While assessing a patient who is receiving intravenous digitalis, the nurse recognizes that the drug has a negative chronotropic effect. How would this drug effect be evident in the patient?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Digitalis has a negative chronotropic effect, meaning it slows down the heart rate. This can be evident in a patient by observing a decrease in their heart rate. Chronotropy refers to the heart rate or rhythm of the heart. Digitalis works by inhibiting the sodium-potassium pump in the heart muscle cells, leading to an increase in intracellular calcium levels. This results in a decreased heart rate and improved contractility of the heart muscle. Therefore, a decreased heart rate is the expected effect when a patient is receiving intravenous digitalis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Insulin glargine is typically administered subcutaneously. Subcutaneous injection allows for slow and continuous absorption of the medication, providing a sustained release of insulin to help regulate blood sugar levels. This route of administration is commonly used for long-acting insulins like insulin glargine to provide basal insulin coverage throughout the day. Sublingual, oral, IV, and other routes are not appropriate for administering insulin glargine.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Acetaminophen is not an opioid or NSAID. While it is commonly used to relieve pain and reduce fever, acetaminophen works differently from opioids and NSAIDs. Acetaminophen is believed to reduce pain by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins in the brain, whereas opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, and NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins in the peripheral tissues.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In the context of pharmacology, it is important for students to understand the rationale behind drug names and their alternate names. For the question regarding the other name for METFORMIN, the correct answer is D) glucophage. The rationale behind why "glucophage" is the correct answer is because it is an alternate name for the drug METFORMIN. METFORMIN is a commonly prescribed medication for managing type 2 diabetes by helping to control blood sugar levels. Understanding alternate names for drugs is crucial for healthcare professionals to ensure accurate communication and safe medication administration. Now, let's discuss why the other options are incorrect: A) Skelaxin - Skelaxin is a muscle relaxant medication and not related to METFORMIN in any way. C) Digoxin - Digoxin is a medication used to treat heart conditions such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. It is not an alternate name for METFORMIN. D) Glucophag - This is a misspelling of the correct answer, which is glucophage. Educationally, knowing the alternate names for drugs enhances students' pharmacological knowledge, aids in effective communication within healthcare settings, and promotes patient safety. It is crucial for students to be able to differentiate between drug names to prevent medication errors and ensure optimal patient care.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pharmacodynamics refers to the study of the biochemical, physiological, and behavioral effects of drugs on the body and their mechanisms of action. It specifically focuses on the drugs' actions at the receptor site and how these actions lead to specific responses in the body. This includes understanding how drugs interact with target receptors, enzymes, and other molecular targets within the body to produce their effects. Pharmacodynamics also involves studying the relationship between the drug concentration and the magnitude of the response it elicits, as well as factors influencing the variability in individual responses to a drug. In summary, pharmacodynamics is crucial for understanding how drugs work in the body and how they produce their therapeutic or adverse effects.