NSG1721 900 PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING FINAL
EXAM UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Question:
A client asks why the oral dose of her pain medication is higher than the intravenous
dose. The nurse explains that with the oral dose, only 20% to 40% of the drug may
actually enter systemic circulation. This reduces the amount of active drug. What is the
term for this effect? a.) Protein binding b.) Pinocytosis c.) Bioavailability d.) Hepatic first
pass
Answer:
c.) Bioavailability
Question:
A client is to receive a drug that has a half-life of 36
hours. The drug would probably be administered on which dose schedule? a.) Once a
day b.) Once a week c.) Twice a day d.) Three times a day
Answer:
a.) Once a day
Question:
A nurse is learning how to draw peak and trough levels of medication. In order to draw
them correctly, the nurse should know what the trough level is. The trough level is the
___________ of a drug. a.) Highest plasma concentration b.) Lowest plasma concentration
c.) Rate of absorption d.) Minimum effective concentration
Answer:
b.) Lowest plasma concentration
Question:
The nurse notes that the client is rapidly developing a decreased response to a
medication. This decreased response is known as:
a.) Tachyphylaxis b.) Drug toxicity c.) Pharmacogenetics d.) Drug accumulation
Answer:
a.) Tachyphylaxis
Question:
The client is receiving frequent daily drug dosing of a drug that has a long duration of
action. What should the nurse expect to be the result of this administration? a.)
Increased drug half-life b.) Increased drug excretion c.) Drug accumulation and possible
drug toxicity d.) Enhanced therapeutic response
Answer:
c.) Drug accumulation and possible drug toxicity
,Question:
When providing a medication, which route should the nurse select to ensure the
maximum amount of bioavailability? a.) Intravenous b.) Intramuscular c.) Oral d.)
Subcutaneous
Answer:
a.) Intravenous
Question:
A nurse is providing an oral medication for pain medication for pain relief to a client.
To attain the fastest pain relief, the nurse administers the medication so that it is most
rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Which mode of delivery has the
fastest absorption? a.) Capsule b.) Enteric-coated pill c.) Liquid suspension d.) Tablet
Answer:
c.) Liquid suspension
Question:
A client asks why she needs to take a medication on an empty stomach. The nurse
explains that food generally has which effect on drug dissolution and absorption? a.)
Increases b.) Enhances c.) Decreases d.) Does not have an effect
Answer:
c.) Decreases
Question:
During which phases of the nursing process will the nurse include nursing actions or
interventions necessary to accomplish expected outcomes? a.) Planning b.) Assessment
c.) Implementation d.) Evaluation
Answer:
c.) Implementation
Question:
Which is a correctly written goal? a.) The client will independently administer a
prescribed dose of antibiotic by the end of the first teaching session. b.) The client will
learn to take an antibiotic correctly. c.) The client will administer a prescribed dose. d.)
The client will know how to administer antibiotics.
Answer:
a.) The client will independently administer a prescribed dose of antibiotic by the end
of the first teaching session.
Question:
The nurse ensures that she provides the next nurse taking over the care of her client
with a complete list of his medications since the next nurse is newly admitted to that
unit. She recognizes that this fulfills which of the National Patient Safety Goals? a.)
Improve the accuracy of patient identification. b.) Improve the effectiveness of
communication among caregivers c.) Improve the safety of using medications. d.)
Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
Answer:
d.) Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
,Question:
What is the importance of the nurse practicing the "5-plus-5 rights" of drug
administration? a.) They ensure safe drug administration. b.) They ensure correct
mixing of the drug. c.) They ensure time-saving administration. d.) They ensure
adequate knowledge about the drug.
Answer:
a.) They ensure safe drug administration.
Question:
The nurse checks the expiration date on the medication to be administered and finds
that the drug expired 2 days ago. What is the most appropriate action on the part of the
nurse? a.) Contact the physician for orders. b.) Hold one dose of the medication. c.)
Return the medication to the pharmacy. d.) Administer the drug but monitor the client.
Answer:
c.) Return the medication to the pharmacy.
Question:
The nurse is calculation a dosage of medication for an
infant. The nurse recognizes that the dosage is based on the infant's:
a.) Weight in kilograms. b.) Weight in pounds. c.) Biological age. d.) Gestational age.
Answer:
a.) Weight in kilograms.
