Strayer University NUR 280 Final Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Pharmacology Q&A | Pharmacology
1. Which branch of pharmacology studies how the body affects a drug?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Toxicology
C) Pharmacokinetics
D) Therapeutics
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics examines absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion of drugs by the body. Pharmacodynamics studies how drugs
affect the body, toxicology studies adverse effects, and therapeutics deals
with the use of drugs to treat disease.
2. A drug's half-life refers to which of the following?
A) The time required for drug concentration to decrease by 50%
B) The time required for complete elimination of the drug
C) The duration of the therapeutic effect
D) The time required to reach peak plasma concentration
Correct Answer: The time required for drug concentration to decrease by
50%
Rationale: Half-life is the time needed for plasma drug concentration to fall
by half. It determines dosing frequency and the time required to reach
steady-state concentration. Complete elimination typically takes
approximately 4-5 half-lives.
,3. Which route of administration completely avoids first-pass hepatic
metabolism?
A) Oral
B) Sublingual
C) Rectal
D) Enteral feeding tube
Correct Answer: Sublingual
Rationale: Sublingual drugs enter systemic circulation directly through the
oral mucosa, bypassing initial liver metabolism. Rectal administration
partially avoids first-pass metabolism, while oral and enteral routes are fully
subject to it.
4. Which receptor type is primarily stimulated by norepinephrine in vascular
smooth muscle?
A) Beta-1
B) Beta-2
C) Alpha-1
D) Muscarinic
Correct Answer: Alpha-1
Rationale: Alpha-1 receptor activation causes vasoconstriction and increased
blood pressure. Beta-1 receptors are primarily in the heart, beta-2 in the
lungs and blood vessels, and muscarinic receptors are activated by
acetylcholine.
5. A patient develops severe hypotension after receiving an antihypertensive
medication. This represents which of the following?
,A) Therapeutic effect
B) Drug tolerance
C) Drug interaction
D) Adverse drug reaction
Correct Answer: Adverse drug reaction
Rationale: Excessive hypotension is an unintended harmful response to
medication, classified as an adverse drug reaction. A therapeutic effect is the
desired response, tolerance requires higher doses for the same effect, and
drug interactions involve the effect of one drug on another.
6. Which parameter is most commonly used to assess renal drug
elimination?
A) Bilirubin level
B) Creatinine clearance
C) Hemoglobin level
D) White blood cell count
Correct Answer: Creatinine clearance
Rationale: Creatinine clearance estimates kidney function and guides dosage
adjustments for renally eliminated drugs. Bilirubin reflects liver function,
hemoglobin reflects oxygen-carrying capacity, and white blood cell count
reflects immune status.
7. The nurse is reviewing medical prescriptions for newly admitted clients. It
would be a priority to follow up with the physician if a client with which
finding has Kayexalate prescribed?
A) Potassium level of 4.5 mEq/L
, B) Phenytoin level of 8 mcg/mL
C) Sensitivity to Aspirin
D) Sensitivity to Penicillin
Correct Answer: Potassium level of 4.5 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L. Giving Kayexalate
(sodium polystyrene sulfonate) to a patient with a normal potassium level
may cause hypokalemia, so the drug is not indicated. The therapeutic level
for phenytoin is 10-20 mcg/mL; a level of 8 is subtherapeutic.
8. A patient is prescribed a medication that is teratogenic. The nurse
understands that this means the medication can:
A) Cause cancer
B) Cause birth defects
C) Cause mutations in DNA
D) Cause allergic reactions
Correct Answer: Cause birth defects
Rationale: Teratogenic drugs can cause birth defects or developmental
abnormalities in a fetus. Mutagenic drugs cause mutations in DNA, and
carcinogenic drugs cause cancer.
