NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam New
Latest Version Updated 2024-2025 with All Questions
and Answers
Before giving methenamine [Hiprex] to a patient, it is important for the nurse to review the
patient's history for evidence of which problem? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Elevated
blood urea nitrogen and creatinine
A patient who has recently begun taking carbamazepine [Equetro] for bipolar disorder reports
having vertigo and headaches. Which action by the nurse is appropriate? ----------- Correct
Answer ----------- Reassure the patient that these effects occur early in treatment and will resolve
over time.
A patient is admitted to a hospital for treatment for first-time symptoms of mania and is
exhibiting euphoric mania. Which medication will the provider order? ----------- Correct Answer
----------- Lithium [Lithobid]
A patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium [Lithobid] for several years. The patient
has developed a goiter, and serum tests reveal hypothyroidism. What will the nurse expect the
provider to order for this patient? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Administration of
levothyroxine
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a hospitalized patient who has been taking
lithium [Lithobid] for 3 days. The patient is complaining of mild nausea and abdominal bloating.
The patient's lithium level is 0.8 mEq/L. What will the nurse do? ----------- Correct Answer ------
----- Administer the dose and tell the patient that the side effects are temporary.
A pregnant female patient with bacteriuria, suprapubic pain, urinary urgency and frequency, and
a low-grade fever is allergic to sulfa, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin. The nurse knows that the
best alternative for treating this urinary tract infection is with: ----------- Correct Answer ----------
- methenamine [Hiprex].
The parent of a 5-year-old child who has had four urinary tract infections in the past year asks
the nurse why the provider doesn't just order an antibiotic for the child's current symptoms of
low-grade fever, flank pain, and dysuria since these are similar symptoms as before. Which is the
most important reason given by the nurse? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- "Your child may
need tests to assess for urinary tract abnormalities."
Which patient with a urinary tract infection will require hospitalization and intravenous
antibiotics? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- An older adult man with a low-grade fever, flank
pain, and an indwelling catheter
A 20-year-old female patient has suprapubic discomfort, pyuria, dysuria, and bacteriuria greater
than 100,000/mL of urine. Which are the most likely diagnosis and treatment? ----------- Correct
,Answer ----------- Uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection treatable with short-course
therapy
An older male patient comes to the clinic with complaints of chills, malaise, myalgia, localized
pain, dysuria, nocturia, and urinary retention. The nurse would most likely suspect that the
patient has: ----------- Correct Answer ----------- prostatitis.
A patient presents to the emergency department with complaints of chills, severe flank pain,
dysuria, and urinary frequency. The patient has a temperature of 102.9° F, a pulse of 92
beats/minute, respirations of 24 breaths/minute, and a blood pressure of 119/58 mm Hg. The
nurse would be correct to suspect that the patient shows signs and symptoms of: -----------
Correct Answer ----------- pyelonephritis.
A pregnant patient with fever, flank pain, and chills has a history of two previous bladder
infections before getting pregnant. She is allergic to several antibiotics. She reports having taken
methenamine successfully in the past. What will the nurse tell her? ----------- Correct Answer ----
------- "This agent is not effective against infections of the upper urinary tract."
A nurse is preparing to administer an antibiotic to a patient with methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The nurse would expect the health care provider to order which
antibiotic? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Daptomycin [Cubicin]
A patient who is taking calcium supplements receives a prescription for ciprofloxacin [Cipro] for
a urinary tract infection. The nurse will teach this patient to: ----------- Correct Answer -----------
take the calcium either 6 hours before or 2 hours after taking the ciprofloxacin
A nurse is preparing to administer oral ofloxacin to a patient. While taking the patient's
medication history, the nurse learns that the patient takes warfarin and theophylline. The correct
action by the nurse is to request an order to: ----------- Correct Answer ----------- monitor
coagulation levels
A 65-year-old patient who receives glucocorticoids for arthritis is admitted to the hospital for
treatment of a urinary tract infection. The prescriber has ordered intravenous ciprofloxacin
[Cipro]. Before administering the third dose of this drug, the nurse reviews the bacterial culture
report and notes that the causative organism is Escherichia coli. The bacterial sensitivity report is
pending. The patient complains of right ankle pain. What will the nurse do? ----------- Correct
Answer ----------- Withhold the dose of ciprofloxacin and notify the provider of the
patient'ssymptoms.
A provider orders intravenous moxifloxacin [Avelox] for a patient who has sinusitis.
Before administering the drug, the nurse will review this patient's chart for: ----------- Correct
Answer ----------- recent serum electrolyte levels.
A patient will receive oral ciprofloxacin [Cipro] to treat a urinary tract infection. The nurse
provides teaching for this patient. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further
teaching? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- "I should take this medication with food or milk to
,improve absorption."
