SAUNDERS PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
Week 1: Chapter 35 “Maternity and Newborn Medications”
Questions Answers and Rationales
1. The nurse is monitoring a client who is
receiving oxytocin (Pitocin) to induce labor.
...
SAUNDERS PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
Week 1: Chapter 35 “Maternity and Newborn Medications”
Questions Answers and Rationales
1. The nurse is monitoring a client who is
receiving oxytocin (Pitocin) to induce labor.
Which assessment finding would cause the
nurse to immediately discontinue the
oxytocin infusion?
1. Fatigue
2. Drowsiness
3. Uterine hyperstimulation
4. Early decelerations of the fetal heart rate
Rationale: Often used to induce labor. High doses are often used
for uterine hyperstimulation & C/S births. ADVERSE EFFECTS:
Hyperstimulation of uterine contractions & non-reassuring fetal
HR DISCONTINUE
2. A pregnant client is receiving magnesium
sulfate for the management of preeclampsia.
The nurse determines that the client is
experiencing toxicity from the medication if
which finding is noted on assessment?
1. Proteinuria of 3 +
2. Respirations of 10 breaths/ minute
3. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
4. Serum magnesium level of 6 mEq/ L
Rationale: Mg TOXICITY RESP. DEPRESSION, LOSS OF TENDON
REFLEXES & SUDDEN DECLINE IN FETAL HR, MATERNAL HR, &
BP caused by Mg tx. Must remain within therapeutic serum levels
4–7.5 mEq/L. Proteinuria 3+ is expected in a pt w/ preeclampsia.
3. The nurse is monitoring a client in preterm
labor who is receiving intravenous
magnesium sulfate. The nurse should
monitor for which adverse effects of this
medication? Select all that apply.
1. Flushing
2. Hypertension
3. Increased urine output
4. Depressed respirations
5. Extreme muscle weakness
6. Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
Rationale: Mg sulfate is a CNS depressant that relaxes smooth
muscles like the uterus. It’s used to STOP preterm labor
contractions and for preeclampsia pts. to PREVENT SEIZURES.
ADVERSE EFFECTS:
Flushing
Depressed respirations
Depressed deep tendon reflexes
Hypotension
Extreme muscle weakness
Decreased urine output
Pulmonary Edema
Elevated Mg serum levels
4. The nurse instructor asks a nursing student to
describe the procedure for administering
erythromycin ointment to the eyes of a
newborn. Which student statement indicates
that further teaching is needed?
1. “I will flush the eyes after instilling the ointment?”
2. “I will clean the newborn’s eyes before instilling ointment.”
3. “I need to administer the eye ointment within 1 hr. after
delivery.”
4. “I will instill the eye ointment into each of the NB’s conjunctiva
sacs.”
Rationale: Eye prophylaxis protects the NB against Neisseria
gonorrhea & Chlamydia trachomatis. The eyes are NOT FLUSHED
AFTER INSTILLATION of med because the flush would WASH
AWAY the administered medication.
5. A client in preterm labor (31 weeks) who is
dilated to 4 cm has been started on
magnesium sulfate and contractions have
stopped. If the client’s labor can be inhibited
for the next 48 hours, the nurse anticipates a
prescription for which medication?
1. Nalbuphine (Nubain)
2. Betamethasone (Celestone)
3. Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM)
4. Dinoprostone (Cervidil vaginal insert)
Rationale: Betamethasone, a glucocorticoid increases the
production of surfactant to stimulate fetal lung maturation. It is
administered to clients in preterm labor at 28 to 32 weeks of
gestation if the labor can be inhibited for 48 hours.
Nalbuphine (Nubain) is an opioid analgesic.
Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) is given to Rh-negative
clients to prevent immunological condition aka Rh disease
(hemolytic disease of NB); it takes out the + cells that were
transported from maternal blood stream fetal circulation.
Dinoprostone (Cervidil vaginal insert) is a prostaglandin given to
ripen and soften the cervix and to stimulate uterine contractions.
6. Methylergonovine (Methergine) is prescribed
for a woman to treat postpartum
hemorrhage. Before administration of
methylergonovine, what is the priority
nursing assessment?
1. Uterine tone
2. Blood pressure ABC!!!
3. Amount of lochia
4. Deep tendon reflexes
Rationale: Methylergonovine is an ERGOT ALKALOID prevents or
controls postpartum hemorrhage by contracting the uterus. This
med continuous uterine contractions and can elevate BP
CHECK BP report to MD if HTN is present
7. The nurse is preparing to administer
beractant (Survanta) to a premature infant
who has respiratory distress syndrome. The
nurse plans to administer the medication by
which route?
