TEST BANK
Pharmacology Clear and Simple: A Guide to Medication
Classifications and Dosage Calculations
Cynthia J. Watkins, and Charlet L. Blades
5th Edition
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
Chapter 1. A Brief History of Pharmacology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which term best describes the process of utilizing genetic information to develop
pharmacological agents to treat diseases?
a. Partially synthesized
b. Pharmacogenetics
c. Totally synthesized
d. Scientific method
ANS: B
Feedback
A Partially synthesized refers to medications made by adding a pure chemical to a
natural substance.
B Pharmacogenetics is the study of individual candidate genes as powerful tools to
explain interindividual variability in drug response.
C Totally synthesized refers to medications made by combining two or more pure
chemicals to produce a new substance that could be used as a medication.
D Scientific method refers to the process of using hypothesis, testing, and
observation to make deductions.
PTS: 1 REF: 5
2. A client has been prescribed diuretic therapy to treat fluid volume excess and wants to know
if any dietary modifications are necessary. Which of the following responses by the nurse is
best?
a. “There is no need for any dietary modification as long as you eat a well-balanced
diet.”
b. “As long as you take the medication as prescribed, there should be no dietary
modifications needed.”
c. “I need to verify the medication order in order to provide you with information.”
d. “As long as you consume eight glasses of water a day, you will be able to replace
all fluid losses.”
ANS: C
Feedback
A There are several types of diuretic medications that have different mechanisms
of action; therefore, this statement is not accurate. It is critical to know the
specific type of diuretic therapy that is prescribed in order to provide a logical
response.
B Diuretic therapy is aimed at fluid reduction, and depending on the type of
diuretic therapy, electrolyte loss can also occur. This takes place based on the
mechanism of action for the prescribed therapy. This is not an accurate
statement.
C The nurse should verify the medication order to find out what type of diuretic
therapy has been prescribed. For example, furosemide is a loop diuretic that
______________________________________________________________________________________________
1|Page
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
leads to fluid and potassium excretion, which in turn would require potassium
supplementation.
D Depending on the type of medication/mechanism of action, this is not an
accurate statement, as this fluid intake will not be able to replace all fluid losses.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
3. The nurse is taking care of a patient who has thyroid disease. What type of mineral
medication does the nurse anticipate that the health-care provider will order?
a. Potassium
b. Magnesium sulfate
c. Gold
d. Iodine
ANS: D
Feedback
A Potassium is used to regulate fluid balance, maintain cardiac function, and
promote bone health.
B Magnesium sulfate is used in the treatment of constipation and eclampsia.
C Gold is used in the treatment of arthritis.
D Iodine is used to treat goiters.
PTS: 1 REF: 7
4. While caring for a patient scheduled for knee replacement surgery, the nurse provides
cefazolin as ordered 30 minutes preoperatively. Which statement indicates that teaching has
been effective?
a. “This antibiotic is given as a prophylactic to help reduce the risk of infection after
surgery.”
b. “This is a palliative medication to help ease the pain from surgery.”
c. “This medication will replace vitamins and minerals that may be lost due to
bleeding during surgery.”
d. “This medication will help the surgeon identify areas of bone destruction due to
arthritis.”
ANS: A
Feedback
A This medication is an example of an antibiotic used before surgery to prevent
infection.
B This medication is an antibiotic and does not provide pain relief.
C This medication is an antibiotic and does not replace vitamins and minerals.
D This medication is an antibiotic and does not assist in the identification of bone
destruction.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2|Page
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
5. While caring for a patient with a history of hypothyroidism, the nurse expects which of the
following medications to be included in the patient’s medication list?
a. Levothyroxine sodium
b. Estrogen
c. Iodine 131
d. Carbimazole
ANS: A
Feedback
A This medication replaces thyroid hormone in individuals who have low levels
due to hypothyroidism.
B This medication is used as hormone replacement, often for women in
menopause.
C Iodine 131 is used in the diagnosis, not treatment, of thyroid conditions.
