Common Drug Classifications Nursing

Common Drug Classifications Nursing Related

Review Common Drug Classifications Nursing related questions and content

The nurse learns that a drug needed by the patient is classified as an orphan drug and recognizes what as a reason for this classification? (Select one that does not apply.)

  • A. The drug is rarely prescribed.
  • B. The drug has dangerous adverse effects.
  • C. The drug treats a rare disease.
  • D. The patent on the medication is still effective.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Drugs are classified as orphan drugs when they are not financially viable for a drug company to produce either because of risk for lawsuits about adverse effects or because the drug is not prescribed, which is often seen in rare diagnoses. Generic drugs are not produced until the patent expires, but this has no impact on classifying a particular drug as an orphan drug. Generic drugs are often produced by companies that only manufacture drugs without conducting research, but this has no bearing on the classification of orphan drugs.

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The nursing instructor is discussing drug therapy in the older adult. What would the instructor tell the students could affect therapeutic dosing in an older adult?

  • A. In older adults, drugs have decreased GI absorption.
  • B. In older adults
  • C. In older adults, drugs are distributed to a smaller portion of the tissue.
  • D. In older adults, drugs have an increased action.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Decreased GI absorption in older adults can reduce drug bioavailability, necessitating dosage adjustments.

Larry has heart failure, which is being treated with digoxin because it exhibits:

  • A. Negative inotropism
  • B. Positive chronotropism
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Digoxin has positive inotropic effects, increasing contractility, not negative or chronotropic.

The nurse explains that what drug resource book is compiled from package inserts?

  • A. Nurses Drug Guide
  • B. Physicians Desk Reference (PDR)
  • C. Drug Facts and Comparisons
  • D. AMA Drug Evaluations
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The PDR is a compilation of information found on package inserts. The Nurses Drug Guide uses more easily understood language and incorporates nursing considerations and patient teaching points. Drug Facts and Comparisons includes cost comparison, often not found in other drug resource guides. The AMA Drug Evaluations is far less biased than the PDR and includes drugs still in the research stage of development.

A patient who has a long history of alcohol abuse is admitted to the hospital for detoxification. In addition to medications needed to treat withdrawal symptoms, the nurse will anticipate giving intravenous

  • A. dopamine to restore blood pressure
  • B. fluid boluses to treat dehydration
  • C. glucose to prevent hypoglycemia
  • D. thiamine to treat nutritional deficiency
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Thiamine prevents Wernicke's encephalopathy in alcohol detox; glucose follows if needed. Thiamine should be given to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy in patients treated for alcoholism.

The nurse is preparing to administer an intradermal injection. The nurse would insert the needle at which angle?

  • A. 15 degrees
  • B. 30 degrees
  • C. 45 degrees
  • D. 90 degrees
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When giving an intradermal injection, the needle is inserted bevel up at a 15-degree angle. The nurse would insert the needle at a 90-degree angle for an intramuscular injection or for a patient who is obese and requires a subcutaneous injection. Typically a subcutaneous injection is given at a 45-degree angle.

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