harmful but has not been shown to change outcomes.
no supplements have been shown to alter outcomes or response to therapy.
folic acid and other B vitamins may improve ability to tolerate chemotherapy.
vitamin C, taken at least 6 days per week, may lower her risk of cancer recurrence.
Question 3.3. A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus takes metformin (Glucophage) 1000 mg
twice daily and glyburide (Micronase) 12 mg daily. At an annual physical examination, the BMI
is 29 and hemoglobin A1c is 7.3%. The NP should: (Points : 2)
begin insulin therapy.
change to therapy with colesevelam (Welchol).
add a third oral antidiabetic agent to this patient’s drug regimen.
enroll the patient in a weight loss program to achieve better glycemic control.
Question 4.4. A patient comes to the clinic to discuss weight loss. The primary care NP notes
a BMI of 32 and performs a health risk assessment that reveals no obesity-related risk factors.
The NP should recommend: (Points : 2)
orlistat (Xenical).
surgical intervention.
changes in diet and exercise.
changes in diet and exercise along with short-term phentermine.
Question 5.5. Which of the following statements is true about the prescribing practices of
physicians? (Points : 2)
Older physicians tend to prescribe more appropriate medications than younger
physicians.
Antibiotic medications remain in the top fve classifcations of medications prescribed.
Most physicians rely on a “therapeutic armamentarium” that consists of less than 100
drug preparations per physician.The dominant form of drug information used by primary care physicians continues to
be that provided by pharmaceutical companies.
Question 6.6. A primary care NP is aware that many patients in the community use herbal
remedies to treat various conditions. The NP understands the importance of: (Points : 2)
learning about the actions, uses, doses, and toxicities of these agents.
prescribing these agents when possible to ensure safe dosing.
counseling patients to stop using herbal products to avoid toxic side effects.
teaching patients that these products are unregulated and unsafe to use.
Question 7.7. A patient who is at risk for DVT tells the primary care NP she has just learned
she is pregnant. The NP should expect that this patient will use which of the following
anticoagulant medications? (Points : 2)
Aspirin
Heparin
Dabigatran
Warfarin
Question 8.8. As primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) continue to develop their role as
prescribers of medications, it will be important to: (Points : 2)
attain the same level of expertise as physicians who currently prescribe medications.
learn from the experiences of physicians and develop expertise based on evidencebased practice.
maintain collaborative and supervisorial relationships with physicians who will
oversee prescribing practices.
develop relationships with pharmaceutical representatives to learn about new
medications as they are developed.
Question 9.9. A patient with a previous history of myocardial infarction (MI) who takes
nitroglycerin for angina develops hypertension. The primary care NP is considering ordering
an ACE inhibitor. Preliminary laboratory tests reveal decreased renal function. The NP should:
(Points : 2)
begin therapy with a low-dose ACE inhibitor.
choose an ARB instead.
add a low-dose thiazide diuretic to the drug regimen.
order a renal perfusion study before starting treatment.
Question 10.10. A 40-year-old woman tells the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) that she
does not want more children and would like a contraceptive. She does not smoke and has no
personal or family history of cardiovascular disease. She has frequent tension headaches. Forthis patient, the NP should prescribe: (Points : 2)
condoms.
tubal ligation.
monophasic combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP).
low-estrogen COCP.
Question 11.11. A postmenopausal woman develops NSAID-induced ulcer. The primary care
NP should prescribe: (Points : 2)
ranitidine (Zantac).
omeprazole (Prilosec).
esomeprazole (Nexium).
pantoprazole (Protonix).
Question 12.12. A 52-year-old woman reports having hot flashes and intense mood swings.
After a year of having irregular menstrual periods, she has not had a period for 6 months. The
primary care NP should diagnose: (Points : 2)
menopause.
dysmenorrhea.
perimenopause.
postmenopause.