Question:
The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to an infant. What is
the most accurate site for the nurse to select for this administration? a.) Vastus lateralis
b.) Dorsogluteal c.) Ventrogluteal d.) Deltoid
Answer:
a.) Vastus lateralis
Question:
A client with chronic gain is ordered to receive nitroglycerin via patch. What is the
highest priority nursing action regarding this method of administration? a.) Remove the
old patch before applying the new patch. b.) Cut the patch to provide the correct dose of
medication. c.) Cover the patch with an airtight dressing after application. d.) Use sterile
technique when applying the patch.
Answer:
a.) Remove the old patch before applying the new patch.
Question:
All of the following are true of Hydantoins, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), an
Anticonvulsant, EXCEPT which of the following? a.) Is not indicated for all types of
seizures. b.) Is effective in treating petit mal seizures. c.) Is effective in treating
psychomotor seizures. d.) Is effective in treating grand mal seizures.
Answer:
b.) Is effective in treating petit mal seizures.
, Question:
The term for the universally accepted, official name of a drug is the _________. a.) Trade
b.) Generic c.) Brand d.) Proprietary
Answer:
b.) Generic
Question:
Each state has laws regarding drug administration by
nurses. What is this legislation part of? a.) National League for Nurses b.) Drug standard
c.) Nurse Practice Acts d.) American Nurses Association
Answer:
c.) Nurse Practice Acts
Question:
What did the nurse say when she found a rectal thermometer in her pocket?
Answer:
Damn it, some ******* has my pen!
Question:
How are most drugs excreted from the body? a.) Urine b.) Saliva c.) Feces d.) Lungs
Answer:
a.) Urine
Question:
A client is admitted to a nursing unit in acute alcoholic
withdrawal. Which nursing diagnosis is the highest priority early in this admission? a.)
Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements due to poor intake. b.) Disturbed
thought processes due to symptoms. c.) Acute constipation related to effects of poor
nutrition and decreased activity. d.) Risk for injury related to disorientation and seizure
activity.
Answer:
d.) Risk for injury related to disorientation and seizure activity.
Question:
A nurse in the emergency department receives a call that a client is being transported
to the hospital by
paramedics. The client is a known heroin addict and is showing signs of potential
overdose. The nurse would expect which symptoms? a.) Panic behaviors, tachycardia,
hypertension b.) Anxiety, blurred vision, agitation c.) Clammy skin, constricted pupils,
decreased levels of consciousness d.) Fatigue, paranoia, hallucinations
Answer:
c.) Clammy skin, constricted pupils, decreased levels of consciousness
EXAM UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Question:
A client asks why the oral dose of her pain medication is higher than the intravenous
dose. The nurse explains that with the oral dose, only 20% to 40% of the drug may
actually enter systemic circulation. This reduces the amount of active drug. What is the
term for this effect? a.) Protein binding b.) Pinocytosis c.) Bioavailability d.) Hepatic first
pass
Answer:
c.) Bioavailability
Question:
A client is to receive a drug that has a half-life of 36
hours. The drug would probably be administered on which dose schedule? a.) Once a
day b.) Once a week c.) Twice a day d.) Three times a day
Answer:
a.) Once a day
Question:
A nurse is learning how to draw peak and trough levels of medication. In order to draw
them correctly, the nurse should know what the trough level is. The trough level is the
___________ of a drug. a.) Highest plasma concentration b.) Lowest plasma concentration
c.) Rate of absorption d.) Minimum effective concentration
Answer:
b.) Lowest plasma concentration
Question:
The nurse notes that the client is rapidly developing a decreased response to a
medication. This decreased response is known as:
a.) Tachyphylaxis b.) Drug toxicity c.) Pharmacogenetics d.) Drug accumulation
Answer:
a.) Tachyphylaxis
Question:
The client is receiving frequent daily drug dosing of a drug that has a long duration of
action. What should the nurse expect to be the result of this administration? a.)
Increased drug half-life b.) Increased drug excretion c.) Drug accumulation and possible
drug toxicity d.) Enhanced therapeutic response
Answer:
c.) Drug accumulation and possible drug toxicity
,Question:
When providing a medication, which route should the nurse select to ensure the
maximum amount of bioavailability? a.) Intravenous b.) Intramuscular c.) Oral d.)
Subcutaneous
Answer:
a.) Intravenous
Question:
A nurse is providing an oral medication for pain medication for pain relief to a client.
To attain the fastest pain relief, the nurse administers the medication so that it is most
rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Which mode of delivery has the
fastest absorption? a.) Capsule b.) Enteric-coated pill c.) Liquid suspension d.) Tablet
Answer:
c.) Liquid suspension
Question:
A client asks why she needs to take a medication on an empty stomach. The nurse
explains that food generally has which effect on drug dissolution and absorption? a.)
