Test Bank - Chapter 1
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do this, the nurse will rely on
knowledge of which topic? [Multiple Choice]
a. Clinical pharmacology
b. Drug efficacy
c. Pharmacokinetics
d. Pharmacotherapeutics ✔
ANS: D
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions, or treat
conditions and prevent pregnancy. Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human
interactions. Drug efficacy measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics
is the study of the impact of the body on a drug.
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions, or treat
conditions and prevent pregnancy. Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human
interactions. Drug efficacy measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics
is the study of the impact of the body on a drug.
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer? [Multiple Choice]
a. It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration.
b. It does not interact significantly with other medications.
c. It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen. ✔
d. It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
ANS: C
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to comply with
the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed, but those properties are
independent of ease of administration.
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to comply with
the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed, but those properties are
independent of ease of administration.
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness and will decrease pain up
to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the drug’s effects by the patient, the nurse will anticipate
which outcome? [Multiple Choice]
,a. Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
b. Decreased motivation to take the drug
c. Improved compliance with the drug regimen ✔
d. Increased likelihood of drug overdose
ANS: C
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects. Patients who
understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to comply with the drug regimen.
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects. Patients who
understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to comply with the drug regimen.
4. What are considered the ‘Big Three’ properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.) [Multiple Response]
a. Irreversible action ✔
b. Effectiveness ✔
c. Safety ✔
d. Selectivity ✔
e. A recognizable trade name ✔
ANS: A, B, C, D, E
The ‘Big Three’ properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.
The ‘Big Three’ properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.
5. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how individual patient
variability might affect the patient’s response to the medication? (Select all that apply.) [Multiple Response]
a. Chemical stability of the medication ✔
b. Ease of administration ✔
c. Family medical history ✔
d. Patient’s age ✔
e. Patient’s diagnosis ✔
ANS: A, B, C, D, E
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a medication.
Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s illness can affect how drugs are
,metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the ease of administration are properties of drugs.
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a medication.
Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s illness can affect how drugs are
metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the ease of administration are properties of drugs.
, Test Bank - Chapter 2
1. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The medication label instructs the
patient to administer “2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for coughing or wheezing.” The patient reports feeling
jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and doesn’t feel that the medication is always effective. Which
action is outside the nurse’s scope of practice? [Multiple Choice]
a. Asking the patient to demonstrate the use of the inhaler
b. Assessing the patient’s exposure to tobacco smoke
c. Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
d. Suggesting that the patient use 1 puff to reduce side effects ✔
ANS: D
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order from a
prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the patient’s ability to
administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation. Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps
the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug
therapy. Performing a physical assessment helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order from a
prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the patient’s ability to
administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation. Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps
the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug
therapy. Performing a physical assessment helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Norco] for pain. The
patient asks the nurse about using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is correct? [Multiple Choice]
a. “It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications.”
b. “Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity.” ✔
c. “There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe.”
d. “Tylenol and Norco are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.”
ANS: B
Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the same medication. It is important to
teach patients to be aware of the different names for the same drug to minimize the risk of overdose. Over-the-
counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications may be taken together unless significant harmful drug
interactions are possible. Even though no drug interactions are at play in this case, both drugs contain
acetaminophen, which could lead to toxicity.
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do this, the nurse will rely on
knowledge of which topic? [Multiple Choice]
a. Clinical pharmacology
b. Drug efficacy
c. Pharmacokinetics
d. Pharmacotherapeutics ✔
ANS: D
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions, or treat
conditions and prevent pregnancy. Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human
interactions. Drug efficacy measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics
is the study of the impact of the body on a drug.
Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions, or treat
conditions and prevent pregnancy. Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human
interactions. Drug efficacy measures the extent to which a given drug causes an intended effect. Pharmacokinetics
is the study of the impact of the body on a drug.
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer? [Multiple Choice]
a. It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration.
b. It does not interact significantly with other medications.
c. It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen. ✔
d. It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
ANS: C
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to comply with
the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed, but those properties are
independent of ease of administration.
A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking them are more likely to comply with
the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may have the other attributes listed, but those properties are
independent of ease of administration.
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause drowsiness and will decrease pain up
to 4 hours at a time. Based on this understanding of the drug’s effects by the patient, the nurse will anticipate
which outcome? [Multiple Choice]
,a. Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
b. Decreased motivation to take the drug
c. Improved compliance with the drug regimen ✔
d. Increased likelihood of drug overdose
ANS: C
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects. Patients who
understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to comply with the drug regimen.
A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces side effects. Patients who
understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication are more likely to comply with the drug regimen.
4. What are considered the ‘Big Three’ properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.) [Multiple Response]
a. Irreversible action ✔
b. Effectiveness ✔
c. Safety ✔
d. Selectivity ✔
e. A recognizable trade name ✔
ANS: A, B, C, D, E
The ‘Big Three’ properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.
The ‘Big Three’ properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.
5. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how individual patient
variability might affect the patient’s response to the medication? (Select all that apply.) [Multiple Response]
a. Chemical stability of the medication ✔
b. Ease of administration ✔
c. Family medical history ✔
d. Patient’s age ✔
e. Patient’s diagnosis ✔
ANS: A, B, C, D, E
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a medication.
Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s illness can affect how drugs are
,metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the ease of administration are properties of drugs.
The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a patient’s response to a medication.
Patients of different ages can respond differently to medications. The patient’s illness can affect how drugs are
metabolized. The chemical stability of the medication and the ease of administration are properties of drugs.
, Test Bank - Chapter 2
1. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The medication label instructs the
patient to administer “2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for coughing or wheezing.” The patient reports feeling
jittery sometimes when taking the medication, and doesn’t feel that the medication is always effective. Which
action is outside the nurse’s scope of practice? [Multiple Choice]
a. Asking the patient to demonstrate the use of the inhaler
b. Assessing the patient’s exposure to tobacco smoke
c. Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
d. Suggesting that the patient use 1 puff to reduce side effects ✔
ANS: D
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order from a
prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the patient’s ability to
administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation. Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps
the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug
therapy. Performing a physical assessment helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
It is not within the nurse’s scope of practice to change the dose of a medication without an order from a
prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the patient’s ability to
administer the medication properly and is part of the nurse’s evaluation. Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps
the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a smoke avoidance, can be used as an adjunct to drug
therapy. Performing a physical assessment helps the nurse evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Norco] for pain. The
patient asks the nurse about using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is correct? [Multiple Choice]
a. “It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications.”
b. “Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity.” ✔
c. “There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe.”
d. “Tylenol and Norco are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose.”
ANS: B
Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the same medication. It is important to
teach patients to be aware of the different names for the same drug to minimize the risk of overdose. Over-the-
counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications may be taken together unless significant harmful drug
interactions are possible. Even though no drug interactions are at play in this case, both drugs contain
acetaminophen, which could lead to toxicity.