D Carbimazole is used to reduce thyroid hormone production in individuals who
experience hyperthyroidism.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
6. An oncology patient is admitted to the nursing unit under hospice care. Which medication
should the nurse anticipate that the health-care provider will order?
a. Prophylactic antibiotics
b. Diagnostic medication
c. Palliative therapy
d. Curative therapy
ANS: C
Feedback
A Hospice care indicates that the patient’s condition is terminal; therefore,
prophylactic antibiotics would not be indicated.
B Hospice care indicates that the patient’s condition is terminal; therefore,
diagnostic medications/procedures would not be indicated.
C Palliative therapy is indicated for the care and treatment of terminal patients.
D Hospice care indicates that the patient’s condition is terminal; therefore, there is
no curative therapy available.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
7. A patient is scheduled for diagnostic testing, Which medication should the nurse anticipate
that the health-care provider would order?
a. Estrogen
b. Penicillin (PCN)
c. Naloxone
d. Barium sulfate
ANS: D
Feedback
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3|Page
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
A Estrogen is used for hormone replacement therapy.
B PCN is an antibiotic used for the treatment of infections.
C Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose.
D Barium sulfate is used as a contrast material during diagnostic imaging
procedures.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
8. A patient wants to know which plant contains vitamin C. What is the best nursing response?
a. Coca
b. Rose hips
c. Foxglove
d. Bark of white willow tree
ANS: B
Feedback
A Digoxin is found in coca plants and is used to treat heart failure.
B Rose hips is a good source of vitamin C/ascorbic acid.
C Procaine is derived from the foxglove plant and is an anesthetic.
D Salicin is found in the bark of the white willow tree and is a form of salicylic
acid.
PTS: 1 REF: 6
9. Which of the following best describes the benefit of the use of pharmacogenetics in the
treatment of conditions?
a. Pharmacogenetics is a new area of pharmacology that is developing rapidly.
b. Pharmacogenetics informs the family of inherited conditions.
c. Pharmacogenetics assists the physician in learning about the family.
d. Pharmacogenetics is used to identify the best drug and dose to be used.
ANS: D
Feedback
A Although this statement is true, it does not describe the benefit of the use of
pharmacogenetics.
B Pharmacogenetics is used to learn about an individual’s response(s) to
medications, not to reveal inherited conditions.
C Pharmacogenetics does not assist the physician in learning about the family. The
genetics specific to the individual are studied.
D Pharmacogenetics identifies the best medication and dose to use for patient
conditions such as cancer.
PTS: 1 REF: 5
10. A group of nurses are reviewing barbiturate medications. Which statement is accurate?
a. They are naturally derived drugs.
b. They are derived from animal sources.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4|Page
, ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
c. They are derived from plant sources.
d. They are synthetic medications.
ANS: D
Feedback
A Barbiturates are made from chemical sources and are synthesized.
B Barbiturates are not derived from animal sources.
C Barbiturates are not derived from plant sources.
D Barbiturates are chemically derived and considered synthetic medications.
PTS: 1 REF: 6
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
11. Based on the classification system of pharmacodynamics, which category statements are
accurate? (Select all that apply.)
a. Palliative therapy provides pain relief.
b. Diagnostic drugs help to identify pathological processes.
c. Prophylactic medications are curative.
d. Replacement medications provide needed physiological components.
e. Destructive medications are always curative.
ANS: A, B, D
Feedback
A This is a factual statement describing the function of palliative care.
B Diagnostic drugs are used with imaging procedures to localize pathological
processes.
C Prophylactic medications are used to prevent infections, but they are not always
curative.
D This is a factual statement describing the function of replacement therapy.
E Destructive medications are not always curative, but they help to destroy certain
tumors or microbes.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
12. A nurse is reviewing insulin medication. Which statements are accurate? (Select all that
apply.)
a. Escherichia coli is used in the recombinant form of human insulin.
b. Synthetic insulin preparations are more economical.
c. Human recombinant insulin provides less chance of allergic reactions.
d. Synthetic sources are not commonly used.
e. All insulins are derived from animal sources.