Increases b.) Enhances c.) Decreases d.) Does not have an effect
Answer:
c.) Decreases
Question:
During which phases of the nursing process will the nurse include nursing actions or
interventions necessary to accomplish expected outcomes? a.) Planning b.) Assessment
c.) Implementation d.) Evaluation
Answer:
c.) Implementation
Question:
Which is a correctly written goal? a.) The client will independently administer a
prescribed dose of antibiotic by the end of the first teaching session. b.) The client will
learn to take an antibiotic correctly. c.) The client will administer a prescribed dose. d.)
The client will know how to administer antibiotics.
Answer:
a.) The client will independently administer a prescribed dose of antibiotic by the end
of the first teaching session.
Question:
The nurse ensures that she provides the next nurse taking over the care of her client
with a complete list of his medications since the next nurse is newly admitted to that
unit. She recognizes that this fulfills which of the National Patient Safety Goals? a.)
Improve the accuracy of patient identification. b.) Improve the effectiveness of
communication among caregivers c.) Improve the safety of using medications. d.)
Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
Answer:
d.) Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
,Question:
What is the importance of the nurse practicing the "5-plus-5 rights" of drug
administration? a.) They ensure safe drug administration. b.) They ensure correct
mixing of the drug. c.) They ensure time-saving administration. d.) They ensure
adequate knowledge about the drug.
Answer:
a.) They ensure safe drug administration.
Question:
The nurse checks the expiration date on the medication to be administered and finds
that the drug expired 2 days ago. What is the most appropriate action on the part of the
nurse? a.) Contact the physician for orders. b.) Hold one dose of the medication. c.)
Return the medication to the pharmacy. d.) Administer the drug but monitor the client.
Answer:
c.) Return the medication to the pharmacy.
Question:
The nurse is calculation a dosage of medication for an
infant. The nurse recognizes that the dosage is based on the infant's:
a.) Weight in kilograms. b.) Weight in pounds. c.) Biological age. d.) Gestational age.
Answer:
a.) Weight in kilograms.
Question:
The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to an infant. What is
the most accurate site for the nurse to select for this administration? a.) Vastus lateralis
b.) Dorsogluteal c.) Ventrogluteal d.) Deltoid
Answer:
a.) Vastus lateralis
Question:
A client with chronic gain is ordered to receive nitroglycerin via patch. What is the
highest priority nursing action regarding this method of administration? a.) Remove the
old patch before applying the new patch. b.) Cut the patch to provide the correct dose of
medication. c.) Cover the patch with an airtight dressing after application. d.) Use sterile
technique when applying the patch.
Answer:
a.) Remove the old patch before applying the new patch.
Question:
All of the following are true of Hydantoins, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), an
Anticonvulsant, EXCEPT which of the following? a.) Is not indicated for all types of
seizures. b.) Is effective in treating petit mal seizures. c.) Is effective in treating
psychomotor seizures. d.) Is effective in treating grand mal seizures.
Answer:
b.) Is effective in treating petit mal seizures.
, Question:
The term for the universally accepted, official name of a drug is the _________. a.) Trade
b.) Generic c.) Brand d.) Proprietary
Answer:
b.) Generic
Question:
Each state has laws regarding drug administration by
nurses. What is this legislation part of? a.) National League for Nurses b.) Drug standard
c.) Nurse Practice Acts d.) American Nurses Association
Answer:
c.) Nurse Practice Acts
Question:
What did the nurse say when she found a rectal thermometer in her pocket?
Answer:
Damn it, some ******* has my pen!
Question:
How are most drugs excreted from the body? a.) Urine b.) Saliva c.) Feces d.) Lungs
Answer:
a.) Urine
Question:
A client is admitted to a nursing unit in acute alcoholic
withdrawal. Which nursing diagnosis is the highest priority early in this admission? a.)
Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements due to poor intake. b.) Disturbed
thought processes due to symptoms. c.) Acute constipation related to effects of poor
nutrition and decreased activity. d.) Risk for injury related to disorientation and seizure
activity.
Answer:
d.) Risk for injury related to disorientation and seizure activity.
Question:
A nurse in the emergency department receives a call that a client is being transported
to the hospital by
paramedics. The client is a known heroin addict and is showing signs of potential
overdose. The nurse would expect which symptoms? a.) Panic behaviors, tachycardia,
hypertension b.) Anxiety, blurred vision, agitation c.) Clammy skin, constricted pupils,
decreased levels of consciousness d.) Fatigue, paranoia, hallucinations
Answer:
c.) Clammy skin, constricted pupils, decreased levels of consciousness
