Basic Pharmacology FOR Nurses Eighteenth
Edition Comprehensive Exam Test Certification
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update 2026/2027
Question:
What will the nurse expect the healthcare provider's order to be when starting an older adult patient
on thyroid hormone replacement therapy?
a. Administering a loading dose of the drug
b. Directions on how to taper the drug
c. A dosage that is one-third to one-half of the regular dosage
d. A dosage that is double the regular dosage
Answer:
c. A dosage that is one-third to one-half of the regular
dosage
Question:
Which drugs cause birth defects?
a. Teratogens
b. Carcinogens
c. Metabolites
d. Placebos
Answer:
a. Teratogens
Question:
Which life-threatening illness may occur as a result of aspirin (salicylate) administration during
viral illness to patients younger than 20 years of age?
a. Anaphylactic shock
b. Reye's syndrome
c. Chickenpox
d. Influenza A
,Answer:
b. Reye's syndrome
Question:
Which classification of medications commonly causes allergic reactions in children?
a. Antacids
b. Analgesics
c. Antibiotics
d. Anticonvulsants
Answer:
c. Antibiotics
Question:
After giving instructions to an expectant mother about taking medications during pregnancy, which
patient statement indicates the need for further teaching?
a. "I will not take herbal medicines during pregnancy."
b. "For morning sickness, I will try crackers instead of taking a drug."
c. "If I get a cold, I will avoid taking nonprescription medications
until I check with my physician."
d. "I will limit my alcohol intake to only one glass of wine weekly."
Answer:
d. "I will limit my alcohol intake to only one glass of wine
weekly."
Question:
When is the ideal time for a nursing mother to take her own medications?
a. Before the infant latches on to begin to breastfeed.
b. As soon as the mother wakes up in the morning.
c. Right before the mother goes to sleep at night.
d. As soon as the infant finishes breastfeeding.
Answer:
d. As soon as the infant finishes breastfeeding.
,Question:
Which age-related change would affect transdermal drug absorption in geriatric patients the most?
a. Difficulty swallowing
b. Diminished kidney function
c. Changes in pigmentation
d. Altered circulatory status
Answer:
d. Altered circulatory status
Question:
Which intervention would be considered to reduce accumulation of a drug in a patient who has
decreased liver function?
a. Decreasing the time interval between dosages
b. Reducing the dosage
c. Administering the medication intravenously
d. Changing the drug to one that has a longer half-life
Answer:
b. Reducing the dosage
Question:
The nurse is teaching an elderly patient with difficulty swallowing about his medications. Which
explanation by the nurse is most helpful?
a. "Enteric coated tablets can be crushed and taken with
applesauce."
b. "Tablets that are scored can be broken in half."
c. "Medications labeled 'SR' can be crushed."
d. "Avoid taking medications in liquid form."
Answer:
b. "Tablets that are scored can be broken in half."
Question:
The nurse is administering an antibiotic intravenously. Which blood level determines the lowest
amount of medication present in the patient?
a. Peak
, b. Serum
c. Therapeutic
d. Trough
Answer:
d. Trough
Question:
Which patient would the nurse identify as having the lowest rate of absorption of enteral
medications?
a. A 5-year-old boy
b. An 18-year-old woman
c. A 55-year-old man
d. An 85-year-old woman
Answer:
a. A 5-year-old boy
Question:
What is the definition of cumulative effect of a drug?
a. Drug toxicity related to overmedication
b. Drug buildup related to decreased metabolism
c. The inability to control the ingestion of drugs
d. The need for higher dosage to produce the same effect as previous
lower dosages
Answer:
b. Drug buildup related to decreased metabolism
Question:
Which patient, when compared with the general population, would require a larger dose or more
frequent administration of a drug to attain a therapeutic response?
