Pharmacology Questions Answers and Rationale on Cardiovascular System

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Sample questions from Pharmacology Questions Answers and Rationale on Cardiovascular System

This material has 90 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.A prescription is written for a medication with a narrow therapeutic index. Which principle should guide the nurse's monitoring?

   • A.The medication can be given without monitoring once the first dose is tolerated.
   • B.The medication's peak concentration is unrelated to its clinical effect.
   • C.Small changes in serum concentration may cause toxicity or loss of effect.
   • D.The medication is safe to administer with any other prescribed drug.

   Rationale: With a narrow therapeutic index, the margin between an effective and toxic concentration is small, so monitoring drug levels and clinical response is important. Tolerating one dose does not establish ongoing safety. Interactions can alter drug concentrations, and peak levels may be clinically significant.

2. 2.The provider prescribes 750 mg of a medication. The available tablets contain 250 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

   • A.3 tablets
   • B.2 tablets
   • C.4 tablets
   • D.1 tablet

   Rationale: Divide the prescribed dose, 750 mg, by the amount per tablet, 250 mg, to obtain 3 tablets. Two tablets would provide only 500 mg, while one or four tablets would also deliver an incorrect dose. Always compare the calculated dose with the prescription before administration.

3. 3.Refer to the client's chart. Which actions are appropriate before administering the next dose of the renally cleared medication? Select all that apply.

   • A.Give the scheduled dose without review because the previous dose was tolerated.
   • B.Verify whether the prescription requires a renal dose adjustment.
   • C.Review the current creatinine and estimated renal function.
   • D.Assess for new signs of medication accumulation or adverse effects.
   • E.Encourage the client to double the next dose if a dose is delayed.

   Rationale: The creatinine of 2.0 mg/dL is above the stated reference range, and reduced renal clearance can increase drug exposure. Reviewing renal function, checking the prescribed dose against renal status, and assessing for accumulation are appropriate. Prior tolerance does not rule out accumulation, and a missed dose should never be doubled without specific instructions.

4. 4.A medication is prescribed every 6 hours. Which schedule best follows this instruction when doses are given around the clock?

   • A.0800, 1600, and 0000
   • B.0600, 1200, 1800, and 0000
   • C.0800, 1200, 1600, and 2000
   • D.0800, 1400, and 2000

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.During a home visit, a client asks why an extended-release tablet should not be crushed. Which response is best?

   • A.Crushing changes the medication into an inactive form.
   • B.Crushing ensures the medication lasts longer than intended.
   • C.Crushing prevents the medication from being absorbed at all.
   • D.Crushing can release too much medication at once and increase toxicity risk.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.