Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing
Care
12th Edition
• Author(s)Jacqueline Rosenjack
Burchum; Laura D. Rosenthal
,TEST BANK
Question 1
Clinical Scenario
A newly licensed nurse is preparing to administer a medication
that has been prescribed to reduce a patient's blood pressure.
Before administration, the patient asks, "How does this
medicine know where to work in my body?"
Question
Which statement by the nurse best explains the concept of a
drug's selectivity?
Options
A. The drug affects every tissue in the body equally.
B. The drug acts primarily on specific cells or receptors but may
also affect other tissues.
C. The drug produces only one therapeutic effect without
adverse effects.
D. The drug permanently binds to its target receptor.
Correct Answer
,B. The drug acts primarily on specific cells or receptors but
may also affect other tissues.
Rationale
Selectivity refers to a drug's tendency to produce its greatest
effects on particular cells, tissues, or receptors. No medication
is completely selective; therefore, drugs may also interact with
unintended sites, producing adverse effects. Understanding
selectivity helps nurses anticipate therapeutic outcomes while
monitoring for undesirable reactions.
From a nursing perspective, recognizing that selectivity is
relative—not absolute—supports safe medication
administration, patient education, and ongoing assessment for
side effects.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Incorrect. Drugs do not affect all tissues equally. Different
tissues contain different receptor types and sensitivities.
C. Incorrect. No currently available drug produces only
therapeutic effects. Most medications have both desired and
undesired effects.
, D. Incorrect. Permanent receptor binding is not a defining
characteristic of selectivity. Most drug-receptor interactions are
reversible.
Learning Objective
Explain the concept of drug selectivity and its implications for
therapeutic and adverse effects.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Understand
Difficulty
Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill
Recognize Cues
Care
12th Edition
• Author(s)Jacqueline Rosenjack
Burchum; Laura D. Rosenthal
,TEST BANK
Question 1
Clinical Scenario
A newly licensed nurse is preparing to administer a medication
that has been prescribed to reduce a patient's blood pressure.
Before administration, the patient asks, "How does this
medicine know where to work in my body?"
Question
Which statement by the nurse best explains the concept of a
drug's selectivity?
Options
A. The drug affects every tissue in the body equally.
B. The drug acts primarily on specific cells or receptors but may
also affect other tissues.
C. The drug produces only one therapeutic effect without
adverse effects.
D. The drug permanently binds to its target receptor.
Correct Answer
,B. The drug acts primarily on specific cells or receptors but
may also affect other tissues.
Rationale
Selectivity refers to a drug's tendency to produce its greatest
effects on particular cells, tissues, or receptors. No medication
is completely selective; therefore, drugs may also interact with
unintended sites, producing adverse effects. Understanding
selectivity helps nurses anticipate therapeutic outcomes while
monitoring for undesirable reactions.
From a nursing perspective, recognizing that selectivity is
relative—not absolute—supports safe medication
administration, patient education, and ongoing assessment for
side effects.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Incorrect. Drugs do not affect all tissues equally. Different
tissues contain different receptor types and sensitivities.
C. Incorrect. No currently available drug produces only
therapeutic effects. Most medications have both desired and
undesired effects.
, D. Incorrect. Permanent receptor binding is not a defining
characteristic of selectivity. Most drug-receptor interactions are
reversible.
Learning Objective
Explain the concept of drug selectivity and its implications for
therapeutic and adverse effects.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Understand
Difficulty
Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill
Recognize Cues
