A patient is in the intensive care unit and receiving an infusion of milrinone (Primacor) for severe

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Milrinone is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor used to improve cardiac contractility and reduce pulmonary congestion in patients with heart failure. Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume in patients with congestive heart failure. Given that both milrinone and furosemide are typically administered intravenously and may have potentially incompatible effects on fluid and electrolyte balance, it is critically important to administer them separately. Mixing these medications in the same intravenous line can lead to potential drug interactions or decrease the effectiveness of either drug.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Drugs that block both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors are primarily used to treat cardiac-related conditions. Phentolamine, a nonselective alpha-adrenergic blocking agent, is used to treat extravasation of IV norepinephrine or dopamine and hypertension related to a pheochromocytoma. Alpha1-selective adrenergic blocking agents are used for treatment of hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The beta-adrenergic blocking agents are used to treat cardiovascular problems (hypertension, angina, migraine headaches) and to prevent reinfarction after myocardial infarction. Beta1-selective adrenergic blocking agents are used for treating hypertension, angina, and some cardiac arrhythmias. The nurse should understand the indications for these agents to ensure safe and effective administration.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Omeprazole is classified as an antiulcer agent. It belongs to the class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which work by reducing the production of stomach acid. Omeprazole is commonly used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Its main therapeutic effects include reducing stomach acid secretion and promoting the healing of ulcers.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The therapeutic range for digoxin levels is typically considered to be between 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL for patients with heart failure. A digoxin level of 1.1 ng/mL falls within this range, indicating that the patient's digoxin level is appropriate for therapeutic effects. This level suggests that the patient is receiving an appropriate dose of digoxin to achieve the desired therapeutic response without reaching toxic levels.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pharmacodynamics refers to the study of how drugs exert their effects on the body, including the interactions between a drug and its target molecule or receptor leading to a biological response. Understanding a drug's mechanism of action involves determining how it interacts with specific receptors, enzymes, ion channels, or other molecular targets within the body to produce the desired therapeutic effects. Pharmacokinetics, on the other hand, involves the study of how drugs move through the body, including their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, which although important for determining effective drug dosages and concentrations, does not directly provide insight into how a drug exerts its pharmacological effects. Therapeutic action refers to the overall clinical effect of the drug in treating a specific condition, which is influenced by its pharmacodynamics. Pharmaceutical preparations involve drug formulation and delivery methods, such as tablets, injections, or creams, which affect a drug's bioavailability but do not determine its specific mechanism of action.