ANS: A, B, C
Feedback
A This is a factual statement. Human insulin is produced by using recombinant
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5|Page
Pharmacology Clear and Simple: A Guide to Medication
Classifications and Dosage Calculations
Cynthia J. Watkins, and Charlet L. Blades
5th Edition
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
Chapter 1. A Brief History of Pharmacology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which term best describes the process of utilizing genetic information to develop
pharmacological agents to treat diseases?
a. Partially synthesized
b. Pharmacogenetics
c. Totally synthesized
d. Scientific method
ANS: B
Feedback
A Partially synthesized refers to medications made by adding a pure chemical to a
natural substance.
B Pharmacogenetics is the study of individual candidate genes as powerful tools to
explain interindividual variability in drug response.
C Totally synthesized refers to medications made by combining two or more pure
chemicals to produce a new substance that could be used as a medication.
D Scientific method refers to the process of using hypothesis, testing, and
observation to make deductions.
PTS: 1 REF: 5
2. A client has been prescribed diuretic therapy to treat fluid volume excess and wants to know
if any dietary modifications are necessary. Which of the following responses by the nurse is
best?
a. “There is no need for any dietary modification as long as you eat a well-balanced
diet.”
b. “As long as you take the medication as prescribed, there should be no dietary
modifications needed.”
c. “I need to verify the medication order in order to provide you with information.”
d. “As long as you consume eight glasses of water a day, you will be able to replace
all fluid losses.”
ANS: C
Feedback
A There are several types of diuretic medications that have different mechanisms
of action; therefore, this statement is not accurate. It is critical to know the
specific type of diuretic therapy that is prescribed in order to provide a logical
response.
B Diuretic therapy is aimed at fluid reduction, and depending on the type of
diuretic therapy, electrolyte loss can also occur. This takes place based on the
mechanism of action for the prescribed therapy. This is not an accurate
statement.
C The nurse should verify the medication order to find out what type of diuretic
therapy has been prescribed. For example, furosemide is a loop diuretic that
______________________________________________________________________________________________
1|Page
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
leads to fluid and potassium excretion, which in turn would require potassium
supplementation.
D Depending on the type of medication/mechanism of action, this is not an
accurate statement, as this fluid intake will not be able to replace all fluid losses.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
3. The nurse is taking care of a patient who has thyroid disease. What type of mineral
medication does the nurse anticipate that the health-care provider will order?
a. Potassium
b. Magnesium sulfate
c. Gold
d. Iodine
ANS: D
Feedback
A Potassium is used to regulate fluid balance, maintain cardiac function, and
promote bone health.
B Magnesium sulfate is used in the treatment of constipation and eclampsia.
C Gold is used in the treatment of arthritis.
D Iodine is used to treat goiters.
PTS: 1 REF: 7
4. While caring for a patient scheduled for knee replacement surgery, the nurse provides
cefazolin as ordered 30 minutes preoperatively. Which statement indicates that teaching has
been effective?
a. “This antibiotic is given as a prophylactic to help reduce the risk of infection after
surgery.”
b. “This is a palliative medication to help ease the pain from surgery.”
c. “This medication will replace vitamins and minerals that may be lost due to
bleeding during surgery.”
d. “This medication will help the surgeon identify areas of bone destruction due to
arthritis.”
ANS: A
Feedback
A This medication is an example of an antibiotic used before surgery to prevent
infection.
B This medication is an antibiotic and does not provide pain relief.
C This medication is an antibiotic and does not replace vitamins and minerals.
D This medication is an antibiotic and does not assist in the identification of bone
destruction.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2|Page
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
5. While caring for a patient with a history of hypothyroidism, the nurse expects which of the
following medications to be included in the patient’s medication list?
a. Levothyroxine sodium
b. Estrogen
c. Iodine 131
d. Carbimazole
ANS: A
Feedback
A This medication replaces thyroid hormone in individuals who have low levels
due to hypothyroidism.
B This medication is used as hormone replacement, often for women in
menopause.
C Iodine 131 is used in the diagnosis, not treatment, of thyroid conditions.
