Page
Pharmacotherapeutics
1 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 1
Woo 1
Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch01
Chapter 1. The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse as Prescriber
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority is regulated by:
A. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing
B. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
C. The State Board of Nursing for each state
D. The State Board of Pharmacy
ANS: C PTS: 1
2. The benefits to the patient of having an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescriber
include:
A. Nurses know more about pharmacology than other prescribers because they take it
both in their basic nursing program and in their APRN program.
B. Nurses care for the patient from a holistic approach and include the patient in
decision-making regarding their care.
C. APRNs are less likely to prescribe narcotics and other controlled substances.
D. APRNs are able to prescribe independently in all states, whereas a physician’s
assistant needs to have a physician supervising their practice.
ANS: B PTS: 1
3. Clinical judgment in prescribing includes:
A. Factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
B. Always prescribing the newest medication available for the disease process
C. Handing out drug samples to poor patients
D. Prescribing all generic medications to cut costs
ANS: A PTS: 1
4. The process for choosing an effective drug for a disorder includes:
A. Asking the patient what drug they think would work best for them
B. Consulting nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
C. Prescribing medications that are available as samples before writing a prescription
D. Following U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration guidelines for prescribing
ANS: B PTS: 1
5. Nonintentional nonadherence of drug therapy may occur due to:
A. Belief that medication does not work
B. Adverse drug reactions
C. Chronic conditions that require daily therapy
D. Forgetfulness or distraction
ANS: D PTS: 1
Page 1 of 213 1 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
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Pharmacotherapeutics
2 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 2
Woo 1
Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
Chapter 2. Review of Basic Principles of Pharmacology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient’s nutritional intake and laboratory results reflect hypoalbuminemia. This is critical
to prescribing because:
A. Distribution of drugs to target tissue may be affected.
B. The solubility of the drug will not match the site of absorption.
C. There will be less free drug available to generate an effect.
D. Drugs bound to albumin are readily excreted by the kidneys.
ANS: A PTS: 1
2. Drugs that have a significant first-pass effect:
A. Must be given by the enteral (oral) route only
B. Bypass the hepatic circulation
C. Are rapidly metabolized by the liver and may have little, if any, desired action
D. Are converted by the liver to more active and fat-soluble forms
ANS: C PTS: 1
3. The route of excretion of a volatile drug will likely be the:
A. Kidneys
B. Lungs
C. Bile and feces
D. Skin
ANS: B PTS: 1
4. A major disadvantage to IV administration is that:
A. First-pass metabolism is eliminated.
B. Needles and sterility are required.
C. Absorption of the drug cannot be slowed after administration.
D. It is significantly more expensive than other routes.
ANS: C PTS: 1
5. The nurse practitioner (NP) chooses to give cephalexin every 8 hours based on knowledge of
the drug’s:
A. Propensity to go to the target receptor
B. Biological half-life
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Safety and side effects
ANS: B PTS: 1
6. Deferasirox is a chelating agent used to treat iron overload by binding iron to render it
biologically inactive. This is best characterized as a(n):
Page 2 of 213 2 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
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Pharmacotherapeutics
3 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 3
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Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
A. Nonreceptor mechanism
B. Partial agonist
C. Full agonist
D. Noncompetitive antagonist
ANS: A PTS: 1
7. The point in time on the drug concentration curve that indicates the first sign of a therapeutic
effect is the:
A. Minimum adverse effect level
B. Peak of action
C. Onset of action
D. Therapeutic range
ANS: C PTS: 1
8. Phenytoin requires that a trough level be drawn. Peak and trough levels are done:
A. When the drug has a wide therapeutic range
B. When the drug will be administered for a short time only
C. When there is a high correlation between the dose and saturation of receptor sites
D. To determine if a drug is in the therapeutic range
ANS: D PTS: 1
9. A laboratory result indicates that the peak level for a drug is above the minimum toxic
concentration. This means that the:
A. Concentration will produce therapeutic effects.
B. Concentration will produce an adverse response.
C. Time between doses must be shortened.
D. Duration of action of the drug is too long.
ANS: B PTS: 1
10. Drugs that are receptor agonists may demonstrate what property?
A. Irreversible binding to the drug receptor site
B. Up-regulation with chronic use
C. Desensitization or down-regulation with continuous use
D. Inverse relationship between drug concentration and drug action
ANS: C PTS: 1
11. Drugs that are receptor antagonists, such as beta blockers, may cause:
A. Down-regulation of the drug receptor
B. An exaggerated response if abruptly discontinued
C. Partial blockade of the effects of agonist drugs
D. An exaggerated response to competitive drug agonists
ANS: B PTS: 1
Page 3 of 213 3 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
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Pharmacotherapeutics
4 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 4
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Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
12. Factors that affect gastric drug absorption include:
A. Liver enzyme activity
B. Protein-binding properties of the drug molecule
C. Lipid solubility of the drug
D. Ability to chew and swallow
ANS: C PTS: 1
13. Drugs administered via IV:
A. Need to be lipid soluble in order to be easily absorbed
B. Begin distribution into the body immediately
C. Are easily absorbed if they are nonionized
D. May use pinocytosis to be absorbed
ANS: B PTS: 1
14. When a medication is added to a regimen for a synergistic effect, the combined effect of the
drugs is:
A. The sum of the effects of each drug individually
B. Greater than the sum of the effects of each drug individually
C. Less than the effect of each drug individually
D. Not predictable, as it varies with each individual
ANS: B PTS: 1
15. Which of the following statements about bioavailability is true?
A. Bioavailability issues are especially important for drugs with narrow therapeutic
ranges or sustained-release mechanisms.
B. All brands of a drug have the same bioavailability.
C. Drugs that are administered more than once a day have greater bioavailability than
drugs given once daily.
D. Combining an active drug with an inert substance does not affect bioavailability.
ANS: A PTS: 1
16. Which of the following statements about the major distribution barriers (blood–brain or fetal–
placental) is true?
A. Water soluble and ionized drugs cross these barriers rapidly.
B. The blood–brain barrier slows the passage of many drugs into and out of brain
cells.
C. The fetal–placental barrier protects the fetus from drugs taken by the mother.
D. Lipid-soluble drugs do not pass these barriers and are safe for pregnant women.
ANS: B PTS: 1
17. Drugs are metabolized mainly by the liver via phase I or phase II reactions. The purpose of
both of these types of reactions is to:
A. Inactivate prodrugs before they can be activated by target tissues
Page 4 of 213 4 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
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Pharmacotherapeutics
5 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
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Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
B. Change the drugs so they can cross plasma membranes
C. Change drug molecules to a form that an excretory organ can excrete
D. Make these drugs more ionized and polar to facilitate excretion
ANS: C PTS: 1
18. Once they have been metabolized by the liver, the metabolites may be:
A. More active than the parent drug
B. Less active than the parent drug
C. Totally “deactivated” so they are excreted without any effect
D. All of the above
ANS: D PTS: 1
19. All drugs continue to act in the body until they are changed or excreted. The ability of the
body to excrete drugs via the renal system would be increased by:
A. Reduced circulation and perfusion of the kidney
B. Chronic renal disease
C. Competition for a transport site from another drug
D. Increased renal blood flow
ANS: D PTS: 1
20. Steady state is:
A. The point on the drug concentration curve when absorption exceeds excretion
B. When the peak and trough remain constant
C. When the amount of drug in the body stays below the minimum toxic
concentration
D. All of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1
21. A patient is being treated for pain with hydrocodone. If the patient is then prescribed a
CYP2D6 inhibitor, the likely clinical result is:
A. Hydrocodone toxicity
B. Prolonged action of hydrocodone
C. Parasympathetic adverse effects
D. Inadequate pain control
ANS: D PTS: 1
22. Actions taken to reduce drug–drug interaction problems include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Reducing the dosage of one of the drugs
B. Scheduling their administration at different times
C. Prescribing a third drug to counteract the adverse reaction of the combination
D. Reducing the dosage of both drugs
ANS: C PTS: 1
Page 5 of 213 5 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
Pharmacotherapeutics
1 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 1
Woo 1
Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch01
Chapter 1. The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse as Prescriber
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority is regulated by:
A. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing
B. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
C. The State Board of Nursing for each state
D. The State Board of Pharmacy
ANS: C PTS: 1
2. The benefits to the patient of having an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescriber
include:
A. Nurses know more about pharmacology than other prescribers because they take it
both in their basic nursing program and in their APRN program.
