NRG 200 Pharmacology for Human
Caring Nursing: Comprehensive Final
Exam Review –Questions, Answers, &
Clinical Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL PHARMACOLOGY &
PHARMACOKINETICS
A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record and notes that a
medication is ordered to be given "PC." When should the nurse administer
this medication?
A) Before meals
B) At bedtime
C) After meals
D) As needed
Answer: C) After meals. "PC" is an abbreviation for post cibum, Latin for
"after meals." "Before meals" is AC (ante cibum), "at bedtime" is HS (hora
somni), and "as needed" is PRN (pro re nata).
The study of how a drug moves through the body, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion, is known as:
A) Pharmacodynamics
, B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Pharmacogenomics
Answer: B) Pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics describes what the body
does to the drug—its movement through absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics describes what the drug
does to the body.
A patient asks the nurse what it means for a drug to have a "narrow
therapeutic index." Which response is correct?
A) "The drug is very safe and rarely causes side effects."
B) "There is a small range between an effective dose and a toxic dose."
C) "The drug must be taken with food to be effective."
D) "The drug only works for a short period of time."
Answer: B) There is a small range between an effective dose and a
toxic dose. Narrow therapeutic index means the difference between
therapeutic and toxic doses is small, requiring close monitoring (e.g.,
warfarin, lithium, digoxin).
A nurse is administering a medication that is highly protein-bound. Which
assessment is most important?
A) Monitor for drug-drug interactions that may displace the drug
B) Check the patient's urine output every hour
, C) Administer the medication on an empty stomach
D) Monitor blood glucose levels
Answer: A) Monitor for drug-drug interactions that may displace the
drug. Highly protein-bound drugs can be displaced by other protein-
bound medications, leading to increased free drug levels and potential
toxicity.
A patient is prescribed a medication that inhibits hepatic enzymes. The
nurse should monitor for:
A) Reduced effects of other drugs
B) Increased effects or toxicity of other drugs
C) No change in drug levels
D) Enhanced drug excretion
Answer: B) Increased effects or toxicity of other drugs. Enzyme
inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, erythromycin) decrease metabolism of other
drugs, leading to increased drug levels and potential toxicity.
A patient is prescribed a medication that induces hepatic enzymes. The
nurse should anticipate:
A) Increased metabolism of other drugs
B) Decreased metabolism of other drugs
C) No change in drug metabolism
D) Increased protein binding
, Answer: A) Increased metabolism of other drugs. Enzyme inducers (e.g.,
rifampin, carbamazepine) increase the metabolism of other drugs,
potentially reducing their effectiveness.
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to an older adult. Which
physiological change associated with aging has the most significant impact
on drug metabolism?
A) Decreased gastric motility
B) Reduced hepatic blood flow and liver mass
C) Increased body fat percentage
D) Decreased renal blood flow
Answer: B) Reduced hepatic blood flow and liver mass. Aging is
associated with decreased liver mass and hepatic blood flow, which
significantly reduces the liver's ability to metabolize drugs, leading to
prolonged drug effects and increased risk of toxicity.
Which patient population requires the most cautious medication dosing?
A) Healthy 25-year-old
B) Pregnant client
C) Older adult with kidney disease
D) Adolescent athlete
Caring Nursing: Comprehensive Final
Exam Review –Questions, Answers, &
Clinical Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL PHARMACOLOGY &
PHARMACOKINETICS
A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record and notes that a
medication is ordered to be given "PC." When should the nurse administer
this medication?
A) Before meals
B) At bedtime
C) After meals
D) As needed
Answer: C) After meals. "PC" is an abbreviation for post cibum, Latin for
"after meals." "Before meals" is AC (ante cibum), "at bedtime" is HS (hora
somni), and "as needed" is PRN (pro re nata).
The study of how a drug moves through the body, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion, is known as:
A) Pharmacodynamics
, B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Pharmacogenomics
Answer: B) Pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics describes what the body
does to the drug—its movement through absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics describes what the drug
does to the body.
A patient asks the nurse what it means for a drug to have a "narrow
therapeutic index." Which response is correct?
A) "The drug is very safe and rarely causes side effects."
B) "There is a small range between an effective dose and a toxic dose."
C) "The drug must be taken with food to be effective."
D) "The drug only works for a short period of time."
Answer: B) There is a small range between an effective dose and a
toxic dose. Narrow therapeutic index means the difference between
therapeutic and toxic doses is small, requiring close monitoring (e.g.,
warfarin, lithium, digoxin).
A nurse is administering a medication that is highly protein-bound. Which
assessment is most important?
A) Monitor for drug-drug interactions that may displace the drug
B) Check the patient's urine output every hour
, C) Administer the medication on an empty stomach
D) Monitor blood glucose levels
Answer: A) Monitor for drug-drug interactions that may displace the
drug. Highly protein-bound drugs can be displaced by other protein-
bound medications, leading to increased free drug levels and potential
toxicity.
A patient is prescribed a medication that inhibits hepatic enzymes. The
nurse should monitor for:
A) Reduced effects of other drugs
B) Increased effects or toxicity of other drugs
C) No change in drug levels
D) Enhanced drug excretion
Answer: B) Increased effects or toxicity of other drugs. Enzyme
inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, erythromycin) decrease metabolism of other
drugs, leading to increased drug levels and potential toxicity.
A patient is prescribed a medication that induces hepatic enzymes. The
nurse should anticipate:
A) Increased metabolism of other drugs
B) Decreased metabolism of other drugs
C) No change in drug metabolism
D) Increased protein binding
, Answer: A) Increased metabolism of other drugs. Enzyme inducers (e.g.,
rifampin, carbamazepine) increase the metabolism of other drugs,
potentially reducing their effectiveness.
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to an older adult. Which
physiological change associated with aging has the most significant impact
on drug metabolism?
A) Decreased gastric motility
B) Reduced hepatic blood flow and liver mass
C) Increased body fat percentage
D) Decreased renal blood flow
Answer: B) Reduced hepatic blood flow and liver mass. Aging is
associated with decreased liver mass and hepatic blood flow, which
significantly reduces the liver's ability to metabolize drugs, leading to
prolonged drug effects and increased risk of toxicity.
Which patient population requires the most cautious medication dosing?
A) Healthy 25-year-old
B) Pregnant client
C) Older adult with kidney disease
D) Adolescent athlete
