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Advanced Case-Based Pharmacology & Clinical Judgment – Quiz 10

Question 1 of 30

A client receiving morphine becomes somnolent with a respiratory rate of 6/min and oxygen saturation of 88%. What is the nurse's priority action?

Select one answer.

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Advanced Case-Based Pharmacology & Clinical Judgment – Quiz 10 Practice Questions

Review these Advanced Case-Based Pharmacology & Clinical Judgment – Quiz 10 nursing practice questions with answer choices and explanations.

Question 1

A client receiving morphine becomes somnolent with a respiratory rate of 6/min and oxygen saturation of 88%. What is the nurse's priority action?

  1. Administer oxygen
  2. Administer naloxone
  3. Call the provider
  4. Place in high Fowler's
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Administer naloxone

Explanation: Severe respiratory depression requires immediate reversal with naloxone.

Question 2

A client taking digoxin has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L and reports nausea. What should the nurse do first?

  1. Administer digoxin
  2. Hold digoxin
  3. Give potassium
  4. Recheck later
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold digoxin

Explanation: Low potassium increases risk of digoxin toxicity.

Question 3

A client taking warfarin has an INR of 7.0 but no bleeding. What is the nurse's priority action?

  1. Administer warfarin
  2. Hold warfarin
  3. Give aspirin
  4. Encourage activity
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold warfarin

Explanation: INR is dangerously high; hold medication.

Question 4

A client on insulin therapy reports sweating, tremors, and confusion. Blood glucose is 55 mg/dL. What is the priority action?

  1. Administer insulin
  2. Give oral glucose
  3. Call provider
  4. Check vital signs
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Give oral glucose

Explanation: Mild hypoglycemia is treated with oral glucose.

Question 5

A client taking lisinopril develops swelling of the face and difficulty breathing. What is the nurse's priority action?

  1. Give antihistamine
  2. Stop medication and call for help
  3. Reassure client
  4. Check blood pressure
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Stop medication and call for help

Explanation: Angioedema is life-threatening.

Question 6

A client receiving IV vancomycin develops flushing, itching, and hypotension. What should the nurse do?

  1. Stop infusion
  2. Increase rate
  3. Continue infusion
  4. Give aspirin
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Stop infusion

Explanation: Red man syndrome requires stopping infusion.

Question 7

A client taking furosemide reports weakness and irregular heartbeat. Which lab result would the nurse expect?

  1. Low potassium
  2. High sodium
  3. High calcium
  4. High glucose
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Low potassium

Explanation: Furosemide causes hypokalemia.

Question 8

A client taking clozapine has a WBC count of 2,000/mm3. What is the nurse's priority action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Hold medication and notify provider
  3. Give antibiotics
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold medication and notify provider

Explanation: Severe leukopenia indicates agranulocytosis.

Question 9

A client taking lithium presents with confusion, coarse tremors, and vomiting. What is the nurse's action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Hold lithium
  3. Encourage fluids
  4. Give antacids
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold lithium

Explanation: These are signs of lithium toxicity.

Question 10

A client receiving IV potassium reports pain and redness at the IV site. What is the nurse's first action?

  1. Increase rate
  2. Stop infusion
  3. Flush line
  4. Ignore
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Stop infusion

Explanation: IV potassium can cause tissue damage.

Question 11

A client taking simvastatin reports muscle pain and dark urine. What is the priority action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Notify provider
  3. Encourage fluids
  4. Give analgesics
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Notify provider

Explanation: Rhabdomyolysis risk.

Question 12

A client taking prednisone develops fever and cough. What should the nurse do first?

  1. Give antipyretic
  2. Notify provider
  3. Encourage fluids
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Notify provider

Explanation: Immunosuppression increases infection risk.

Question 13

A client taking propranolol develops wheezing. What should the nurse do?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Hold medication
  3. Give oxygen
  4. Increase dose
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold medication

Explanation: Beta blockers can cause bronchospasm.

Question 14

A client taking levothyroxine reports weight loss, palpitations, and anxiety. What does this indicate?

  1. Underdose
  2. Overdose
  3. Normal
  4. Infection
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Overdose

Explanation: Symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Question 15

A client taking warfarin reports black stools. What should the nurse do?

  1. Administer medication
  2. Hold medication
  3. Give aspirin
  4. Reassure
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold medication

Explanation: GI bleeding sign.

Question 16

A client taking gentamicin reports hearing loss. What is the nurse's action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Notify provider
  3. Give analgesics
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Notify provider

Explanation: Ototoxicity is serious.

Question 17

A client taking aspirin reports ringing in the ears. What does this indicate?

  1. Normal
  2. Toxicity
  3. Allergy
  4. Infection
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Toxicity

Explanation: Salicylate toxicity.

Question 18

A client on heparin has an aPTT of 120 seconds. What is the nurse's action?

  1. Continue infusion
  2. Stop infusion
  3. Increase dose
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Stop infusion

Explanation: High bleeding risk.

Question 19

A client taking insulin is confused and diaphoretic. What is the nurse's first action?

  1. Give insulin
  2. Check blood glucose
  3. Call provider
  4. Give oxygen
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Check blood glucose

Explanation: Confirm hypoglycemia first.

Question 20

A client taking nitroglycerin reports dizziness when standing. What instruction should the nurse provide?

  1. Stand quickly
  2. Change positions slowly
  3. Stop medication
  4. Increase dose
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Change positions slowly

Explanation: Orthostatic hypotension risk.

Question 21

A client taking alendronate reports difficulty swallowing. What is the nurse's action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Hold medication
  3. Give milk
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold medication

Explanation: Esophageal irritation.

Question 22

A client taking isoniazid reports tingling in hands. What should the nurse do?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Give vitamin B6
  3. Stop medication
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Give vitamin B6

Explanation: Prevents neuropathy.

Question 23

A client taking oral contraceptives is prescribed antibiotics. What should the nurse teach?

  1. No change
  2. Use backup method
  3. Stop antibiotics
  4. Double dose
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Use backup method

Explanation: Antibiotics reduce effectiveness.

Question 24

A client receiving IV fluids develops shortness of breath and crackles. What is the priority action?

  1. Increase rate
  2. Slow infusion
  3. Give fluids
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Slow infusion

Explanation: Fluid overload.

Question 25

A client taking benzodiazepines reports drowsiness. What should the nurse instruct?

  1. Drive normally
  2. Avoid driving
  3. Increase dose
  4. Take with alcohol
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Avoid driving

Explanation: Safety risk.

Question 26

A client taking rifampin reports orange urine. What is the nurse's action?

  1. Stop medication
  2. Reassure client
  3. Notify provider
  4. Give fluids
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Reassure client

Explanation: Expected side effect.

Question 27

A client taking spironolactone has potassium of 6.1 mEq/L. What should the nurse do?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Hold medication
  3. Give potassium
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold medication

Explanation: Hyperkalemia is dangerous.

Question 28

A client taking acetaminophen reports abdominal pain. What is the nurse's action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Notify provider
  3. Give fluids
  4. Ignore
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Notify provider

Explanation: Possible liver damage.

Question 29

A nurse prepares insulin without checking glucose. What should the nurse do?

  1. Administer insulin
  2. Check glucose
  3. Give half dose
  4. Ignore
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Check glucose

Explanation: Always verify glucose.

Question 30

A client taking phenytoin develops a rash. What is the nurse's priority action?

  1. Continue medication
  2. Hold medication and notify provider
  3. Give antihistamines
  4. Monitor
View answer and explanation

Correct answer:

  1. Hold medication and notify provider

Explanation: Rash may indicate serious reaction.