WGU D116 Pharmacology Comprehensive Exam
2025–2026 Accurate Real Exam Questions and
Verified Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
What is a recommended strategy for patients to do prior to injecting disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to decrease the pain of the injection? - answer>>>Take an
oral antihistamine 30 minutes before the injection
YES Allow the injection to come to room temperature
Use a topical anesthetic
Take prednisone 5 mg 30 minutes before the injection
Correct! DMARDs are refrigerated and may cause discomfort upon injection if they are
not allowed to come to room temperature.
Which traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) may be the best option
in a pregnant patient with rheumatoid arthritis? - answer>>>Cyclophosphamide
Leflunomide
YES Hydroxychloroquine
Methotrexate
Correct! Hydroxychloroquine is used in pregnancy and should be monitored closely.
Literature regarding human pregnancies and hydroxychloroquine demonstrated no
increase in the rate of birth defects.
Which of the following is false about methotrexate? - answer>>>YES Subcutaneous use
requires folic acid replacement of 1 mg per day.
If folic acid is needed to reduce side effects, a dose of 1 mg daily or 5 mg once weekly on
the day following the methotrexate dose is recommended.
Methotrexate may be used as monotherapy or in combination with biologics.
Male and female patients should use contraception while using methotrexate.
Correct! Folic acid replacement is used to reduce side effects of methotrexate and is used
orally and subcutaneously. Although folic acid replacement is common and efficacious, its
use is not required.
,For which antibiotic is time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) most
important? - answer>>>Ciprofloxacin
NO Amikacin
NO Tobramycin
YES Cefpodoxime
Incorrect. Amikacin is an aminoglycoside. Time above the minimal inhibitory
concentration (MIC) is more important for time-dependent antibiotics such as beta-
lactams. The ratio of the peak concentration to MIC and the area under the
concentration-time curve (AUC) to MIC are better clinical predictors of efficacy for
concentration-dependent antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Incorrect. Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside. Time above the minimal inhibitory
concentration (MIC) is more important for time-dependent antibiotics such as beta-
lactams. The ratio of the peak concentration to MIC and the area under the
concentration-time curve (AUC) to MIC are better clinical predictors of efficacy for
concentration-dependent antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Correct! Cefpodoxime is a beta-lactam. Time above the minimal inhibitory concentration
(MIC) is more important for time-dependent antibiotics such as beta-lactams. The ratio of
the peak concentration to MIC and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) to
MIC are better clinical predictors of efficacy for concentration-dependent antibiotics such
as aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Procalcitonin levels can be useful in preventing antibiotic misadventures. - answer>>>YES
True
False
Correct! Procalcitonin is a representative marker of bacterial infection and may help
determine whether an infection is bacterial or viral. If a provider empirically treats
patients with antibiotics for an infection such as pneumonia and their procalcitonin levels
are not elevated, the provider can discern that the etiology of the pneumonia is viral and
discontinue the antibiotics.
A 75-year-old male is diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his left foot.
,Which microbe should be targeted for appropriate pharmacotherapy in this situation? -
answer>>>YES Staphylococcus aureus
Spirillum minus
Treponema pallidum
Escherichia coli
Correct! This is the typical bacteria found in the bone and is diagnosed as osteomyelitis.
A 72-year-old female presents to a clinic with a history of osteoporosis. While examining
the patient, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) notices that the patient has a
limping gait. The patient informs the APRN that she sustained a fall at home while getting
out of the bathtub three days before. The patient states that she grabbed her side rails
and landed on her back. The APRN has decided to order X-rays to assess for
fractures.What are the most common sites for fractures in a patient with this profile? -
answer>>>Shoulder, wrist, and leg
YES Spine, wrist, and hip
Neck, arm, and hip
Neck, leg, and hand
Correct! The mechanism of injury is correct for these injury sites.
A 45-year-old patient with a diagnosis of blastomycosis is in a clinic for treatment.