B. Nurses care for the patient from a holistic approach and include the patient in
decision-making regarding their care.
C. APRNs are less likely to prescribe narcotics and other controlled substances.
D. APRNs are able to prescribe independently in all states, whereas a physician’s
assistant needs to have a physician supervising their practice.
ANS: B PTS: 1
3. Clinical judgment in prescribing includes:
A. Factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
B. Always prescribing the newest medication available for the disease process
C. Handing out drug samples to poor patients
D. Prescribing all generic medications to cut costs
ANS: A PTS: 1
4. The process for choosing an effective drug for a disorder includes:
A. Asking the patient what drug they think would work best for them
B. Consulting nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
C. Prescribing medications that are available as samples before writing a prescription
D. Following U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration guidelines for prescribing
ANS: B PTS: 1
5. Nonintentional nonadherence of drug therapy may occur due to:
A. Belief that medication does not work
B. Adverse drug reactions
C. Chronic conditions that require daily therapy
D. Forgetfulness or distraction
ANS: D PTS: 1
Page 1 of 213 1 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
,Page
Pharmacotherapeutics
2 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 2
Woo 1
Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
Chapter 2. Review of Basic Principles of Pharmacology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient’s nutritional intake and laboratory results reflect hypoalbuminemia. This is critical
to prescribing because:
A. Distribution of drugs to target tissue may be affected.
B. The solubility of the drug will not match the site of absorption.
C. There will be less free drug available to generate an effect.
D. Drugs bound to albumin are readily excreted by the kidneys.
ANS: A PTS: 1
2. Drugs that have a significant first-pass effect:
A. Must be given by the enteral (oral) route only
B. Bypass the hepatic circulation
C. Are rapidly metabolized by the liver and may have little, if any, desired action
D. Are converted by the liver to more active and fat-soluble forms
ANS: C PTS: 1
3. The route of excretion of a volatile drug will likely be the:
A. Kidneys
B. Lungs
C. Bile and feces
D. Skin
ANS: B PTS: 1
4. A major disadvantage to IV administration is that:
A. First-pass metabolism is eliminated.
B. Needles and sterility are required.
C. Absorption of the drug cannot be slowed after administration.
D. It is significantly more expensive than other routes.
ANS: C PTS: 1
5. The nurse practitioner (NP) chooses to give cephalexin every 8 hours based on knowledge of
the drug’s:
A. Propensity to go to the target receptor
B. Biological half-life
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Safety and side effects
ANS: B PTS: 1
6. Deferasirox is a chelating agent used to treat iron overload by binding iron to render it
biologically inactive. This is best characterized as a(n):
Page 2 of 213 2 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
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Pharmacotherapeutics
3 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 3
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Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
A. Nonreceptor mechanism
B. Partial agonist
C. Full agonist
D. Noncompetitive antagonist
ANS: A PTS: 1
7. The point in time on the drug concentration curve that indicates the first sign of a therapeutic
effect is the:
A. Minimum adverse effect level
B. Peak of action
C. Onset of action
D. Therapeutic range
ANS: C PTS: 1
8. Phenytoin requires that a trough level be drawn. Peak and trough levels are done:
A. When the drug has a wide therapeutic range
B. When the drug will be administered for a short time only
C. When there is a high correlation between the dose and saturation of receptor sites
D. To determine if a drug is in the therapeutic range
ANS: D PTS: 1
9. A laboratory result indicates that the peak level for a drug is above the minimum toxic
concentration. This means that the:
