NCLEX Pharmacology: Cardiovascular Medications

Question 1

A patient is prescribed metoprolol succinate. Which condition is this medication primarily used to treat?

Accepted Answer

Heart failure and hypertension

Answer

Metoprolol succinate is a beta-1 selective blocker used to treat heart failure, hypertension, and angina by reducing heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand.

Question 2

The nurse is administering digoxin. Which assessment finding requires holding the medication and notifying the provider?

Accepted Answer

Heart rate of 54 bpm

Answer

Digoxin should be held if the apical heart rate is less than 60 bpm in adults. A rate of 54 indicates bradycardia and risk for digoxin toxicity.

Question 3

A patient taking warfarin has an INR of 4.8. Which action should the nurse take first?

Accepted Answer

Hold the warfarin and notify the provider

Answer

An INR of 4.8 is supratherapeutic (therapeutic range 2–3 for most indications), indicating a high bleeding risk. The nurse should hold warfarin and notify the provider for further instructions.

Question 4

Which electrolyte imbalance most increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?

Accepted Answer

Hypokalemia

Answer

Hypokalemia (low potassium) increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because digoxin and potassium compete for the same binding sites on the Na+/K+ ATPase pump.

Question 5

A patient is starting lisinopril for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse include in patient teaching?

Accepted Answer

Dry, persistent cough

Answer

ACE inhibitors like lisinopril commonly cause a dry, persistent cough due to accumulation of bradykinin. This is a known side effect and may require switching to an ARB.

NCLEX Practice Test

NCLEX Practice Test

NCLEX Pharmacology: Cardiovascular Medications