PNM 300 Final Exam Review
WITH VERRIFIED ANWERS
2026| 2027 A+ GRADED
Exam Instructions: This exam is designed to test your knowledge of pharmacology
concepts, drug classifications, safe medication practices, and the professional role
of the RPN as outlined in the PNM 300 course at Seneca College. Please select the
best answer for each question.
Section 1: Foundational Concepts in Pharmacology (Pharmacokinetics &
Pharmacodynamics)
1. A nurse is administering medications and is aware of the importance of
pharmacokinetics. Which statement best describes this process?
a) The study of what the drug does to the body, including its mechanism of action.
b) The study of how medications enter the body, are absorbed, distributed,
metabolized, and exit the body.
c) The use of drugs and the clinical indications for administering them to prevent
disease.
d) The movement of a drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream.
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the movement of the drug through the body
(what the body does to the drug), encompassing absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion (ADME) . Option A describes
pharmacodynamics, option C describes pharmacotherapeutics, and option
D describes only one phase (absorption).
2. The nurse is reviewing the hepatic function of a 77-year-old patient who is
ordered a prodrug. What abnormal lab value would alert the nurse to hold the
drug and contact the prescriber?
a) Abnormal electrolytes indicating mild dehydration.
,b) Abnormally elevated creatinine.
c) Elevated liver function tests (AST, ALT).
d) Blood gas indicating hypoxia.
Rationale: A prodrug requires metabolism in the liver to become its active
form. Elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT) indicate impaired liver function,
which would hinder this conversion and could lead to drug toxicity or
therapeutic failure . Elevated creatinine (Option B) indicates kidney issues.
3. When monitoring a patient on an insulin infusion, the nurse notes the
patient's glucose is extremely low, and the patient is lethargic and difficult to
awaken. Which adverse drug reaction is the nurse observing?
a) An allergic reaction.
b) An adverse effect.
c) An idiosyncratic reaction.
d) A toxic effect.
Rationale: A toxic effect develops from prolonged pharmacological effect
or high concentration of a drug, leading to a severe, life-threatening
reaction. Severe hypoglycemia from insulin causing lethargy and
unresponsiveness is a classic example of a toxic effect .
4. A patient with liver failure is most likely to have problems with which
pharmacokinetic phase?
a) Absorption
b) Distribution
c) Metabolism
d) Excretion
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism. In liver failure,
the liver's ability to break down drugs is significantly impaired, leading to
drug accumulation and potential toxicity .
5. The term "duration of action" refers to which of the following?
a) The time it takes for the drug to elicit a therapeutic response.
b) The time it takes a drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response.
c) The time during which drug concentration is sufficient to elicit a therapeutic
response.
,d) The time it takes one-half of the original amount of a drug to be removed from
the body.
Rationale: Duration of action is the length of time the drug produces its
therapeutic effect . Option A describes onset, option B describes peak, and
option D describes half-life.
6. Which of the following best explains a drug's half-life?
a) The time it takes for the drug to elicit half its therapeutic response.
b) The time it takes one-half of the original amount of a drug to reach the target
cells.
c) The time it takes one-half of the original amount of a drug to be removed
from the body.
d) The time it takes for the drug's concentration to become toxic.
Rationale: Half-life is a key pharmacokinetic parameter, defined as the time
required for the serum concentration of a drug to decrease by 50% .
7. Which term describes the study of what the drug does to the body, including
its mechanism of action?
a) Pharmacokinetics
b) Pharmacodynamics
c) Pharmacotherapeutics
d) Toxicology
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and
physiological effects of drugs on the body and their mechanisms of action .
8. The nurse is giving a large initial dose of a drug to rapidly achieve an effective
therapeutic concentration in the plasma. What is this type of dosage called?
a) Maintenance dose
b) Loading dose
c) Peak dose
d) Trough dose
Rationale: A loading dose is a larger than usual initial dose of a medication
used to "load" the tissues and reach a therapeutic level quickly .
, 9. Which statement is true regarding parenteral drugs?
a) They bypass the first-pass effect.
b) They are altered by the presence of food in the stomach.
c) They are the slowest route by which a drug can be absorbed.
d) They are absorbed through the mucosa of the stomach.
Rationale: Parenteral routes (IV, IM, subcut) introduce drugs directly into
the body, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and thus avoiding first-pass
metabolism in the liver .
10. A patient is nauseated and vomiting. The nurse recognizes that which route
of administration is the route of choice?
a) Oral
b) Sublingual
c) Parenteral
d) Enteric-coated oral tablet
Rationale: For a patient who is vomiting, the oral route is unreliable. A
parenteral route (e.g., IV or IM) ensures the antiemetic medication is
delivered and absorbed effectively .
11. Which of the following factors does NOT affect drug absorption?
a) Food or fluids administered with the drug.
b) Dosage formulation (e.g., liquid vs. tablet).
c) Rate of blood flow to the small intestine.
d) The drug's ability to bind to plasma proteins.
Rationale: Plasma protein binding affects drug distribution, not absorption.
Absorption factors include administration route, solubility, blood flow at
administration site, and GI conditions .
12. A drug that is highly protein-bound means the "free" or active drug is:
a) Low, and the drug is mostly inactive while bound.
b) High, and the drug is mostly inactive while bound.
c) Low, and the drug is mostly active while bound.
d) High, and the drug is mostly active while bound.
