Basic Pharmacology Concepts
1.Right Patient
2.Right Route
3. Right dose
4.Right time
5.Right to refuse
6. Right reason
7.Right documentation
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which action demonstrates the nurse's understanding of safe medication administration?
A. Administering the medication because it was prescribed by the provider
B. Checking the patient's identification only after administering the medication
C. Comparing the medication label with the medication order before administration
D. Asking another nurse to verify the medication instead of assessing the patient
Correct Answer: C. Comparing the medication label with the medication order before administration
Rationale: Medication safety requires verification before administration. The nurse should confirm the medication order, patient, medication, dose, route, time, and other applicable medication rights.
When you think of an elevated potassium level what organ do you think of as priority findings to watch for?
A) Heart
B) Lungs
C) Skin
A)Heart -
Rationale- A significantly elevated potassium level can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias
What is the normal range of sodium?
Normal sodium is :
135–145 mEq/L
What is the Cardnial Sign of Redness?
Rubor
A nurse is teaching a student about pharmacokinetics. Which statement by the student demonstrates correct understanding?
A. “Pharmacokinetics describes what the medication does to the body.”
B. “Pharmacokinetics describes the patient's response to a medication.”
C. “Pharmacokinetics describes absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.”
D. “Pharmacokinetics describes whether a medication is an agonist or antagonist.”
Correct Answer: C. “Pharmacokinetics describes absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.”
A client is experiencing hypovolemia with a blood pressure of 84/50 mmHg and tachycardia. Which isotonic IV solution would the nurse expect to be prescribed for volume replacement?
A. 0.45% NaCl
B. 0.9% NaCl
C. 3% NaCl
D. Sterile water
Answer: B. 0.9% NaCl
Rationale:
0.9% sodium chloride is an isotonic crystalloid commonly used for extracellular and intravascular volume replacement.
The nurse receives report on four clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with sodium of 135mEq/L who reports feeling tired
B. A client with potassium of 6.1 mEq/L peaked T waves on ekg and chest pain
C. A client with calcium of 10.7mg/dL who reports constipation
D. A client with magnesium of 1.7 mg/dL who reports minimal muscle tremors
Answer: B. A client with potassium of 6.1 mEq/L and peaked T waves
Rationale:
The client with hyperkalemia and ECG changes is the highest priority because potassium abnormalities can rapidly cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
A patient has a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize this condition as this electrolyte imbalance.
What is hypokalemia?
During Acute Inflammation Process what two lab values will you see elevated?
What are WBCs and neutrophils
A patient receives a medication that binds to a specific receptor and prevents another substance from activating that receptor. The nurse recognizes this medication as which type of drug?
A. Agonist
B. Antagonist
C. Enzyme
D. Hormone
Correct Answer: B. Antagonist
Rationale: An antagonist binds to a receptor and blocks or prevents activation by another substance. An agonist would activate the receptor and produce a response.
NCLEX Tip: When a question says “blocks,” “prevents activation,” or “inhibits receptor response,” think antagonist.
The healthcare provider orders a colloid plasma volume expander for a shock patient. Which of the following fluids should the nurse identify as a colloid?
A. 0.9% normal saline
B. Lactated Ringers
C. 5% dextrose in water
D. Albumin
Answer: D. Albumin
Rationale:
Albumin is a colloid. It contains large protein molecules and increases plasma oncotic pressure, helping draw fluid into the intravascular space.
When you are assessing edema what assessments will you document?
Location, daily weights, skin integrity, daily urine output
What is normal Value of PH?
*Normal: 7.35–7.45
<7.35 → Acidosis
>7.45 → Alkalosis
A patient is having altered mental status, hypotension, worsening oxygen status, and has a elevated lactic acid, what do you suspect patient has?
Sepsis
A nurse is reviewing the four major tissue types with a group of nursing students. Which tissue type is primarily responsible for covering body surfaces, lining organs and body cavities, and forming glands?
A. Connective tissue
B. Muscle tissue
C. Epithelial tissue
D. Nervous tissue
Answer: C. Epithelial tissue
Rationale:
Epithelial tissue covers body surfaces, lines internal organs and cavities, and forms glands.
What isotonic crystalloid Medication used for burns and in surgeries?
Lactated Ringers
The nurse is teaching about food containing Vit K, which foods would you recommend for your client?
A- spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli
B- bread, cereal, grains
C- Citrus fruits and juices
A- spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli high in Vit K
Hypertonic solutions cause the water to moves out of the cell causing the cell to: Shrink or swell?
Water moves out of cell → cell shrinks
What is the core treatment of osteoarthritis?
Exercise , strength training, flexibility and weight management
A nurse is explaining diffusion to a nursing student. Which statement best describes diffusion?
A. Water moves toward an area of higher solute concentration.
B. Particles move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
C. Fluid is pushed from the capillary into the interstitial space.
D. Water moves from an area of lower concentration to higher concentration.
Answer: B. Particles move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Rationale:
Diffusion = movement of particles from high concentration to low concentration.
What is the name of medication for acute gout treatment?
Colchicine
Your patient is taking NSAIDS, you will monitor patient for :
A) vomiting
B) GI Bleeding
C) dehydration
B) GI Bleeds
What is name of colloid that Expands plasma volume, and increases blood pressure?
Albumin
A septic patient with persistent hypotension after fluids the nurse might consider which vasopressor medication?
Norepinephrine