USA NU 578 Unit 1 Exam UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X to treat a patient's high blood pressure. After
giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces the blood pressure without serious harmful
effects, but it also causes the patient to have nausea and headache. Based on this information, which
property of an ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration - CORRECT ANSWER C. Selectivity Correct
The drug is effective in lowering the blood pressure and safe in that it does not cause harmful effects.
However, as do most drugs, it causes other effects besides the one response desired; therefore, it lacks
selectivity. The oral form provides ease of administration.
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of the drug is the most
compelling indication that it should not be given?
A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect.
B. The drug is difficult to administer.
C. The drug's effects are reversible.
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose. - CORRECT ANSWER D. The drug is
not effective for its intended purpose. Correct
If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some drugs may be given even though
they produce unwanted side effects or are difficult to administer. Reversible action is a desired
property for most drugs.
Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
B. Less risk of side effects
C. Greater chemical stability
D. Greater likelihood of reversibility - CORRECT ANSWER A. Fewer administration errors
Correct
Ease of administration increases convenience and adherence and can reduce administration errors.
Ease of administration is not related to side effects, chemical stability, or reversibility.
,The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine, because the blood pressure
often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is taken with alcohol. Which drug property does this
illustrate?
A. Chemical instability
B. Drug interaction
C. Reversible action
D. Drug selectivity - CORRECT ANSWER B. Drug interaction Correct
When two or more drugs are taken together, they can interact, causing either increased or decreased
drug responses. In this case, alcohol would increase the nitroglycerine response. Chemical instability,
reversible action, and drug selectivity are not related to this situation.
When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability. - CORRECT ANSWER C. The drug's pharmacodynamics Correct
Pharmacodynamics can be thought of as the impact of drugs on the body. Pharmacokinetics describes
the movement of drugs through the body. Selectivity is the ability of a drug to elicit only the response
for which it is given. Predictability is the degree of certainty about how a patient will respond to a
certain drug.
When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
D. Effectiveness - CORRECT ANSWER B. Clinical pharmacology Correct
Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans. Pharmacology can be defined as
the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems. Therapeutics, also known as
pharmacotherapeutics, is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to prevent
pregnancy. The term effectiveness indicates that the drug elicits the intended response or responses.
Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have.
,B. There is no such thing as a safe drug.
C. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
D. There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects. - CORRECT
ANSWER Drugs are defined as illegal substances. Correct
A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes. All the other statements are correct.
What is the ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug?
A. Intensity of the response
B. Dosage
C. Route of administration
D. Timing of administration - CORRECT ANSWER A. Intensity of the response Correct
The ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug is the intensity of the response, which is
determined by the dosage size, route of administration, and timing of administration.
What is the objective of drug therapy?
A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
B. To provide minimum benefit with maximum harm
C. To provide total relief of symptoms regardless of harm
D. To provide as much benefit as possible - CORRECT ANSWER A. To provide maximum
benefit with minimal harm Correct
The objective of drug therapy is to provide maximum benefit with minimal harm. All drugs have the
potential to produce side effects. Because drugs are not ideal, we must exercise skill and care if
treatment is to result in more good than harm
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's response to a drug? (Select all that apply.)
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Mood
E. Genetics - CORRECT ANSWER A. Age
B. Gender
, C. Weight
E. Genetics
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes
and, by doing so, can help determine the patient's response to a drug. Sources of individual variation
include drug interactions; physiologic variables (eg, age, gender, weight); pathologic variables
(especially diminished function of the kidneys and liver, the major organs of drug elimination); and
genetic variables.
The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering the medication, the
nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of drug therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN (as needed) decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk - CORRECT ANSWER D. Identifying high-risk patients Correct
Patients receiving penicillin are at high risk for dangerous allergic reactions. This intervention
represents the nurse's role in identifying situations with high risk. This situation does not represent the
remaining responses.
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order: "Aldomet 250 mg daily."
What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as it was given last time.
B. Administer the medication by mouth.
C. Verify the order with the prescriber..
D. Ask the patient how this medication is usually given. - CORRECT ANSWER C. Verify the
order with the prescriber. Correct
This order does not include a drug route. The nurse should clarify any questionable orders with the
prescriber. The other responses are incorrect.
Which aspect of drug therapy indicates to the nurse whether a drug is having a beneficial effect?
