Nokea
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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An older adult experiencing shortness of breath is brought to the hospital by her daughter. While obtaining the medication history from the patient and her daughter, the nurse discovers that neither has a list of the patient's current medications or prescriptions. The patient has a weekly pill dispenser that contains four different pills. The prescriptions are filled through the local pharmacy. Which resource would be appropriate to use in determining the medication names and doses?
- A. Martindale-The Complete Drug Reference
- B. Drugs and Facts Comparisons
- C. Senior citizens' center
- D. Patient's home pharmacy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The patient's pharmacy maintains an accurate record of all current medications, making it the best resource for identifying the drugs and doses.
What does the nurse understand must occur in order to produce withdrawal syndrome?
- A. Addiction
- B. Craving
- C. Drug tolerance
- D. Physical dependence
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Physical dependence causes withdrawal when a drug stops; addiction or tolerance don't suffice. Patients who develop a physical dependence on a drug will experience withdrawal syndrome when the drug is stopped.
The physician has asked a nurse to administer a drug intravenously to a patient who is unresponsive. How can the nurse ensure that the drug is administered to the right patient?
- A. By waking him up to ask him his name
- B. By identifying the patient's room number
- C. By checking the patient's wristband
- D. By asking the nursing assistant for the patient's location
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should identify a patient by checking his wristband, which has the patient's name. The nurse should not ask the patient to confirm his name, because some patients, particularly those who are confused or have difficulty hearing, may respond by answering yes. Additionally, this patient is unresponsive. The nurse can obtain the patient's location by asking any other member of the health care staff, but should verify the patient's identity by checking the wristband. The nurse should not rely on the patient's room number alone.
When patients are started on darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) they need monitoring of their blood counts to determine a dosage adjustment in:
- A. 6 weeks if they are a cancer patient
- B. 1 week if they have chronic renal failure
- C. 2 weeks if they are taking it for allogenic transfusion
- D. Each week throughout therapy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cancer patients need blood count checks at 6 weeks for darbepoetin adjustment; renal patients adjust sooner, typically 2-4 weeks.
A nurse is caring for a client after thyroidectomy and notes that calcium gluconate is prescribed for the client. The nurse determines that this medication has been prescribed to:
- A. Treat thyroid storm.
- B. Prevent cardiac irritability.
- C. Treat hypocalcemic tetany.
- D. Stimulate the release of parathyroid hormone.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia can develop after thyroidectomy if the parathyroid glands are accidentally removed or injured during surgery. Manifestations develop 1 to 7 days after surgery. If the client develops numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or toes or muscle spasms or twitching, the health care provider is notified immediately. Calcium gluconate should be kept at the bedside.