Pharmacology & Medication Management Flashcards
7 cards from real MSNCB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmacology & Medication Management flashcards as text
A patient is prescribed enoxaparin (Lovenox) for DVT prophylaxis. Which laboratory value requires the most frequent monitoring?
Answer: Platelet count
Platelet counts must be monitored with enoxaparin to detect heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), which can occur with low molecular weight heparins.
A nurse is preparing to give oral medications to a patient with a new nasogastric tube. Which medication should NOT be crushed?
Answer: Omeprazole delayed-release capsule
Omeprazole is an enteric-coated delayed-release formulation that should not be crushed as this destroys the protective coating and inactivates the drug in the stomach.
Which intervention is most important when administering IV potassium chloride?
Answer: Infuse at a rate no faster than 10–20 mEq/hour
IV potassium must be infused slowly (≤10–20 mEq/hour via peripheral line) because rapid administration can cause fatal cardiac dysrhythmias.
A patient prescribed tamsulosin (Flomax) for benign prostatic hyperplasia is about to undergo cataract surgery. The nurse should alert the surgical team because tamsulosin is associated with:
Answer: Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS)
Alpha-1 blockers like tamsulosin relax the iris dilator muscle, causing IFIS during cataract surgery and increasing the risk of serious intraoperative complications.
A patient taking lithium for bipolar disorder presents with tremors, confusion, and vomiting. Serum lithium level is 2.2 mEq/L. The nurse anticipates which treatment?
Answer: Hemodialysis to rapidly remove lithium
Lithium levels >2.0 mEq/L indicate severe toxicity with neurologic symptoms; hemodialysis is the most effective method to rapidly eliminate lithium.
A post-operative patient is prescribed patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine. Which nursing action is essential for safe PCA management?
Answer: Assess pain and sedation level every 1–2 hours
Regular assessment of pain and sedation level every 1–2 hours is essential to detect early signs of opioid-induced respiratory depression with PCA therapy.
A nurse is teaching a patient about taking oral iron supplements. Which instruction will maximize iron absorption?
Answer: Take iron with a glass of orange juice on an empty stomach
Vitamin C in orange juice enhances non-heme iron absorption, and taking iron on an empty stomach maximizes gastrointestinal uptake despite potential GI upset.