NUR 340 Exam 1- Pharmacology Quiz 1
Questions and Correct Answers
Intravenous benzodiazepines produce a loss of which functions? ✅memory
surrounding a procedure
Intravenous benzodiazepines, depending on the dosage, produce amnesia and/or
unconsciousness and reduce anxiety. Benzodiazepines do not affect sensation. A loss
of all sensations and consciousness is produced by inhaled general anesthetics.
Analgesics selectively cause loss of painful sensations. Neuromuscular blockers relax
skeletal muscles. See Lehne chapter 27 and pg 270.
A student nurse is reviewing the effect of medications on the central nervous system
(CNS). Which characteristics allow these drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier? (Select
all that apply.) ✅move via transport system
lipid-soluble
The blood-brain barrier serves to protect the brain from the entry of most drugs. Only
those drugs that are lipid-soluble or can move by way of specific transport systems are
able to cross into the brain and affect the CNS. See Lehne pg 182.
A nurse is teaching a patient about the effects of an injectable local anesthetic. Which
statement best demonstrates the nurse's accurate understanding of the effects of local
anesthesia? ✅Local anesthetics block the sensation of pain first.
Monitored anesthesia care (MAC), sometimes known as conscious sedation, is planned
for a patient undergoing a cataract extraction and lens implantation at the outpatient
surgical center. The patient asks the nurse to explain MAC. The nurse's response is
based on what knowledge about MAC? ✅MAC allows the patient to respond to
commands and forget painful procedures.
An anesthesia-care provider plans to use a short-acting barbiturate for induction of
general anesthesia. Which drug does the intra-operative nurse expect will be
administered? ✅sodium methohexital (Brevital)
*barbituates are "tal"*
A nurse is taking care of a patient who is 1 day postoperative. The patient is receiving
morphine sulfate by PCA for pain. Vital signs are: temperature 98.9° F, apical pulse
88/minute, respirations 12/minute, and blood pressure 136/88 mm Hg. The nurse would
be most concerned about administering morphine sulfate with which of the following
classes of medications? ✅benzodiazepines
, During general anesthesia a patient is noted to have hypoxemia, tachycardia, muscle
stiffness, and a markedly elevated temperature. The nurse's interventions are based on
the knowledge that these symptoms may be the result of combining an inhalation
anesthetic with which of the following adjunctive medications? ✅succinylcholine
(Anectine)
Before administering pre-operative sedation to an ambulatory patient, the nurse will take
which action? ✅assist the patient to the bathroom
A patient who takes 81 mg of aspirin daily is scheduled for surgery next week. The
nurse should consult with the surgeon for pre-operative instructions because ✅aspirin
may contribute to post-operative bleeding.
The patient received naloxene (Narcan), an opioid antagonist, in the post-anesthesia
care unit. Which nursing intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
✅Monitor respiratory status closely.
Rationale: Narcan is given to reverse respiratory depression from opioid analgesic
medications and has a short half-life of only 2 hours. The effect of the opioid may last
longer than the effect of Narcan resulting in respiratory depression. Narcan does not
affect urine output. A patient in PACU will be placed in a lateral position until awake to
prevent airway obstruction or aspiration and can be covered with a warmed blanket.
However, these interventions are not pertinent for a patient with respiratory depression.
See Lehne pg 292-293
The student is providing a presentation to the class regarding concepts in
pharmacokinetics. Which statement best demonstrates understanding of
pharmacokinetics? "Pharmacokinetics ✅determine how much of a dose gets to the site
of action."
The nurse reviews the use of pain medication with a post-operative patient who is being
discharged. The patient reports a history of taking more pain medication than ordered
per dose in order to decrease the number of doses throughout the day. Which factor
related to intensity of drug response will be most important for the nurse to discuss with
this patient? ✅Administration
Rationale: Administration of medications relates to the appropriate dosage amount,
route, and timing of administration and is an important determinant of a patient's
response to a drug. Pharmacokinetics refers to how much of an administered dose gets
to its sites of action. Pharmacodynamics is the impact of drugs on the body; it
determines the nature of the response and is not directly related to dose and
compliance. Chemical stability relates to the stability of the medication when mixed in
solution or with another form or preparation or when stored on a shelf. See Lehne pp. 3-
4.