9. Which of the following describes the concept of bioavailability?
A) The amount of the drug absorbed and able to be used
B) The time required for the drug to reach peak plasma concentration
C) The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose
D) The amount of drug bound to plasma proteins
Pharmacology Q&A | Pharmacology
1. Which branch of pharmacology studies how the body affects a drug?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Toxicology
C) Pharmacokinetics
D) Therapeutics
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics examines absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion of drugs by the body. Pharmacodynamics studies how drugs
affect the body, toxicology studies adverse effects, and therapeutics deals
with the use of drugs to treat disease.
2. A drug's half-life refers to which of the following?
A) The time required for drug concentration to decrease by 50%
B) The time required for complete elimination of the drug
C) The duration of the therapeutic effect
D) The time required to reach peak plasma concentration
Correct Answer: The time required for drug concentration to decrease by
50%
Rationale: Half-life is the time needed for plasma drug concentration to fall
by half. It determines dosing frequency and the time required to reach
steady-state concentration. Complete elimination typically takes
approximately 4-5 half-lives.
,3. Which route of administration completely avoids first-pass hepatic
metabolism?
A) Oral
B) Sublingual
C) Rectal
D) Enteral feeding tube
Correct Answer: Sublingual
Rationale: Sublingual drugs enter systemic circulation directly through the
oral mucosa, bypassing initial liver metabolism. Rectal administration
partially avoids first-pass metabolism, while oral and enteral routes are fully
subject to it.
4. Which receptor type is primarily stimulated by norepinephrine in vascular
smooth muscle?
A) Beta-1
B) Beta-2
C) Alpha-1
D) Muscarinic
Correct Answer: Alpha-1
Rationale: Alpha-1 receptor activation causes vasoconstriction and increased
blood pressure. Beta-1 receptors are primarily in the heart, beta-2 in the
lungs and blood vessels, and muscarinic receptors are activated by
acetylcholine.
5. A patient develops severe hypotension after receiving an antihypertensive
medication. This represents which of the following?
,A) Therapeutic effect
B) Drug tolerance
C) Drug interaction
D) Adverse drug reaction
Correct Answer: Adverse drug reaction
Rationale: Excessive hypotension is an unintended harmful response to
medication, classified as an adverse drug reaction. A therapeutic effect is the
desired response, tolerance requires higher doses for the same effect, and
drug interactions involve the effect of one drug on another.
6. Which parameter is most commonly used to assess renal drug
elimination?
A) Bilirubin level
B) Creatinine clearance
C) Hemoglobin level
D) White blood cell count
Correct Answer: Creatinine clearance
Rationale: Creatinine clearance estimates kidney function and guides dosage
adjustments for renally eliminated drugs. Bilirubin reflects liver function,
hemoglobin reflects oxygen-carrying capacity, and white blood cell count
reflects immune status.
7. The nurse is reviewing medical prescriptions for newly admitted clients. It
would be a priority to follow up with the physician if a client with which
finding has Kayexalate prescribed?
A) Potassium level of 4.5 mEq/L
, B) Phenytoin level of 8 mcg/mL
C) Sensitivity to Aspirin
D) Sensitivity to Penicillin
Correct Answer: Potassium level of 4.5 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L. Giving Kayexalate
(sodium polystyrene sulfonate) to a patient with a normal potassium level
may cause hypokalemia, so the drug is not indicated. The therapeutic level
for phenytoin is 10-20 mcg/mL; a level of 8 is subtherapeutic.
8. A patient is prescribed a medication that is teratogenic. The nurse
understands that this means the medication can:
A) Cause cancer
B) Cause birth defects
C) Cause mutations in DNA
D) Cause allergic reactions
Correct Answer: Cause birth defects
Rationale: Teratogenic drugs can cause birth defects or developmental
abnormalities in a fetus. Mutagenic drugs cause mutations in DNA, and
carcinogenic drugs cause cancer.
9. Which of the following describes the concept of bioavailability?
A) The amount of the drug absorbed and able to be used
B) The time required for the drug to reach peak plasma concentration
C) The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose
D) The amount of drug bound to plasma proteins