A. Performing a preadministration assessment
B. Evaluating therapeutic responses
C. Minimizing adverse effects
D. Managing toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER B. Evaluating therapeutic responses Correct
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X to treat a patient's high blood pressure. After
giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces the blood pressure without serious harmful
effects, but it also causes the patient to have nausea and headache. Based on this information, which
property of an ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration - CORRECT ANSWER C. Selectivity Correct
The drug is effective in lowering the blood pressure and safe in that it does not cause harmful effects.
However, as do most drugs, it causes other effects besides the one response desired; therefore, it lacks
selectivity. The oral form provides ease of administration.
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of the drug is the most
compelling indication that it should not be given?
A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect.
B. The drug is difficult to administer.
C. The drug's effects are reversible.
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose. - CORRECT ANSWER D. The drug is
not effective for its intended purpose. Correct
If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some drugs may be given even though
they produce unwanted side effects or are difficult to administer. Reversible action is a desired
property for most drugs.
Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
B. Less risk of side effects
C. Greater chemical stability
D. Greater likelihood of reversibility - CORRECT ANSWER A. Fewer administration errors
Correct
Ease of administration increases convenience and adherence and can reduce administration errors.
Ease of administration is not related to side effects, chemical stability, or reversibility.
,The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine, because the blood pressure
often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is taken with alcohol. Which drug property does this
illustrate?
A. Chemical instability
B. Drug interaction
C. Reversible action
D. Drug selectivity - CORRECT ANSWER B. Drug interaction Correct
When two or more drugs are taken together, they can interact, causing either increased or decreased
drug responses. In this case, alcohol would increase the nitroglycerine response. Chemical instability,
reversible action, and drug selectivity are not related to this situation.
When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability. - CORRECT ANSWER C. The drug's pharmacodynamics Correct
Pharmacodynamics can be thought of as the impact of drugs on the body. Pharmacokinetics describes
the movement of drugs through the body. Selectivity is the ability of a drug to elicit only the response
for which it is given. Predictability is the degree of certainty about how a patient will respond to a
certain drug.
When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
D. Effectiveness - CORRECT ANSWER B. Clinical pharmacology Correct
Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans. Pharmacology can be defined as
the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems. Therapeutics, also known as
pharmacotherapeutics, is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to prevent
pregnancy. The term effectiveness indicates that the drug elicits the intended response or responses.
Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have.
,B. There is no such thing as a safe drug.
C. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
D. There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects. - CORRECT
ANSWER Drugs are defined as illegal substances. Correct
A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes. All the other statements are correct.
What is the ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug?
A. Intensity of the response
B. Dosage
C. Route of administration
D. Timing of administration - CORRECT ANSWER A. Intensity of the response Correct
The ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug is the intensity of the response, which is
determined by the dosage size, route of administration, and timing of administration.
What is the objective of drug therapy?
A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
B. To provide minimum benefit with maximum harm
C. To provide total relief of symptoms regardless of harm
D. To provide as much benefit as possible - CORRECT ANSWER A. To provide maximum
benefit with minimal harm Correct
The objective of drug therapy is to provide maximum benefit with minimal harm. All drugs have the
potential to produce side effects. Because drugs are not ideal, we must exercise skill and care if
treatment is to result in more good than harm
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's response to a drug? (Select all that apply.)
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Mood
E. Genetics - CORRECT ANSWER A. Age
B. Gender
, C. Weight
E. Genetics
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes
and, by doing so, can help determine the patient's response to a drug. Sources of individual variation
include drug interactions; physiologic variables (eg, age, gender, weight); pathologic variables
(especially diminished function of the kidneys and liver, the major organs of drug elimination); and
genetic variables.
The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering the medication, the
nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of drug therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN (as needed) decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk - CORRECT ANSWER D. Identifying high-risk patients Correct
Patients receiving penicillin are at high risk for dangerous allergic reactions. This intervention
represents the nurse's role in identifying situations with high risk. This situation does not represent the
remaining responses.
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order: "Aldomet 250 mg daily."
What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as it was given last time.
B. Administer the medication by mouth.
C. Verify the order with the prescriber..
D. Ask the patient how this medication is usually given. - CORRECT ANSWER C. Verify the
order with the prescriber. Correct
This order does not include a drug route. The nurse should clarify any questionable orders with the
prescriber. The other responses are incorrect.
Which aspect of drug therapy indicates to the nurse whether a drug is having a beneficial effect?
A. Performing a preadministration assessment
B. Evaluating therapeutic responses
C. Minimizing adverse effects
D. Managing toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER B. Evaluating therapeutic responses Correct
