NUR 210 | PRINCIPLES OF
PHARMACOLOGY | EXAM 1 2026 |
GALEN COLLEGE
1. A patient has been prescribed a drug with a high first-pass effect. Which route of
administration would be least appropriate if a rapid systemic effect is required?
A. Intravenous
B. Oral
C. Sublingual
D. Transdermal
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the
liver before reaching systemic circulation, which is characteristic of oral administration.
Other routes bypass the liver initially.
2. The nurse is monitoring a patient for drug toxicity. Which lab value is most important to
assess when a drug is primarily excreted by the kidneys?
A. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
B. Serum Albumin
,C. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
D. Hemoglobin A1c
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The kidneys are the primary organs for drug excretion. GFR or
Creatinine Clearance are direct indicators of renal function and the ability to eliminate
drugs.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If 100 mg of the drug is administered at 12:00 PM, how
much remains in the body at 8:00 PM?
A. 50 mg
B. 12.5 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 6.25 mg
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In 8 hours, two half-lives have passed (8/4 = 2). After 4 hours,
50 mg remains. After another 4 hours, 25 mg remains.
4. What is the primary purpose of a loading dose in pharmacotherapy?
A. To minimize the risk of drug-drug interactions
B. To prolong the drug half-life
C. To reduce the risk of adverse side effects
, D. To reach a therapeutic steady state more rapidly
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A loading dose is a higher initial dose used to rapidly achieve the
minimum effective concentration (steady state) in the blood.
5. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response?
A. Agonist
B. Inverse agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Competitive inhibitor
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to
produce a biological response.
6. A patient is taking a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What is the priority nursing
action?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Assess for generic versus brand name bioequivalence
C. Administer the drug with food to prevent GI upset
D. Monitor serum drug levels closely
PHARMACOLOGY | EXAM 1 2026 |
GALEN COLLEGE
1. A patient has been prescribed a drug with a high first-pass effect. Which route of
administration would be least appropriate if a rapid systemic effect is required?
A. Intravenous
B. Oral
C. Sublingual
D. Transdermal
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the
liver before reaching systemic circulation, which is characteristic of oral administration.
Other routes bypass the liver initially.
2. The nurse is monitoring a patient for drug toxicity. Which lab value is most important to
assess when a drug is primarily excreted by the kidneys?
A. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
B. Serum Albumin
,C. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
D. Hemoglobin A1c
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The kidneys are the primary organs for drug excretion. GFR or
Creatinine Clearance are direct indicators of renal function and the ability to eliminate
drugs.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If 100 mg of the drug is administered at 12:00 PM, how
much remains in the body at 8:00 PM?
A. 50 mg
B. 12.5 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 6.25 mg
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In 8 hours, two half-lives have passed (8/4 = 2). After 4 hours,
50 mg remains. After another 4 hours, 25 mg remains.
4. What is the primary purpose of a loading dose in pharmacotherapy?
A. To minimize the risk of drug-drug interactions
B. To prolong the drug half-life
C. To reduce the risk of adverse side effects
, D. To reach a therapeutic steady state more rapidly
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A loading dose is a higher initial dose used to rapidly achieve the
minimum effective concentration (steady state) in the blood.
5. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response?
A. Agonist
B. Inverse agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Competitive inhibitor
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to
produce a biological response.
6. A patient is taking a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What is the priority nursing
action?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Assess for generic versus brand name bioequivalence
C. Administer the drug with food to prevent GI upset
D. Monitor serum drug levels closely
