NUR 2474 Pharmacology Final Exam

The nurse working on a high acuity medical-surgical unit is prioritizing care for four patients who were just admitted. Which patient should the nurse assess first? a. The NPO patient with a blood glucose of 80 who just received 20 units of 70/30 Novolin insulin b. The patient with a pulse of 58 who is about to receive digoxin (Lanoxin) c. The patient with a blood pressure of 136/92 with complaints of a headache d. The patient with a mild allergy to penicillin who is receiving an infusion of cefazolin (Ancef) - ANS: A The NPO patient with hypoglycemia who just received 70/30 Novolin insulin takes priority, because this patient needs to consume a good source of glucose immediately, or perhaps the NPO status will be discontinued for this shift. The digoxin may be withheld for the patient with a pulse of 58, but this is not a priority action. The patient with a headache needs to be followed up, but because the blood pressure is 136/92, the headache is not life threatening. The patient with the mild PCN allergy probably will not have a reaction to the cefazolin, because the PCN allergy is only mild. It is not a life-threatening situation if the nurse cannot immediately discontinue the cefazolin. A patient with type 1 diabetes is eating breakfast at 0730. Blood sugars are on a sliding scale and are ordered AC and HS. The patient's blood sugar level is 317. Which of the following formulations of insulin should the nurse prepare to administer? a. No insulin should be administered. b. NPH c. 70/30 mix d. Regular - ANS: D Regular insulin is indicated for sliding scale coverage. Insulin is definitely indicated for this high blood sugar level. NPH is used for scheduled insulin coverage and is a longer acting insulin. A 70/30 mix is also used for scheduled insulin coverage. A nurse is educating the staff nurses about ketoacidosis. To evaluate the group's understanding, the nurse asks, "Which of the following signs and symptoms would not be consistent with ketoacidosis?" The group gives the correct answer, which is a. a blood glucose of 600. b. a blood glucose of 60. c. acidosis. d. ketones in the urine. - ANS: B A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a high glucose level (at least 500 or higher), therefore a glucose level of 60 would not be consistent with DKA. A blood glucose level of 600, acidosis, and ketones in the urine are consistent with DKA. The nurse assesses a newly diagnosed patient for short-term complications of diabetes. This assessment includes a. evaluation for hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and ketoacidosis. b. cranial nerve testing for peripheral neuropathy. c. pedal pulse palpation for arterial insufficiency. d. auscultation of the carotids for bruits associated with atherosclerosis. - ANS: A High blood sugar, low blood sugar, and ketoacidosis are short-term complications of diabetes. Microvascular and macrovascular complications, such as peripheral neuropathy, are long-term complications of diabetes. Arterial insufficiency and atherosclerosis also are long-term complications of diabetes. Which statement is accurate about the long-term complications of diabetes? a. Long-term complications are almost always the result of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. b. The complication rates for patients with tightly controlled type 2 diabetes are the same as for those whose disease is not tightly controlled. c. Tightly controlling type 1 diabetes produces excessive episodes of lifethreatening hypoglycemia. d. Tightly controlling both types of diabetes reduces the risk of eye, kidney, and nerve damage. - ANS: D In both types of diabetes, tightly controlling the disease slows the development of microvascular complications. Short-term complications are more apt to result from hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. Patients with type 2 diabetes have fewer complications if their blood sugar level is tightly controlled. Hypoglycemia does not occur more frequently in patients with tightly controlled type 1 diabetes. A woman with type 1 diabetes recently became pregnant. The nurse plans a blood glucose testing schedule for her. What is the recommended monitoring schedule? a. Before each meal and before bed b. In the morning for a fasting level and at 4 PM for the peak level c. Six or seven times a day d. Three times a day, along with urine glucose testing - ANS: C A pregnant woman with type 1 diabetes must have frequent blood sugar monitoring (eg, six or seven times a day) to manage both the mother and fetus so that no teratogenic effects occur and damage the fetus. Monitoring the blood sugar level before meals and HS is not significant enough to provide the necessary glycemic control. Morning and 4 PM monitoring is not enough to provide glycemic control. Urine glucose testing is not sensitive enough to aid glycemic control, and monitoring three times a day is not enough. An adolescent patient recently attended a health fair and had a serum glucose test. The patient telephones the nurse and says, "My level was 125. Does that mean I have diabetes?" Choose the nurse's most accurate response. a. "Unless you were fasting for longer than 8 hours, this does not necessarily mean you have diabetes." b. "At this level, you probably have diabetes. You will need an oral glucose tolerance test this week." c. "This level is conclusive evidence that you have diabetes." d. "This level is conclusive evidence that you do not have diabetes." - ANS: A If a person has not fasted for 8 hours, a blood sugar level of 125 would be considered normal, because it is less than 200 for a random sampling. Also, a person must have positive outcomes on 2 separate days to be diagnosed with diabetes. This patient does not need to have an oral glucose tolerance test, because