Question 1

The nurse is describing medication side effects to a client who is taking a benzodiazepine. The nurse tells the client to take the medication only as prescribed because of the most serious risk of:

Accepted Answer

Benzodiazepines have a high potential for dependence, making it crucial for patients to adhere strictly to their prescribed dosages to avoid developing a physical or psychological dependence on the medication.

Question 2

The nurse would question the physician if which of the following medications was prescribed for a client with glaucoma?

Accepted Answer

Atropine sulfate (Isopto Atropine) is an anticholinergic medication that can increase intraocular pressure, making it potentially harmful for clients with glaucoma.

Question 3

When teaching the client about the effects of a miotic medication, the nurse plans to tell the client that the medication will:

Accepted Answer

Miotic medications work by constricting the pupil, which helps to increase the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye, thereby lowering intraocular pressure and improving blood flow to the retina. This is particularly useful in the treatment of glaucoma.

Question 4

Betaxolol (Betoptic) eye drops have been prescribed for the client with glaucoma. The nurse monitoring this client for side effects of the medication would place highest priority on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Betaxolol is a beta-blocker used in eye drops for glaucoma treatment. It can have systemic effects, including lowering the heart rate (pulse rate), which is why monitoring the pulse rate is a priority to detect potential systemic cardiovascular side effects.

Question 5

The client who has sustained an eye injury has been prescribed prednisolone (Inflamase). The nurse would most carefully monitor for side effects of this medication if the client has which of the following health problems listed on the medical record?

Accepted Answer

Prednisolone is a corticosteroid that can increase blood glucose levels, making it particularly important to monitor for side effects in clients with diabetes mellitus, as it can exacerbate their condition.

Question 6

The client with chronic glaucoma is being started on medication therapy with acetazolamide (Diamox). The nurse teaches the client that which of the following symptoms can occur early in the use of this medication?

Accepted Answer

Acetazolamide is a diuretic, and diuresis is a common early effect when starting this medication.

Question 7

The nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is being seen in the clinic with a suspected acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose. Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to have readily available if the suspected diagnosis is confirmed?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) is the antidote for acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose. It acts to replenish glutathione stores, which are necessary to detoxify the harmful metabolite produced by acetaminophen overdose.

Question 8

The client reports frequent use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) for relief of frequent headaches and other discomforts. The nurse should evaluate which of the diagnostic data to determine if the client is at risk for toxicity?

Accepted Answer

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is metabolized by the liver, and excessive use can lead to liver damage or toxicity. Therefore, liver function studies are the most relevant diagnostic data to evaluate for potential acetaminophen toxicity.

Question 9

The client with a history of spinal cord injury is beginning medication therapy with baclofen (Lioresal). The nurse determines that the client understands the side effects of the medication if the client states which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Baclofen (Lioresal) is a muscle relaxant and antispastic agent used to treat muscle symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, including spasm, pain, and stiffness. Drowsiness is a common side effect of baclofen, as it can affect the central nervous system.

Question 10

The nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is being evaluated for possible myasthenia gravis. The health care provider gives a test dose of edrophonium (Tensilon). Evaluation of the results indicates that the test is positive. Which of the following would be the expected response noted by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Edrophonium (Tensilon) test is used to diagnose myasthenia gravis. A positive test result, indicating the presence of myasthenia gravis, would show an increase in muscle strength within 1 to 3 minutes after administration of the medication. This occurs because edrophonium temporarily inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine, thereby increasing its availability at the neuromuscular junction and improving muscle strength.

Question 11

The nurse is assisting in the care of a client with myasthenia gravis who is receiving pyridostigmine (Mestinon). Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to have readily available should the client develop cholinergic crisis because of excessive medication dosage?

Accepted Answer

Atropine sulfate is the medication of choice to have readily available in case of a cholinergic crisis due to excessive dosage of pyridostigmine (Mestinon) in a patient with myasthenia gravis. Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that can counteract the muscarinic effects of a cholinergic crisis.

Question 12

The client with myasthenia gravis becomes increasingly weaker. The physician injects a dose of edrophonium (Tensilon) to determine whether the client is experiencing a myasthenic crisis or a cholinergic crisis. The nurse expects that the client will have which of the following reactions if the client is in cholinergic crisis?

Accepted Answer

A temporary worsening of the condition occurs in cholinergic crisis after administering edrophonium due to the excess of acetylcholine, which exacerbates the muscle weakness.

Question 13

The nurse is providing instructions to a client beginning medication therapy with divalproex sodium (Depakote) for treatment of absence seizures. The nurse instructs the client that which of the following represents the most frequent side effect of this medication?

Accepted Answer

Nausea and vomiting are among the most common side effects of divalproex sodium (Depakote), especially when beginning therapy for conditions such as absence seizures.