Question 13.13. An important difference between physician assistants (PAs) and NPs is PAs:
(Points : 2)
always work under physician supervision.
are not required to follow drug treatment protocols.
may write for all drug categories with physician co-signatures.
have both inpatient and outpatient independent prescriptive authority.
Question 14.14. An 80-year-old patient has begun taking propranolol (Inderal) and reports
feeling tired all of the time. The primary care NP should: (Points : 2)
tell the patient to stop taking the medication immediately.
recommend that the patient take the medication at bedtime.
tell the patient that tolerance to this side effect will occur over time.
contact the patient’s cardiologist to discuss decreasing the dose of propranolol.
Question 15.15. The primary care NP is preparing to prescribe a diuretic for a patient who has
heart failure. The patient reports having had an allergic reaction to sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim (Bactrim) previously. The NP should prescribe: (Points : 2)ethacrynic acid.
furosemide (Lasix).
acetazolamide (Diamox).
hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL).
Question 16.16. A patient who has diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure takes
insulin and warfarin. The patient will begin taking exogenous testosterone to treat secondary
hypogonadism. The primary care NP should recommend: (Points : 2)
increasing the dose of warfarin.
more frequent blood glucose monitoring.
a higher than usual dose of testosterone.
increasing insulin doses to prevent hypoglycemia.
Question 17.17. A patient who has insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes reports having difculty
keeping blood glucose within normal limits and has had multiple episodes of both
hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. As adjunct therapy to manage this problem, the primary
care NP should prescribe: (Points : 2)
pramlintide (Symlin).
repaglinide (Prandin).
glyburide (Micronase).
metformin (Glucophage).
Question 18.18. A patient who has IBS experiences diarrhea, bloating, and pain but does not
want to take medication. The primary care NP should recommend: (Points : 2)
25 g of fber each day.
avoiding gluten and lactose in the diet.
increasing water intake to eight to ten glasses per day.
beginning aerobic exercise, such as running, every day.
Question 19.19. A patient takes an antispasmodic and an occasional antidiarrheal medication
to treat IBS. The patient comes to the clinic and reports having dry mouth, difculty urinating,
and more frequent constipation. The primary care NP notes a heart rate of 92 beats per
minute. The NP should: (Points : 2)
prescribe a TCA.
discontinue the antidiarrheal medication.
encourage the patient to increase water intake.
lower the dose of the antispasmodic medication.Question 20.20. A patient comes to the clinic with a 4-day history of 10 to 12 liquid stools
each day. The patient reports seeing blood and mucus in the stools. The patient has had
nausea but no vomiting. The primary care NP notes a temperature of 37.9° C, a heart rate of
96 beats per minute, and a blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg. A physical examination reveals
dry oral mucous membranes and capillary refll of 4 seconds. The NP’s priority should be to:
(Points : 2)
obtain stool cultures.
begin rehydration therapy.
consider prescribing metronidazole.
administer opioid antidiarrheal medications.
Question 21.21. A woman who uses a transdermal contraceptive calls the primary care NP to
report that while dressing that morning she discovered that the patch had come off and she
was unable to fnd the patch. The NP should tell her to apply a new patch and: (Points : 2)
take one cycle of COCPs.
take a home pregnancy test.
use condoms for the next 7 days.
contact the clinic if she misses a period.
Question 22.22. A patient who has migraine headaches has begun taking timolol and 2
months after beginning this therapy reports no change in frequency of migraines. The
patient’s current dose is 30 mg once daily. The primary care NP should: (Points : 2)
change the medication to propranolol.
increase the dose to 40 mg once daily.
obtain serum drug levels to see if the dose is therapeutic.
tell the patient to continue taking the timolol and return in 1 month.
Question 23.23. A patient with congestive heart failure will begin therapy with a diuretic
medication. The primary care NP orders laboratory tests, which reveal a glomerular fltration
rate (GFR) of 25 mL/minute. The initial drug the NP should prescribe is: (Points : 2)
metolazone.?
furosemide (Lasix).
spironolactone (Aldactone).
hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL).
