A nursing instructor is preparing a teaching plan for a group of nursing students about pharmacology. When describing this topic, the instructor would focus the discussion on which of the following as an essential aspect?
- A. Drug name
- B. Drug class
- C. Drug action
- D. Drug source
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their action on living organisms. Thus, an essential aspect of pharmacology is drug action. An understanding of the drug name, drug class, and drug source is important, but the most critical aspect related to pharmacology is how the drug acts in the body.
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Patients with pheochromocytoma should avoid which of the following classes of drugs because of the possibility of developing hypertensive crisis?
- A. Expectorants
- B. Beta-2-agonists
- C. Antitussives
- D. Antihistamines
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beta-2-agonists can stimulate catecholamine release in pheochromocytoma, risking hypertensive crisis; other classes are safer.
The choice of diuretic to use in treating hypertension is based on:
- A. Presence of diabetes with loop diuretics being used for these patients
- B. Level of kidney function with a thiazide diuretic being used for an estimated glomerular filtration rate higher than the mid-40 mL/min range
- C. Ethnicity with aldosterone antagonists best for African Americans and older adults
- D. Presence of hyperlipidemia with higher doses needed for patients with LDL above 130 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thiazides are effective with GFR >40-50 mL/min; loops are used for lower GFR.
What factor influences drug absorption?
- A. Kidney function
- B. Route of administration
- C. Liver function
- D. Cardiovascular function
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Drug absorption is influenced by the route of administration. IV administration is the fastest method; drug absorption is slower when given orally. Kidney function impacts excretion, liver function impacts metabolism, and cardiovascular function impacts distribution.
A 52-year-old overweight woman presents to the clinic for a diabetes management. She had not been doing well controlling her blood sugars with metformin. Her last hemoglobin A1c was 13.4%, despite her taking her medication every day. The physician decides to start her on a long-acting insulin that is injected only once a day for better glucose control. Also, he wants the insulin to have a minimal risk of hypoglycemia. What is the most likely medication given to this patient?
- A. Insulin aspart
- B. Insulin glargine
- C. Insulin lispro
- D. NPH insulin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin glargine is a long-acting, peakless insulin administered once daily, with a lower risk of hypoglycemia compared to other insulins.
A patient is prescribed lidocaine for ventricular arrhythmias. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
- A. Hypotension
- B. Nausea
- C. Seizures
- D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lidocaine, a Class IB antiarrhythmic, can cause CNS side effects like seizures at high doses, a key monitoring point.