Deck 4: Pharmacokinetics

Question 1

The client comes to the emergency department following an overdose of aspirin, an acidic drug. What will the best plan of the nurse include?

A) Administration of sodium bicarbonate to the client.
B) Administration of intravenous fluids to flush the kidneys.
C) Administration of ammonium chloride to the client.
D) Administration of intravenous proteins to bind the aspirin.

Answer 1

Administration of sodium bicarbonate to the client.

Question 2

The client is malnourished and has a low serum albumin. The physician has ordered aspirin, a highly protein -bound drug, for the client. Which evaluation by the nurse best describes the effect this will have on the client?

A) The client's kidneys will excrete the drug at a faster rate.
B) The client's serum globulin is more important than serum albumin.
C) The client will be at risk to experience toxic effects of the drug.
D) The client will be at risk to experience a decreased effectiveness of the drug.

Answer 2

The client will be at risk to experience toxic effects of the drug.

Question 3

The client is admitted to the hospital in chronic renal failure, and is on several medications. What best describes the nurse's assessment of this client?

A) The client's liver may compensate for renal failure; the drugs may be effective.
B) The client may have drug toxicity from all the drugs.
C) The client may have drug toxicity only if the drugs are excreted by the kidneys.
D) The client may have decreased effectiveness of the drugs.

Answer 3

The client may have drug toxicity from all the drugs.

Question 4

The client receives a drug that is excreted in the bile. What will the best nursing assessment of the effect of this drug on the client include?

A) The effect of the drug will be decreased.
B) The effect of the drug will be a prolonged action.
C) The effect of the drug will be increased side effects.
D) The effect of the drug will be decreased side effects.

Question 5

The nursing mother asks the nurse if it is all right to take St. John's Wort for mild depression. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "No, it will probably cause your baby to have more allergies."
B) "No, because it might decrease the amount of milk you produce."
C) "No, it could be excreted in your milk and affect the baby."
D) "No, it will affect the taste of your milk, and your baby might reject nursing."

Question 6

The client has meningitis. The physician initially prescribed a water -soluble drug. Another physician changed the order to a lipid -soluble drug. The client is confused about this. Which plan best resolves the client's concern?

A) Teach the client that lipid -soluble drugs are better because they have fewer side effects.
B) Teach the client that lipid -soluble drugs are better because of protein binding.
C) Teach the client that lipid -soluble drugs are more effective in treating his illness.
D) Teach the client that lipid -soluble drugs are more effective because they are excreted at a slower rate.

Question 7

The nursing instructor is teaching pharmacology to student nurses. What will the nursing instructor include as the four major components of pharmacokinetics? Select all that apply.

A) How drugs are converted to a form that is easily removed from the body.
B) How drugs change body illnesses and pathogens.
C) How drugs move from the site of administration to circulating fluids.
D) How drugs are transported throughout the body.
E) How drugs are removed from the body.

Question 8

The client is scheduled to receive a medication that is an enzyme inducer of the P450 system. What best describes the effect of this medication on the client?

A) In time, the client will experience no effect from other medications.
B) In time, the client will experience a reduced effect from this medication.
C) In time, the client will experience an increased effect from this medication.
D) In time, the client will experience increased effects from other medications.

Question 9

The nurse administers medications by various routes of delivery. The nurse recognizes which route of administration as requiring higher dosages of drugs to achieve a therapeutic effect?

A) oral route
B) sublingual route
C) rectal route
D) intravenous route

Question 10

The physician ordered a loading dose of medication for the client; it is to be followed by a lower dose. When the client receives the lower dose, she says to the nurse "I think my doctor made a mistake; my medication dose is too low." What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "You had a larger dose initially so that the medication would work more quickly."
B) "Giving a larger dose initially will reduce the chance of side effects."
C) "We always give medications this way; the doctor did not make a mistake."
D) "The initial dose shortened the half -life, so the medication would work more quickly."

Question 11

The client tells the nurse that he is on many medications, and questions how they all get to the right places. What is the best response by the nurse? Select all that apply.

A) "It depends on whether they are fat based or water based."
B) "It depends on how much protein you have in your body."
C) "It depends on the health of your liver."
D) "It depends on the health of your kidneys."
E) "It depends on the amount of blood flow to your body tissues."

Question 12

The nurse is conducting medication education for clients with hypertension. The focus of the education is on enhancing the absorption of their medications. The nurse determines that learning has occurred when the clients make which statement?

A) "We don't need to worry about storage of the drug, it won't lose potency."
B) "We should not take our medications with milk or dairy products."
C) "We can safely take the drug for at least six months beyond the expiration date."
D) "We need to be careful about taking the medication with certain foods."

Question 13

The client has been receiving quetiapine (Seroquel). The physician changes the order to aripiprazole (Abilify), a more potent drug. How will the nurse expect the physician's new order to read?

A) The order will state a higher dose of aripiprazole (Abilify), than quetiapine (Seroquel).
B) The order will state a lower dose of aripiprazole (Abilify) than quetiapine (Seroquel).
C) The order will state to draw serum levels of aripiprazole (Abilify).
D) The order will state to assess the client for increased side effects.

Question 14

The client is complaining of a severe headache. The physician orders aspirin. Which action by the nurse will result in the fastest relief of the client's headache?

A) Administer the aspirin with an alkaline food, like cottage cheese.
B) Administer the aspirin in an enteric -coated formulation.
C) Administer the aspirin on an empty stomach.
D) Administer the aspirin with a high -fat food, like peanut butter.

Question 15

The client is receiving lithium (Eskalith) and asks the nurse why he has to have blood drawn so often. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) To determine if your body is responding as it should."
B) "To be sure you have the correct amount of medication in your system."
C) "To be sure the medication is working properly."
D) To detect side effects before they become a problem."