NCAS Pharmacology and Medication Administration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient. What is the most important assessment to perform before administration?
- Blood pressure
- Apical pulse for one full minute (Correct answer)
- Respiratory rate
- Blood glucose level
Correct answer: Apical pulse for one full minute
Digoxin is withheld and the provider notified if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm, as the medication slows cardiac conduction.
Question 2: Which of the following medications requires routine monitoring of serum potassium levels due to its effect on electrolyte balance?
- Amoxicillin
- Furosemide (Correct answer)
- Metformin
- Atorvastatin
Correct answer: Furosemide
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes urinary potassium excretion, increasing the risk of hypokalemia.
Question 3: A patient is receiving IV heparin therapy. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to evaluate therapeutic effect?
- INR
- PT
- aPTT (Correct answer)
- CBC
Correct answer: aPTT
The aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) monitors the intrinsic coagulation pathway and reflects heparin's anticoagulant effect.
Question 4: A nurse is administering metformin to a newly admitted patient. Which condition is an absolute contraindication for this medication?
- Hypertension
- Renal impairment (Correct answer)
- Hyperlipidemia
- Osteoporosis
Correct answer: Renal impairment
Metformin is contraindicated in significant renal impairment because decreased clearance leads to drug accumulation and risk of lactic acidosis.
Question 5: Which route of medication administration provides the fastest onset of drug action?
- Oral
- Subcutaneous
- Intramuscular
- Intravenous (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Intravenous
Intravenous administration delivers medication directly into systemic circulation, bypassing all absorption barriers for immediate effect.
Question 6: A patient is prescribed warfarin for chronic atrial fibrillation. What dietary instruction should the nurse emphasize regarding vitamin K?
- Avoid all foods containing vitamin K
- Eat consistent amounts of vitamin K-containing foods (Correct answer)
- Increase vitamin K intake to enhance warfarin
- Vitamin K has no effect on warfarin therapy
Correct answer: Eat consistent amounts of vitamin K-containing foods
Consistent vitamin K intake is recommended because fluctuations in dietary vitamin K significantly alter warfarin's anticoagulant effect and INR values.
Question 7: A patient presents to the emergency department with acetaminophen overdose. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer as an antidote?
- Naloxone
- Flumazenil
- N-acetylcysteine (Correct answer)
- Protamine sulfate
Correct answer: N-acetylcysteine
N-acetylcysteine replenishes hepatic glutathione stores, preventing the toxic acetaminophen metabolite from causing liver damage.
NCAS Pharmacology and Medication Administration 1
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient.
What is the most important assessment to perform before administration?