Question 24.24. A patient who has a history of angina has sublingual nitroglycerin tablets to
use as needed. The primary care nurse practitioner (NP) reviews this medication with the
patient at the patient’s annual physical examination. Which statement by the patient
indicates understanding of the medication? (Points : 2)
“I should call 9-1-1 if chest pain persists 5 minutes after the frst dose.”
“I should take 3 nitroglycerin tablets 5 minutes apart and then call 9-1-1.”“I should take aspirin along with the nitroglycerin when I have chest pain.”
“I should take nitroglycerin and then rest for 15 minutes before taking the next dose.”
Question 25.25. The primary care nurse practitioner (NP) sees a patient in the clinic who has
a blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg. The patient’s laboratory tests reveal high-density
lipoprotein, 35 mg/dL; triglycerides, 120 mg/dL; and fasting plasma glucose, 100 mg/dL. The
NP calculates a body mass index of 29. The patient has a positive family history for
cardiovascular disease. The NP should: (Points : 2)
prescribe a thiazide diuretic.
consider treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
reassure the patient that these fndings are normal.
counsel the patient about dietary and lifestyle changes.
Question 26.26. A patient has been taking levothyroxine 100 mcg daily for several months.
The patient comes to the clinic with complaints of insomnia and irritability. The primary care
NP notes a heart rate of 92 beats per minute. The NP should: (Points : 2)
change to liothyronine 75 mcg/day.
discontinue levothyroxine indefnitely.
order propylthiouracil to counter the increased thyroid levels.
order TSH and T4 levels and decrease the dose to 75 mcg/day.
Question 27.27. A primary care NP is preparing to prescribe a drug and notes that the drug
has nonlinear kinetics. The NP should: (Points : 2)
monitor frequently for desired and adverse effects.
administer a much higher initial dose as a loading dose.
monitor creatinine clearance at baseline and periodically.
administer the drug via a route that avoids the frst-pass effect.
Question 28.28. The primary care nurse practitioner (NP) writes a prescription for an
antibiotic using an electronic drug prescription system. The pharmacist will fll this
prescription when: (Points : 2)
the electronic prescription is received.
the patient brings a written copy of the prescription.
a copy of the written prescription is faxed to the pharmacy.
the pharmacist accesses the patient’s electronic record to verify.
Question 29.29. The primary care NP sees a new patient for a routine physical examination.
When auscultating the heart, the NP notes a heart rate of 78 beats per minute with
occasional extra beats followed by a pause. History reveals no past cardiovascular disease,but the patient reports occasional syncope and shortness of breath. The NP should: (Points :
2)
order an ECG and refer to a cardiologist.
schedule a cardiac stress test and a graded exercise test.
order a complete blood count (CBC) and electrolytes and consider a trial of
procainamide.
prescribe a -blocker and anticoagulant and order 24-hour Holter monitoring.
Question 30.30. The primary care NP prescribes an extended-cycle monophasic pill regimen
for a young woman who reports having multiple partners. Which statement by the patient
indicates she understands the regimen? (Points : 2)
“I have to take a pill only every 3 months.”
“I should expect to have only four periods each year.”
“I will need to use condoms for only 7 more days.”
“This type of pill has fewer side effects than other types.”
Question 31.31. A patient who is taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for prophylaxis of
urinary tract infections tells the primary care NP that a sibling recently died from a sudden
cardiac arrest, determined to be from long QT syndrome. The NP should: (Points : 2)
schedule a treadmill stress test.
order genetic testing for this patient.
discontinue the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
refer the patient to a cardiologist for further evaluation.
Question 32.32. A patient who has IBS has been taking dicyclomine and reports decreased
pain and diarrhea but is now having occasional constipation. The primary care NP should
recommend: (Points : 2)
beginning treatment with an SSRI.
beginning therapy with a TCA.
over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives as needed when constipated.
increasing the amounts of raw fruits and vegetables in the diet.
