Pcol test #2

Question 1

The nurse is uncertain of the meaning of an abbreviation used by the physician in ordering medications for the patient. which of the following is the best action to take regarding this abbreviation?

Answer 1

Contact the physician and ask for clarification of the abbreviation.

Question 2

when providing medications from floor stock to a patient on the Alzheimer’s unit of a long-term care facility, the nurse demonstrates the principle of drug administration by preforming which of the following?

Answer 2

checking the label before taking the medication out of the cabinet, pouring the medication , and placing the bottle back in the cabinet.

Question 3

The nurse is preparing to administer medication to a PEDIATRIC patient. Which essential safety action should the nurse take prior to administration?

Answer 3

Verify dosage based on weight calculation

Question 4

A nurse is taking care of a culturally diverse patient who is reluctant to take the prescribed medication from the health-care provider. what is the best nursing response?

Answer 4

ask the patient if they have used and Holistic medications

Question 5

The nurse is obtaining a health history for a 20-year old female who is 8 weeks pregnant. which finding should alert the nurse to a potential complication?

Answer 5

The patient smokes two to three cigarettes per week and characterizes herself as a social drinker

Question 6

The nurse is providing medications to an adult patient with a history of advanced cardiac disease. which laboratory finding indicates that the dosages of medications may need to be decreased?

Answer 6

Creatinine 8mg/dl

Question 7

A nurse is preparing to administer medication to an adult patient who has a history of hypertension (HTN).Which medication should the nurse question based on commonly confused drug names?

Answer 7

Klonopin

Question 8

A nurse is working with a patient who has been prescribed a different type of antihypertensive medication that the prior treatment regimen. Which information should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Answer 8

only take the medications that are currently being prescribed for the treatment of hypertensin

Question 9

While working in a surgical clinic, the nurse notes order that read “.25 mg digoxin (Lanoxin) IV now” which action by the nurse is best

Answer 9

contact the physician for clarification of the order.

Question 10

A patient being seen in the outpatient clinic has been given a new prescription for tetracycline orally each day. The patient reported that current medications include a multivitamin with orally each day. the patient reported that the current medications include a multivitamin with calcium, st johns wort and omeprazole. The nurse would provide additional teaching for which patient statement?

Answer 10

“i can take this medication with my other morning meds”

Question 11

The nurse is working with a patient who has recently been prescribed daily statin therapy. which patient response would require a priority intervention?

Answer 11

“i drink grapefruit juice everyday”

Question 12

A nurse from the adult medical unit is pulled to the geriatric unit. The nurse notes that many of the common medication provided are in lower doses than typically prescribed. what action by the nurse is the highest priority?

Answer 12

Evaluate the laboratory values of each patient to determine liver and kidney function.

Question 13

While working on a geriatric unit. the nurse would be most concerned by which of these findings?

Answer 13

a 72 year old patient given a sleeping pull the night before seems confused.

Question 14

The nurse notes that an elderly patient admitted with metastatic cancer has low serum protein level. which action by the nurse is best?

Answer 14

Increase awareness and assessment of potential medication side effects.

Question 15

Shortly after providing a new sleeping pill to a patient on the medical unit, the nurse answers the patient’s call light. which of the following findings would indicate to the nurse that the patient is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction to the medication?

Answer 15

The patients respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min and slightly labored.

Question 16

A nurse working at the poison control center receives a call from a young woman babysitting a 4-year-old child who reportedly swallowed some of his patients medication. which statement by the nurse is best at this time?

Answer 16

“I’m calling emergency personnel for you now”

Question 17

A patient is admitted to the emergency room with a accidental overdose of a substance that is caustic. Which therapeutic option should the nurse question?

Answer 17

Gastric lavage ( process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach using a tube)

Question 18

A nurse receives a phone call from a a parent whose child has ingested a substance but does not appear to be in any apparent distress. what is the best nursing response?

Answer 18

ask questions to obtain specific information about the substance.

Question 19

A group of nursing students are reviewing considerations for neonatal medication administration/ which statement indicates that the review has been effective?

Answer 19

neonates tend to have lower blood levels of medication.

Question 20

A nurse is reviewing the medication profile of a geriatric patient who has several comorbidities. which finding would warrant priority action?

Answer 20

the patient skips a a dose of a certain medications sometimes.

Question 21

A nurse is reviewing a medication list. which of abbreviations are considered acceptable?

Answer 21

Administer medication p.c. during the day, administer medication PO as directed, and administer medication IM.

Question 22

While supervising a student nurse providing morning medications to patients in the long-term care facility, the nurse would intervene if the student was observed preforming which of the following actions?

Answer 22

the student leave the medication at the bedside for the patient to take, the student prepares a medication scheduled for several hours later in the shift.

Question 23

A nurse is working on an inpatient medical-surgical unit. what actions should the nurse incorporate into the daily routine in order to maintain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards?

Answer 23

Use of hand hygiene prior to patient care, use of appropriate disposal systems for sharps.

