Deck 5: Pharmacodynamics

Question 1

The client was receiving haloperidol (Haldol), a dopamine antagonist.When the psychiatrist changes the order to aripiprazole (Abilify), a partial dopamine antagonist, the nurse anticipates the client will experience which effect?
1)A greater efficacy from the new drug
2)The client will be more compliant in taking the drug.
3)Fewer side effects will be experienced by the client.
4)A greater reduction in symptoms

Answer 1

3

Question 2

The nurse explains to a student nurse that the mean lethal dose of drugs is often determined in laboratory preclinical trials for the following reasons: (Select all that apply.)
1)It would be unethical to determine these values in human subjects.
2)It is too costly to conduct the studies during clinical trials.
3)Safety of the medication must be determined prior to clinical trials.
4)It is difficult to obtain sufficient participants for clinical trials.
5)Clinical trials only determine the effective dose of a drug.

Answer 2

1, 3

Question 3

The nurse has taught a group of clients how their medications work in their bodies.Which comment made by a client reflects correct understanding of the teaching?
1)"Medications help the body to produce new enzymes."
2)"Medications change the function of cells in the body."
3)"The normal function of a cell is enhanced or blocked by medications."
4)"Body tissue functions are changed by medications."

Answer 3

3

Question 4

The student nurse has been reading about the Human Genome Project, and asks the nursing instructor how this will impact future pharmacological therapies.What is the best response by the nurse?
1)"We will be able to alter genes, so we will not need drugs,"
2)"It will help to individualize drug therapy for people in a more effective way."
3)"We will be able to standardize drug doses to make prescribing easier."
4)"It will help prevent disease through gene manipulation, but will not impact drugs."

Question 5

The physician has ordered naltrexone (ReVia), a narcotic antagonist, for the client in rehabilitation who is recovering from heroin addiction.The nurse explains the client could experience the following effect if heroin is used while taking the naltrexone:
1)Severe nausea and vomiting
2)A severe craving for more heroin
3)Anger and rage
4)Euphoria will not occur.

Question 6

The nurse is administering a medication that will bind to histamine-2 receptors in the stomach and block their action.The nurse explains to the client that this drug will cause which action?
1)An increase in stomach motility
2)A decrease in stomach acidity
3)A reduction in nausea
4)A reduction in abdominal cramping

Question 7

The nurse is researching a drug recently released on the market to determine what the median lethal dose (LD₅₀)was in preclinical trials.The nurse recognizes that this number reflects:
1)The dose at which 50% of the research animals died.
2)The dose that produced signs of toxicity in 50% of lab animals.
3)The value of relative safety of the drug.
4)A measurement of potency of the drug.

Question 8

A client looks up the drug he is taking in a drug guide and asks the nurse why the physician prescribed a medication that has a lethal dose measure.Which is the best response by the nurse?
1)"It just refers to what is done in research; it is not used by doctors to prescribe drugs."
2)"Don't worry about that.I will have your doctor explain it to you."
3)"All that means is that the drug could be lethal, but I will closely monitor you for side effects."
4)"It is a value determined in research, which helps to determine the safe dose to give."

Question 9

The nursing instructor prepares to teach student nurses about how mean effective doses of medications are related to clinical practice.Which statement reflects the correct understanding by the student?
1)"Some clients will respond differently depending on their ethnic background."
2)"About 50% of clients will experience severe side effects from the drug."
3)"Some clients will require more or less than the average dose of the drug."
4)"About 50% of clients will not experience any effect from the drug."

Question 10

The nurse is conducting medication education about the difference between potency and efficacy for a group of clients.The nurse correctly determines learning has occurred when the clients make which statement?
1)"The best drug for us is the one with the highest potency."
2)"Drugs with the greatest efficacy will produce the least side effects."
3)"The best drug for us is the one with the greatest efficacy."
4)"Low-potency drugs have efficacy, and do not produce side effects."

Question 11

A client receiving antibiotics for a serious infection asks the nurse "Why don't you just give me more of that drug to cure the infection faster?" What is the best response?
1)"You must stay on this drug for two more weeks before the dosage can be increased."
2)"You are at maximum dose; taking more will not help."
3)"I will check with the doctor to see if it is time to increase the medication."
4)"You are at a maximum dose; taking more will cause interactions with other medications."

Question 12

Prior to administering medications, the student nurse reviews the therapeutic index.The student nurse recognizes this index is used to identify the following:
1)Clients who will need to have serum blood levels monitored
2)When a client will begin to experience toxic drug effects
3)Whether the physician has prescribed the best drug for the client
4)Interactions among the drugs each client is receiving

Question 13

A client asks the nurse why his dose of an antihypertensive medication drug is different from his neighbor's, stating "We both take the exact same drug, but I take 60 mg and he only takes 25 mg." The nurse explains:
1)"If your neighbor is a lot younger than you, his dose might be a lot lower."
2)"Individuals often have widely different responses to the same medications and need different doses of the same medication."
3)"If you are taking a generic brand of the medication, you will need a higher dose than you would of a brand name of the same medication."
4)"If your neighbor takes a lot of other medications, he might need to take a lower dose of the medication than you have to take."

Question 14

The client and his wife receive the same medication for hypertension.The client's wife asks the nurse why she is receiving a higher dose of the medication.Which is the best response by the nurse?
1)"Everyone is unique and responds differently to medication."
2)"You have a greater percentage of body fat, so more medication is needed."
3)"Your hormones are different from your husband's, so you need more medication."
4)"Females have a higher metabolism, so you need more medication."

Question 15

The nurse administers a medication that binds to a beta receptor on the cardiac muscle, resulting in stimulation of the receptor.The nurse anticipates that the client will experience:
1)An increase in heart rate.
2)A decrease in blood pressure.
3)A decrease in chest pain.
4)A decrease in electrical conduction.

Question 16

A male client of African descent is prescribed sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim (Bactrim), a sulfonamide anti-infective for a bacterial infection.When the client arrives in the Emergency Department, the nurse should place priority on which assessment?
1)Level of red blood cells (RBCs)
2)Liver function tests
3)Urinary output
4)Renal function tests

Question 17

The nurse is administering narcotics to surgical clients, and understands that which of the following is correct regarding the potency of different narcotics?
1)Morphine is more potent than codeine; it will produce more adverse effects.
2)Codeine is less potent than morphine; it will not relieve pain as well.
3)Codeine is less potent than morphine; it will not produce an allergic reaction.
4)Morphine is more potent than codeine; a lesser dose will be required.