LVN Pharmacology & Medication Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which food should the LVN instruct the patient to keep consistent in their diet?
- Grapefruit juice
- Vitamin K-rich foods like leafy greens (Correct answer)
- High-sodium foods
- Foods containing tyramine
Correct answer: Vitamin K-rich foods like leafy greens
Vitamin K antagonizes warfarin's anticoagulant effect, so patients should keep intake consistent rather than eliminating it entirely.
Question 2: Which statement best describes the term 'half-life' of a drug?
- Time for a drug to reach peak plasma concentration
- Time for the body to eliminate half of the drug from plasma (Correct answer)
- Duration of a drug's therapeutic effect
- Time between doses for a drug to remain effective
Correct answer: Time for the body to eliminate half of the drug from plasma
Half-life is the time required for plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%, which guides dosing intervals.
Question 3: An LVN is preparing to administer an IM injection to an adult. What is the maximum volume that should be administered in the deltoid muscle?
- 1 mL (Correct answer)
- 2 mL
- 3 mL
- 5 mL
Correct answer: 1 mL
The deltoid muscle is small and can only safely accommodate up to 1 mL of medication to prevent tissue damage.
Question 4: A patient receiving heparin develops signs of bleeding. Which medication should be available as the antidote?
- Vitamin K
- Protamine sulfate (Correct answer)
- Naloxone
- Flumazenil
Correct answer: Protamine sulfate
Protamine sulfate binds to heparin and neutralizes its anticoagulant effect, making it the specific antidote for heparin toxicity.
Question 5: Which route of administration provides the fastest drug absorption?
- Subcutaneous
- Intramuscular
- Intravenous (Correct answer)
- Sublingual
Correct answer: Intravenous
Intravenous administration delivers medication directly into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption and providing the fastest onset.
Question 6: A patient is ordered acetaminophen 650 mg PO q6h PRN for pain. Available are 325 mg tablets. How many tablets should the LVN administer per dose?
- 1 tablet
- 1.5 tablets
- 2 tablets (Correct answer)
- 3 tablets
Correct answer: 2 tablets
650 mg ÷ 325 mg/tablet = 2 tablets per dose.
Question 7: Which class of medication requires the LVN to monitor the patient's blood pressure before administration?
- Antacids
- Antihypertensives (Correct answer)
- Antihistamines
- Antifungals
Correct answer: Antihypertensives
Antihypertensive medications lower blood pressure, so the LVN must assess baseline BP to prevent dangerous hypotension.
LVN Pharmacology & Medication Administration 2
A patient is prescribed warfarin.
Which food should the LVN instruct the patient to keep consistent in their diet?