Question 33.33. The primary care NP sees a new patient who has diabetes and hypertension
and has been taking a thiazide diuretic for 6 months. The patient’s blood pressure at the
beginning of treatment was 150/95 mm Hg. The blood pressure today is 138/85 mm Hg. The
NP should: (Points : 2)
order a -blocker.
add an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
continue the current drug regimen.change to an aldosterone antagonist medication.
Question 34.34. A female patient who is underweight tells the primary care NP that she has
been using bisacodyl (Dulcolax) daily for several years. The NP should: (Points : 2)
prescribe docusate sodium (Colace) and decrease bisacodyl gradually.
suggest she use polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX) on a daily basis instead.
tell her that long-term use of suppositories is safer than long-term laxative use.
counsel the patient to discontinue the laxative and increase fluid and fber intake.
Question 35.35. A parent calls a clinic for advice about giving an over-the-counter cough
medicine to a 6-year-old child. The parent tells the NP that the medication label does not give
instructions about how much to give a child. The NP should: (Points : 2)
order a prescription antitussive medication for the child.
ask the parent to identify all of the ingredients listed on the medication label.
calculate the dose for the active ingredient in the over-the-counter preparation.
tell the parent to approximate the dose at about one third to one half the adult dose.
Question 36.36. A patient who has asthma and who is known to the primary care NP calls the
NP after hours and asks for a refll of an albuterol metered-dose inhaler. The patient has not
been seen in the clinic for more than a year. The NP should: (Points : 2)
call the pharmacy to order the medication with several reflls.
send an electronic prescription to the pharmacy for one time only.
send the patient to the emergency department for evaluation of symptoms.
refll the drug and tell the patient that an ofce visit is necessary for further reflls.
Question 37.37. A patient takes a cardiac medication that has a very narrow therapeutic
range. The primary care NP learns that the particular brand the patient is taking is no longer
covered by the patient’s medical plan. The NP knows that the bioavailability of the drug
varies from brand to brand. The NP should: (Points : 2)
contact the insurance provider to explain why this particular formulation is necessary.
change the patient’s medication to a different drug class that doesn’t have these
bioavailability variations.
accept the situation and monitor the patient closely for drug effects with each
prescription refll.
ask the pharmaceutical company that makes the drug for samples so that the patient
does not incur out-of-pocket expense.
Question 38.38. A 50-year-old woman who is postmenopausal is taking an aromatase
inhibitor as part of a breast cancer treatment regimen. She calls her primary care NP to report
that she has had hot flashes and increased vaginal discharge but no bleeding. The NP should:(Points : 2)
schedule her for a gynecologic examination.
recommend that she use a barrier method of contraception.
tell her to stop taking the medication and call her oncologist.
reassure her that these are normal side effects of the medication.
Question 39.39. A patient has NSAID-induced ulcer and has started taking ranitidine
(Zantac). At a follow-up appointment 3 days later, the patient reports no alleviation of
symptoms. The primary care NP should: (Points : 2)
order cimetidine (Tagamet).
add metronidazole to the drug regimen.
change from ranitidine to omeprazole (Prilosec).
reassure the patient that drug effects take several weeks.
Question 40.40. An 80-year-old patient who has persistent AF takes warfarin (Coumadin) for
anticoagulation therapy. The patient has an INR of 3.5. The primary care NP should consider:
(Points : 2)
lowering the dose of warfarin.
rechecking the INR in 1 week.
omitting a dose and resuming at a lower dose.
omitting a dose and administering 1 mg of vitamin K.
Question 41.41. A patient undergoes a routine electrocardiogram (ECG), which reveals
occasional premature ventricular contractions that are present when the patient is resting
and disappear with exercise. The patient has no previous history of cardiovascular disease,
and the cardiovascular examination is normal. The primary care NP should: (Points : 2)
prescribe quinidine (Quinidex Extentabs).
tell the patient that treatment is not indicated.
refer the patient to a cardiologist for further evaluation.
consider using amiodarone if the patient develops other symptoms.
