NUR 210 | PRINCIPLES OF
PHARMACOLOGY | GALEN COLLEGE
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
1. A patient with a high body fat percentage is prescribed a highly lipid-soluble drug. How will
this characteristic most likely affect the drug’s distribution?
A. The drug will be excreted more rapidly by the kidneys.
B. The drug will have a shorter half-life due to rapid metabolism.
C. The drug will have a prolonged duration of action.
D. The drug will remain primarily in the vascular compartment.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Lipid-soluble drugs are distributed to and stored in adipose
tissue. In patients with higher body fat, these drugs are released slowly back into the
bloodstream, leading to a prolonged duration of action and a longer half-life.
2. Which pharmacokinetic process is primarily affected in a patient with decompensated liver
cirrhosis?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
,C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism via cytochrome
P450 enzymes. Cirrhosis impairs the liver’s ability to chemically alter drugs, potentially
leading to toxicity.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a dose of 400 mg is administered, how much of the drug
will remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 200 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 50 mg
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (1 half-life), 200 mg remains. After 8 hours (2 half-
lives), 100 mg remains. After 12 hours (3 half-lives), 50 mg remains.
4. When administering a drug with a narrow therapeutic index, which nursing action is most
critical?
A. Monitoring serum drug levels closely.
B. Encouraging the patient to increase fluid intake.
, C. Assessing for signs of drug dependence.
D. Administering the drug only on an empty stomach.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between a
therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is small. Monitoring serum levels is vital to ensure safety
and efficacy.
5. What is the primary mechanism of action of a competitive antagonist?
A. Binding to a receptor to produce a maximal physiological response.
B. Binding to a receptor to prevent the agonist from binding.
C. Irreversibly binding to the receptor site to deactivate it.
D. Enhancing the affinity of the natural ligand for the receptor.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Competitive antagonists compete with agonists for the same
receptor site. If the antagonist binds, it prevents the agonist from triggering a response.
6. A patient is prescribed Rifampin for tuberculosis. What should the nurse include in the
patient teaching?
A. Expect urine, sweat, and tears to turn orange-red.
B. Avoid aged cheeses and red wine.
C. Limit intake of green leafy vegetables.
PHARMACOLOGY | GALEN COLLEGE
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
1. A patient with a high body fat percentage is prescribed a highly lipid-soluble drug. How will
this characteristic most likely affect the drug’s distribution?
A. The drug will be excreted more rapidly by the kidneys.
B. The drug will have a shorter half-life due to rapid metabolism.
C. The drug will have a prolonged duration of action.
D. The drug will remain primarily in the vascular compartment.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Lipid-soluble drugs are distributed to and stored in adipose
tissue. In patients with higher body fat, these drugs are released slowly back into the
bloodstream, leading to a prolonged duration of action and a longer half-life.
2. Which pharmacokinetic process is primarily affected in a patient with decompensated liver
cirrhosis?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
,C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism via cytochrome
P450 enzymes. Cirrhosis impairs the liver’s ability to chemically alter drugs, potentially
leading to toxicity.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a dose of 400 mg is administered, how much of the drug
will remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 200 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 50 mg
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (1 half-life), 200 mg remains. After 8 hours (2 half-
lives), 100 mg remains. After 12 hours (3 half-lives), 50 mg remains.
4. When administering a drug with a narrow therapeutic index, which nursing action is most
critical?
A. Monitoring serum drug levels closely.
B. Encouraging the patient to increase fluid intake.
, C. Assessing for signs of drug dependence.
D. Administering the drug only on an empty stomach.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between a
therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is small. Monitoring serum levels is vital to ensure safety
and efficacy.
5. What is the primary mechanism of action of a competitive antagonist?
A. Binding to a receptor to produce a maximal physiological response.
B. Binding to a receptor to prevent the agonist from binding.
C. Irreversibly binding to the receptor site to deactivate it.
D. Enhancing the affinity of the natural ligand for the receptor.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Competitive antagonists compete with agonists for the same
receptor site. If the antagonist binds, it prevents the agonist from triggering a response.
6. A patient is prescribed Rifampin for tuberculosis. What should the nurse include in the
patient teaching?
A. Expect urine, sweat, and tears to turn orange-red.
B. Avoid aged cheeses and red wine.
C. Limit intake of green leafy vegetables.