Questions and Correct Answers
Intravenous benzodiazepines produce a loss of which functions? ✅memory
surrounding a procedure
Intravenous benzodiazepines, depending on the dosage, produce amnesia and/or
unconsciousness and reduce anxiety. Benzodiazepines do not affect sensation. A loss
of all sensations and consciousness is produced by inhaled general anesthetics.
Analgesics selectively cause loss of painful sensations. Neuromuscular blockers relax
skeletal muscles. See Lehne chapter 27 and pg 270.
A student nurse is reviewing the effect of medications on the central nervous system
(CNS). Which characteristics allow these drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier? (Select
all that apply.) ✅move via transport system
lipid-soluble
The blood-brain barrier serves to protect the brain from the entry of most drugs. Only
those drugs that are lipid-soluble or can move by way of specific transport systems are
able to cross into the brain and affect the CNS. See Lehne pg 182.
A nurse is teaching a patient about the effects of an injectable local anesthetic. Which
statement best demonstrates the nurse's accurate understanding of the effects of local
anesthesia? ✅Local anesthetics block the sensation of pain first.
Monitored anesthesia care (MAC), sometimes known as conscious sedation, is planned
for a patient undergoing a cataract extraction and lens implantation at the outpatient
surgical center. The patient asks the nurse to explain MAC. The nurse's response is
based on what knowledge about MAC? ✅MAC allows the patient to respond to
commands and forget painful procedures.
An anesthesia-care provider plans to use a short-acting barbiturate for induction of
general anesthesia. Which drug does the intra-operative nurse expect will be
administered? ✅sodium methohexital (Brevital)
*barbituates are "tal"*
A nurse is taking care of a patient who is 1 day postoperative. The patient is receiving
morphine sulfate by PCA for pain. Vital signs are: temperature 98.9° F, apical pulse
88/minute, respirations 12/minute, and blood pressure 136/88 mm Hg. The nurse would
be most concerned about administering morphine sulfate with which of the following
classes of medications? ✅benzodiazepines
, During general anesthesia a patient is noted to have hypoxemia, tachycardia, muscle
stiffness, and a markedly elevated temperature. The nurse's interventions are based on
the knowledge that these symptoms may be the result of combining an inhalation
anesthetic with which of the following adjunctive medications? ✅succinylcholine
(Anectine)
Before administering pre-operative sedation to an ambulatory patient, the nurse will take
which action? ✅assist the patient to the bathroom
A patient who takes 81 mg of aspirin daily is scheduled for surgery next week. The
nurse should consult with the surgeon for pre-operative instructions because ✅aspirin
may contribute to post-operative bleeding.
The patient received naloxene (Narcan), an opioid antagonist, in the post-anesthesia
care unit. Which nursing intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
✅Monitor respiratory status closely.
Rationale: Narcan is given to reverse respiratory depression from opioid analgesic
medications and has a short half-life of only 2 hours. The effect of the opioid may last
longer than the effect of Narcan resulting in respiratory depression. Narcan does not
affect urine output. A patient in PACU will be placed in a lateral position until awake to
prevent airway obstruction or aspiration and can be covered with a warmed blanket.
However, these interventions are not pertinent for a patient with respiratory depression.
See Lehne pg 292-293
The student is providing a presentation to the class regarding concepts in
pharmacokinetics. Which statement best demonstrates understanding of
pharmacokinetics? "Pharmacokinetics ✅determine how much of a dose gets to the site
of action."
The nurse reviews the use of pain medication with a post-operative patient who is being
discharged. The patient reports a history of taking more pain medication than ordered
per dose in order to decrease the number of doses throughout the day. Which factor
related to intensity of drug response will be most important for the nurse to discuss with
this patient? ✅Administration
Rationale: Administration of medications relates to the appropriate dosage amount,
route, and timing of administration and is an important determinant of a patient's
response to a drug. Pharmacokinetics refers to how much of an administered dose gets
to its sites of action. Pharmacodynamics is the impact of drugs on the body; it
determines the nature of the response and is not directly related to dose and
compliance. Chemical stability relates to the stability of the medication when mixed in
solution or with another form or preparation or when stored on a shelf. See Lehne pp. 3-
4.