Question 14

The nurse is speaking with a female client taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizure control. The client states that she has started using birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Which of the following would be an important point for the nurse to stress to the client?

Accepted Answer

Phenytoin can induce hepatic enzymes that metabolize oral contraceptives, potentially decreasing their effectiveness and increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy. It's important for the client to be aware of this interaction and consider additional contraceptive measures.

Question 15

The nurse is reading the laboratory results for a client being treated with carbamazepine (Tegretol) for prophylaxis of complex partial seizures. When evaluating the client's laboratory data, the nurse determines that which of the following values is consistent with an adverse effect of this medication?

Accepted Answer

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) can cause leukopenia, which is a decrease in white blood cell count, making a count of 3200/mm^3 indicative of an adverse effect.

Question 16

The nurse is caring for a client receiving codeine sulfate for pain. The nurse determines that the client is experiencing a side effect of the medication based on which of the following findings?

Accepted Answer

Codeine sulfate, an opioid analgesic, commonly causes constipation as a side effect due to its action on the gastrointestinal tract, slowing down bowel movements.

Question 17

The nurse is administering a prescribed dose of dexamethasone (Decadron) to a client following cranial surgery. Which of the following interventions would the nurse perform to assess for a common side effect of this medication?

Accepted Answer

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that can cause hyperglycemia as a side effect, making it important to monitor blood glucose levels.

Question 18

The client with a new medication prescription for allopurinol (Zyloprim) asks the nurse, "I know this is for gout, but how does it work?" In formulating a response, the nurse understands that allopurinol:

Accepted Answer

Allopurinol works by decreasing the production of uric acid in the body, which helps prevent gout flare-ups and reduces the risk of forming uric acid stones.

Question 19

The client tentatively diagnosed with gout has received a prescription for colchicine. The nurse understands that colchicine is a(n):

Accepted Answer

Colchicine is specifically used as an anti-inflammatory agent for gout, targeting the inflammation caused by uric acid crystals in the joints.

Question 20

The client with osteoarthritis is receiving diclofenac sodium (Voltaren). The nurse would be concerned about the administration of this medication if the client's history and physical included a diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

Diclofenac sodium (Voltaren), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can exacerbate gastrointestinal issues, including peptic ulcers, due to its potential to cause gastrointestinal bleeding and irritation.

Quiz 7: Pharmacology

The nurse is describing medication side effects to a client who is taking a benzodiazepine. The nurse tells the client to take the medication only as prescribed because of the most serious risk of:

The nurse would question the physician if which of the following medications was prescribed for a client with glaucoma?

When teaching the client about the effects of a miotic medication, the nurse plans to tell the client that the medication will:

Betaxolol (Betoptic) eye drops have been prescribed for the client with glaucoma. The nurse monitoring this client for side effects of the medication would place highest priority on which of the following?

The client who has sustained an eye injury has been prescribed prednisolone (Inflamase) . The nurse would most carefully monitor for side effects of this medication if the client has which of the following health problems listed on the medical record?

The client with chronic glaucoma is being started on medication therapy with acetazolamide (Diamox) . The nurse teaches the client that which of the following symptoms can occur early in the use of this medication?

The nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is being seen in the clinic with a suspected acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose. Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to have readily available if the suspected diagnosis is confirmed?

The client reports frequent use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) for relief of frequent headaches and other discomforts. The nurse should evaluate which of the diagnostic data to determine if the client is at risk for toxicity?

The client with a history of spinal cord injury is beginning medication therapy with baclofen (Lioresal) . The nurse determines that the client understands the side effects of the medication if the client states which of the following?

The nurse is assisting in the care of a client with myasthenia gravis who is receiving pyridostigmine (Mestinon) . Which of the following medications should the nurse plan to have readily available should the client develop cholinergic crisis because of excessive medication dosage?

The nurse is providing instructions to a client beginning medication therapy with divalproex sodium (Depakote) for treatment of absence seizures. The nurse instructs the client that which of the following represents the most frequent side effect of this medication?

The nurse is speaking with a female client taking phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizure control. The client states that she has started using birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Which of the following would be an important point for the nurse to stress to the client?

The nurse is caring for a client receiving codeine sulfate for pain. The nurse determines that the client is experiencing a side effect of the medication based on which of the following findings?

The nurse is administering a prescribed dose of dexamethasone (Decadron) to a client following cranial surgery. Which of the following interventions would the nurse perform to assess for a common side effect of this medication?

The client with a new medication prescription for allopurinol (Zyloprim) asks the nurse, "I know this is for gout, but how does it work?" In formulating a response, the nurse understands that allopurinol:

The client tentatively diagnosed with gout has received a prescription for colchicine. The nurse understands that colchicine is a(n) :

The client with osteoarthritis is receiving diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) . The nurse would be concerned about the administration of this medication if the client's history and physical included a diagnosis of: