Pharmacological Therapies Flashcards
7 cards from real LPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmacological Therapies flashcards as text
A patient prescribed furosemide (Lasix) should be monitored most closely for which electrolyte imbalance?
Answer: Hypokalemia
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes significant potassium wasting through the kidneys, making hypokalemia the primary electrolyte concern.
Which medication is used as the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
Answer: N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione stores in the liver, preventing hepatotoxicity caused by toxic acetaminophen metabolites.
A patient taking phenytoin (Dilantin) should be taught to report which adverse effect that indicates toxicity?
Answer: Nystagmus, ataxia, and confusion
Nystagmus, ataxia, and confusion are classic signs of phenytoin toxicity, reflecting CNS effects at supratherapeutic serum levels.
When administering a subcutaneous insulin injection, where should the nurse insert the needle?
Answer: Into subcutaneous fat at a 45-90 degree angle depending on body habitus
Subcutaneous insulin is injected into fatty tissue; the angle depends on the patient's body mass, using 45° for thin patients and 90° for others.
A patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) should strictly avoid which food?
Answer: Aged cheeses and cured meats
Aged cheeses and cured meats are high in tyramine; MAOIs prevent tyramine breakdown, potentially causing a hypertensive crisis.
Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of how to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer?
Answer: 'I will press the inhaler, then breathe in slowly and hold for 10 seconds.'
Proper MDI technique involves actuating the inhaler into the spacer, then inhaling slowly and holding the breath for 10 seconds to maximize deposition.
A nurse is preparing to give a patient ciprofloxacin. Which finding in the patient's history would prompt the nurse to notify the provider before administration?
Answer: Current use of antacids containing magnesium
Magnesium and aluminum in antacids chelate fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin, reducing absorption by up to 90%; timing must be separated by at least 2 hours.