BSN 266 ADMINISTRATION OF PARENTERAL MEDICATIONS: INTRAVENOUS MEDICATIONS: LESSON 1 POST-TEST | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | 100% CORRECT.

BSN 266 ADMINISTRATION OF PARENTERAL MEDICATIONS:
INTRAVENOUS MEDICATIONS
LESSON 1 POST-TEST | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | 100% CORRECT
BSN 266 – Professional Nursing Practice
Exam Type: Lesson 1 Post-Test (Formative Assessment)
July 2026 | Total Questions: 30 | Total Points: 100 (~3.33 pts each)

Select the BEST answer for each question. Each question is worth approximately 3.33 points.

SECTION 1: Fundamentals of Parenteral & IV Medication Administration (Q1–Q8)


Q1: A nurse is explaining to a patient why intravenous medication administration has been prescribed.
Which statement best describes the primary indication for choosing the IV route?
A. The IV route is always safer than oral administration for all medications
B. The IV route provides rapid, predictable bioavailability when immediate therapeutic effect is
required, the patient cannot tolerate oral intake, or the medication is not available in oral form
[CORRECT]
C. The IV route is primarily used for patient convenience
D. The IV route eliminates all medication side effects
Correct Answer: B
The IV route ensures 100% bioavailability with immediate onset, making it essential for emergencies, patients with GI
dysfunction, or medications degraded by first-pass metabolism. The IV route is NOT inherently safer (A) and actually carries
unique risks including infection and extravasation. Convenience (C) is not a clinical indication. Side effects (D) are
route-independent.


Q2: Which of the following defines the term “parenteral” as it relates to medication administration?
A. Administration via the gastrointestinal tract
B. Administration by any route other than the gastrointestinal tract, including IV, IM, SC, and
intradermal [CORRECT]
C. Administration exclusively through the intravenous route
D. Oral administration of liquid medications
Correct Answer: B
Parenteral refers to any route that bypasses the GI tract, encompassing intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and
intradermal routes. The term is not limited to IV only (C), does not involve the GI tract (A), and is distinct from oral intake (D).

Q3: A patient with severe nausea and vomiting requires antiemetic therapy. Which is the BEST rationale for
selecting the IV route in this scenario?
A. IV medications taste better than oral medications
B. The patient’s inability to retain oral medications makes the IV route necessary to ensure therapeutic
drug delivery [CORRECT]
C. IV administration is less expensive than oral administration
D. The IV route is the only way to assess medication effectiveness
Correct Answer: B
When a patient cannot retain oral intake due to nausea, vomiting, or GI obstruction, the IV route ensures the medication reaches
systemic circulation. Cost (C), taste (A), and assessment capability (D) are irrelevant to the clinical decision.


Q4: A nurse is caring for a post-operative patient who has a nasogastric tube to suction and is NPO. The
patient requires pain medication. Which route is most appropriate?

, A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous [CORRECT]
D. Rectal
Correct Answer: C
An NPO patient with NG suction cannot absorb oral, sublingual, or rectal medications reliably. The IV route bypasses the GI
tract entirely, ensuring predictable analgesic delivery in this post-operative context.


Q5: Which of the following medications would MOST likely require IV administration due to first-pass
metabolism in the liver?
A. Ibuprofen
B. Nitroglycerin [CORRECT]
C. Acetaminophen
D. Amoxicillin
Correct Answer: B
Nitroglycerin undergoes extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism (up to 90%), making oral administration ineffective. IV,
sublingual, or transdermal routes bypass this metabolism. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and amoxicillin are effective orally and do
not require IV administration for bioavailability reasons.

Q6: A nursing instructor asks a student, “What is the primary advantage of the IV route over the
intramuscular route for administering emergency medications?” Which response is correct?
A. The IV route is less painful than the IM route
B. The IV route provides immediate onset of action, whereas IM absorption depends on local blood
flow and may be delayed [CORRECT]
C. The IV route requires less monitoring than the IM route
D. The IM route is never used in emergencies
Correct Answer: B
IV administration provides instantaneous drug delivery to the systemic circulation, which is critical in emergencies. IM
absorption depends on muscle perfusion, which may be compromised in shock or cardiac arrest, causing delayed or
unpredictable onset. Pain (A) and monitoring needs (C) are secondary considerations. IM injections are used in emergencies
when IV access is unavailable (D).


Q7: A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and considers the parenteral route. Which factor is
MOST important in determining whether the IV (versus IM or SC) route is appropriate?
A. The patient’s preference based on prior experience
B. The medication’s pharmacokinetic properties, required onset of action, volume to be administered,
and the patient’s clinical condition [CORRECT]
C. The cost difference between IV and IM supplies
D. The availability of IV pumps on the nursing unit
Correct Answer: B
Route selection is driven by pharmacokinetic properties (onset, half-life, first-pass effect), required speed of action, volume
constraints (SC has limited volume capacity), and patient clinical status. Patient preference, cost, and equipment availability are
secondary to clinical and pharmacological factors.


Q8: Which statement is TRUE regarding the physiological basis for IV medication administration?
A. IV medications are absorbed through the intestinal mucosa before entering the bloodstream
B. IV medications are delivered directly into the venous system, bypassing absorption barriers and
achieving immediate systemic distribution [CORRECT]