Question 1

The nurse is discussing the difference between potency and efficacy with a client who has just received a prescription to treat congestive heart failure. Which statement by the client indicates that learning has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Potency refers to the strength of a drug, while efficacy refers to the drug's ability to produce a desired effect. The client's statement in Choice A shows an understanding that a drug with high efficacy will be the most effective at treating their congestive heart failure, regardless of its potency. Choices B and C are incorrect, as there is no guarantee that a drug with high efficacy will produce fewer side effects, and low-potency drugs can still have efficacy and side effects. Choice D is also incorrect, as potency is not necessarily the most important factor in determining the best drug for a particular condition.

Question 2

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?" Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Taking more of a medication than the maximum dose will not provide any additional benefit and may increase the risk of adverse reactions and toxicity. The nurse should explain this to the client and remind them to follow the prescribed dosing instructions. Option A is valid but not the best choice as the nurse should know the drug maximum dose. Option C is incorrect as it makes a statement that doesn't apply to all medications without having the information to say so. Option D is not appropriate as the client needs to adhere to the prescribed dosing regimen.

Question 3

The nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client on a medical-surgical unit. The median lethal dose of the drug is 40 mg, and the median effective dose is 10 mg. The nurse calculates the therapeutic index to be _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is preparing to administer a...

Question 4

The nurse has taught a group of clients how their medications work in their bodies. Which comment by a client reflects correct understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

Option A is the correct answer because medications work by enhancing or blocking the normal function of cells. The other options do not accurately describe how medications work in the body.

Question 5

Prior to administering medications, the nurse notes that a drug has a narrow therapeutic index. What is the significance of this information?

Accepted Answer

A narrow therapeutic index means there is a small margin between the therapeutic dose and toxic dose of a drug. Therefore, clients taking medications with a narrow therapeutic index need to have their serum blood levels monitored to ensure they are receiving the therapeutic dose and not experiencing toxic effects.

Question 6

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 which fact?

Accepted Answer

The LD₅₀ reflects the dose at which 50% of the research animals died, which is a measure of the drug's toxicity. It does not necessarily reflect potency or relative safety.

Question 7

What does the nurse responsible for administering narcotics to post-operative patients understand is true about the potency of narcotics?

Accepted Answer

Morphine is more potent than codeine, so a lower dose will be required to achieve the same level of pain relief. It is important for the nurse to understand the potency of different narcotics in order to administer them safely and effectively.

Question 8

The student nurse has been reading about the Human Genome Project, and asks the nursing instructor how it will affect future pharmacological therapies. Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The Human Genome Project will allow for the identification of genetic variations that may affect a person's response to certain drugs. With this information, drug therapies can be individualized and more effective.

Question 9

Morphine is a drug that mimics the actions of endorphins at the opioid receptors. Which of the following term best describes this action?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Morphine is a drug that mimics the...

Question 10

The nurse administers a medication that binds to a beta receptor on the cardiac muscle, resulting in stimulation of the receptor. Which effect does the nurse anticipate when assessing the client?

Accepted Answer

Stimulation of beta receptors on the cardiac muscle results in an increase in heart rate. Beta agonists, such as epinephrine and albuterol, bind to these receptors and are commonly used to treat conditions such as asthma and bradycardia. A decrease in chest pain, increase in blood pressure, and decrease in electrical conduction are not typically associated with beta receptor stimulation.

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

The medication that binds to histamine-2 receptors in the stomach and blocks their action is most likely a histamine-2 receptor antagonist, which will decrease stomach acidity. This can be helpful in treating conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcers. The other options are not typically associated with this type of medication.

Question 12

The nurse is researching a drug that has a median effective dose (ED₅₀) of 5 mg and a median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 20 mg. Which therapeutic index (TI) calculated by the nurse is correct?

Accepted Answer

The therapeutic index (TI) is calculated by dividing the median lethal dose (LD50) by the median effective dose (ED50). In this case, TI = 20 mg / 5 mg = 4.

Quiz 1: Fundamental Concepts and Principles of Pharmacology