Nursing pharmacology: cardiovascular drugs
Fifteen questions by drug class on what to assess, what to teach and what to report. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
Written by the Quizard team. Last updated
Nursing pharmacology exams tend to ask what you would do, not only what a drug does. For each class, know what to assess before giving it, the adverse effect to report, and what to teach the patient. Hold parameters vary by facility and prescriber, so follow your own course and local policy.
| Class or drug | Watch for |
|---|---|
| Digoxin | Apical pulse, potassium, signs of toxicity |
| Beta-blockers | Heart rate, blood pressure, masked hypoglycemia |
| ACE inhibitors | Dry cough, angioedema, high potassium |
| Loop diuretics | Low potassium, fluid balance, ototoxicity |
| Warfarin | INR, bleeding, consistent vitamin K intake |
Questions
0 of 15 answered
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1. What should the nurse assess immediately before giving digoxin to an adult?
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Answer: Apical pulse for a full minute. Digoxin slows the heart rate. Many courses teach holding it and reporting a rate below 60, subject to local policy.
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2. Which symptom suggests digoxin toxicity?
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Answer: Yellow-green halos in vision. Visual changes, nausea, vomiting and arrhythmias are classic signs.
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3. Which electrolyte imbalance raises the risk of digoxin toxicity?
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Answer: Hypokalemia. Low potassium increases digoxin’s effect on the heart, which matters when a patient also takes a loop diuretic.
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4. What should a patient with diabetes know about beta-blockers?
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Answer: They can mask a fast heartbeat during hypoglycemia. Tachycardia and tremor may be blunted, so glucose checks matter more. Sweating often remains.
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5. A patient on lisinopril reports a persistent dry cough. What is the likely cause?
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Answer: An ACE inhibitor adverse effect. ACE inhibitors raise bradykinin, which is linked to dry cough. The patient should report it to the prescriber.
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6. Which symptom on an ACE inhibitor needs emergency care?
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Answer: Swelling of the lips and tongue. Angioedema can obstruct the airway.
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7. Which teaching applies to a patient taking lisinopril?
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Answer: Avoid potassium salt substitutes unless advised. ACE inhibitors can raise potassium, and salt substitutes often contain it.
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8. Which lab value is most important to monitor with furosemide?
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Answer: Potassium. Loop diuretics waste potassium.
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9. Which adverse effect is linked to a rapid IV push of furosemide?
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Answer: Ototoxicity. Rapid administration raises the risk of hearing damage.
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10. Spironolactone is most likely to cause which electrolyte problem?
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Answer: Hyperkalemia. It is a potassium-sparing diuretic that blocks aldosterone.
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11. Which lab test is used to monitor warfarin?
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Answer: INR. The INR is standard for warfarin. aPTT is used for unfractionated heparin.
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12. What should a patient on warfarin be taught about green leafy vegetables?
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Answer: Keep intake consistent. Vitamin K affects warfarin’s action, so sudden changes in intake can shift the INR.
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13. What is the reversal agent for unfractionated heparin?
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Answer: Protamine sulfate. Protamine reverses heparin. Vitamin K is used for warfarin.
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14. Sublingual nitroglycerin should not be combined with which drug?
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Answer: Sildenafil. Combining nitrates with PDE-5 inhibitors can cause severe hypotension.
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15. A patient on atorvastatin reports unexplained muscle pain. What should they do?
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Answer: Report it promptly. Muscle pain can signal myopathy and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis.
For exam study only, not clinical guidance. Doses, reference ranges and protocols vary, so follow your course, your local policy and current references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
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