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Nursing Pharmacology: Cardiovascular Drugs — quiz
15 multiple-choice questions covering ACE Inhibitors, ARBs, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Loop Diuretics. One answer each; you get a score at the end and the explanation for every question. No account needed.
Updated 2026-11-04. Keys 1–4 pick an answer, Enter moves on. Redo it any time, in order or shuffled.
The questions
Answers and explanations are shown after you finish.
- ACE Inhibitors
A patient is started on lisinopril for hypertension. Which physiological effect explains why this drug also helps reduce fluid volume overload in heart failure?
- Decreased aldosterone secretion leading to less sodium and water retention
- Increased renal excretion of potassium
- Direct stimulation of beta-1 receptors in the heart
- Direct blockade of calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle
- ACE Inhibitors
A patient on lisinopril calls the clinic reporting a persistent dry cough. What is the most likely cause, and what is the priority action if the patient also reports facial swelling?
- Cough indicates hypokalemia; give potassium-rich foods
- Cough is a sign of digoxin toxicity; check potassium level
- Cough is from bradykinin buildup; if facial swelling occurs, stop the drug immediately
- Cough is from bronchospasm; give an inhaled bronchodilator
- ARBs
Why might a provider switch a patient from lisinopril to losartan after the patient develops a bothersome side effect?
- Losartan has no risk of hyperkalemia, unlike lisinopril
- Losartan blocks angiotensin II receptors directly rather than blocking its formation, avoiding bradykinin-related cough
- Losartan is safe in pregnancy while lisinopril is not
- Losartan works faster than lisinopril in emergencies
- Beta Blockers
Before administering metoprolol, the nurse checks the patient's apical pulse and finds it to be 52 bpm. What should the nurse do?
- Administer the dose as scheduled since bradycardia is expected with beta blockers
- Administer half the prescribed dose
- Hold the dose and notify the provider
- Give the dose but recheck pulse in one hour
- Beta Blockers
A patient has been taking metoprolol for six months and wants to stop because they feel fine. What should the nurse teach about discontinuing the medication?
- It should be stopped only if the patient develops a dry cough
- It can be stopped abruptly once blood pressure is controlled
- It can be stopped immediately if the patient has asthma
- It must be tapered gradually to avoid rebound hypertension and tachycardia
- Calcium Channel Blockers
A patient taking diltiazem for atrial fibrillation should be monitored most closely for which adverse effect, distinguishing it from amlodipine?
- Bradycardia and heart block from slowed AV conduction
- Reflex tachycardia
- Peripheral edema and flushing
- Hyperkalemia
- Loop Diuretics
A patient receiving IV furosemide reports ringing in the ears. What should the nurse suspect, and what administration factor increases this risk?
- Ototoxicity, increased by rapid IV push
- Hypokalemia from oral furosemide
- Hypercalcemia from thiazide use
- Digoxin toxicity from drug interaction
- Thiazide Diuretics
A patient on hydrochlorothiazide has a routine lab draw. Which combination of findings would be expected as a result of this medication?
- Hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia
- Hyperkalemia and hypoglycemia
- Hypokalemia and hypoglycemia
- Hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, and hyperglycemia
- Potassium-Sparing Diuretics
A patient taking spironolactone asks if they should use a salt substitute to help with taste. What is the nurse's best response?
- Salt substitutes are only a concern for patients on furosemide
- Avoid salt substitutes because they often contain potassium, raising the risk of hyperkalemia
- Salt substitutes will help prevent gynecomastia
- Salt substitutes are fine since spironolactone causes potassium loss
- Nitrates
A patient takes sublingual nitroglycerin for chest pain but gets no relief after the first dose. What should the patient be instructed to do?
- Call 911 if no relief within 5 minutes, and may repeat up to 3 doses 5 minutes apart
- Switch to an oral nitroglycerin tablet instead
- Wait 15 minutes before taking a second dose
- Take two tablets immediately to increase effect
- Digoxin
Before giving a scheduled dose of digoxin, the nurse notes an apical pulse of 58 bpm and a potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. What is the priority nursing action?
- Administer the dose since the pulse is only slightly low
- Give the dose and recheck potassium in 24 hours
- Hold the dose and notify the provider due to both bradycardia and hypokalemia increasing toxicity risk
- Administer a potassium supplement and then give digoxin
- Amiodarone
A patient on amiodarone reports a new persistent cough and shortness of breath. What should the nurse suspect?
- Expected bradycardia from the drug
- Pulmonary toxicity, a signature risk of amiodarone
- Thyroid dysfunction causing respiratory symptoms
- Normal photosensitivity reaction
- Adenosine
A nurse is preparing to administer adenosine for a patient in SVT. Which administration technique is correct, and what should the patient be told to expect?
- Give intramuscularly; expect localized pain at the injection site
- Give orally with food; expect gradual symptom relief over an hour
- Give as a rapid IV push followed by a saline flush; expect brief flushing and a sense of impending doom
- Infuse slowly over 30 minutes; expect mild drowsiness
- Adenosine
A patient with second-degree heart block is being considered for adenosine administration for a separate arrhythmia. What is the nursing concern?
- Adenosine will correct the heart block as a secondary benefit
- There is no contraindication since adenosine has a very short half-life
- Adenosine is contraindicated because it can worsen AV conduction delay and cause prolonged asystole
- Adenosine is safe because it only affects ventricular tissue
- Anticoagulants
A patient is transitioning from heparin to warfarin therapy. Which statement correctly describes why both drugs are given together initially?
- Warfarin reverses the effects of heparin, so they must be given together
- Both drugs require aPTT monitoring, making combination therapy more convenient
- Heparin has immediate onset while warfarin takes days to reach therapeutic effect, so bridging prevents a gap in anticoagulation
- Heparin is given only after warfarin reaches therapeutic INR levels
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