UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND URI
NUR243 FINAL STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | NURSING REVIEW GUIDE
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
,Physiologic changes in aging (kidney and liver function) drug accumulation may be the cause of adverse effects as older adults cannot excrete
the drugs as well
-renal function = decreased GFR with age
-hepatic metabolism = decreases with age
Hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity types of organ damages caused by medications; MUST MONITOR LABS; monitor AST
and ALT for liver
agonist actions binds to a receptor and mimics it to produce a response
antagonist actions blocks a receptor to prevent its response
Receptor desensitization when a receptor becomes less responsive to a drug due to continuous or repeated
exposure; will need a higher dose for the response to happen
Protein (albumin) binding drug needs to be attached to a protein (albumin) to be delivered to the body; hitches a
ride in the bloodstream; reversible bonds
alpha receptors responds to norepinephrine and epinephrine; sympathetic NS; tightens blood vessels
and raises BP
beta receptors responds to norepinephrine and epinephrine; sympathetic NS; speed up the heart and
open up the lungs to handle stress
cholinergic receptors muscarinic; produces a PNS response
Cytochrome P450 system (effect of inhibitors of system) a group of liver enzymes that METABOLIZE DRUGS (break them down); inhibitors slow
down this system; ex = grapefruit juice inhibits this system and increases the levels of
drugs when it slows down the system
Loading doses relationship between the size of the administered dose and the intensity of the response
produced; use MINIMUM amount of drug with the MAXIMUM response
Narrow therapeutic range Small margin between effective and toxic doses; drug is less safe to take when the range
is smaller
, Prodysrhythmic effects when medications that are supposed to treat an abnormal heart rhythm actually causes a
new or worsened arrhythmia; common in sympathomimetics as they increase SNS
response
Routes of administration including benefits of each route oral - cheap, non-invasive, safe for long-term use; slow-onset
sublingual and buccal - rapid absorption, good for emergencies
enteral (NG) - absorbed by GI, can be liquid or crushed, good for people who can't
swallow
IV - fastest onset, precise control of dose
IM - faster than oral, long acting
SubQ - good for self-administration
Inhalation - rapid absorption, less systemic effects
5 rights of medication administration right patient
right medication
right dose
right route
right time
"PM DR. T"
Nurse's role & scope of practice in med administration the last line before the patient receives medication; ensure patient, med, dose, route,
time; clarify medication orders; assess vitals before administration; monitor after
administration; teach patient about medication
adverse drug reactions a harmful, unintended response to a medication that occurs at normal doses; common or
life-threatening; some can be toxic
who is at increased risk for ADRs? older adults
children and infants
patients with liver/kidney disease
patients on multiple medications (polypharmacy)
risk factors for ADRs - drug accumulation with a low GFR
- polypharmacy
- greater severity of illness
- multiple chronic illnesses
- greater use of drugs with a low therapeutic index
- poor patient adherence
NUR243 FINAL STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | NURSING REVIEW GUIDE
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
,Physiologic changes in aging (kidney and liver function) drug accumulation may be the cause of adverse effects as older adults cannot excrete
the drugs as well
-renal function = decreased GFR with age
-hepatic metabolism = decreases with age
Hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity types of organ damages caused by medications; MUST MONITOR LABS; monitor AST
and ALT for liver
agonist actions binds to a receptor and mimics it to produce a response
antagonist actions blocks a receptor to prevent its response
Receptor desensitization when a receptor becomes less responsive to a drug due to continuous or repeated
exposure; will need a higher dose for the response to happen
Protein (albumin) binding drug needs to be attached to a protein (albumin) to be delivered to the body; hitches a
ride in the bloodstream; reversible bonds
alpha receptors responds to norepinephrine and epinephrine; sympathetic NS; tightens blood vessels
and raises BP
beta receptors responds to norepinephrine and epinephrine; sympathetic NS; speed up the heart and
open up the lungs to handle stress
cholinergic receptors muscarinic; produces a PNS response
Cytochrome P450 system (effect of inhibitors of system) a group of liver enzymes that METABOLIZE DRUGS (break them down); inhibitors slow
down this system; ex = grapefruit juice inhibits this system and increases the levels of
drugs when it slows down the system
Loading doses relationship between the size of the administered dose and the intensity of the response
produced; use MINIMUM amount of drug with the MAXIMUM response
Narrow therapeutic range Small margin between effective and toxic doses; drug is less safe to take when the range
is smaller
, Prodysrhythmic effects when medications that are supposed to treat an abnormal heart rhythm actually causes a
new or worsened arrhythmia; common in sympathomimetics as they increase SNS
response
Routes of administration including benefits of each route oral - cheap, non-invasive, safe for long-term use; slow-onset
sublingual and buccal - rapid absorption, good for emergencies
enteral (NG) - absorbed by GI, can be liquid or crushed, good for people who can't
swallow
IV - fastest onset, precise control of dose
IM - faster than oral, long acting
SubQ - good for self-administration
Inhalation - rapid absorption, less systemic effects
5 rights of medication administration right patient
right medication
right dose
right route
right time
"PM DR. T"
Nurse's role & scope of practice in med administration the last line before the patient receives medication; ensure patient, med, dose, route,
time; clarify medication orders; assess vitals before administration; monitor after
administration; teach patient about medication
adverse drug reactions a harmful, unintended response to a medication that occurs at normal doses; common or
life-threatening; some can be toxic
who is at increased risk for ADRs? older adults
children and infants
patients with liver/kidney disease
patients on multiple medications (polypharmacy)
risk factors for ADRs - drug accumulation with a low GFR
- polypharmacy
- greater severity of illness
- multiple chronic illnesses
- greater use of drugs with a low therapeutic index
- poor patient adherence
