NURS 316 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 — 210 ORIGINAL
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2026–2027 STUDY GUIDE | MULTIPLE CHOICE | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
SECTION 1 — PHARMACOKINETICS: ADME
Questions 1–21
1. Which pharmacokinetic process describes movement of a drug from
the administration site into systemic circulation?
A. Excretion
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Metabolism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its site of
administration into the bloodstream.
2. A drug administered intravenously has essentially what
bioavailability?
A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 75%
D. 100%
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: IV administration places the drug directly into systemic
circulation, giving essentially 100% bioavailability.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for hepatic drug metabolism?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Heart
D. Pancreas
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The liver contains numerous enzymes, particularly the
CYP450 system, that metabolize drugs.
4. What does bioavailability describe?
A. The time required for renal elimination
B. The fraction of an administered dose reaching systemic circulation
C. The amount bound to plasma proteins
D. The drug's therapeutic index
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bioavailability is the proportion of an administered dose that
reaches systemic circulation unchanged.
5. Which route is most affected by first-pass hepatic metabolism?
,A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Orally administered drugs pass through the gastrointestinal
tract and portal circulation before reaching systemic circulation.
6. A drug with a large volume of distribution is most likely to:
A. Remain primarily in plasma
B. Be extensively distributed into tissues
C. Be eliminated immediately
D. Have no protein binding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A large volume of distribution indicates extensive movement
of the drug from plasma into tissues.
7. Which plasma protein commonly binds many acidic drugs?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Albumin
C. Fibrinogen
D. Immunoglobulin E
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin is a major plasma protein responsible for binding
many drugs.
, 8. Why can hypoalbuminemia increase the effects of some highly
protein-bound drugs?
A. It increases renal blood flow
B. It decreases drug absorption
C. It increases the unbound fraction of drug
D. It prevents hepatic metabolism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Less albumin can result in more unbound drug available to
exert pharmacologic effects.
9. Which organ is the major site of drug excretion?
A. Kidney
B. Spleen
C. Stomach
D. Thyroid
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The kidneys eliminate many drugs and metabolites through
glomerular filtration, secretion, and reabsorption.
10. A drug's half-life is the time required for its plasma concentration
to:
A. Reach its peak
B. Fall by approximately 50%
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2026–2027 STUDY GUIDE | MULTIPLE CHOICE | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
SECTION 1 — PHARMACOKINETICS: ADME
Questions 1–21
1. Which pharmacokinetic process describes movement of a drug from
the administration site into systemic circulation?
A. Excretion
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Metabolism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its site of
administration into the bloodstream.
2. A drug administered intravenously has essentially what
bioavailability?
A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 75%
D. 100%
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: IV administration places the drug directly into systemic
circulation, giving essentially 100% bioavailability.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for hepatic drug metabolism?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Heart
D. Pancreas
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The liver contains numerous enzymes, particularly the
CYP450 system, that metabolize drugs.
4. What does bioavailability describe?
A. The time required for renal elimination
B. The fraction of an administered dose reaching systemic circulation
C. The amount bound to plasma proteins
D. The drug's therapeutic index
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bioavailability is the proportion of an administered dose that
reaches systemic circulation unchanged.
5. Which route is most affected by first-pass hepatic metabolism?
,A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Orally administered drugs pass through the gastrointestinal
tract and portal circulation before reaching systemic circulation.
6. A drug with a large volume of distribution is most likely to:
A. Remain primarily in plasma
B. Be extensively distributed into tissues
C. Be eliminated immediately
D. Have no protein binding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A large volume of distribution indicates extensive movement
of the drug from plasma into tissues.
7. Which plasma protein commonly binds many acidic drugs?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Albumin
C. Fibrinogen
D. Immunoglobulin E
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin is a major plasma protein responsible for binding
many drugs.
, 8. Why can hypoalbuminemia increase the effects of some highly
protein-bound drugs?
A. It increases renal blood flow
B. It decreases drug absorption
C. It increases the unbound fraction of drug
D. It prevents hepatic metabolism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Less albumin can result in more unbound drug available to
exert pharmacologic effects.
9. Which organ is the major site of drug excretion?
A. Kidney
B. Spleen
C. Stomach
D. Thyroid
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The kidneys eliminate many drugs and metabolites through
glomerular filtration, secretion, and reabsorption.
10. A drug's half-life is the time required for its plasma concentration
to:
A. Reach its peak
B. Fall by approximately 50%