1. Intradermal
2. Intratracheal
3. Subcutaneous
4. Intramuscular
Rationale: Respiratory distress syndrome is a serious lung
disorder caused by immaturity and the inability to produce
surfactant hypoxia and acidosis. It is common in premature
infants and may be due to lung immaturity as a result of
surfactant deficiency. The mainstay of tx=exogenous surfactant,
which is administered by the intratracheal route.
* Note relationship that question states “respiratory distress
syndrome” Intratracheal
8. An opioid analgesic is administered to a
client in labor. The nurse assigned to care for
the client ensures that which medication is
readily available if respiratory depression
occurs?
1. Naloxone Antidote!
2. Morphine sulfate
3. Betamethasone (Celestone)
4. Meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol)
9. Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) is
prescribed for a client after delivery and the
nurse provides information to the client
about the purpose of the medication. The
nurse determines that the woman
understands the purpose if the woman states
that it will protect her next baby from which
condition?
1. Having Rh-positive blood
2. Developing a rubella infection
3. Developing physiological jaundice
4. Being affected by Rh incompatibility
Rationale: Rh incompatibility can occur when an Rh-negative
mother becomes sensitized to Rh antigen. Sensitization may
occur when an Rh-negative woman becomes pregnant with a
fetus who is positive maternal circulation mother’s immune
system to form antibodies against Rh+ blood. This medication
prevents mothers from developing antibodies against Rh+ blood
by providing passive antibody protection against Rh antigen.
10. Methylergonovine (Methergine) is prescribed
for a client with postpartum hemorrhage.
Before administering the medication, the
nurse contacts the health care provider who
prescribed the medication if which condition
is documented in the client’s medical history?
1. Hypotension
2. Hypothyroidism
3. Diabetes mellitus
4. Peripheral vascular disease
Rationale: Ergot alkaloids are contraindicated in clients with
significant cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease,
hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia. The vasoconstrictive
effects of the ergot alkaloids worsen these conditions.
Chapter 49: “Pediatric Med. Administration and Calculations”
Questions Answers and Rationales
1. The nurse is providing medication
instructions to a parent. Which statement
by the parent indicates a need for further
instruction?
1. “I should cuddle my child after giving the medication.”
2. “I can give my child a frozen juice bar after he swallows the
medication.”
3. “I should mix the medication in the baby food and give it when I
feed my child.”
4. “If my child does not like the taste of the medicine, I should
encourage him to pinch his nose and drink the medication through
a straw.”
Rationale: It may give an unpleasant taste to the food, and the
child may refuse to accept the same food in the future. In addition,
the child may not consume the entire serving and would not
receive the required medication dosage.
2. A health care provider’s prescription reads
“ampicillin sodium 125 mg IV every 6
hours.” The medication label reads “1 g and
reconstitute with 7.4 mL of bacteriostatic
water.” The nurse prepares to draw up how
many mL to administer one dose?
1. 1.1 mL
2. 0.54 mL
3. 7.425 mL
4. 0.925 mL
Rationale: 1 g= 1000 mg
3. A pediatric client with ventricular septal
defect repair is placed on a maintenance
dosage of digoxin (Lanoxin). The dosage is
0.07 mg/ kg/ day, and the client’s weight is
7.2 kg. The health care provider (HCP)
prescribes the digoxin to be given twice
daily. The nurse prepares how much digoxin
to administer to the client at each dose?
1. 0.5 mg
2. 2.5 mg
3. 0.25 mg
4. 0.37 mg
Rationale:
4. Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin), 1 g orally four
times daily, is prescribed for an adolescent
with a urinary tract infection. The
medication label reads “500-mg tablets.”
The nurse has determined that the dosage
prescribed is safe. The nurse administers
how many tablets per dose to the
adolescent?
1. 1⁄2 tablet
2. 1 tablet
3. 2 tablets
4. 3 tablets
Rationale:
5. Penicillin G procaine (Wycillin), 1,000,000
units IM (intramuscularly), is prescribed for
a child with an infection. The medication
label reads “1,200,000 units per 2 mL.” The
nurse has determined that the dose
prescribed is safe. The nurse administers
how many milliliters per dose to the child?
1. 0.8 mL
2. 1.2 mL
3. 1.44 mL
4. 1.66 mL
Rationale:
6. The nurse prepares to administer an
intramuscular injection to a 4-month-old
infant. The nurse selects which best site to
administer the injection?
1. Ventrogluteal
2. Dorsal gluteal
3. Rectus femoris
4. Vastus lateralis
Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the ONLY SAFE muscle group to
use for IM in a 4-month old infant. The other routes are unsafe.
7. Atropine sulfate, 0.6 mg intramuscularly, is
prescribed for a child preoperatively. The
nurse has determined that the dose
prescribed is safe and prepares to
administer how many milliliters to the child?
Fill in the blank (refer to figure).
Answer: 1.5mL
Week 2: Chapter 51 Integumentary Medications
Questions Answers and
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