Latest NUR 2474 Pharmacology for Professional
Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – 150 Questions with Correct
Answers
1. Which statement best distinguishes pharmacokinetics from pharmacodynamics?
A) Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug.
B) Pharmacokinetics describes only adverse drug reactions.
C) Pharmacodynamics describes how a drug is absorbed and eliminated.
D) Pharmacodynamics describes how medications are manufactured.
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug.
2. During medication administration, which action represents the assessment phase of the
nursing process?
A) Evaluating whether the medication achieved the desired outcome
B) Collecting information about allergies, current medications, and relevant laboratory
values
C) Selecting the nursing intervention most likely to improve adherence
D) Documenting the medication after administration
Correct Answer: Collecting information about allergies, current medications, and relevant
laboratory values
3. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response is
classified as which type of agent?
A) Antagonist
B) Inhibitor
C) Agonist
,D) Blocker
Correct Answer: Agonist
4. Which characteristic is most consistent with an ideal medication?
A) Maximum potency regardless of toxicity
B) Ability to produce multiple unrelated effects
C) Complete elimination immediately after administration
D) Effectiveness, safety, and selectivity
Correct Answer: Effectiveness, safety, and selectivity
5. A medication produces an unintended but predictable effect while remaining within its
normal therapeutic range. How should this effect be classified?
A) Side effect
B) Allergic reaction
C) Toxicity
D) Idiosyncratic reaction
Correct Answer: Side effect
6. Which finding most strongly suggests an anaphylactic medication reaction?
A) Mild nausea after an oral medication
B) Dry mouth after an anticholinergic
C) Sudden wheezing, facial swelling, and difficulty breathing
D) Temporary drowsiness after an antihistamine
Correct Answer: Sudden wheezing, facial swelling, and difficulty breathing
7. What is the study of what the body does to a medication?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
,D) Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics
8. What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics?
A) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
B) Absorption, Digestion, Metabolism, Elimination
C) Assimilation, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
D) Adsorption, Distribution, Metabolization, Elimination
Correct Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
9. A medication that binds to a receptor and produces a response is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Blocker
Correct Answer: Agonist
10. What is the therapeutic index?
A) The dose required to produce a therapeutic response in 50% of the population
B) A measure of drug safety; the ratio of LD50 to ED50
C) The time it takes for half the medication to be eliminated
D) The maximum concentration of a drug in the blood
Correct Answer: A measure of drug safety; the ratio of LD50 to ED50
11. Which route of medication administration has 100% bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
, D) Intravenous
Correct Answer: Intravenous
12. Which of the following routes of administration has a slower onset but provides a longer
duration of action?
A) Intravenous
B) Oral
C) Sublingual
D) Inhalation
Correct Answer: Oral
13. What is the difference between a side effect and an adverse effect?
A) Side effects are always harmful; adverse effects are not
B) Side effects are predictable and often tolerable; adverse effects are harmful and may
require intervention
C) Side effects are rare; adverse effects are common
D) There is no difference
Correct Answer: Side effects are predictable and often tolerable; adverse effects are
harmful and may require intervention
14. A patient experiences an upset stomach after taking a medication. This is an example
of:
A) An adverse effect
B) A therapeutic effect
C) A side effect
D) A paradoxical effect
Correct Answer: A side effect
Nursing Exam 2026/2027 – 150 Questions with Correct
Answers
1. Which statement best distinguishes pharmacokinetics from pharmacodynamics?
A) Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug.
B) Pharmacokinetics describes only adverse drug reactions.
C) Pharmacodynamics describes how a drug is absorbed and eliminated.
D) Pharmacodynamics describes how medications are manufactured.
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug.
2. During medication administration, which action represents the assessment phase of the
nursing process?
A) Evaluating whether the medication achieved the desired outcome
B) Collecting information about allergies, current medications, and relevant laboratory
values
C) Selecting the nursing intervention most likely to improve adherence
D) Documenting the medication after administration
Correct Answer: Collecting information about allergies, current medications, and relevant
laboratory values
3. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response is
classified as which type of agent?
A) Antagonist
B) Inhibitor
C) Agonist
,D) Blocker
Correct Answer: Agonist
4. Which characteristic is most consistent with an ideal medication?
A) Maximum potency regardless of toxicity
B) Ability to produce multiple unrelated effects
C) Complete elimination immediately after administration
D) Effectiveness, safety, and selectivity
Correct Answer: Effectiveness, safety, and selectivity
5. A medication produces an unintended but predictable effect while remaining within its
normal therapeutic range. How should this effect be classified?
A) Side effect
B) Allergic reaction
C) Toxicity
D) Idiosyncratic reaction
Correct Answer: Side effect
6. Which finding most strongly suggests an anaphylactic medication reaction?
A) Mild nausea after an oral medication
B) Dry mouth after an anticholinergic
C) Sudden wheezing, facial swelling, and difficulty breathing
D) Temporary drowsiness after an antihistamine
Correct Answer: Sudden wheezing, facial swelling, and difficulty breathing
7. What is the study of what the body does to a medication?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
,D) Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics
8. What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics?
A) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
B) Absorption, Digestion, Metabolism, Elimination
C) Assimilation, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
D) Adsorption, Distribution, Metabolization, Elimination
Correct Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
9. A medication that binds to a receptor and produces a response is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Blocker
Correct Answer: Agonist
10. What is the therapeutic index?
A) The dose required to produce a therapeutic response in 50% of the population
B) A measure of drug safety; the ratio of LD50 to ED50
C) The time it takes for half the medication to be eliminated
D) The maximum concentration of a drug in the blood
Correct Answer: A measure of drug safety; the ratio of LD50 to ED50
11. Which route of medication administration has 100% bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
, D) Intravenous
Correct Answer: Intravenous
12. Which of the following routes of administration has a slower onset but provides a longer
duration of action?
A) Intravenous
B) Oral
C) Sublingual
D) Inhalation
Correct Answer: Oral
13. What is the difference between a side effect and an adverse effect?
A) Side effects are always harmful; adverse effects are not
B) Side effects are predictable and often tolerable; adverse effects are harmful and may
require intervention
C) Side effects are rare; adverse effects are common
D) There is no difference
Correct Answer: Side effects are predictable and often tolerable; adverse effects are
harmful and may require intervention
14. A patient experiences an upset stomach after taking a medication. This is an example
of:
A) An adverse effect
B) A therapeutic effect
C) A side effect
D) A paradoxical effect
Correct Answer: A side effect
