Basic Pharm Test 2

If a medication abbreviation is unclear, what is the best action to take regarding this abbreviation?

• Contact the doctor or writer of the abbreviation for clarification

• Ask your charge nurse to clarify the abbriviation

• Check the Joint Commission's list of "do not use" abbreviations

• Leave the order for the next nurse to interpret

If a patient is prescribed a new antihypertensive medication, what should the nurse include in the plan of care?

• Take all medicines currently and previously prescribed for hypertension

• Take all medicine first thing in the morning for best effect

• Take only your currently prescribed medicines

• Take all medicines together for the best effect

Your geriatric patient has several comorbidities Which of the following would warrant priority action?

• The patient takes 10 medicines daily

• The patient skips a dose of certain medicines sometimes

• The patient's medicines are delivered by a local pharmacy

• The patient can describe each medication and why it is being taken

While shopping for an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant, the nurse identifies that the medication will be classified as a:

• Schedule I medication

• Schedule III medication

• Schedule V medication

• Nonscheduled medication

A nurse is working in a clinical research trial that has a control group and an experimental group but does not know which group is receiving the active drug. Which statement best identifies the research design?

• Double-blind

• Control group

• Experimental drug

• Placebo group

A nurse is working with a patient who has been taking medication for anxiety for several weeks and now reports that the medication doesn’t seem to work anymore. The patient has stopped taking the medication, as it doesn’t work. Which finding should the nurse suspect?

• The patient is experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

• The patient is addicted to the medication.

• The patient is habituated to the medication.

• The patient is experiencing tolerance.

A nurse receives a phone call from a parent whose child has ingested a substance but does not appear to be in any apparent distress. What is the best nursing response?

• Tell the parent to administer syrup of ipecac.

• Monitor the child at home and call back if needed.

• Ask questions to obtain specific information about the substance.

• Tell the parent to call 911.

A co-worker tearfully confides that she is struggling with a growing dependence on sleeping medication and other drugs to maintain her work schedule on the night shift. Which action by the nurse is best?

• Refer the

  co-worker to the employee assistance program (EAP).

• Encourage the

  co-worker to switch to herbal remedies.

• Suggest the

  co-worker try to get a daytime position.

• Ask if the

  co-worker needs help with child care.

While working on a geriatric unit, the nurse would be most concerned by which of these findings?

• A 72-year-old patient given a sleeping pill the night before seems confused.

• An 81-year-old patient is scheduled to take 12 pills at 9 a.m.

• A 69-year-old patient with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has an order for an anticoagulant.

• A 74-year-old patient with diabetes has a fasting glucose result of 88 g/dL.

The nurse is obtaining a health history for a 20-year-old female who is 8 weeks pregnant. Which finding should alert the nurse to a potential complication?

• The patient is taking over-the-counter (OTC) multivitamins daily.

• The patient smokes two to three cigarettes per week and characterizes herself as a social drinker.

• The patient reports this she has a decreased appetite and occasional nausea.

• The patient states that her breasts are tender.