Which antifungal should be prescribed for this patient? - answer>>>Flucytosine
YES Itraconazole
Voriconazole
NO Fluconazole
Incorrect. Fluconazole is an antifungal, but it does not treat blastomycosis. Correct!
Itraconazole is one of the two antifungals that can treat blastomycosis.
A 26-year-old patient presents with sneezing, itching of the eyes and nose, and
rhinorrhea. It is determined that the patient has mild seasonal allergies. The patient leads
an active lifestyle and wants to take something that does not cause drowsiness.
Which oral antihistamine should an advanced practice registered nurse recommend? -
answer>>>NO Promethazine
YES Fexofenadine
, Diphenhydramine
Hydroxyzine
Incorrect. This drug is used to treat sleeplessness and would not be a good candidate for
this patient due to causing drowsiness. Correct! This is a second-generation antihistamine
that has low to no potential to cause drowsiness.
A 58-year-old male patient presents to a clinic with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An
advanced practice registered nurse plans to prescribe leflunomide to treat this
condition.Which laboratory screening test is recommended prior to starting this
medication? - answer>>>YES Tuberculosis
Cholesterol
Diabetes
Influenza
Correct! Leflunomide may increase the risk for serious infection. The drug is
immunosuppressive and can suppress the bone marrow.
How will these drug interactions affect this patient?
An elderly patient with a history of asthma and hypertension presents to the emergency
department complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. The advanced practice
registered nurse (APRN) reviews the patient's current medications and notes that the
patient is taking propranolol and inhaled albuterol.
Propranolol can increase albuterol's therapeutic effect.
Albuterol can increase propranolol's therapeutic effect.
Propranolol can decrease albuterol's therapeutic effect.
Albuterol can decrease propranolol's therapeutic effect. - answer>>>Propranolol can
decrease albuterol's therapeutic effect.
A 35-year-old mother who is currently breastfeeding her four-month-old baby comes to a
clinic for an evaluation of a sinus infection. The advanced practice registered nurse needs
to prescribe medication that does not pass across the membrane into the breast milk.
Which type of medication crosses this membrane?
Ionized
Polar
2025–2026 Accurate Real Exam Questions and
Verified Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
What is a recommended strategy for patients to do prior to injecting disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to decrease the pain of the injection? - answer>>>Take an
oral antihistamine 30 minutes before the injection
YES Allow the injection to come to room temperature
Use a topical anesthetic
Take prednisone 5 mg 30 minutes before the injection
Correct! DMARDs are refrigerated and may cause discomfort upon injection if they are
not allowed to come to room temperature.
Which traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) may be the best option
in a pregnant patient with rheumatoid arthritis? - answer>>>Cyclophosphamide
Leflunomide
YES Hydroxychloroquine
Methotrexate
Correct! Hydroxychloroquine is used in pregnancy and should be monitored closely.
Literature regarding human pregnancies and hydroxychloroquine demonstrated no
increase in the rate of birth defects.
Which of the following is false about methotrexate? - answer>>>YES Subcutaneous use
requires folic acid replacement of 1 mg per day.
If folic acid is needed to reduce side effects, a dose of 1 mg daily or 5 mg once weekly on
the day following the methotrexate dose is recommended.
Methotrexate may be used as monotherapy or in combination with biologics.
Male and female patients should use contraception while using methotrexate.
Correct! Folic acid replacement is used to reduce side effects of methotrexate and is used
orally and subcutaneously. Although folic acid replacement is common and efficacious, its
use is not required.
,For which antibiotic is time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) most
important? - answer>>>Ciprofloxacin
NO Amikacin
NO Tobramycin
YES Cefpodoxime
Incorrect. Amikacin is an aminoglycoside. Time above the minimal inhibitory
concentration (MIC) is more important for time-dependent antibiotics such as beta-
lactams. The ratio of the peak concentration to MIC and the area under the
concentration-time curve (AUC) to MIC are better clinical predictors of efficacy for
concentration-dependent antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Incorrect. Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside. Time above the minimal inhibitory
concentration (MIC) is more important for time-dependent antibiotics such as beta-
lactams. The ratio of the peak concentration to MIC and the area under the
concentration-time curve (AUC) to MIC are better clinical predictors of efficacy for
concentration-dependent antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Correct! Cefpodoxime is a beta-lactam. Time above the minimal inhibitory concentration
(MIC) is more important for time-dependent antibiotics such as beta-lactams. The ratio of
the peak concentration to MIC and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) to
MIC are better clinical predictors of efficacy for concentration-dependent antibiotics such
as aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones.