WITH VERRIFIED ANWERS
2026| 2027 A+ GRADED
Exam Instructions: This exam is designed to test your knowledge of pharmacology
concepts, drug classifications, safe medication practices, and the professional role
of the RPN as outlined in the PNM 300 course at Seneca College. Please select the
best answer for each question.
Section 1: Foundational Concepts in Pharmacology (Pharmacokinetics &
Pharmacodynamics)
1. A nurse is administering medications and is aware of the importance of
pharmacokinetics. Which statement best describes this process?
a) The study of what the drug does to the body, including its mechanism of action.
b) The study of how medications enter the body, are absorbed, distributed,
metabolized, and exit the body.
c) The use of drugs and the clinical indications for administering them to prevent
disease.
d) The movement of a drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream.
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the movement of the drug through the body
(what the body does to the drug), encompassing absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion (ADME) . Option A describes
pharmacodynamics, option C describes pharmacotherapeutics, and option
D describes only one phase (absorption).
2. The nurse is reviewing the hepatic function of a 77-year-old patient who is
ordered a prodrug. What abnormal lab value would alert the nurse to hold the
drug and contact the prescriber?
a) Abnormal electrolytes indicating mild dehydration.
,b) Abnormally elevated creatinine.
c) Elevated liver function tests (AST, ALT).
d) Blood gas indicating hypoxia.
Rationale: A prodrug requires metabolism in the liver to become its active
form. Elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT) indicate impaired liver function,
which would hinder this conversion and could lead to drug toxicity or
therapeutic failure . Elevated creatinine (Option B) indicates kidney issues.
3. When monitoring a patient on an insulin infusion, the nurse notes the
patient's glucose is extremely low, and the patient is lethargic and difficult to
awaken. Which adverse drug reaction is the nurse observing?
a) An allergic reaction.
b) An adverse effect.
c) An idiosyncratic reaction.
d) A toxic effect.
Rationale: A toxic effect develops from prolonged pharmacological effect
or high concentration of a drug, leading to a severe, life-threatening
reaction. Severe hypoglycemia from insulin causing lethargy and
unresponsiveness is a classic example of a toxic effect .
4. A patient with liver failure is most likely to have problems with which
pharmacokinetic phase?
a) Absorption
b) Distribution
c) Metabolism
d) Excretion
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism. In liver failure,
the liver's ability to break down drugs is significantly impaired, leading to
drug accumulation and potential toxicity .
5. The term "duration of action" refers to which of the following?
a) The time it takes for the drug to elicit a therapeutic response.
b) The time it takes a drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response.
c) The time during which drug concentration is sufficient to elicit a therapeutic
response.
,d) The time it takes one-half of the original amount of a drug to be removed from
the body.
Rationale: Duration of action is the length of time the drug produces its
therapeutic effect . Option A describes onset, option B describes peak, and
option D describes half-life.
6. Which of the following best explains a drug's half-life?
a) The time it takes for the drug to elicit half its therapeutic response.
b) The time it takes one-half of the original amount of a drug to reach the target
cells.
c) The time it takes one-half of the original amount of a drug to be removed
from the body.
d) The time it takes for the drug's concentration to become toxic.
Rationale: Half-life is a key pharmacokinetic parameter, defined as the time
required for the serum concentration of a drug to decrease by 50% .
7. Which term describes the study of what the drug does to the body, including
its mechanism of action?
a) Pharmacokinetics
b) Pharmacodynamics
c) Pharmacotherapeutics
d) Toxicology
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and
physiological effects of drugs on the body and their mechanisms of action .
8. The nurse is giving a large initial dose of a drug to rapidly achieve an effective
therapeutic concentration in the plasma. What is this type of dosage called?
a) Maintenance dose
b) Loading dose
c) Peak dose
d) Trough dose
Rationale: A loading dose is a larger than usual initial dose of a medication
used to "load" the tissues and reach a therapeutic level quickly .
, 9. Which statement is true regarding parenteral drugs?
a) They bypass the first-pass effect.
b) They are altered by the presence of food in the stomach.
c) They are the slowest route by which a drug can be absorbed.
d) They are absorbed through the mucosa of the stomach.
Rationale: Parenteral routes (IV, IM, subcut) introduce drugs directly into
the body, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and thus avoiding first-pass
metabolism in the liver .
10. A patient is nauseated and vomiting. The nurse recognizes that which route
of administration is the route of choice?
a) Oral
b) Sublingual
c) Parenteral
d) Enteric-coated oral tablet
Rationale: For a patient who is vomiting, the oral route is unreliable. A
parenteral route (e.g., IV or IM) ensures the antiemetic medication is
delivered and absorbed effectively .
11. Which of the following factors does NOT affect drug absorption?
a) Food or fluids administered with the drug.
b) Dosage formulation (e.g., liquid vs. tablet).
c) Rate of blood flow to the small intestine.
d) The drug's ability to bind to plasma proteins.
Rationale: Plasma protein binding affects drug distribution, not absorption.
Absorption factors include administration route, solubility, blood flow at
administration site, and GI conditions .
12. A drug that is highly protein-bound means the "free" or active drug is:
a) Low, and the drug is mostly inactive while bound.
b) High, and the drug is mostly inactive while bound.
c) Low, and the drug is mostly active while bound.
d) High, and the drug is mostly active while bound.
