Nightingale 315 Pharmacology 2 Study Guide

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Sample questions from Nightingale 315 Pharmacology 2 Study Guide

This material has 24 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.A patient taking digoxin and furosemide reports nausea and seeing yellow halos. The apical pulse is 52 beats/min and potassium is 3.1 mEq/L. Which action should the nurse take first?

   • A.Hold digoxin, assess rhythm and stability, and notify the prescriber promptly.
   • B.Give an additional furosemide dose to increase digoxin elimination.
   • C.Administer digoxin because the symptoms indicate worsening heart failure.
   • D.Teach the patient that visual changes are harmless during treatment.

   Rationale: B is correct because bradycardia, gastrointestinal symptoms, visual changes, and hypokalemia suggest digoxin toxicity. A could worsen toxicity. C can worsen potassium depletion and is not a treatment for digoxin toxicity. D dismisses clinically important symptoms.

2. 2.Which statement by a patient starting warfarin indicates correct understanding?

   • A.I will use ibuprofen whenever I have a headache.
   • B.I can stop INR testing once the dose stays the same for a week.
   • C.I will stop eating every green vegetable.
   • D.I will keep my usual intake of vitamin K-containing foods reasonably consistent.

   Rationale: A is correct because consistent vitamin K intake helps stabilize anticoagulation. B promotes unnecessary restriction and potentially unstable intake. C adds gastrointestinal and bleeding risk. D is incorrect because INR monitoring continues even after a stable dose is established.

3. 3.A patient receiving intravenous morphine is difficult to arouse and has shallow respirations at 7 breaths/min. Which response is the priority?

   • A.Give the next dose at a lower amount.
   • B.Document that the patient is sleeping comfortably.
   • C.Stop opioid delivery, support ventilation, summon emergency assistance, and give naloxone per protocol.
   • D.Wait for the oxygen saturation to fall below 90% before intervening.

   Rationale: C addresses life-threatening opioid-related hypoventilation. A mistakes dangerous sedation for comfort. B adds further opioid exposure. D delays care because oxygen saturation may remain acceptable temporarily, especially with supplemental oxygen.

4. 4.An alert patient who can swallow has a blood glucose of 58 mg/dL. Which intervention is most appropriate?

   • A.Give long-acting insulin to prevent rebound hyperglycemia.
   • B.Give approximately 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate and recheck glucose in 15 minutes.
   • C.Provide a high-fat meal without rechecking glucose.
   • D.Administer nothing by mouth and wait one hour.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.A patient has taken sildenafil within the previous 12 hours and now reports chest pain. Which prescribed medication requires immediate clarification before administration?

   • A.Supplemental oxygen when indicated
   • B.Acetaminophen
   • C.Nitroglycerin
   • D.Aspirin

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.