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 patient's
first dose of an oral antihypertensive medication. During pre-
administration teaching, the patient asks, "What exactly is a
drug, and how is it different from food or vitamins?"
Question
Which response by the nurse best describes a drug?
Options
A. A chemical substance used exclusively to cure diseases.
B. A chemical administered to produce one specific physiologic
effect without causing adverse effects.
C. A chemical capable of affecting living processes that is
administered to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to modify
body functions.
D. Any naturally occurring substance that improves nutrition
and energy production.
,Correct Answer
C
Rationale
A drug is any chemical capable of affecting physiologic
processes. In nursing pharmacology, drugs may be administered
to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, or treat disease, or to alter body
function. Many drugs have multiple actions and may produce
both therapeutic and adverse effects. Understanding this broad
definition helps nurses anticipate expected outcomes, monitor
for unintended effects, and educate patients appropriately.
Medication Safety Consideration: Nurses should explain that all
medications have potential benefits and risks, emphasizing the
importance of taking medications exactly as prescribed and
reporting unexpected effects.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Incorrect. Many drugs manage chronic conditions rather than
cure disease.
B. Incorrect. No medication produces only desired effects; all
drugs carry some risk of adverse reactions.
, D. Incorrect. Nutrients primarily support normal physiologic
function and are not synonymous with pharmacologic agents.
Learning Objective
Differentiate the pharmacologic definition of a drug from other
chemical substances used in health care.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Understand
Difficulty
Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill
Recognize Cues
Question 2