NUR 100/NUR100 Exam 2 V1 | Pharmacology Q&A
with Rationale | Fortis College
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that undergoes a high first-pass
effect. Which statement best describes this pharmacokinetic process?
A. The medication is excreted rapidly by the kidneys.
B. The medication is absorbed directly through the gastric mucosa.
C. The medication binds strongly to albumin in the bloodstream.
D. The medication is metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug by the liver after it is
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract but before it reaches the systemic circulation. This
process can significantly reduce the concentration of the active drug available to the body.
Understanding this concept is crucial for nurses to recognize why certain drugs require
higher oral doses compared to intravenous doses.
2. When performing the ‘Six Rights’ of medication administration, which action should the
nurse prioritize to ensure patient safety?
A. Documenting the medication before administration to save time.
B. Administering the medication as soon as it is brought into the room.
C. Checking the medication label against the MAR three times.
,D. Allowing the patient to identify their own medication by sight.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Checking the medication label against the Medication Administration Record
(MAR) three times is a fundamental safety protocol. This practice helps prevent medication
errors related to wrong drug, wrong dose, or wrong patient. Nurses must remain vigilant
and follow these steps every single time a medication is administered to maintain
professional standards.
3. A patient has a low serum albumin level. How does this condition affect the distribution of
medications that are highly protein-bound?
A. The drug will become inactive and exert no effect.
B. The rate of drug absorption in the small intestine will decrease.
C. The drug will be unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.
D. There will be an increase in the free, active drug in the bloodstream.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: When a drug is highly protein-bound, it hitches a ride on albumin, leaving
only a small portion ‘free’ to produce a therapeutic effect. In patients with low albumin
levels, there are fewer binding sites available, leading to a higher concentration of free
drug. This increased level of active medication significantly raises the risk of drug toxicity
and adverse reactions.
, 4. The nurse is monitoring a patient for the half-life of a newly prescribed medication. What
does the term ‘half-life’ represent?
A. The time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
B. The time it takes for the drug to reach peak plasma concentration.
C. The duration of time the drug remains at a therapeutic level.
D. The time it takes for the drug to be completely absorbed.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Half-life is a pharmacokinetic parameter that describes the time required for
the concentration of a drug in the body to be reduced by one-half. This measurement helps
clinicians determine the frequency of dosing and how long a drug will stay in the system. It
usually takes about four to five half-lives for a drug to reach a steady state or to be
eliminated.
5. A nurse is administering a drug that acts as an antagonist. Which statement accurately
describes the action of an antagonist?
A. It binds to a receptor and prevents other molecules from activating it.
B. It binds to a receptor and triggers a biological response.
C. It increases the sensitivity of the cell to naturally occurring hormones.
D. It speeds up the metabolism of other medications in the liver.
Correct Answer: A
with Rationale | Fortis College
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that undergoes a high first-pass
effect. Which statement best describes this pharmacokinetic process?
A. The medication is excreted rapidly by the kidneys.
B. The medication is absorbed directly through the gastric mucosa.
C. The medication binds strongly to albumin in the bloodstream.
D. The medication is metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug by the liver after it is
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract but before it reaches the systemic circulation. This
process can significantly reduce the concentration of the active drug available to the body.
Understanding this concept is crucial for nurses to recognize why certain drugs require
higher oral doses compared to intravenous doses.
2. When performing the ‘Six Rights’ of medication administration, which action should the
nurse prioritize to ensure patient safety?
A. Documenting the medication before administration to save time.
B. Administering the medication as soon as it is brought into the room.
C. Checking the medication label against the MAR three times.
,D. Allowing the patient to identify their own medication by sight.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Checking the medication label against the Medication Administration Record
(MAR) three times is a fundamental safety protocol. This practice helps prevent medication
errors related to wrong drug, wrong dose, or wrong patient. Nurses must remain vigilant
and follow these steps every single time a medication is administered to maintain
professional standards.
3. A patient has a low serum albumin level. How does this condition affect the distribution of
medications that are highly protein-bound?
A. The drug will become inactive and exert no effect.
B. The rate of drug absorption in the small intestine will decrease.
C. The drug will be unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.
D. There will be an increase in the free, active drug in the bloodstream.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: When a drug is highly protein-bound, it hitches a ride on albumin, leaving
only a small portion ‘free’ to produce a therapeutic effect. In patients with low albumin
levels, there are fewer binding sites available, leading to a higher concentration of free
drug. This increased level of active medication significantly raises the risk of drug toxicity
and adverse reactions.
, 4. The nurse is monitoring a patient for the half-life of a newly prescribed medication. What
does the term ‘half-life’ represent?
A. The time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
B. The time it takes for the drug to reach peak plasma concentration.
C. The duration of time the drug remains at a therapeutic level.
D. The time it takes for the drug to be completely absorbed.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Half-life is a pharmacokinetic parameter that describes the time required for
the concentration of a drug in the body to be reduced by one-half. This measurement helps
clinicians determine the frequency of dosing and how long a drug will stay in the system. It
usually takes about four to five half-lives for a drug to reach a steady state or to be
eliminated.
5. A nurse is administering a drug that acts as an antagonist. Which statement accurately
describes the action of an antagonist?
A. It binds to a receptor and prevents other molecules from activating it.
B. It binds to a receptor and triggers a biological response.
C. It increases the sensitivity of the cell to naturally occurring hormones.
D. It speeds up the metabolism of other medications in the liver.
Correct Answer: A