A. Concentration will produce therapeutic effects.
B. Concentration will produce an adverse response.
C. Time between doses must be shortened.
D. Duration of action of the drug is too long.
ANS: B PTS: 1
10. Drugs that are receptor agonists may demonstrate what property?
A. Irreversible binding to the drug receptor site
B. Up-regulation with chronic use
C. Desensitization or down-regulation with continuous use
D. Inverse relationship between drug concentration and drug action
ANS: C PTS: 1
11. Drugs that are receptor antagonists, such as beta blockers, may cause:
A. Down-regulation of the drug receptor
B. An exaggerated response if abruptly discontinued
C. Partial blockade of the effects of agonist drugs
D. An exaggerated response to competitive drug agonists
ANS: B PTS: 1
Page 3 of 213 3 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
,Page
Pharmacotherapeutics
4 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 4
Woo 3
Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
12. Factors that affect gastric drug absorption include:
A. Liver enzyme activity
B. Protein-binding properties of the drug molecule
C. Lipid solubility of the drug
D. Ability to chew and swallow
ANS: C PTS: 1
13. Drugs administered via IV:
A. Need to be lipid soluble in order to be easily absorbed
B. Begin distribution into the body immediately
C. Are easily absorbed if they are nonionized
D. May use pinocytosis to be absorbed
ANS: B PTS: 1
14. When a medication is added to a regimen for a synergistic effect, the combined effect of the
drugs is:
A. The sum of the effects of each drug individually
B. Greater than the sum of the effects of each drug individually
C. Less than the effect of each drug individually
D. Not predictable, as it varies with each individual
ANS: B PTS: 1
15. Which of the following statements about bioavailability is true?
A. Bioavailability issues are especially important for drugs with narrow therapeutic
ranges or sustained-release mechanisms.
B. All brands of a drug have the same bioavailability.
C. Drugs that are administered more than once a day have greater bioavailability than
drugs given once daily.
D. Combining an active drug with an inert substance does not affect bioavailability.
ANS: A PTS: 1
16. Which of the following statements about the major distribution barriers (blood–brain or fetal–
placental) is true?
A. Water soluble and ionized drugs cross these barriers rapidly.
B. The blood–brain barrier slows the passage of many drugs into and out of brain
cells.
C. The fetal–placental barrier protects the fetus from drugs taken by the mother.
D. Lipid-soluble drugs do not pass these barriers and are safe for pregnant women.
ANS: B PTS: 1
17. Drugs are metabolized mainly by the liver via phase I or phase II reactions. The purpose of
both of these types of reactions is to:
A. Inactivate prodrugs before they can be activated by target tissues
Page 4 of 213 4 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
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Pharmacotherapeutics
5 of 213 for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, 6th Edition by Teri Moser Woo and Wendy L. Wright.
Page 5
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Pharmacotherapeutics for APN Prescribers, 6e Ch02
B. Change the drugs so they can cross plasma membranes
C. Change drug molecules to a form that an excretory organ can excrete
D. Make these drugs more ionized and polar to facilitate excretion
ANS: C PTS: 1
18. Once they have been metabolized by the liver, the metabolites may be:
A. More active than the parent drug
B. Less active than the parent drug
C. Totally “deactivated” so they are excreted without any effect
D. All of the above
ANS: D PTS: 1
19. All drugs continue to act in the body until they are changed or excreted. The ability of the
body to excrete drugs via the renal system would be increased by:
A. Reduced circulation and perfusion of the kidney
B. Chronic renal disease
C. Competition for a transport site from another drug
D. Increased renal blood flow
ANS: D PTS: 1
20. Steady state is:
A. The point on the drug concentration curve when absorption exceeds excretion
B. When the peak and trough remain constant
C. When the amount of drug in the body stays below the minimum toxic
concentration
D. All of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1
21. A patient is being treated for pain with hydrocodone. If the patient is then prescribed a
CYP2D6 inhibitor, the likely clinical result is:
A. Hydrocodone toxicity
B. Prolonged action of hydrocodone
C. Parasympathetic adverse effects
D. Inadequate pain control
ANS: D PTS: 1
22. Actions taken to reduce drug–drug interaction problems include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Reducing the dosage of one of the drugs
B. Scheduling their administration at different times
C. Prescribing a third drug to counteract the adverse reaction of the combination
D. Reducing the dosage of both drugs
ANS: C PTS: 1
Page 5 of 213 5 2/1/2026, 3:21:13 PM
