Pharmacology Key Concepts

Glipizide primarily works by:

NPH insulin typically reaches its peak effect within which timeframe?

When mixing rapid-acting and intermediate-acting insulin, what is the MOST important step to perform first?

A patient refuses to take their prescribed oral medication. What is the nurse's MOST appropriate initial action?

Which medication is commonly prescribed to treat hypothyroidism?

Lisinopril is effective in managing hypertension by which mechanism?

A patient taking digoxin presents with nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances (halos around lights). These findings are MOST indicative of:

Which of the following is a common adverse effect associated with digoxin therapy?

Which electrolyte imbalance MOST significantly increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?

A patient taking nitroglycerin complains of a headache. What is the MOST appropriate initial nursing intervention?

Before administering digoxin, the nurse should assess which vital sign as a priority?

What is the antidote for warfarin?

Which of the following medications is MOST likely to be contraindicated in a patient taking warfarin?

When monitoring a patient taking a beta-blocker, which adverse effect requires careful assessment?

A patient with chronic pain requires increasingly higher doses of a narcotic medication to achieve the same level of pain relief. This phenomenon is BEST described as:

Which of the following is a manifestation of lithium toxicity?

Which of the following is a potential adverse effect of metronidazole?

Which class of medications is MOST likely to increase a patient's risk of falls?

A patient taking disulfiram (Antabuse) for alcohol use disorder should be educated to AVOID which of the following?

A patient taking alprazolam for anxiety should be educated to AVOID what activity?

What is a common side effect/adverse effect of diazepam?

Which adverse effect of phenytoin would warrant immediate discontinuation of the medication?

What is the antidote for morphine?

A patient overdoses on an opioid analgesic. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?

What is the antagonist for benzodiazepines?

Which manifestation indicates that omeprazole is effective in treating peptic ulcer disease?

Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for hypertension?

What is the primary action of aspirin (Ecotrin) during a heart attack?

Which of the following is a non-modifiable risk factor for stroke?

If a nurse administers the wrong medication to a patient, what is the priority nursing action?

Where should the nurse auscultate to assess the apical pulse?

Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease?

A patient has an elevated INR while taking warfarin. What is the nurse's MOST appropriate action?

Cardiac output is directly influenced by:

Which neurological function is MOST directly associated with cognition?

The digestion phase of dietary intake primarily involves:

Maintenance of stable blood glucose levels MOST directly demonstrates which body function?

Which of the following laboratory values is MOST important to monitor in a patient receiving warfarin?

Which of the following actions should a nurse take first when preparing to administer medication?

A client exhibits signs of acute digoxin toxicity. Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention?

A patient on lithium reports experiencing increased thirst, frequent urination, and mild hand tremors. The nurse should:

A client taking glipizide reports feeling shaky and lightheaded. What is the MOST likely mechanism contributing to these symptoms?

A patient received NPH insulin at 0700. At which time of day is the patient MOST at risk for experiencing hypoglycemia due to the insulin's peak effect?

When mixing rapid-acting insulin (lispro) with intermediate-acting insulin (NPH), what is the rationale behind drawing up the rapid-acting insulin first?

A patient with end-stage renal disease consistently refuses to take an oral medication, stating it makes them feel nauseous. After exploring the reasons and educating the patient about the medication's importance, what is the nurse's NEXT appropriate action?

A patient has been newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism. What mechanism of action explains how levothyroxine improves the patient's symptoms?

How does lisinopril effectively lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients?

A patient on digoxin exhibits new symptoms of anorexia, blurred vision, and a green tinge to their visual fields. What is the MOST likely underlying cause of these findings?

Which of the following is a common adverse effect associated with digoxin therapy, necessitating careful monitoring?

A patient taking digoxin is also prescribed furosemide. The nurse understands that which electrolyte imbalance poses the GREATEST risk for precipitating digoxin toxicity in this patient?

A patient taking sublingual nitroglycerin for angina reports a headache. Assuming the patient's blood pressure is stable, what is the nurse's MOST appropriate initial action?

Prior to administering digoxin, what assessment finding requires careful documentation and possible withholding of the medication?

A patient is taking warfarin following a pulmonary embolism. What medication should the nurse have readily available in case of a significant overdose?

Which medication is MOST likely to increase the risk of bleeding in a patient already taking warfarin?

A diabetic patient is prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. What adverse effect requires careful assessment due to its potential to mask symptoms of hypoglycemia?

A patient with chronic back pain has been taking opioid medication for several months. They now require higher doses to achieve the same level of pain relief. What can explain this?

A patient on lithium therapy presents with coarse hand tremors, confusion, and persistent gastrointestinal upset. What condition is MOST likely indicated by these assessment findings?

A patient taking metronidazole reports experiencing a metallic taste in their mouth, nausea, and abdominal cramping. What is the best course of action?

What class of medications can significantly increase a patient's risk of falls due to sedative effects and orthostatic hypotension?

A patient prescribed disulfiram (Antabuse) for alcohol use disorder should be instructed to STRICTLY avoid which of the following?

A patient taking alprazolam (Xanax) for anxiety should be educated to avoid what activity due to the medication's potential side effects?

Which of the following adverse effects is MOST commonly associated with diazepam (Valium)?

Which adverse effect of phenytoin requires immediate discontinuation of the medication?

A patient receiving IV morphine demonstrates respiratory depression. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?

What medication reverses the effects of a benzodiazepine overdose?

A patient is taking omeprazole for peptic ulcer disease. Which of the following indicates that the medication is having the desired therapeutic effect?

What lifestyle factor can a patient modify to help manage hypertension?

During a heart attack, aspirin (Ecotrin) is given to inhibit:

Which of the following is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for stroke?

A nurse accidentally administers twice the prescribed dose of an intravenous antibiotic. After ensuring the patient's immediate safety, what is the nurse's NEXT priority action?

To accurately assess the apical pulse, the nurse should place the stethoscope at which location?

Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor that individuals can change to reduce their risk of heart disease?

A patient taking warfarin has an INR of 5.5. What is the nurse's MOST appropriate action based on this laboratory value?

Which of the following physiological factors directly influence cardiac output?

Which neurological function is MOST directly associated with the ability to process information, learn, and remember?

The breaking down of dietary intake into smaller molecules primarily occurs during which phase of the digestive process?

The body using insulin to facilitate the movement of glucose from the bloodstream into cells to provide energy BEST demonstrates which body function?

Which laboratory value is MOST important for the nurse to monitor in a patient receiving warfarin?

Before administering any medication, what is the FIRST action a nurse should take to ensure safe medication administration?

A patient exhibits signs of acute digoxin toxicity. Which nursing intervention is the priority?

A patient on lithium therapy reports increased thirst, frequent urination, and mild hand tremors. What action should the nurse take?