PHARMACOLOGY (NU 578) EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
20223-2024
CHAPTER 6 (DRUG INTERACTIONS)
The nurse is teaching a patient about taking warfarin and asks if the patient takes aspirin. This
assessment by the nurse reflects a knowledge of which type of drug interaction?
Potentiative effects
A young adult postoperative patient is receiving morphine 2 to 4 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. The
last dose was 3 mg given 2 hours ago. The patient is asleep, and the nurse notes a heart rate of 86
beats per minute and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute. Which PRN medication will the
nurse give this patient?
Naloxone [Narcan] to block the effects of the morphine
In a discussion of drug-drug interactions, which would be the best example of a beneficial inhibitory
interaction?
Naloxone [Narcan] blocking morphine sulfate’s actions
A patient is taking drug X and receives a new prescription for drug Y, which is listed as an inducing
agent. The nurse caring for this patient understands that this patient may require doses of drug
higher; X
A patient taking oral contraceptives thinks she may be pregnant. As part of this patient’s history, what
will the nurse ask the patient?
“Do you take seizure medication?”
A child ingests a parent’s aspirin tablets, and the prescriber orders sodium bicarbonate to block the
toxic effects of the aspirin. The nurse caring for this patient knows that sodium bicarbonate is
effective against the aspirin because it:
raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to facilitate passage out of the cells.
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true?
Some foods can inhibit CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism.
A nurse is teaching a patient about a prescription for a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor for
depression. What will the nurse teach the patient to avoid while taking this drug?
Aged cheeses (rich in tyramine which reacts with MAOIs)
A nurse is teaching a patient about a drug that induces P-glycoprotein. The nurse will explain that this
drug may cause which effect on other drugs?
Decreased elimination through the kidneys
The nurse is providing multiple medications to a patient whose spouse brings grapefruit juice every
morning. The nurse will be concerned about which classes of drugs
Calcium channel blockers
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
The nurse is administering morning medications. The nurse gives a patient multiple medications,
two of which compete for plasma albumin receptor sites. As a result of this concurrent
administration, the nurse can anticipate that what might occur
Binding of one or both agents will be reduced.
Plasma levels of free drug will rise.
The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
, PHARMACOLOGY (NU 578) EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
20223-2024
A nurse is caring for a patient who is taking multiple medications. To help ensure that adverse drug
reactions are prevented or minimized, the nurse will do which of the following?
Ask the patient about over-the-counter medications used.
Contact the prescriber to request cytochrome P450 levels.
Obtain a thorough diet history.
The prescriber has ordered an antibiotic for a patient with a bacterial infection. The nurse provides
patient education at discharge and instructs the patient to take the drug on an empty stomach.
When should the patient take the drug
1 hour or more before a meal
At least 2 hours after a meal
CHAPTER 7 (ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS & MEDICATION ERRORS)
A patient is given a new medication and reports nausea within an hour after taking the drug. The nurse
consults the drug information manual and learns that nausea is not an expected adverse effect of
this drug. When the next dose is due, what will the nurse do?
Administer the drug and tell the patient to report further nausea.
A patient is being discharged after surgery. During the admission history, the nurse learned that the
patient normally consumes two or three glasses of wine each day. The prescriber has ordered
hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Lortab) for pain. What will the nurse do?
Tell the patient not to drink wine while taking Lortab.
A nurse is reviewing a medication administration record before administering medications. Which order
will the nurse implement?
Furosemide 20 mg PO daily
A patient is given a drug for the first time and develops shortness of breath. The patient’s heart
rate is 76 beats per minute, the respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute, and the blood pressure is
120/70 mm Hg. The nurse checks a drug administration manual to make sure the correct dose
was given and learns that some patients taking the drug experience shortness of breath. The nurse
will contact the provider to report what?
A side effect
A nurse is preparing to give an antibiotic to a patient who reports being allergic to antibiotics. Before
giving the medication, what will the nurse do first?
Ask whether the patient has taken this antibiotic for other infections
A nurse is preparing to administer a drug. Upon reading the medication guide, the nurse notes that the
drug has been linked to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in some patients. What will the nurse
do?
Observe the patient closely for such symptoms and prepare to treat them if needed.
(Iatrogenic drug)
A nurse provides teaching to a patient who will begin taking a drug with a known risk of hepatotoxicity.
Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
“Routine testing and early detection of problems will prevent liver failure.”
A patient is taking sertraline (Zoloft) for depression, and the provider orders azithromycin (Zithromax)
to treat an infection. What will the nurse do?
Contact the provider to discuss an alternative to azithromycin.
20223-2024
CHAPTER 6 (DRUG INTERACTIONS)
The nurse is teaching a patient about taking warfarin and asks if the patient takes aspirin. This
assessment by the nurse reflects a knowledge of which type of drug interaction?
Potentiative effects
A young adult postoperative patient is receiving morphine 2 to 4 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. The
last dose was 3 mg given 2 hours ago. The patient is asleep, and the nurse notes a heart rate of 86
beats per minute and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute. Which PRN medication will the
nurse give this patient?
Naloxone [Narcan] to block the effects of the morphine
In a discussion of drug-drug interactions, which would be the best example of a beneficial inhibitory
interaction?
Naloxone [Narcan] blocking morphine sulfate’s actions
A patient is taking drug X and receives a new prescription for drug Y, which is listed as an inducing
agent. The nurse caring for this patient understands that this patient may require doses of drug
higher; X
A patient taking oral contraceptives thinks she may be pregnant. As part of this patient’s history, what
will the nurse ask the patient?
“Do you take seizure medication?”
A child ingests a parent’s aspirin tablets, and the prescriber orders sodium bicarbonate to block the
toxic effects of the aspirin. The nurse caring for this patient knows that sodium bicarbonate is
effective against the aspirin because it:
raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to facilitate passage out of the cells.
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true?
Some foods can inhibit CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism.
A nurse is teaching a patient about a prescription for a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor for
depression. What will the nurse teach the patient to avoid while taking this drug?
Aged cheeses (rich in tyramine which reacts with MAOIs)
A nurse is teaching a patient about a drug that induces P-glycoprotein. The nurse will explain that this
drug may cause which effect on other drugs?
Decreased elimination through the kidneys
The nurse is providing multiple medications to a patient whose spouse brings grapefruit juice every
morning. The nurse will be concerned about which classes of drugs
Calcium channel blockers
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
The nurse is administering morning medications. The nurse gives a patient multiple medications,
two of which compete for plasma albumin receptor sites. As a result of this concurrent
administration, the nurse can anticipate that what might occur
Binding of one or both agents will be reduced.
Plasma levels of free drug will rise.
The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
, PHARMACOLOGY (NU 578) EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
20223-2024
A nurse is caring for a patient who is taking multiple medications. To help ensure that adverse drug
reactions are prevented or minimized, the nurse will do which of the following?
Ask the patient about over-the-counter medications used.
Contact the prescriber to request cytochrome P450 levels.
Obtain a thorough diet history.
The prescriber has ordered an antibiotic for a patient with a bacterial infection. The nurse provides
patient education at discharge and instructs the patient to take the drug on an empty stomach.
When should the patient take the drug
1 hour or more before a meal
At least 2 hours after a meal
CHAPTER 7 (ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS & MEDICATION ERRORS)
A patient is given a new medication and reports nausea within an hour after taking the drug. The nurse
consults the drug information manual and learns that nausea is not an expected adverse effect of
this drug. When the next dose is due, what will the nurse do?
Administer the drug and tell the patient to report further nausea.
A patient is being discharged after surgery. During the admission history, the nurse learned that the
patient normally consumes two or three glasses of wine each day. The prescriber has ordered
hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Lortab) for pain. What will the nurse do?
Tell the patient not to drink wine while taking Lortab.
A nurse is reviewing a medication administration record before administering medications. Which order
will the nurse implement?
Furosemide 20 mg PO daily
A patient is given a drug for the first time and develops shortness of breath. The patient’s heart
rate is 76 beats per minute, the respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute, and the blood pressure is
120/70 mm Hg. The nurse checks a drug administration manual to make sure the correct dose
was given and learns that some patients taking the drug experience shortness of breath. The nurse
will contact the provider to report what?
A side effect
A nurse is preparing to give an antibiotic to a patient who reports being allergic to antibiotics. Before
giving the medication, what will the nurse do first?
Ask whether the patient has taken this antibiotic for other infections
A nurse is preparing to administer a drug. Upon reading the medication guide, the nurse notes that the
drug has been linked to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in some patients. What will the nurse
do?
Observe the patient closely for such symptoms and prepare to treat them if needed.
(Iatrogenic drug)
A nurse provides teaching to a patient who will begin taking a drug with a known risk of hepatotoxicity.
Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
“Routine testing and early detection of problems will prevent liver failure.”
A patient is taking sertraline (Zoloft) for depression, and the provider orders azithromycin (Zithromax)
to treat an infection. What will the nurse do?
Contact the provider to discuss an alternative to azithromycin.
