Question 1

A new drug has become available on the market and a client who has begun taking it is admitted to the hospital.Which of the following strategies by the nurse is likely to be most effective in learning about this new drug?

A) Study it in relation to the prototype drug in its category
B) Memorize both the generic and trade name for the drug
C) Try to identify the top three organ systems affected by adverse effects
D) Repeatedly look up the drug with each dose until the information is committed to memory

Accepted Answer

By studying the new drug in relation to the prototype drug in its category, the nurse can understand the drug's mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, adverse effects, and drug interactions. This will provide a better understanding of the drug and its potential impact on the patient. Memorizing trade and generic names may be important, but understanding the drug's actions and effects is more critical. Identifying the top three organ systems affected by adverse effects is also important, but may not give a broad enough understanding of the drug. Repeatedly looking up the drug with each dose may be time-consuming and may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the drug.

Question 2

A client overhears the physician use the term "legend drug" when discussing his medication regimen with a pharmacist on the telephone.When the client asks the nurse what this means,the appropriate response by the nurse is that this drug

A) can be dispensed over the counter.
B) has a registered trademark.
C) is the same as a generic drug.
D) requires a legal order before it can be dispensed.

requires a legal order before it can be dispensed.

Accepted Answer

A legend drug is a medication that requires a legal prescription or order from a licensed healthcare provider before it can be dispensed by a pharmacist. It cannot be purchased over the counter without a prescription. The term "legend" comes from the requirement that the prescription label include the statement "Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription."

Question 3

Which of the following drug sources would be least useful to the nurse who needs to identify medications brought to the hospital by a client who removed them from their original prescription bottles?&#10;A) Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)&#10;B) United States Pharmacopeia Dispensing Information (USP DI)&#10;C) Mosby's Drug Consult&#10;D) A nursing drug handbook&#10;

Accepted Answer

A nursing drug handbook is not useful for identifying medications because it does not contain images of the medications.

Question 4

The nurse would do which of the following as part of the implementation phase of the nursing process when monitoring the client receiving drug therapy?&#10;A) Scheduling the timing of doses for optimal effect&#10;B) Using special handling during drug storage&#10;C) Providing the outcome criteria for reviewing care&#10;D) Observing the status of the client's symptoms&#10;

Accepted Answer

Observing the status of the client's symptoms is important during the implementation phase to monitor the effectiveness of the drug therapy. Scheduling the timing of doses and using special handling during drug storage are more related to the administration and preparation phase of the nursing process, while providing the outcome criteria for reviewing care is part of the evaluation phase.

Question 5

The nurse preceptor explains to a beginning nursing student that digoxin is an example of what type of plant drug?&#10;A) Alkaloid&#10;B) Glycoside&#10;C) Gum&#10;D) Oil&#10;

Accepted Answer

Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside derived from the leaves of the digitalis plant.

Question 6

The nurse would use which of the following terms when referring to the study of the effects of drugs within a living system?&#10;A) Pharmacokinetics&#10;B) Pharmacology&#10;C) Pharmacy&#10;D) Pharmacopeia&#10;

Accepted Answer

Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action, where a drug can be broadly defined as any man-made, natural, or endogenous (from within the body) molecule which exerts a biochemical or physiological effect on the cell, tissue, organ, or organism. Thus, it is the science of the interactions between drugs and living systems.

Question 7

A client is discharged home with a prescription for tetracycline 250 mg PO three times daily.Which type of name does &#34;tetracycline&#34; represent?&#10;A) Chemical&#10;B) Generic&#10;C) Trade&#10;D) Brand&#10;

Accepted Answer

Tetracycline is the generic name of the medication, which refers to its active ingredient. Chemical names refer to the specific molecule of the active ingredient, trade names refer to the brand names given by a particular manufacturer, and brand names refer to the proprietary names given by the pharmaceutical company.

Question 8

The nurse anticipates that trends in health care and pharmaceutics in the twenty-first century will most likely focus on which of the following?&#10;A) Controlling overpopulation with the use of oral contraceptives&#10;B) Providing quality,cost-effective health care to promote healthy living and disease prevention&#10;C) Instructing clients on how to take responsibility for their health and maintain compliant behaviors&#10;D) Researching drug use in geographic areas with high incidences of infectious diseases&#10;

Accepted Answer

Providing quality, cost-effective health care to promote healthy living and disease prevention is a major trend in health care and pharmaceutics in the twenty-first century. The focus is on preventing diseases through lifestyle changes and early interventions, as well as making health care more accessible and affordable. This also includes improving the quality of care and patient outcomes while reducing overall costs.

Question 9

The nurse would identify that which of the following drugs is not derived from a plant source?&#10;A) Vincristine&#10;B) Digoxin&#10;C) Colchicine&#10;D) Epinephrine&#10;

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine is not derived from a plant source; it is an endogenous hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Vincristine, Digoxin, and Colchicine are all derived from plants.

Question 10

For which of the following activities would the nurse be responsible during the evaluation phase of drug administration?&#10;A) Preparing and administering medications safely and as ordered&#10;B) Providing outcome results to predicted criteria related to drug therapy&#10;C) Ongoing monitoring of the client for therapeutic and adverse effects&#10;D) Gathering data in a drug and dietary history&#10;

Accepted Answer

During the evaluation phase, the nurse is responsible for comparing the outcome of the drug therapy with the predicted criteria. The other options (A, C, D) are responsibilities of the nurse during other phases of drug administration, such as preparation and administration, monitoring for effects, and gathering data respectively.

Deck 1: Orientation to Pharmacology