NSG-426 Pharmacology II

Chapter 46: Drugs Treating HIV Infection and AIDS

1. A 22-year-old patient is HIV-positive. She is 8 months pregnant and did not receive
antiretroviral therapy during her pregnancy. The nurse explains to the women that the best way
to reduce the risk of transmitting the HIV virus to her baby is by receiving
A) intravenous zidovudine during delivery.
B) zidovudine in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.
C) intravenous zidovudine during labor.
D) zidovudine 1 week before the baby is born.

2. A nurse is assessing a 66-year-old man who is HIV-positive. The patient has been prescribed
didanosine (Videx). It would be most important to question the patient about which of the
following?
A) High-calorie diet
B) Alcohol use
C) Activity level
D) Fluid intake

3. A 38-year-old man is being treated for HIV-1 with nevirapine (Viramune). Signs of severe liver
dysfunction have been noted by the physician and a change in the drug therapy is necessary. The
nurse explains to the patient that
A) the therapy will be discontinued.
B) the drug will be administered three times daily in divided doses.
C) the therapy should be reinitiated at half the previous dosage.
D) the dose should be escalated over a 2-week period.

4. A nurse provides medication teaching related to the importance of adhering to the saquinavir
drug regimen. In order to best minimize the risk of increased fatty-like tissue, the nurse will
instruct the patient to
A) take the drug within 2 hours after a high-fat meal.
B) engage in regular exercise.
C) take the drug within 2 hours after a low-fat meal.
D) follow a low-fat diet.

5. A female patient is prescribed ritonavir (RTV) in oral capsule form as part of polytherapy for
HIV. She will self-administer the drug. The nurse will instruct her to
A) keep the capsules in the refrigerator.
B) store the capsules in a container other than the bottle they came in.
C) store the capsules at room temperature.
D) keep the capsules away from light.

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 6. A male patient is taking indinavir (Crixivan) for HIV. To decrease the risk of kidney stones, the
nurse's teaching plan will include which of the following?
A) Increase physical activity
B) Drink 1 to 2 L of water a day
C) Avoid taking acetaminophen
D) Decrease fatty foods in his diet

7. The nurse is to administer enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) to a 27-year-old man. After the medication has
been reconstituted with sterile water, the nurse will
A) allow the solution to sit until it dissolves.
B) discard any remaining solution.
C) refrigerate the remaining dose in a syringe.
D) administer the drug at 8-hour intervals.

8. A patient with HIV is experiencing diarrhea as an adverse effect of nelfinavir (Viracept). The
nurse will instruct the patient to do which of the following?
A) Eat small, frequent meals
B) Eat large snacks or meals
C) Take soluble fiber supplements
D) Exercise regularly

9. It will be most important for the nurse to monitor nevirapine therapy for a male patient during
the first few months of therapy in order to
A) determine CD4+ T-cell counts.
B) assess for potentially life-threatening hepatotoxicity or skin reactions.
C) assess the drug serum level.
D) evaluate for thrombocytopenia.

10. A male patient has been prescribed efavirenz as monotherapy for HIV. On follow-up visits to
the clinic, it will be most important for the nurse to assess for which of the following?
A) Cutaneous eruptions
B) Erythema
C) Cholestatic hepatitis
D) Signs of microbial resistance

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11. A 29-year-old man is distraught at being recently diagnosed with HIV. He has just had his first
appointment with his care provider since being diagnosed and the drug treatment regimen is
being planned and explained by his primary care provider. Which of the following principles
will guide the planning and implementation of the patient's drug treatment regimen?
A) HIV replication is best suppressed by the simultaneous use of multiple anti-HIV
drugs.
B) Suppression of the viral load and maximization of CD4+ levels are best achieved by the
exclusive use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
C) The patient and the care provider need to decide whether to use protease inhibitors (PIs)
or whether to use NRTIs in treatment.
D) The patient's medical history prior to HIV diagnosis will be the primary determinant of
the drug regimen that is chosen.

12. A patient began combination antiretroviral therapy 7 months ago and is being followed closely
by a care team that includes members of several disciplines. When attempting to determine the
efficacy of the patient's current drug regimen, the nurse should prioritize which of the following
laboratory data?
A) Viral load
B) CD4 cell count
C) Total leukocyte level
D) Neutrophil level

13. A patient's physician is considering the addition of efavirenz to the patient's drug regimen for
the treatment of his recently-diagnosed HIV. Which of the following aspects of the patient's
medical history should prompt the nurse to question the use of this drug?
A) The patient has a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and did not consistently monitor his blood
glucose levels prior to his diagnosis with HIV.
B) The patient experienced an adverse reaction to an influenza immunization several years
ago.
C) The patient's body mass index at the time of diagnosis was 27 (overweight).
D) The patient has hepatitis C and a history of heavy alcohol use.

14. A female patient with a diagnosis of HIV is being treated with a drug regimen that includes
saquinavir. Which of the following teaching points should the nurse include in patient education
related to the use of saquinavir? (Select all that apply.)
A) Remember that you're still able to pass HIV on to a sex partner even though you're
being treated.
B) Tell your doctor if you're seeing a large increase in your appetite or thirst or if
you're passing a lot of urine.
C) If you notice that your skin or the whites of your eyes are yellowed, seek care as soon
as possible.
D) If you get diarrhea, it's okay to take an over-the-counter remedy to resolve it.
E) It will likely take nine to 12 months before your HIV resolves, even with the use of this
drug.

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15. A nurse experienced a needle stick injury while administering a subcutaneous heparin injection
to an HIV-positive patient. Which of the following aspects of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP)
should be implemented in the nurse's treatment?
A) The nurse's current health status and medical history will determine whether PEP is
appropriate.
B) The nurse should begin PEP within 7 days of the injury in order to reduce the chance of
seroconversion.
C) The nurse should be tested weekly for HIV for the next 12 months.
D) PEP should be initiated within 1 or 2 hours of the time the nurse was exposed.

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