Chapter 30: Antiemetics

Chapter 30: Antiemetics

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A woman is in her first trimester of pregnancy. She tells the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) that she continues to have severe morning sickness on a daily basis. The NP notes a weight loss of 1 pound from her previous visit 2 weeks prior. The NP should consult an obstetrician and prescribe:

ANS:  B

No antiemetic drugs should be used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy unless approved by an obstetrician. Ondansetron has been shown to be safe and effective (off-label) for hyperemesis gravidum.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   359

2. A primary care NP sees a patient who is about to take a cruise and reports having had motion sickness with nausea on a previous cruise. The NP prescribes the scopolamine transdermal patch and should instruct the patient to apply the patch:

ANS:  B

The transdermal system allows steady-state plasma levels of scopolamine to be reached rapidly and maintained for 3 days. The onset of action is approximately 4 hours. The patch should be changed every 3 days and left on at all times, not as needed.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   361

3. A primary care NP sees a patient 2 days after an outpatient surgical procedure. The patient reports using ondansetron for nausea. The NP notes a blood pressure of 88/56 mm Hg, and the patient reports feeling faint. The NP should suspect:

ANS:  C

Hypotension and faintness are signs of overdose of ondansetron, and drug toxicity is the more likely cause of this patient’s decrease in blood pressure.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   361

4. A patient reports having episodes of dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness and describes a sensation of the room spinning when these occur. The primary care NP will refer the patient to a specialist who, after diagnostic testing, is likely to prescribe:

ANS:  A

Patients with vertigo may experience whirling or a feeling of the room spinning around. In true vertigo, the patient can identify the direction in which the room is spinning. Anticholinergics are the most effective agents in cases of motion sickness or vertigo. Meclizine has a specific indication to treat vertigo.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   357