NUR 2474 Pharmacology for Professional Nursing
Pharm Final Exam Questions
A patient is prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin). The patient asks the nurse how this drug will help treat narcolepsy. What is the nurse's best response?
a) This drug reduces the input to your central nervous system sleep centers
b) This drug sedates you so that.you can get a good night's sleep and be less
drowsy during the day
c) This drug stimulates your brain to keep you awake and decrease daytime
episodes of sudden sleep
d) This drug continuously stimulates the brainstem areas, ensuring that you
breathe more deeply at night
Correct Answer:
c
A patient is taking modafinil (Provigil) for narcolepsy. Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach the patient?
a) Take this drug 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal
b) Report episodes of sleepwalking to your prescriber
c) Check your pulse for rate and regularity twice daily
d) Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice
Correct Answer:
d
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A drug for narcolepsy is prescribed for a 70 year old nursing home patient.What adjustment in drug administration does the nurse expect the physician to make for this patient?
a) Ensuring that the drug is taken with a meal to prevent nausea
b) Giving the drug earlier in the day to prevent nighttime incontinence
c) Giving a lower than normal dose to avoid changes in thinking patterns
d) Crushing the capsule and mixing it with gelatin to make swallowing easier
Correct Answer:
c
The nurse is preparing to teach a patient about sodium oxybate (Xyrem) for the treatment of narcolepsy. Which precaution does the nurse stress?
a) Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug
b) Be sure to take this drug with food or milk
c) Report constipation to your prescriber
d) Use mints to prevent dry mouth
Correct Answer:
a
The nurse is teaching a young adult female about modafinil (Provigil) for narcolepsy. Which precaution does the nurse stress to the patient?
a) Provigil increases your susceptibility to sexuality transmitted infections
b) Loss of inhibition while taking this drug can increase sexual behavior
c) Provigil can be used during pregnancy but not while breastfeeding
d) This drug reduces the effectiveness of birth control pills
Correct Answer: 2 / 4
d
A patient is prescribed an oral corticosteroid for a chronic inflammatory health problem. Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach?
a) Never stop taking this drug without consulting your prescriber
b) Avoid crowds and people who are ill
c) Be sure to take this drug with food
d) Reduce your salt intake
Correct Answer:
a
A patient who has been taking 30 mg of prednisone daily for the last 10 days reports crying more often and then suddenly getting angry at small issues.What is the nurse's best action?
a) Document the patient's response as the only action
b) Hold the next dose and notify the prescriber immediately
c) Reassure the patient that this is an expected drug response
d) Suggest that the patient see a counselor or attend an anger management
class
Correct Answer:
c
A patient who has been prescribed long term low dose prednisone to control inflammation reports concern about the changes in her appearance caused by the drug. What is the nurse's best response?
a) This often happens when a person takes this drug. You now have Cushing's
disease 3 / 4
b) When you stop taking this drug, the changes will disappear, but it may take
a while
c) You can make use of different styles of clothes to minimize changes in
appearance
d) Changes in your diet and an exercise program will eliminate these changes
while you are on this drug
Correct Answer:
b
A patient is prescribed topical hydrocortisone 0.1% for skin inflammation.What does the nurse teach the patient for applying this drug?
a) Use a thick layer of drug just to the area that needs treatment
b) Apply a thin layer to the affected area and to the skin near the area
c) Apply a thick layer over and 1 inch around the affected area
d) Use as thin a layer as possible just to the area that needs treatment
Correct Answer:
d
The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient who has been prescribed a topical corticosteroid. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to perform?
a) Skin assessment
b) Intake and output
c) Cognition or mental status
d) Urinary tract infection
Correct Answer:
a
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