NUR 378 Module 1 Principles of Pharmacology Study Guide
2026 | Complete Review | Graded A+
1. If a nurse observes a patient experiencing an unexpected side effect after
medication administration, what should be the nurse's immediate action?
Assess the patient's condition and report the side effect to the
healthcare provider.
Document the side effect but take no further action.
Ignore the side effect if it seems minor.
Change the patient's medication without consulting the provider.
2. The identification of genetic differences that make one drug work well on
one individual yet not on another is called what?
Pharmaceutics
Pharmacology
Pharmacogenomics
3. What does the term 'potentiating effects' refer to in pharmacology?
The reduction of drug effects due to interactions.
The enhancement of the effects of one drug by another drug.
The process of drug metabolism in the liver.
The elimination of drugs from the body.
4. If a patient is taking a highly protein-bound drug and is prescribed another
medication that displaces it from protein binding sites, what potential effect
could this have on the patient's liver metabolism?
No change in metabolism of the displaced drug.
, Increased protein binding of the displaced drug, enhancing its safety.
Increased metabolism of the displaced drug, leading to potential
toxicity.
Decreased metabolism of the displaced drug, reducing its
effectiveness.
5. Describe the implications of having a genetic variant in pharmacogenomics.
Having a genetic variant ensures that all medications will be effective.
Having a genetic variant has no impact on drug response.
Having a genetic variant guarantees faster recovery from illness.
Having a genetic variant can lead to altered drug metabolism,
affecting the efficacy and safety of medications.
6. If a medication order is missing the patient's name, what steps should a nurse
take before administering the medication?
Assume the order is for the last patient treated.
Document the missing information and proceed with administration.
Administer the medication without the patient's name.
Contact the prescriber to clarify and obtain the complete order.
7. Describe the significance of understanding the peak and trough levels of a
drug in patient care.
Peak and trough levels are irrelevant in determining medication
effectiveness.
Peak levels are used to assess patient compliance, while trough levels
are for drug interactions.
, Peak levels indicate the drug's side effects, while trough levels indicate
its efficacy.
Peak and trough levels help determine the appropriate dosing
schedule to maintain therapeutic drug levels.
8. Describe the significance of monitoring liver function tests before
administering hepatotoxic medications.
Liver function tests are irrelevant for medications that do not affect the
liver.
Monitoring liver function tests is only required after medication
administration.
Monitoring liver function tests helps assess the liver's ability to
metabolize drugs and identify potential risks of toxicity.
Liver function tests are only necessary for patients with known liver
disease.
9. If a patient is taking a highly protein bound drug and develops a condition
that decreases protein levels in the blood, what potential effect could this
have on the drug's efficacy?
Increased drug activity and potential toxicity.
Decreased drug activity and reduced effectiveness.
Increased metabolism of the drug.
No change in drug activity.
10. The main single cause for variability in drug response is
Enzyme activity
Sex
, Age
Genetic composition
11. Warfarin is an anticoagulant that is very highly bound to albumin in the
bloodsteam. An antibiotic is given to a patient on warfarin which will
significantly displace warfarin from albumin binding sites. Which of the
following is the most likely result?
A reduced anticoagulant effect of warfarin
An increase in albumin levels
An increased anticoagulant effect of warfarin
A reduction in albumin levels
12. What is the primary function of enteric coating on medications?
To improve the taste of the medication.
To enhance the absorption of the drug in the intestines.
To protect the drug from being released in the stomach.
To increase the shelf life of the drug.
13. Describe how a patient's medical history influences medication selection.
A patient's medical history only matters for over-the-counter
medications.
A patient's medical history is only important for surgical procedures.
A patient's medical history can reveal allergies, previous reactions
to medications, and existing health conditions that affect drug
choice.
A patient's medical history is irrelevant to medication selection.
2026 | Complete Review | Graded A+
1. If a nurse observes a patient experiencing an unexpected side effect after
medication administration, what should be the nurse's immediate action?
Assess the patient's condition and report the side effect to the
healthcare provider.
Document the side effect but take no further action.
Ignore the side effect if it seems minor.
Change the patient's medication without consulting the provider.
2. The identification of genetic differences that make one drug work well on
one individual yet not on another is called what?
Pharmaceutics
Pharmacology
Pharmacogenomics
3. What does the term 'potentiating effects' refer to in pharmacology?
The reduction of drug effects due to interactions.
The enhancement of the effects of one drug by another drug.
The process of drug metabolism in the liver.
The elimination of drugs from the body.
4. If a patient is taking a highly protein-bound drug and is prescribed another
medication that displaces it from protein binding sites, what potential effect
could this have on the patient's liver metabolism?
No change in metabolism of the displaced drug.
, Increased protein binding of the displaced drug, enhancing its safety.
Increased metabolism of the displaced drug, leading to potential
toxicity.
Decreased metabolism of the displaced drug, reducing its
effectiveness.
5. Describe the implications of having a genetic variant in pharmacogenomics.
Having a genetic variant ensures that all medications will be effective.
Having a genetic variant has no impact on drug response.
Having a genetic variant guarantees faster recovery from illness.
Having a genetic variant can lead to altered drug metabolism,
affecting the efficacy and safety of medications.
6. If a medication order is missing the patient's name, what steps should a nurse
take before administering the medication?
Assume the order is for the last patient treated.
Document the missing information and proceed with administration.
Administer the medication without the patient's name.
Contact the prescriber to clarify and obtain the complete order.
7. Describe the significance of understanding the peak and trough levels of a
drug in patient care.
Peak and trough levels are irrelevant in determining medication
effectiveness.
Peak levels are used to assess patient compliance, while trough levels
are for drug interactions.
, Peak levels indicate the drug's side effects, while trough levels indicate
its efficacy.
Peak and trough levels help determine the appropriate dosing
schedule to maintain therapeutic drug levels.
8. Describe the significance of monitoring liver function tests before
administering hepatotoxic medications.
Liver function tests are irrelevant for medications that do not affect the
liver.
Monitoring liver function tests is only required after medication
administration.
Monitoring liver function tests helps assess the liver's ability to
metabolize drugs and identify potential risks of toxicity.
Liver function tests are only necessary for patients with known liver
disease.
9. If a patient is taking a highly protein bound drug and develops a condition
that decreases protein levels in the blood, what potential effect could this
have on the drug's efficacy?
Increased drug activity and potential toxicity.
Decreased drug activity and reduced effectiveness.
Increased metabolism of the drug.
No change in drug activity.
10. The main single cause for variability in drug response is
Enzyme activity
Sex
, Age
Genetic composition
11. Warfarin is an anticoagulant that is very highly bound to albumin in the
bloodsteam. An antibiotic is given to a patient on warfarin which will
significantly displace warfarin from albumin binding sites. Which of the
following is the most likely result?
A reduced anticoagulant effect of warfarin
An increase in albumin levels
An increased anticoagulant effect of warfarin
A reduction in albumin levels
12. What is the primary function of enteric coating on medications?
To improve the taste of the medication.
To enhance the absorption of the drug in the intestines.
To protect the drug from being released in the stomach.
To increase the shelf life of the drug.
13. Describe how a patient's medical history influences medication selection.
A patient's medical history only matters for over-the-counter
medications.
A patient's medical history is only important for surgical procedures.
A patient's medical history can reveal allergies, previous reactions
to medications, and existing health conditions that affect drug
choice.
A patient's medical history is irrelevant to medication selection.