the 125 reading is so far below 200, which would require further workup. No conclusive evidence indicates that this patient has diabetes, because her random sample is so low, and she has not had two separate tests on different days. However, this also is not conclusive evidence that she does not have diabetes. A nurse provides dietary counseling for a patient newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Which instruction should be included? a. "You may eat any foods you want and cover the glucose increase with sliding scale, regular insulin." b. "Most of the calories you eat should be in the form of protein to promote fat breakdown and preserve muscle mass." c. "Your total caloric intake should not exceed 1800 calories in a 24-hour period." d. "Most of your calories should be in the form of carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats." - ANS: D Most of the calories eaten daily by a person with diabetes should be in the form of carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats. A patient with diabetes cannot eat any foods desired and then cover the glucose increase with a sliding scale of regular insulin. Protein should provide 15% to 20% of the patient's energy intake. Every patient with diabetes must be assessed individually to determine the number of total calories the person should have daily. The total caloric intake should be spread evenly throughout the day, with meals spaced 4 to 5 hours apart. To assess diabetes control over the preceding 3-month period, what is the most reliable measure? a. Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) graph report b. Patient's report c. Fasting blood glucose level d. Glycosylated hemoglobin level - ANS: D The glycosylated hemoglobin level tell much about what the plasma glucose concentration has been, on average, over the previous 2 to 3 months. The SMBG graph report is done by the patient and indicates each blood sugar level the patient has on a daily basis. It is not as reliable as the glycosylated hemoglobin level, because the equipment used might not be accurate and the testing may not reflect actual measurements 100% of the time. The patient's report of blood sugar levels is not considered as accurate as the glycosylated hemoglobin level for the same reason that the SMBG is not. One fasting blood glucose level indicates the patient's blood sugar level for that one time when it was obtained. A patient with type 1 diabetes reports mixing NPH and insulin to allow for one injection. The nurse should inform the patient that a. this is an acceptable practice. b. these two forms of insulin are not compatible and cannot be mixed. c. mixing these two forms of insulin may increase the overall potency of the products. d. the short-acting agent should be switched to Ultralente if agents are mixed. - ANS: A NPH insulin is the only insulin suitable for mixing with short-acting insulins, such as insulin aspart (NovoLog). These insulins are compatible and are mixed frequently for management of diabetics. The overall potency of each insulin is not increased by mixing them together. Ultralente is not used any longer in the United States. Insulin glargine is prescribed for a hospitalized patient who is diabetic. When will the nurse administer this drug? a. Approximately 15 to 30 minutes before each meal b. In the morning and at 4 PM c. Once daily at bedtime d. After meals and at bedtime - ANS: C Glargine insulin is indicated for once daily subcutaneous administration to treat adults and children with type 1 diabetes and adults with type 2 diabetes. According to the package labeling, the once daily injection should be given at bedtime. Glargine insulin should not be given more than once a day, therefore the other answer options are not correct. A patient in the ICU requires intravenous insulin. The nurse is aware that a. insulin aspart or glargine can be administered IV. b. any form of insulin can be used IV at the same dose ordered for subcutaneous administration. c. insulin should never be given IV, and this order should be questioned. d. only regular insulin can be administered IV. - ANS: D Only regular insulin can be administered intravenously. Insulin aspart and glargine are administered subcutaneously. Only regular insulin can be given IV. Regular insulin can be given intravenously, therefore this order does not need to be questioned. A patient calls from home, concerned about the appearance of a vial of insulin lispro. The patient reports that the solution appears cloudy. What would be the nurse's best response? a. "Agitate the solution, and the granules should disperse." b. "Discard the vial. The solution should be clear." c. "Proceed with the injection. Drawing the solution into the syringe will mix the particles." d. "Lispro is always cloudy. Proceed with the injection." - ANS: B Lispro is always clear; therefore, if it is cloudy, it should be discarded. Only NPH needs to be agitated so that the granules disperse. However, it does always remain cloudy. The patient should not proceed with the injection and should discard the vial. Lispro is always clear. The patient should not proceed with the injection and should discard the vial. An adolescent patient with type 1 diabetes experiences a severe hypoglycemic reaction in the clinic. Before providing orange juice, the nurse should a. start an IV. b. obtain a stat serum calcium level. c. check the gag reflex. d. consult the dietician. - ANS: C In case the patient's gag reflex is not intact, it is imperative to assess its function before the oral orange juice is given. An IV would not be the first action but would be part of this patient's care. A stat calcium level is not indicated at this time. The dietician could be contacted to set up some teaching for the patient after this acute crisis has been managed.