A client who is taking famotidine (Pepcid) asks the home care nurse what would be the best medication to take for a headache. The nurse tells the client that it would be best to take:         A. aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA)      B. ibuprofen (Motrin)      C. acetaminophen (Tylenol)      D. naproxen (Naprosyn)     … Read More »

Hormonal agents are used to treat some cancers. An example would be:         A. Thyroxine to treat thyroid cancer.      B. ACTH to treat adrenal carcinoma.      C. Estrogen antagonists to treat breast cancer.      D. Glucagon to treat pancreatic carcinoma.           Correct Answer: C. Estrogen antagonists to treat breast cancer. Estrogen… Read More »

The most serious adverse effect of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose is:         A. Hyperpyrexia      B. Cardiac arrhythmias      C. Seizures      D. Metabolic acidosis           Correct Answer: B. Cardiac arrhythmias. Excessive ingestion of TCAs results in life-threatening wide QRS complex tachycardia. Tricyclic antidepressants act on approximately five different neurotransmitter pathways to achieve their… Read More »

Which of the following muscles is a possible site for IM injections?         A. Outer aspect of the hip.      B. Shoulder.      C. Vastus gluteus.      D. Vastus lateralis.           Correct Answer: D. Vastus lateralis. Possible injection sites for IM administration include ventrogluteal, deltoid, dorsogluteal, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris. The… Read More »

A nurse is caring for a client with a history of overdosage of aspirin. The nurse suspects which of the following can be an early sign of aspirin toxicity?         A. Unsteady gait      B. Drowsiness      C. Confusion      D. Tinnitus           Correct Answer: D. Tinnitus Acute ingestion of less than… Read More »

Mrs. Johanson’s physician has prescribed tetracycline 500 mg PO q6h. While assessing Mrs. Johanson’s nursing history for allergies, the nurse notes that Mrs. Johanson is also taking oral contraceptives. What is the most appropriate initial nursing intervention?         A. Administer the dose of tetracycline.      B. Notify the physician that Mrs. Johanson is taking oral contraceptives.   … Read More »

A nurse is planning dietary counseling for the client taking triamterene (Dyrenium). The nurse plans to include which of the following in a list of foods that are acceptable?         A. Baked potato      B. Bananas      C. Oranges      D. Pears canned in water           Correct Answer: D. Pears canned in… Read More »

Chemotherapeutic agents often produce a certain degree of myelosuppression including leukopenia. Leukopenia does not present immediately but is delayed several days to weeks because:         A. The patient’s hemoglobin and hematocrit are normal.      B. Red blood cells are affected first.      C. Folic acid levels are normal.      D. The current white cell count… Read More »

The nurse is aware that the following solutions are routinely used to flush an IV device before and after the administration of blood to a patient is:         A. 0.9 percent sodium chloride.      B. 5 percent dextrose in water solution.      C. Sterile water.      D. Heparin sodium.           Correct Answer:… Read More »

When deciding on what time of day to give medications, the nurse pays the closest attention to the client’s habits regarding:         A. Eating      B. Sleeping      C. Elimination      D. Activity           Correct Answer: A. Eating Eating is the most important of these because food in the stomach must be… Read More »