Skip to ContentGo to accessibility page
OpenStax Logo
Pharmacology for Nurses

Chapter 1

Pharmacology for NursesChapter 1

Chapter 1

Case Study

1.
b. The client is well above the recommended 4 grams/day dose based on the manufacturer’s recommendation for acetaminophen. Taking the drug every 4 hours equates to taking the drug six times/day
( 6 × 1000 mg = 6 grams/day ). Taking more than 4 grams of acetaminophen in 24 hours can cause acute liver problems. Educating the client about the importance of safe dosing guidelines can prevent future problems.
2.
c. Visits to health care providers may be reduced when clients self-medicate, following the directions that come with the medication, for minor ailments.

Review Questions

1.
d. Acetaminophen is the generic form of the drug Tylenol, and they have the same active ingredients. Either formulation would be acceptable.
2.
b. Both drugs belong under Schedule II and are highly addictive.
3.
b. Ibuprofen is the generic name for Motrin; Motrin is the brand or trade name for ibuprofen. The chemical name for ibuprofen is 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propanoic acid.
4.
a. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients but may have different inactive ingredients.
5.
d. Decreased GI motility causes increased transit time in the gut, which increases the time for absorption of the drug. Toxicity may result.
6.
c. Toxicity is the greatest concern in this older client who is also underweight. Therefore, this client may require a lower dose of the drug.
7.
b. IP collaboration has many advantages, including decreased hospitalization costs, improved client safety, and improved communication regarding team goals.
8.
a. The FDA is the regulatory agency tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that all drugs are safe and effective for all individuals across the lifespan.
9.
b. Phase II incorporates a relatively small number of volunteers with the disease the drug is designed to treat.
10.
b. The first action by the nurse should be to assess the client’s medication history and whether or not the client is taking the medications as prescribed. All other actions will be performed, but the assessment should be completed first.
PreviousNext
Order a print copy
Citation/Attribution
Reuse and redistribution of this content in digital or print format:
  • This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's prior written permission.
  • This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, which means that you can reuse and modify the material only for noncommercial purposes, must attribute OpenStax, and must distribute any derivative works under the same license.
  • Any commercial printing of this textbook, including using a local or custom printer, must be approved by OpenStax, and proper citation provided.
  • OpenStax-copyrighted images, activities, assessments, and similar components of this book are subject to the same licensing – CC-BY-NC-SA. They can be used for noncommercial purposes with attribution. Commercial use requires permission.
  • Permission requests: Anyone who intends to incorporate this content (including text, images, and other components) into large language models, use it in AI offerings, use it commercially (including in print), and/or has questions about another use case is welcome to complete our reuse request form.
Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a noncommercial print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/pharmacology/pages/1-introduction

  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a noncommercial digital format, then for every page that includes OpenStax content, you must license the derivative work under the same CC-BY-NC-SA license as the original, and include on every digital page view the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/pharmacology/pages/1-introduction

Citation information

The information below includes the information needed to generate citations in most major styles (APA, MLA, etc.); you must reformat and organize the information as needed to fit the requirements of the style. Use the information below to generate a citation. We recommend using a citation tool such as this one.

© Apr 23, 2026 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo, and Rice University name, and Rice University logo trademarks, or wordmarks are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.