A patient who is receiving intravenous ciprofloxacin for pneumonia develops diarrhea. A stool
culture is positive for Clostridium difficile. The nurse will expect the provider to: -----------
Correct Answer ----------- add metronidazole [Flagyl].
The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin receiving intravenous ciprofloxacin [Cipro] to
treat pyelonephritis. The nurse learns that the patient has a history of myasthenia gravis. Which
action by the nurse is correct? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Suggest that the provider
order a different antibiotic for this patient.
A patient is being treated for a systemic fungal infection with amphotericin B [Abelcet] and will
be discharged home from the hospital to complete every-other-day infusions of the medication
for 6 to 8 weeks. The nurse provides discharge teaching before dismissal. Which statement by
the patient indicates a need for further teaching? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- "I may
experience headaches and pain in my lower back, legs, and abdomen."
A child has ringworm of the scalp. A culture of the lesion reveals a dermatophytic infection. The
nurse teaching the child's parents about how to treat this infection will include which statement?
----------- Correct Answer ----------- "Your child will need to take this oral medication for 6 to 8
weeks."
The nurse is preparing to administer amphotericin B intravenously. The nurse will expect to
pretreat the patient with which medications? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Acetaminophen
[Tylenol], diphenhydramine [Benadryl], and meperidine [Demerol]
A nurse is caring for a patient who has a superficial fungal infection and notes that the provider
has ordered 200 mg of ketoconazole [Nizoral] 200 mg PO once daily. Which action by the nurse
is correct? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Request an order for a different antifungal
medication.
A patient is being treated with amphotericin B [Abelcet] for a systemic fungal infection. After
several weeks of therapy, the provider orders flucytosine [Ancobon] in addition to the
amphotericin. The nurse understands that the rationale for this combination is that it: -----------
Correct Answer ----------- lowers the dose of amphotericin B and reduces toxicity.
A patient will begin taking an immunosuppressant medication. The nurse learns that the patient
has a history of frequent candidal infections. The nurse will expect the provider to order which
drug as prophylaxis? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Posaconazole [Noxafil]
A provider has ordered oral voriconazole [Vfend] for a patient who has a systemic fungal
infection. The nurse obtains a medication historyand learns that the patient takes phenobarbital
for seizures. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss which possibility? ----------- Correct
Answer ----------- Using a different antifungal agent
A nurse is discussing intravenous amphotericin B treatment with a nursing student who is about
, to care for a patient with a systemic fungal infection. Which statement by the student indicates a
need for further teaching? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- "Infusions of amphotericin B
should be administered over 1 to 2 hours."
A patient has come to the clinic with tinea corporis, and the prescriber has ordered clotrimazole.
When educating the patient about this medication, the nurse will include which statement? -------
---- Correct Answer ----------- "Use the medication for at least 1 week after the symptoms have
cleared"
A patient has an invasive aspergillosis infection. Which antifungal agent is the drug of choice for
this infection? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Voriconazole [Vfend]
A patient who is taking ketoconazole tells the nurse that her periods have become irregular. What
will the nurse tell her? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- This is caused by a reversible effect
on estradiol synthesis.
A patient is receiving intravenous voriconazole [Vfend]. Shortly after the infusion starts, the
patient tells the nurse, "Colors look different, and the light hurts my eyes." What will the nurse
do? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Reassure the patient that these effects will subside in
about 30 minutes.
A patient with a history of congestive heart failure and renal impairment hasesophageal
candidiasis. Which antifungal agent would the nurse anticipate giving to this patient? -----------
Correct Answer ----------- Fluconazole [Diflucan]
A patient will begin treatment with posaconazole [Noxafil] to treat oropharyngeal candidiasis
that has not responded to fluconazole. The provider has ordered 200 mg three times daily. Which
action by the nurse is correct? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Discuss a 400-mg twice-daily
drug regimen with the provider.
A patient is taking oral ketoconazole [Nizoral] for a systemic fungal infection. The nurse reviews
the medication administration record and notes that the patient is also taking omeprazole
[Prilosec] for reflux disease. What action should the nurse take? ----------- Correct Answer -------
---- Administer the omeprazole at least 2 hours after the ketoconazole.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving amphotericin B [Abelcet] for a systemic fungal
infection. In spite of receiving diphenhydramine and acetaminophen before initiation of
treatment, the patient has fever and chills with rigors. The nurse will contact the provider to
discuss the addition of which drug? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Dantrolene
A patient has a systemic candidal infection, and the provider has ordered oral fluconazole
[Diflucan] 400 mg on day 1 and 200 mg once daily thereafter. What will the nurse do? -----------
Correct Answer ----------- Administer the drug as ordered.
A patient with histoplasmosis is being treated with itraconazole [Sporanox]. The nurse will teach
this patient to report which symptoms? ----------- Correct Answer ----------- Nausea, vomiting,
