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NSG 124 Pharmacology Midterm Newest Exam
Preparation With Complete Questions And Correct
Answers With Rationales Already Graded A+Brand
New Version!!
Question 1
A patient is prescribed a medication that has a high first-pass effect.
The nurse understands that this medication will be administered via
which route to avoid this effect?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Rectal
Answer: C. Intravenous
Explanation: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug in
the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. Medications
administered orally are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and
transported via the portal vein to the liver, where a significant portion
may be metabolized. The intravenous route delivers the drug directly
into systemic circulation, completely bypassing the first-pass effect.
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While sublingual and rectal routes also partially bypass the first-pass
effect, intravenous administration is the only route that entirely avoids
it.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is an agonist at
beta-1 adrenergic receptors. Which of the following physiological
effects would the nurse expect to observe?
A. Bronchodilation
B. Increased heart rate and contractility
C. Peripheral vasodilation
D. Decreased blood pressure
Answer: B. Increased heart rate and contractility
Explanation: Beta-1 adrenergic receptors are primarily located in the
heart. Stimulation of these receptors by an agonist leads to increased
heart rate (positive chronotropic effect), increased force of myocardial
contraction (positive inotropic effect), and increased conduction velocity
through the atrioventricular node. Beta-2 receptors are found in
bronchial smooth muscle and cause bronchodilation when stimulated.
Alpha-1 receptor stimulation leads to peripheral vasoconstriction.
Question 3
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A patient is taking a medication that is a weak acid. The nurse
understands that this drug will be best absorbed in which part of the
gastrointestinal tract?
A. Stomach
B. Duodenum
C. Jejunum
D. Colon
Answer: A. Stomach
Explanation: Weak acids are nonionized and more lipid-soluble in acidic
environments, which facilitates their absorption across cell membranes.
The stomach has a highly acidic pH, which promotes the nonionized
form of weak acids. Weak bases are better absorbed in the more
alkaline environment of the small intestine. This principle is based on
the pH-partition theory, which states that drugs will be absorbed in the
environment where they are most nonionized.
Question 4
A patient is receiving a drug that has a half-life of 4 hours. The nurse
administers the medication at 0800. At what time will the drug
concentration in the body be reduced to 25% of its original value,
assuming first-order kinetics?
A. 1200
B. 1600
C. 2000
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D. 2400
Answer: C. 2000
Explanation: With first-order kinetics, a constant fraction of the drug is
eliminated per unit time, and the half-life is constant. After one half-life
(4 hours), 50% of the drug remains. After two half-lives (8 hours), 25%
remains. Therefore, if the medication was given at 0800, 25% would
remain at 1600 plus 4 hours? Let's recalculate: 0800 + 4 hours = 1200
(50% remains), 0800 + 8 hours = 1600 (25% remains). The question asks
for 25% of the original value. That is two half-lives, which is 8 hours.
0800 + 8 hours = 1600. The provided answer choices are 1200, 1600,
2000, and 2400. 1600 is the correct choice.
Question 5
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a patient who is receiving
an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Which of the following assessments is
most critical for the nurse to perform?
A. Serum creatinine and BUN
B. Liver function tests
C. Complete blood count
D. Serum electrolytes
Answer: A. Serum creatinine and BUN
Explanation: Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin and tobramycin, are
known for their nephrotoxic and ototoxic effects. Nephrotoxicity is the
NSG 124 Pharmacology Midterm Newest Exam
Preparation With Complete Questions And Correct
Answers With Rationales Already Graded A+Brand
New Version!!
Question 1
A patient is prescribed a medication that has a high first-pass effect.
The nurse understands that this medication will be administered via
which route to avoid this effect?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Rectal
Answer: C. Intravenous
Explanation: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug in
the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. Medications
administered orally are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and
transported via the portal vein to the liver, where a significant portion
may be metabolized. The intravenous route delivers the drug directly
into systemic circulation, completely bypassing the first-pass effect.
,2|Page
While sublingual and rectal routes also partially bypass the first-pass
effect, intravenous administration is the only route that entirely avoids
it.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is an agonist at
beta-1 adrenergic receptors. Which of the following physiological
effects would the nurse expect to observe?
A. Bronchodilation
B. Increased heart rate and contractility
C. Peripheral vasodilation
D. Decreased blood pressure
Answer: B. Increased heart rate and contractility
Explanation: Beta-1 adrenergic receptors are primarily located in the
heart. Stimulation of these receptors by an agonist leads to increased
heart rate (positive chronotropic effect), increased force of myocardial
contraction (positive inotropic effect), and increased conduction velocity
through the atrioventricular node. Beta-2 receptors are found in
bronchial smooth muscle and cause bronchodilation when stimulated.
Alpha-1 receptor stimulation leads to peripheral vasoconstriction.
Question 3
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A patient is taking a medication that is a weak acid. The nurse
understands that this drug will be best absorbed in which part of the
gastrointestinal tract?
A. Stomach
B. Duodenum
C. Jejunum
D. Colon
Answer: A. Stomach
Explanation: Weak acids are nonionized and more lipid-soluble in acidic
environments, which facilitates their absorption across cell membranes.
The stomach has a highly acidic pH, which promotes the nonionized
form of weak acids. Weak bases are better absorbed in the more
alkaline environment of the small intestine. This principle is based on
the pH-partition theory, which states that drugs will be absorbed in the
environment where they are most nonionized.
Question 4
A patient is receiving a drug that has a half-life of 4 hours. The nurse
administers the medication at 0800. At what time will the drug
concentration in the body be reduced to 25% of its original value,
assuming first-order kinetics?
A. 1200
B. 1600
C. 2000
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D. 2400
Answer: C. 2000
Explanation: With first-order kinetics, a constant fraction of the drug is
eliminated per unit time, and the half-life is constant. After one half-life
(4 hours), 50% of the drug remains. After two half-lives (8 hours), 25%
remains. Therefore, if the medication was given at 0800, 25% would
remain at 1600 plus 4 hours? Let's recalculate: 0800 + 4 hours = 1200
(50% remains), 0800 + 8 hours = 1600 (25% remains). The question asks
for 25% of the original value. That is two half-lives, which is 8 hours.
0800 + 8 hours = 1600. The provided answer choices are 1200, 1600,
2000, and 2400. 1600 is the correct choice.
Question 5
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a patient who is receiving
an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Which of the following assessments is
most critical for the nurse to perform?
A. Serum creatinine and BUN
B. Liver function tests
C. Complete blood count
D. Serum electrolytes
Answer: A. Serum creatinine and BUN
Explanation: Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin and tobramycin, are
known for their nephrotoxic and ototoxic effects. Nephrotoxicity is the