a. A 29 year old who has been diagnosed with kidney failure
b. A 35-year-old obese male who is being evaluated for an exercise
program
c. A 52 year old diagnosed with hypothyroidism and decreased
Edition Comprehensive Exam Test Certification
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update 2026/2027
Question:
What will the nurse expect the healthcare provider's order to be when starting an older adult patient
on thyroid hormone replacement therapy?
a. Administering a loading dose of the drug
b. Directions on how to taper the drug
c. A dosage that is one-third to one-half of the regular dosage
d. A dosage that is double the regular dosage
Answer:
c. A dosage that is one-third to one-half of the regular
dosage
Question:
Which drugs cause birth defects?
a. Teratogens
b. Carcinogens
c. Metabolites
d. Placebos
Answer:
a. Teratogens
Question:
Which life-threatening illness may occur as a result of aspirin (salicylate) administration during
viral illness to patients younger than 20 years of age?
a. Anaphylactic shock
b. Reye's syndrome
c. Chickenpox
d. Influenza A
,Answer:
b. Reye's syndrome
Question:
Which classification of medications commonly causes allergic reactions in children?
a. Antacids
b. Analgesics
c. Antibiotics
d. Anticonvulsants
Answer:
c. Antibiotics
Question:
After giving instructions to an expectant mother about taking medications during pregnancy, which
patient statement indicates the need for further teaching?
a. "I will not take herbal medicines during pregnancy."
b. "For morning sickness, I will try crackers instead of taking a drug."
c. "If I get a cold, I will avoid taking nonprescription medications
until I check with my physician."
d. "I will limit my alcohol intake to only one glass of wine weekly."
Answer:
d. "I will limit my alcohol intake to only one glass of wine
weekly."
Question:
When is the ideal time for a nursing mother to take her own medications?
a. Before the infant latches on to begin to breastfeed.
b. As soon as the mother wakes up in the morning.
c. Right before the mother goes to sleep at night.
d. As soon as the infant finishes breastfeeding.
Answer:
d. As soon as the infant finishes breastfeeding.
,Question:
Which age-related change would affect transdermal drug absorption in geriatric patients the most?
a. Difficulty swallowing
b. Diminished kidney function
c. Changes in pigmentation
d. Altered circulatory status
Answer:
d. Altered circulatory status
Question:
Which intervention would be considered to reduce accumulation of a drug in a patient who has
decreased liver function?
a. Decreasing the time interval between dosages
b. Reducing the dosage
c. Administering the medication intravenously
d. Changing the drug to one that has a longer half-life
Answer:
b. Reducing the dosage
Question:
The nurse is teaching an elderly patient with difficulty swallowing about his medications. Which
explanation by the nurse is most helpful?
a. "Enteric coated tablets can be crushed and taken with
applesauce."
b. "Tablets that are scored can be broken in half."
c. "Medications labeled 'SR' can be crushed."
d. "Avoid taking medications in liquid form."
Answer:
b. "Tablets that are scored can be broken in half."
Question:
The nurse is administering an antibiotic intravenously. Which blood level determines the lowest
amount of medication present in the patient?
a. Peak
, b. Serum
c. Therapeutic
d. Trough
Answer:
d. Trough
Question:
Which patient would the nurse identify as having the lowest rate of absorption of enteral
medications?
a. A 5-year-old boy
b. An 18-year-old woman
c. A 55-year-old man
d. An 85-year-old woman
Answer:
a. A 5-year-old boy
Question:
What is the definition of cumulative effect of a drug?
a. Drug toxicity related to overmedication
b. Drug buildup related to decreased metabolism
c. The inability to control the ingestion of drugs
d. The need for higher dosage to produce the same effect as previous
lower dosages
Answer:
b. Drug buildup related to decreased metabolism
Question:
Which patient, when compared with the general population, would require a larger dose or more
frequent administration of a drug to attain a therapeutic response?
a. A 29 year old who has been diagnosed with kidney failure
b. A 35-year-old obese male who is being evaluated for an exercise
program
c. A 52 year old diagnosed with hypothyroidism and decreased