D Carbimazole is used to reduce thyroid hormone production in individuals who
experience hyperthyroidism.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
6. An oncology patient is admitted to the nursing unit under hospice care. Which medication
should the nurse anticipate that the health-care provider will order?
a. Prophylactic antibiotics
b. Diagnostic medication
c. Palliative therapy
d. Curative therapy
ANS: C
Feedback
A Hospice care indicates that the patient’s condition is terminal; therefore,
prophylactic antibiotics would not be indicated.
B Hospice care indicates that the patient’s condition is terminal; therefore,
diagnostic medications/procedures would not be indicated.
C Palliative therapy is indicated for the care and treatment of terminal patients.
D Hospice care indicates that the patient’s condition is terminal; therefore, there is
no curative therapy available.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
7. A patient is scheduled for diagnostic testing, Which medication should the nurse anticipate
that the health-care provider would order?
a. Estrogen
b. Penicillin (PCN)
c. Naloxone
d. Barium sulfate
ANS: D
Feedback
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3|Page
,______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
A Estrogen is used for hormone replacement therapy.
B PCN is an antibiotic used for the treatment of infections.
C Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose.
D Barium sulfate is used as a contrast material during diagnostic imaging
procedures.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
8. A patient wants to know which plant contains vitamin C. What is the best nursing response?
a. Coca
b. Rose hips
c. Foxglove
d. Bark of white willow tree
ANS: B
Feedback
A Digoxin is found in coca plants and is used to treat heart failure.
B Rose hips is a good source of vitamin C/ascorbic acid.
C Procaine is derived from the foxglove plant and is an anesthetic.
D Salicin is found in the bark of the white willow tree and is a form of salicylic
acid.
PTS: 1 REF: 6
9. Which of the following best describes the benefit of the use of pharmacogenetics in the
treatment of conditions?
a. Pharmacogenetics is a new area of pharmacology that is developing rapidly.
b. Pharmacogenetics informs the family of inherited conditions.
c. Pharmacogenetics assists the physician in learning about the family.
d. Pharmacogenetics is used to identify the best drug and dose to be used.
ANS: D
Feedback
A Although this statement is true, it does not describe the benefit of the use of
pharmacogenetics.
B Pharmacogenetics is used to learn about an individual’s response(s) to
medications, not to reveal inherited conditions.
C Pharmacogenetics does not assist the physician in learning about the family. The
genetics specific to the individual are studied.
D Pharmacogenetics identifies the best medication and dose to use for patient
conditions such as cancer.
PTS: 1 REF: 5
10. A group of nurses are reviewing barbiturate medications. Which statement is accurate?
a. They are naturally derived drugs.
b. They are derived from animal sources.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4|Page
, ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Test Bank - Pharmacology Clear and Simple, 5th Edition (Watkins, 2025)
c. They are derived from plant sources.
d. They are synthetic medications.
ANS: D
Feedback
A Barbiturates are made from chemical sources and are synthesized.
B Barbiturates are not derived from animal sources.
C Barbiturates are not derived from plant sources.
D Barbiturates are chemically derived and considered synthetic medications.
PTS: 1 REF: 6
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
11. Based on the classification system of pharmacodynamics, which category statements are
accurate? (Select all that apply.)
a. Palliative therapy provides pain relief.
b. Diagnostic drugs help to identify pathological processes.
c. Prophylactic medications are curative.
d. Replacement medications provide needed physiological components.
e. Destructive medications are always curative.
ANS: A, B, D
Feedback
A This is a factual statement describing the function of palliative care.
B Diagnostic drugs are used with imaging procedures to localize pathological
processes.
C Prophylactic medications are used to prevent infections, but they are not always
curative.
D This is a factual statement describing the function of replacement therapy.
E Destructive medications are not always curative, but they help to destroy certain
tumors or microbes.
PTS: 1 REF: 8
12. A nurse is reviewing insulin medication. Which statements are accurate? (Select all that
apply.)
a. Escherichia coli is used in the recombinant form of human insulin.
b. Synthetic insulin preparations are more economical.
c. Human recombinant insulin provides less chance of allergic reactions.
d. Synthetic sources are not commonly used.
e. All insulins are derived from animal sources.
ANS: A, B, C
Feedback
A This is a factual statement. Human insulin is produced by using recombinant
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5|Page