Procalcitonin levels can be useful in preventing antibiotic misadventures. - answer>>>YES
True
False
Correct! Procalcitonin is a representative marker of bacterial infection and may help
determine whether an infection is bacterial or viral. If a provider empirically treats
patients with antibiotics for an infection such as pneumonia and their procalcitonin levels
are not elevated, the provider can discern that the etiology of the pneumonia is viral and
discontinue the antibiotics.
A 75-year-old male is diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his left foot.
,Which microbe should be targeted for appropriate pharmacotherapy in this situation? -
answer>>>YES Staphylococcus aureus
Spirillum minus
Treponema pallidum
Escherichia coli
Correct! This is the typical bacteria found in the bone and is diagnosed as osteomyelitis.
A 72-year-old female presents to a clinic with a history of osteoporosis. While examining
the patient, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) notices that the patient has a
limping gait. The patient informs the APRN that she sustained a fall at home while getting
out of the bathtub three days before. The patient states that she grabbed her side rails
and landed on her back. The APRN has decided to order X-rays to assess for
fractures.What are the most common sites for fractures in a patient with this profile? -
answer>>>Shoulder, wrist, and leg
YES Spine, wrist, and hip
Neck, arm, and hip
Neck, leg, and hand
Correct! The mechanism of injury is correct for these injury sites.
A 45-year-old patient with a diagnosis of blastomycosis is in a clinic for treatment.
Which antifungal should be prescribed for this patient? - answer>>>Flucytosine
YES Itraconazole
Voriconazole
NO Fluconazole
Incorrect. Fluconazole is an antifungal, but it does not treat blastomycosis. Correct!
Itraconazole is one of the two antifungals that can treat blastomycosis.
A 26-year-old patient presents with sneezing, itching of the eyes and nose, and
rhinorrhea. It is determined that the patient has mild seasonal allergies. The patient leads
an active lifestyle and wants to take something that does not cause drowsiness.
Which oral antihistamine should an advanced practice registered nurse recommend? -
answer>>>NO Promethazine
YES Fexofenadine
, Diphenhydramine
Hydroxyzine
Incorrect. This drug is used to treat sleeplessness and would not be a good candidate for
this patient due to causing drowsiness. Correct! This is a second-generation antihistamine
that has low to no potential to cause drowsiness.
A 58-year-old male patient presents to a clinic with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An
advanced practice registered nurse plans to prescribe leflunomide to treat this
condition.Which laboratory screening test is recommended prior to starting this
medication? - answer>>>YES Tuberculosis
Cholesterol
Diabetes
Influenza
Correct! Leflunomide may increase the risk for serious infection. The drug is
immunosuppressive and can suppress the bone marrow.
How will these drug interactions affect this patient?
An elderly patient with a history of asthma and hypertension presents to the emergency
department complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. The advanced practice
registered nurse (APRN) reviews the patient's current medications and notes that the
patient is taking propranolol and inhaled albuterol.
Propranolol can increase albuterol's therapeutic effect.
Albuterol can increase propranolol's therapeutic effect.
Propranolol can decrease albuterol's therapeutic effect.
Albuterol can decrease propranolol's therapeutic effect. - answer>>>Propranolol can
decrease albuterol's therapeutic effect.
A 35-year-old mother who is currently breastfeeding her four-month-old baby comes to a
clinic for an evaluation of a sinus infection. The advanced practice registered nurse needs
to prescribe medication that does not pass across the membrane into the breast milk.
Which type of medication crosses this membrane?
Ionized
Polar
