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A patient has been taking paroxetine (Paxil) 20 mg per day for 2 weeks and reports headaches, nervousness, and poor appetite. Which action should the nurse take?
- A. Reassure the patient that these side effects will decrease over time.
- B. Tell the patient to stop taking the drug and contact the provider.
- C. Counsel the patient to take the medication with food.
- D. Suggest that the patient discuss a lower dose with the provider.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Reassure the patient that these side effects will decrease over time. Paroxetine is an antidepressant that commonly causes side effects such as headaches, nervousness, and poor appetite when first starting the medication. It is important for the nurse to educate the patient that these side effects are usually temporary and tend to improve as the body adjusts to the medication. Stopping the drug abruptly (choice B) can lead to withdrawal symptoms and worsening of the patient's condition. Taking the medication with food (choice C) may help with gastrointestinal side effects but will not address the reported symptoms. Discussing a lower dose with the provider (choice D) may be considered if the side effects persist and are intolerable, but it is not the initial action to take in this scenario.
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The patient asks the nurse what atorvastatin (Lipitor) newly prescribed will do. What's the expected outcome the nurse will describe?
- A. Decrease in sitosterol and serum cholesterol.
- B. Decrease in campesterol and LDL levels.
- C. Decrease in serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
- D. Decrease in serum cholesterol only.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because atorvastatin works by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, leading to a decrease in serum cholesterol and LDL levels. This is the expected outcome that the nurse will describe to the patient. Choice A is incorrect because sitosterol is not primarily targeted by atorvastatin. Choice B is incorrect as campesterol is not a main focus of atorvastatin. Choice D is incorrect because atorvastatin also targets LDL levels, not just serum cholesterol.
What is the action of ergotamine?
- A. Increases hypoperfusion of basilar artery vascular bed.
- B. Decreases hypoperfusion of basilar artery vascular bed.
- C. Increases hyperperfusion of basilar artery vascular bed.
- D. Decreases hyperperfusion of basilar artery vascular bed.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Decreases hyperperfusion of basilar artery vascular bed. Ergotamine is a vasoconstrictor that acts on serotonin receptors, reducing blood flow and decreasing hyperperfusion in the basilar artery. This helps in treating conditions like migraines by reducing the dilation of blood vessels. Choice A is incorrect because ergotamine does not increase hypoperfusion, but rather decreases hyperperfusion. Choice B is incorrect as ergotamine does not decrease hypoperfusion. Choice C is incorrect since ergotamine does not increase hyperperfusion, rather it decreases it.
After completing a course on pharmacology for nurses, what will the nurse know?
- A. Everything necessary for safe drug administration.
- B. General drug information; the nurse can consult a drug guide for specific drug information.
- C. The drug actions that are associated with each classification of medication.
- D. Current pharmacologic therapy; the nurse will not require ongoing education for 5 years.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because pharmacology courses provide general drug information, teaching nurses to consult drug guides for specific details. This knowledge includes drug classifications, actions, side effects, and interactions. Nurses must continuously update their knowledge due to new drug developments, hence ongoing education is necessary. Choice A is incorrect as pharmacology education is comprehensive but doesn't cover all aspects of safe drug administration. Choice C is incorrect because it oversimplifies pharmacology knowledge to just drug actions. Choice D is incorrect as pharmacologic therapy constantly evolves, requiring ongoing education.
A nurse working in radiology administers iodine to a patient who is having a computed tomography (CT) scan. The nurse working on the oncology unit administers chemotherapy to a patient who has cancer. At the public health department, a nurse administers a measles mumps rubella vaccine to a 14-month-old child as a routine immunization. Which branch of pharmacology best describes the actions of the three nurses?
- A. Pharmacodynamics.
- B. Pharmacotherapeutics.
- C. Pharmacoeconomics.
- D. Pharmacokinetics.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Pharmacotherapeutics. Pharmacotherapeutics focuses on the use of drugs to treat diseases or alleviate symptoms. In this scenario, the nurses are administering medications with the intention of treating or preventing specific conditions: iodine for imaging in radiology, chemotherapy for cancer treatment, and the MMR vaccine for immunization. Pharmacodynamics (A) deals with the effects of drugs on the body, not the therapeutic use. Pharmacoeconomics (C) involves the cost-effectiveness of drug therapy, not the administration of drugs. Pharmacokinetics (D) focuses on drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, not the therapeutic purpose of drug administration. Therefore, Pharmacotherapeutics is the best branch of pharmacology to describe the actions of the nurses in this scenario.
Anticholinergic drugs are used in Ophthalmology because they produce what effect?
- A. Pupil restriction.
- B. Decreased lacrimal secretions.
- C. Pupil dilation.
- D. Sedation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Pupil dilation. Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, leading to pupil dilation by inhibiting the constriction of the sphincter muscle in the iris. This effect is beneficial in ophthalmology for procedures like dilation exams and treating conditions like uveitis. Choice A is incorrect as anticholinergics cause pupil dilation, not restriction. Choice B is incorrect because anticholinergics actually increase lacrimal secretions instead of decreasing them. Choice D is incorrect as sedation is not a typical effect of anticholinergic drugs in ophthalmology.