Deck 1: Introduction to Pharmacology: Drug Regulation and Approval

Question 1

The client comes to the emergency department, diagnosis is a myocardial infarction. The client's husband tells the nurse that his wife has been taking calcium carbonate (Tums) for years for what she thought was indigestion. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "Your wife should not have self -diagnosed herself. I hope she will be okay."
B) "Why did you let her do that? She should have seen a doctor."
C) "Well, I am glad she is here, as it certainly wasn't indigestion."
D) "Your wife was self -diagnosing, which is generally not a good idea."

Answer 1

"Your wife was self -diagnosing, which is generally not a good idea."

Question 2

The nurse is teaching a class for clients about over -the -counter (OTC) medications. The nurse determines that education has been effective when the clients make which statement?

A) "We should not take any over -the -counter (OTC) medicine without first calling and checking with the doctor's office."
B) "We should always ask the pharmacist about how to take the over -the -counter (OTC) medicine."
C) "We must read all the directions on the label and seek advice from a healthcare professional, if they are not clear."
D) "Medicines that are available over -the -counter (OTC) are really safe, or they would be prescription medicines."

Answer 2

"We must read all the directions on the label and seek advice from a healthcare professional, if they are not clear."

Question 3

The student nurse has completed an initial pharmacology course and tells the nursing instructor that it was difficult and she is glad it is over. What is the best response by the nursing instructor?

A) "It may be over, but now you must apply what you have learned to patient care."
B) "Learning is gradual and continuous; we never completely master all areas of pharmacology."
C) "Learning is always painful, but we must continue anyway."
D) "It really isn't over; you should take a graduate course next."

Answer 3

"Learning is gradual and continuous; we never completely master all areas of pharmacology."

Question 4

The elderly client has gastrointestinal bleeding. The client says to the nurse "I don't understand this. All I did was take ibuprofen (Advil) for my arthritis." Which plan would be best as it relates to the nurse's education of this client?

A) A plan to teach the client to use drugs that bypass the gastrointestinal system, like topical drugs.
B) A plan to teach the client to substitute safer drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol).
C) A plan to teach the client to obtain physician approval prior to the use of over -the -counter (OTC) medications.
D) A plan to teach the advantages and disadvantages of ibuprofen (Advil).

Question 5

The client has skin lesions that have not responded to prescription drugs. He tells the nurse he has heard about some research going on with a new drug and questions why he can't take it. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "I know it is frustrating, but the Health Canada approval process is in place to ensure that drugs are safe."
B) "Health Canada has very strict rules about new drugs; it is important to be patient regarding the review/approval process."
C) "Your skin lesions really aren't that bad, but maybe the new drug will be available soon."
D) "Maybe you could contact the drug company about becoming involved in a clinical trial."

Question 6

The student nurse is taking a pharmacology course and studying the subject of access to new prescription drugs in Canada. Why might access to drugs be delayed and vary among the provinces and territories? Select all that apply.

A) Once a drug is approved by Health Canada, there is no delay in getting it to market across Canada.
B) The Common Drug Review (CDR) Directorate is responsible to ensure availability of new drugs, without delay, to each province and territory.
C) Once Health Canada approves a drug it is up to each province and territory to decide which drugs to list on the provincial formulary.
D) The cost of drugs influences access.

Question 7

The student nurse is preparing for the first pharmacology exam. In planning for this exam, what is most important for the student nurse to remember about the Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) of Health Canada? Select all that apply.

A) The HPFB regulates the use of therapeutic drugs through directorates.
B) It prevented the sale of drugs that had not been thoroughly tested before marketing.
C) The HPFB is a part of Health Canada.
D) The HPFB does not regulate natural health products.

Question 8

The nurse is teaching a pharmacology class to student nurses. What does the nurse include as key events in the history of pharmacology? Select all that apply.

A) Modern pharmacology began in the early 1600s.
B) Pharmacologists synthesized drugs in the laboratory in the twentieth century.
C) Initial drugs included morphine, cocaine, and penicillin.
D) Early researchers used themselves as test subjects.
E) The initial intention of pharmacology was to relieve human suffering.

Question 9

The client says to the nurse "My wife and I take the same drug, but we have different side effects "Are we doing something wrong"? What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "No. Differences such as your sex, age, weight and metabolism, can result in different side effects."
B) "I'll have to check. What is the name of the drug you were using?"
C) "Possibly. This could happen if one uses generic or brand name drugs."
D) "I'm not sure. Maybe the drug is not the same; you should check it."

Question 10

The pharmaceutical representative comes to the physician's office and says his pharmaceutical laboratory is marketing a drug that does not need approval by the Food and Drug Act and Regulations. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "Any pharmaceutical laboratory in Canada must have approval from Health Canada before marketing a drug."
B) "Is this an over -the -counter (OTC) drug? They do not need approval by Health Canada."
C) "Is your pharmaceutical laboratory private? Only public pharmaceutical laboratories need approval from Health Canada."
D) "Your pharmaceutical laboratory must be involved in academic research because they are exempt from approval by Health Canada."

Question 11

The nurse administers a vaccine to a child. What is the best understanding of the nurse as it relates to the manufacture of this vaccine?

A) The vaccine is produced by a combination of animal and plant products.
B) The vaccine is produced by natural plant extracts in the laboratory.
C) The vaccine is naturally produced in animal cells or microorganisms.
D) The vaccine is most commonly synthesized in a laboratory.

Question 12

The nurse is employed by the a company undertaking Clinical trials on a new cardiovascular drug. What is the primary role of the nurse involved in the second stage of drug testing?

A) to perform tests on the population -at -large
B) to perform tests on various species of animals
C) to perform tests on human cells cultured in the laboratory
D) to perform tests on human clients

Question 13

The student nurse is studying the difference between the American and Canadian drug approval processes. What is the student nurse's best understanding of the difference between these two governments in the drug approval process?

A) Canada has much stricter guidelines than America for approving drugs for the public.
B) There is minimal difference; they both rely extensively on government resources.
C) America incorporates the private and government sectors; Canada uses only the government sector.
D) America has much stricter guidelines than Canada for approving drugs for the public.

Question 14

The student nurse asks the nursing instructor why he needs to take anatomy and physiology, as well as microbiology, when he only wants to learn about pharmacology. What is the best response by the instructor?

A) "Because pharmacology is an outgrowth of those subjects."
B) "You must learn all, since those subjects, as well as pharmacology, are part of the curriculum."
C) "Because an understanding of those subjects is essential to understanding pharmacology."
D) "Knowledge of all those subjects will prepare you to provide the best patient care, including the administration of medications."

Question 15

The nursing instructor is teaching a pharmacology class to student nurses. The current focus is pharmacology and therapeutics. The nursing instructor determines that learning has occurred when the students make which comments? Select all that apply.

A) "Pharmacology is the study of drugs to prevent disease."
B) "Pharmacology is the study of medicines."
C) "Therapeutics is the study of drug interactions."
D) "Pharmacology is the use of drugs to relieve suffering"
E) "Therapeutics is the study of the therapeutic use of drugs."