Question 42.42. A patient who has an upper respiratory infection reports using over-thecounter cold preparations. The primary care NP should counsel this patient to use caution
when taking additional over-the-counter medications such as: (Points : 2)
antipyretics.
calcium supplements.
acid reflux medications.
antioxidant supplements.Question 43.43. The primary care NP sees a new African-American patient who has blood
pressure readings of 140/90 mm Hg, 130/85 mm Hg, and 142/80 mm Hg on three separate
occasions. The NP learns that the patient has a family history of hypertension. The NP should:
(Points : 2)
initiate monotherapy with a thiazide diuretic.
prescribe a thiazide diuretic and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.
discuss dietary and lifestyle modifcations with the patient.
begin combination therapy with an ARB and a calcium-channel blocker.
Question 44.44. A patient has been using an herbal supplement for 2 years that the primary
care NP knows may have toxic side effects. The NP should: (Points : 2)
tell the patient to stop taking the supplement immediately.
inform the patient of the risks of toxic side effects with this supplement.?
refer the patient to a CAM provider who can manage this patient’s therapy.
prescribe another herbal drug that has fewer adverse effects than the one the patient
is taking.
Question 45.45. A 45-year-old patient who has a positive family history but no personal
history of coronary artery disease is seen by the primary care NP for a physical examination.
The patient has a body mass index of 27 and a blood pressure of 130/78 mm Hg. Laboratory
tests reveal low-density lipoprotein, 110 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein, 70 mg/dL; and
triglycerides, 120 mg/dL. The patient does not smoke but has a sedentary lifestyle. The NP
should recommend: (Points : 2)
30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily.
taking 81 to 325 mg of aspirin daily.
beginning therapy with a statin medication.
starting a thiazide diuretic to treat hypertension.
Question 46.46. The primary care NP refers a patient to a cardiologist who diagnoses long QT
syndrome. The cardiologist has prescribed propranolol (Inderal). The patient exercises
regularly and is not obese. The patient asks the NP what else can be done to minimize risk of
sudden cardiac arrest. The NP should counsel the patient to: (Points : 2)
drink extra fluids when exercising.
reduce stress with yoga and hot baths.
ask the cardiologist about an implantable defbrillator.
ask the cardiologist about adding procainamide to the drug regimen.
Question 47.47. A child who has congenital hypothyroidism takes levothyroxine 75 mcg/day.
The child weighs 15 kg. The primary care NP sees the child for a 3-year-old check-up. The NP
should consult with a pediatric endocrinologist to discuss: (Points : 2)increasing the dose to 90 mcg/day.
decreasing the dose to 30 mcg/day.
stopping the medication and checking TSH and T4 in 4 weeks.
discussing the need for lifetime replacement therapy with the child’s parents.
Question 48.48. A 5-year-old child has chronic constipation. The primary care NP plans to
prescribe a laxative for long-term management. In addition to pharmacologic therapy, the NP
should also recommend _____ g of fber per day. (Points : 2)
10
15
20
25
Question 49.49. A patient who has angina is taking nitroglycerin and long-acting nifedipine.
The primary care NP notes a persistent blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg at several follow-up
visits. The patient reports lightheadedness associated with standing up. The NP should
consult with the patient’s cardiologist about changing the medication to: (Points : 2)
amlodipine (Norvasc).
isradipine (DynaCirc).
verapamil HCl (Calan).
short-acting nifedipine (Procardia).
Question 50.50. A patient reports taking antioxidant supplements to help prevent cancer. The
primary care NP should: (Points : 2)
review healthy dietary practices with this patient.
make sure that the supplements contain large doses of vitamin A.
tell the patient that antioxidants are especially important for patients who smoke.
tell the patient that evidence shows antioxidants to be effective in preventing cancer.
