,NUR 155 Exam 3 | Concepts of Foundations of
Nursing (2026) Q&A | Galen College
1. The nurse is teaching a client about pharmacokinetics. Which statement
indicates correct understanding?
A) "Pharmacokinetics describes how the drug affects my body."
B) "It refers to the movement of the drug through my body, including
absorption and elimination."
C) "This term means the drug's chemical structure."
D) "Pharmacokinetics only applies to oral medications."
Correct Answer: "It refers to the movement of the drug through my body,
including absorption and elimination."
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to the drug—
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics is what
the drug does to the body. The client's statement accurately reflects this
definition.
2. Where does absorption of most oral drugs primarily occur?
A) Stomach
B) Liver
C) Large intestine
D) Small intestine
Correct Answer: Small intestine
,Rationale: The small intestine has a large surface area and optimal pH for drug
absorption. The stomach absorbs few drugs; the liver is the primary site of
metabolism. Enteric-coated and extended-release preparations also dissolve in
the small intestine.
3. The nurse administers an IV medication. When should the peak plasma level
be drawn?
A) Immediately before the next dose
B) 30 to 60 minutes after completion of the infusion
C) 2 to 3 hours after administration
D) Just prior to administering the medication
Correct Answer: 30 to 60 minutes after completion of the infusion
Rationale: For IV medications, peak levels are drawn 30-60 minutes after the
infusion ends to capture the highest blood concentration. Trough levels are
drawn just before the next dose. Oral medications peak 2-3 hours after
administration.
4. A client asks the nurse to explain "half-life" of a medication. Which response
is correct?
A) "It is the time needed for the drug to start working."
B) "Half-life is the time for the body to eliminate half of the drug."
C) "It indicates the drug's maximum effect duration."
D) "Half-life measures the drug's safety margin."
Correct Answer: "Half-life is the time for the body to eliminate half of the drug."
, Rationale: Half-life determines dosing frequency; drugs with short half-lives
require more frequent administration. Onset is when the drug begins to work,
peak is maximum effect, and safety margin is the therapeutic index.
5. Which food should a client avoid when taking a medication that interacts
with grapefruit juice?
A) Orange juice
B) Grapefruit juice
C) Apple juice
D) Milk
Correct Answer: Grapefruit juice
Rationale: Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes in the small intestine,
increasing absorption and toxicity risk for many drugs. The client must avoid
grapefruit juice entirely. Other juices do not have this effect.
6. A client's trough level is scheduled to be drawn. The nurse correctly draws the
blood at which time?
A) Thirty minutes before the next dose
B) One hour after administration
C) Two hours after administration
D) At bedtime
Correct Answer: Thirty minutes before the next dose
Nursing (2026) Q&A | Galen College
1. The nurse is teaching a client about pharmacokinetics. Which statement
indicates correct understanding?
A) "Pharmacokinetics describes how the drug affects my body."
B) "It refers to the movement of the drug through my body, including
absorption and elimination."
C) "This term means the drug's chemical structure."
D) "Pharmacokinetics only applies to oral medications."
Correct Answer: "It refers to the movement of the drug through my body,
including absorption and elimination."
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to the drug—
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics is what
the drug does to the body. The client's statement accurately reflects this
definition.
2. Where does absorption of most oral drugs primarily occur?
A) Stomach
B) Liver
C) Large intestine
D) Small intestine
Correct Answer: Small intestine
,Rationale: The small intestine has a large surface area and optimal pH for drug
absorption. The stomach absorbs few drugs; the liver is the primary site of
metabolism. Enteric-coated and extended-release preparations also dissolve in
the small intestine.
3. The nurse administers an IV medication. When should the peak plasma level
be drawn?
A) Immediately before the next dose
B) 30 to 60 minutes after completion of the infusion
C) 2 to 3 hours after administration
D) Just prior to administering the medication
Correct Answer: 30 to 60 minutes after completion of the infusion
Rationale: For IV medications, peak levels are drawn 30-60 minutes after the
infusion ends to capture the highest blood concentration. Trough levels are
drawn just before the next dose. Oral medications peak 2-3 hours after
administration.
4. A client asks the nurse to explain "half-life" of a medication. Which response
is correct?
A) "It is the time needed for the drug to start working."
B) "Half-life is the time for the body to eliminate half of the drug."
C) "It indicates the drug's maximum effect duration."
D) "Half-life measures the drug's safety margin."
Correct Answer: "Half-life is the time for the body to eliminate half of the drug."
, Rationale: Half-life determines dosing frequency; drugs with short half-lives
require more frequent administration. Onset is when the drug begins to work,
peak is maximum effect, and safety margin is the therapeutic index.
5. Which food should a client avoid when taking a medication that interacts
with grapefruit juice?
A) Orange juice
B) Grapefruit juice
C) Apple juice
D) Milk
Correct Answer: Grapefruit juice
Rationale: Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes in the small intestine,
increasing absorption and toxicity risk for many drugs. The client must avoid
grapefruit juice entirely. Other juices do not have this effect.
6. A client's trough level is scheduled to be drawn. The nurse correctly draws the
blood at which time?
A) Thirty minutes before the next dose
B) One hour after administration
C) Two hours after administration
D) At bedtime
Correct Answer: Thirty minutes before the next dose
