Test Bank - Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology 8th Ed.
Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Questions, Rationales & Exam Prep | Karen Whalen
TEST BANK
,Chapter 1: Pharmacokinetics
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?
a. Intramuscular cephalosporins
b. Intravenous vasopressors
c. Oral analgesics
d. Subcutaneous antiglycemics
Answer: C
When drugs are administered parenterally, there is no pharmaceutic phase, which occurs when a drug becomes
a solution that can cross the biologic membrane.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid drug action. Which form
of the medication will the nurse administer?
a. Capsule
b. Enteric-coated pill
c. Liquid suspension
d. Tablet
Answer: C
Liquid drugs are already in solution, which is the form necessary for absorption in the GI tract. The other forms
must disintegrate into small particles and then dissolve before being absorbed.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an enteric- coated
tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption.
b. I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication.
,c. I should expect a delay in onset of the drugs effects after taking the tablet.
d. I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action.
Answer: C
Enteric-coated tablets resist disintegration in the acidic environment of the stomach and disintegrate when they
reach the small intestine. There is usually some delay in onset of actions after taking these medications. Enteric-
coated tablets should not be crushed or chewed, which would alter the time and location of absorption. Acidic
foods will not enhance the absorption of the medication. The patient should not to eat high-fat food before
ingesting an enteric-coated tablet, because high-fat foods decrease the absorption rate.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 3 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be given by
subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects.
Answer: C
Insulin, growth hormones, and other protein-based drugs are destroyed in the small intestine by digestive
enzymes and must be given parenterally. Because insulin is destroyed by digestive enzymes, it would not make
it to the liver for metabolism with a first-pass effect. Subcutaneous tissue has fewer blood vessels, so absorption
is slower in such tissue. Insulin is given subcutaneously because it is desirable to have it absorb slowly.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse understands that
this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract. Answer: B
Water-soluble drugs require a carrier enzyme or protein to pass through the GI membrane.
, DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 4 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic environment. How will
the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food Answer: C
Food can stimulate the production of gastric acid so medications requiring an acidic environment should be
given with a meal. High-fat foods are useful for drugs that are lipid soluble.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 4 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption. How will the
nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
d. SubQ into the upper arm Answer: A
Drugs given IM are absorbed faster in muscles that have more blood vessels, such as the deltoid, rather than
those with fewer blood vessels, such as the gluteals. Subcutaneous routes are used when absorption needs to be
slower and more sustained.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 4 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
8. The nurse is reviewing medication information with a nursing student prior to administering an oral drug
and notes that the drug has extensive first-pass effects. Which statement by the student indicates a need for
further teaching about this medication?
Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Questions, Rationales & Exam Prep | Karen Whalen
TEST BANK
,Chapter 1: Pharmacokinetics
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?
a. Intramuscular cephalosporins
b. Intravenous vasopressors
c. Oral analgesics
d. Subcutaneous antiglycemics
Answer: C
When drugs are administered parenterally, there is no pharmaceutic phase, which occurs when a drug becomes
a solution that can cross the biologic membrane.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid drug action. Which form
of the medication will the nurse administer?
a. Capsule
b. Enteric-coated pill
c. Liquid suspension
d. Tablet
Answer: C
Liquid drugs are already in solution, which is the form necessary for absorption in the GI tract. The other forms
must disintegrate into small particles and then dissolve before being absorbed.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an enteric- coated
tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption.
b. I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication.
,c. I should expect a delay in onset of the drugs effects after taking the tablet.
d. I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action.
Answer: C
Enteric-coated tablets resist disintegration in the acidic environment of the stomach and disintegrate when they
reach the small intestine. There is usually some delay in onset of actions after taking these medications. Enteric-
coated tablets should not be crushed or chewed, which would alter the time and location of absorption. Acidic
foods will not enhance the absorption of the medication. The patient should not to eat high-fat food before
ingesting an enteric-coated tablet, because high-fat foods decrease the absorption rate.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 3 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be given by
subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects.
Answer: C
Insulin, growth hormones, and other protein-based drugs are destroyed in the small intestine by digestive
enzymes and must be given parenterally. Because insulin is destroyed by digestive enzymes, it would not make
it to the liver for metabolism with a first-pass effect. Subcutaneous tissue has fewer blood vessels, so absorption
is slower in such tissue. Insulin is given subcutaneously because it is desirable to have it absorb slowly.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse understands that
this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract. Answer: B
Water-soluble drugs require a carrier enzyme or protein to pass through the GI membrane.
, DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 4 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic environment. How will
the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food Answer: C
Food can stimulate the production of gastric acid so medications requiring an acidic environment should be
given with a meal. High-fat foods are useful for drugs that are lipid soluble.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 4 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing
Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption. How will the
nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
d. SubQ into the upper arm Answer: A
Drugs given IM are absorbed faster in muscles that have more blood vessels, such as the deltoid, rather than
those with fewer blood vessels, such as the gluteals. Subcutaneous routes are used when absorption needs to be
slower and more sustained.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 4 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
8. The nurse is reviewing medication information with a nursing student prior to administering an oral drug
and notes that the drug has extensive first-pass effects. Which statement by the student indicates a need for
further teaching about this medication?