Question 24

A nurse working in the emergency room is preparing for the admission of a 34-year-old patient with a drug overdose. which of the following equipment and/or orders will the nurse anticipate will be used for this patient?

Answer 24

Telemetry monitoring(health care providers monitor electrical activity of your heart for an extended amount of time, Activated charcoal, and Nasogastric (NG) tube and 60-ml syringe for lavage (pumps the stomach and removes orally digested drugs techniques).

Question 25

A nurse is checking the medications orders for assighned patients. which orders should the nurse obtain additional clarification for?

Answer 25

ASA 81 mg qod, regular insulin 3U subcutaneously daily, flush nasogastric tube with 60 cc water, MS 4 mg per oral route.

Question 26

While shopping for an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant, the nurse identifies that the medication will be classified as a;

Answer 26

nonscheduled medication

Question 27

which of the following best describes the role of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in maintaining patient safety?

Answer 27

Indication which medication are controlled substances and enforcing the laws

Question 28

The nurse provides a patient who was admitted with gastroesophageal reflux a dose of intravenous pantoprazole. Fifteen minutes later the patient calls for help and is gasping for breath. Emergency measures are instituted, and the patient is transferred to the intensive care unit, which is the priority nursing action?

Answer 28

Identify the episode as an adverse drug reaction and ensure it is reported to the FDA.

Question 29

A Patient with advanced colorectal cancer is going to start taking long-acting morphine sulfate, which of the following statements by the nurse is best?

Answer 29

“I am faxing the prescription to the pharmacy, but you must also take this written prescription with you to pick it up”

Question 30

A patient with a compressed disc in the lumbar region takes hydrocodone/acetaminophen every 6 hours for pain control. the patient tells the nurse, “ the pain medication just doesn’t seem to be working anymore” which response by nurse is the best?

Answer 30

“you may be developing a tolerance to the medication”

Question 31

a co-worker tearfully confides that she is struggling with a growing dependence on sleeping medication and other drugs to maintain her work schedule on the nigh shift. which action by the nurse is best?

Answer 31

refer the co-worker to the employee assistance program.

Question 32

The nurse is reviewing legal laws related to correct drug administration. which legal act of legislation was enacted in response to birth defects cause by thalidomide?

Answer 32

Kefauver-Harris Amendment

Question 33

A group of student nurses are reviewing the process of drug development. which statements best identifies the concept of a placebo?

Answer 33

a substance that is used for comparison in drug studies

Question 34

A nurse is working in a clinical research trial that has a control group and an experimental group but does not know which group is receiving the active drug. which statement best identifies the research group design?

Answer 34

Double-blind

Question 35

A nurse is working with a patient who has received an investigational new drug (IND)
for treatment of terminal cancer without going through the full clinical trial process. How
would the nurse document this in the medical record?

Answer 35

Compassionate use has been approved

Question 36

A nurse is reviewing proper administration of controlled substances in the clinical setting.
Which action would the nurse deem as being essential

Answer 36

Substances should be maintained in a double lock.

Question 37

A nurse is working with a patient who has been taking medication for anxiety for several
weeks and now reports that the medication doesn’t seem to work anymore. The patient has
stopped taking the medication, as it doesn’t work. Which finding should the nurse suspect?

Answer 37

The patient is experiencing tolerance.

Question 38

A nursing student is reviewing the concept of a generic drug. Which statement is accurate?

Answer 38

The same dosage form of the medication is used.

Question 39

A nurse received a phone call from a patient stating that the medication received from the
pharmacy looks different. Which is the best response by the nurse?

Answer 39

Contact the health-care provider for clarification.

Question 40

A clinical trial nurse is helping to register a patient in a phase II double-blind trial
comparing a new medication with a placebo. Which of the following would the nurse include
in the patient teaching?

Answer 40

“Neither you nor the doctor nor I will know if you are getting the real medication
or not.”
“A computer will randomly determine which people get the actual study drug.”
“This trial is designed to determine if a benefit is found when using the drug.”

Question 41

A nurse working with a patient who is experiencing withdrawal from a medication would
track which of the following symptoms?

Answer 41

Tremors, Hallucinations, emotional distress

Question 42

The nurse manager on a surgical unit suspects that one of the nurses may be dealing with a
substance abuse problem. Which of the following symptoms would support this suspicion?

Answer 42

The individual’s uniform is frequently wrinkled or disheveled, The individual has called in sick three times in the past month, The individual has made two medication errors in the past week, The individual is irritable and withdrawn

Question 43

A nurse is reviewing the medication profile for a patient who has a prescription for
alprazolam. Which information should the nurse include in patient teaching for this
medication?

Answer 43

This medication is considered a controlled substance, Refills of this medication are allowed within defined time frames

Question 44

A nurse is administering a narcotic to a patient and has to administer only a partial amount
of medication from the vial. Which nursing actions represent best practice based on safe
administration of partial amounts of controlled substances?

Answer 44

Obtain a witness for discarding the medication. Verify order in the medical record for correct dosage. Sign out medication from the clinical facility’s designated controlled substance
area.