NSG 318 Introduction to Pharmacology Exam 1 Study Guide 2026 –
GCU
1. Which branch of pharmacology studies what the body does to a drug?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacogenetics
Answer: A
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, involving
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
2. A drug given by which route would be most affected by the first-pass effect?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Sublingual
D. Subcutaneous
Answer: A
Rationale: Drugs taken orally are absorbed from the GI tract and carried to the liver via the
portal vein, where they may be extensively metabolized before reaching systemic
circulation.
,3. What is the term for the time required for the amount of drug in the body to
decrease by 50%?
A. Peak level
B. Duration of action
C. Half-life
D. Steady state
Answer: C
Rationale: The half-life (t1/2) is the time it takes for the blood concentration of a drug to
reduce by half.
4. A patient has a low serum albumin level. What is the pharmacological
implication?
A. There will be more free drug available, increasing the risk of toxicity.
B. The drug will be excreted faster by the kidneys.
C. Absorption in the GI tract will be significantly slowed.
D. The drug will be unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Answer: A
Rationale: Albumin is a primary binding protein. Low albumin means fewer binding sites,
resulting in more ‘free’ active drug in the bloodstream.
5. The nurse is checking the therapeutic index of a drug. A narrow therapeutic
index suggests:
A. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
B. The drug is highly potent and requires a very small dose.
C. The drug remains in the body for a very long time.
D. There is a small margin between a safe dose and a toxic dose.
Answer: D
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between the effective dose
and the toxic dose is small, requiring close monitoring.
, 6. Which phase of the nursing process involves identifying the patient’s actual
or potential health problems?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Diagnosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The Diagnosis/Analysis phase involves interpreting assessment data to identify
nursing diagnoses or patient problems.
7. What is an ‘agonist’ in pharmacology?
A. A drug that blocks a receptor to prevent a response.
B. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response.
C. A drug that decreases the metabolism of other drugs.
D. A drug that is only effective if given intravenously.
Answer: B
Rationale: An agonist mimics the action of endogenous substances by binding to and
activating receptors.
8. Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of drugs?
A. Kidneys
B. Lungs
C. Liver
D. Small Intestine
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism, largely through the
cytochrome P450 enzyme system.
GCU
1. Which branch of pharmacology studies what the body does to a drug?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacogenetics
Answer: A
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, involving
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
2. A drug given by which route would be most affected by the first-pass effect?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Sublingual
D. Subcutaneous
Answer: A
Rationale: Drugs taken orally are absorbed from the GI tract and carried to the liver via the
portal vein, where they may be extensively metabolized before reaching systemic
circulation.
,3. What is the term for the time required for the amount of drug in the body to
decrease by 50%?
A. Peak level
B. Duration of action
C. Half-life
D. Steady state
Answer: C
Rationale: The half-life (t1/2) is the time it takes for the blood concentration of a drug to
reduce by half.
4. A patient has a low serum albumin level. What is the pharmacological
implication?
A. There will be more free drug available, increasing the risk of toxicity.
B. The drug will be excreted faster by the kidneys.
C. Absorption in the GI tract will be significantly slowed.
D. The drug will be unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Answer: A
Rationale: Albumin is a primary binding protein. Low albumin means fewer binding sites,
resulting in more ‘free’ active drug in the bloodstream.
5. The nurse is checking the therapeutic index of a drug. A narrow therapeutic
index suggests:
A. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
B. The drug is highly potent and requires a very small dose.
C. The drug remains in the body for a very long time.
D. There is a small margin between a safe dose and a toxic dose.
Answer: D
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between the effective dose
and the toxic dose is small, requiring close monitoring.
, 6. Which phase of the nursing process involves identifying the patient’s actual
or potential health problems?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Diagnosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The Diagnosis/Analysis phase involves interpreting assessment data to identify
nursing diagnoses or patient problems.
7. What is an ‘agonist’ in pharmacology?
A. A drug that blocks a receptor to prevent a response.
B. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response.
C. A drug that decreases the metabolism of other drugs.
D. A drug that is only effective if given intravenously.
Answer: B
Rationale: An agonist mimics the action of endogenous substances by binding to and
activating receptors.
8. Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of drugs?
A. Kidneys
B. Lungs
C. Liver
D. Small Intestine
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism, largely through the
cytochrome P450 enzyme system.
