LSUHSC

NURSING LICENSED PERSONNEL

Inpatient RN

Pharmacology Exam Instructions 
 
 

The Pharmacology Exam is given on the Tuesday during Nursing Orientation at 3:30 p.m.  If you start employment before or after the Nursing Orientation Scheduled Date, then you may take the Pharmacology Exam any weekday Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You will be required to take the Pharmacology Exam within 3 days of employment.  You must schedule an appointment by calling 675-5145.  You may use a calculator on this test.

Location:  BG-13 (Ground floor of hospital)

Enter through front of Hospital (Kings Hwy. entrance).  Go down the hallway behind reception’s desk to the first set of elevators.  Take the elevators to the Ground floor (G).  Take the hallway to the right, come all the way down and make a left and BG-13 will be on the right hand side before you get to the double doors (just past the Credit Union, across from the cafeteria).

Testing Time:  8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

You may test during these hours

The test usually takes 1-1― hours
 

YOU MAY NOT GIVE ANY MEDICATIONS UNTIL YOU PASS THE PHARMACOLOGY EXAM.
 
 
 

C:\Documents and Settings\jmill6\My Documents\RX Exams\Inpatient RN PHARMACOLOGY TEST STUDY GUIDE 071105.doc

RN PHARMACOLOGY TEST

STUDY GUIDE

A condition of employment at LSUHSC-S is that you pass a pharmacology test with a score of 80% or higher.  There are 60 questions on this multiple-choice test, which tests drug calculations, general medication knowledge, and situational factors. This is a difficult test. We strongly suggest that you use the following information to prepare for this test. 

Key items to know are:

1.  Routine medical abbreviations.

2.  Equivalents (i.e. grams–milligrams-micrograms).

3.  Calculation of IV drip rates using different drop factors  (60 gtts=1 cc; 15 gtts=1 cc; 10  gtts=1 cc), different fluid volumes ( 1000 cc, 800 cc, 600 cc, 400 cc, etc.)  and different time intervals for infusion of the fluid ( 10 hours, 6 hours, 5 hours, etc.)  

4. Computations involving the availability of the drug in a different dosage than what is ordered.

5.  Definitions of the following terms:  half life, synergistic effect, potentiates, untoward effects, paradoxical effects.

6.  Z-track technique.

7.  A macrodrip IV set delivers 10 drops of solution per milliliter.

8.  A microdrip IV set delivers 60 drops of solution per milliliter.

Of each of the following drugs or drug classifications, you will need to know:

Uses Actions Adverse/Side Effects
Lab values Route & Dosage Patient and Family Education

    NSAIDS

Lupron

Mycostatin (Nystatin)

TheoDur (Theophylline Anhydrous)

Nitrostat (Nitroglycerin)

Aerobid (Flunisolide)

Proventil (Albuterol)

Coumadin (Warfarin sodium)

Nolvadex (Tamoxifen citrate)

Mucomyst (Acetycysteine)

Regular insulin (Humulin R)

Carafate (Sucralfate)

Potassium Chloride

Epogen (Epoetin Alfa)

Lopressor (Metoprolol Tartrate)

INH (Isoniazid)

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

Constulase (Lactulose)

Penicillin G. Sodium

Premarin

Retovir (Zidovudine)

Tylenol (Acetaminophen)

Fungizone (Amphoterecin B)

Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide)

Zofran (Ondansetron)

Zyloprim (Allopurinol)

Claritin (Loratadine)

Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid)

Phenobarbital

Adriamycin (Doxorubicin Hydrochloride)

Atropine Sulfate

Bumex (Bumetanide)

Xylocaine (Lidocaine Hydrochloride)

Rifadin (Rifampin)

Cortisol (Hydrocortisone)

Intropin (Dopamine Hydrochloride)

Sandimmune (Cyclosporine)

Ketalar (Ketamine Hydrochloride)

Specific Drug Information

Adriamycin (doxorubicin hydrochloride) is used in the treatment of solid tumors, cancer of lungs and bladder, lymphomas and metastatic tumors.  It is a vesicant agent and should be administered with extreme caution to avoid extravasation.  Patients should be informed that Adriamycin will change   the color of urine to red because the drug is red.

Tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex) is indicated in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women.  Adverse/side effects include thrombosis, nausea & vomiting, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hair loss, weight gain, shortness of breath photosensitivity, hot flashes,  & hypercalcemia. When caring for a client taking tamoxifen citrate you should monitor serum Calcium levels as tamoxifen may produce transient increase in serum calcium.

Rifadin (Rifampin) - anti-infective antibiotic, antituberculosis agent.  Patient family education instructions would include to caution against abrupt withdrawal because flu-like symptoms occur with the interruption of drug therapy, inform patients that drug may cause a harmless red-orange color to urine, feces, sputum, sweat, and tears. Soft contact lenses may be permanently stained.

Ketalar