Question 51.51. A primary care NP has prescribed phentermine for a patient who is obese.
The patient loses 10 lb in the frst month but reports that the drug does not seem to be
suppressing appetite as much as before. The NP should: (Points : 2)
discontinue the phentermine.
increase the dose of phentermine.
continue the phentermine at the same dose.
change to a combination of phentermine and topiramate.
Question 52.52. A patient is taking drug A and drug B. The primary care NP notes increasedeffects of drug B. The NP should suspect that in this case drug A is a cytochrome P450
(CYP450) enzyme: (Points : 2)
inhibitor.
substrate.
inducer.
metabolizer.
Question 53.53. The primary care NP is prescribing a medication for an off-label use. To help
prevent a medication error, the NP should: (Points : 2)
write “off-label use” on the prescription and provide a rationale.
call the pharmacist to explain why the instructions deviate from common use.
write the alternative drug regimen on the prescription and send it to the pharmacy.
tell the patient to ignore the label directions and follow the verbal instructions given
in the clinic.
Question 54.54. A patient who takes digoxin reports taking psyllium (Metamucil) three or four
times each month for constipation. The primary care NP should counsel this patient to: (Points
: 2)
decrease fluid intake to avoid cardiac overload.
change the laxative to docusate sodium (Colace).
take the digoxin 2 hours before taking the psyllium.
ask the cardiologist about taking an increased dose of digoxin.
Question 55.55. A primary care NP prescribes a nitroglycerin transdermal patch, 0.4 mg/hour
release, for a patient with chronic stable angina. The NP should teach the patient to: (Points :
2)
change the patch four times daily.
use the patch as needed for angina pain.
use two patches daily and change them every 12 hours.
apply one patch daily in the morning and remove in 12 hours.
Question 56.56. A primary care NP is prescribing a drug for a patient who does not take any
other medications. The NP should realize that: (Points : 2)
CYP450 enzyme reactions will not interfere with this drug’s metabolism.
substrates such as alcohol cannot interfere with the drug when the patient is
abstaining.
food-drug interactions are limited to those where food enhances or inhibits drug
absorption.
a thorough history of diet, alcohol use, smoking, and over-the-counter and herbalproducts is required.
Question 57.57. A patient who takes nitroglycerin for stable angina pectoris develops
hypertension. The primary care NP should contact the patient’s cardiologist to discuss adding:
(Points : 2)
amlodipine (Norvasc).
diltiazem (Cardizem).
verapamil HCl (Calan).
nifedipine (Procardia XL).
Question 58.58. A patient has recurrent symptoms and tells the primary care NP that she
can’t remember to take her medication all the time. The NP should: (Points : 2)
give her shortened regimens of the drug to facilitate compliance.
provide written information about her condition and the medication.
administer the medication in the clinic to ensure that she takes the drug.
ask her about her lifestyle, her schedule, and her understanding of her condition.
Question 59.59. The primary care NP is seeing a patient for a hospital follow-up after the
patient has had a frst myocardial infarction. The patient has a list of the prescribed
medications and tells the NP that “no one explained anything about them.” The NP’s initial
response should be to: (Points : 2)
ask the patient to describe the medication regimen.
ask the patient to make a list of questions about the medications.
determine what the patient understands about coronary artery disease.
give the patient information about drug effects and any adverse reactions.
Question 60.60. A patient who has angina uses 0.4 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin for angina
episodes. The patient brings a log of angina episodes to an annual physical examination. The
primary care NP notes that the patient has experienced an increase in frequency of episodes
in the past month but no increase in duration or severity of pain. The NP should: (Points : 2)
increase the nitroglycerin dose to 0.6 mg per dose.
change from a sublingual to a transdermal patch nitroglycerin.
discontinue the nitroglycerin and order ranolazine (Ranexa ER).
contact the patient’s cardiologist to discuss admission to the hospital. [Show Less]