Chapter 35: Acetaminophen

Chapter 35: Acetaminophen

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. An adult patient who has a viral upper respiratory infection asks the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about taking acetaminophen for fever and muscle aches. To help ensure against possible drug toxicity, the NP should first:

ANS:  D

Acetaminophen is present in many other OTC products, so patients should be cautioned about taking these with acetaminophen to avoid overdose. The adult dose is not based on height and weight and is not determined by the degree of temperature elevation.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   399

2. A parent asks a primary care NP how much acetaminophen to give a 2-year-old child who has a temperature of 37.5° C. The NP should tell the parent that:

ANS:  C

Acetaminophen is the drug of choice for treating fever but is generally not indicated for fever less than 37.7° C. Acetaminophen is safe for children and infants. Treating the fever may prolong the illness and mask symptoms, but these are not contraindications for giving antipyretics.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   399

3. An 80-year-old patient with congestive heart failure has a viral upper respiratory infection. The patient asks the primary care NP about treating the fever, which is 38.5° C. The NP should:

ANS:  A

Patients with congestive heart failure may have tachycardia from fever that aggravates their symptoms, so fever should be treated. High doses should be given with caution in elderly patients because of possible decreased hepatic function. Antibiotics should not be given without evidence of bacterial infection.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   400 – 401

4. A patient comes to the clinic and reports breaking out in an urticarial rash 1 hour after taking acetaminophen for osteoarthritis symptoms. The primary care NP should:

ANS:  D

Urticaria is indicative of a hypersensitivity reaction to acetaminophen. Patients who are hypersensitive should not take the drug again. Laboratory tests are not indicated. An urticarial rash does not indicate Reye’s syndrome.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   402