Chapter 01
1. Drugs may be obtained from which of the following sources? [Multiple Choice]
a. Plants
b. Animals
c. Minerals
d. Plants, animals, and minerals ✔
ANS: D
Drugs may be obtained from plants (e.g., digitalis), animals (e.g., insulin), and minerals (e.g., magnesium sulfate).
2. Which of the following classes of drugs can be aerosolized?1. Antiasthmatic agents2. Adrenergic agents3.
Antiinfective agents4. Mucoactive agents5. Corticosteroids [Multiple Choice]
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 2, 4, and 5 only
c. 2, 3, 4, and 5 only
d. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ✔
ANS: D
Antiasthmatic agents (e.g., cromolyn sodium), adrenergic agents (e.g., racemic epinephrine), and mucoactive
agents (e.g., Pulmozyme?) can be aerosolized. Antiinfective agents (e.g., TOBI?) and corticosteroids (e.g.,
budesonide) may also be aerosolized.
3. The listing of a drug and the amount of drug are found in which part of a prescription? [Multiple Choice]
a. Superscription
b. Inscription ✔
c. Subscription
d. Transcription (signature)
ANS: B
The superscription directs the pharmacist to take the drug listed and prepare the medication; the inscription lists
the name and quantity of the drug being prescribed; the subscription provides directions to the pharmacist for
preparing the medication; and the transcription, or signature, is the information the pharmacist writes on the
label as instructions to the patient.
,4. If a physician desires a drug to be administered as needed, he or she should use which of the following
abbreviations? [Multiple Choice]
a. pr
b. prn ✔
c. npo
d. po
ANS: B
The abbreviation pr means rectally, prn means as needed, npo means nothing by mouth, and po means by mouth.
5. The study of toxic substances and their pharmacologic actions, including antidotes and poison control is known
as [Multiple Choice]
a. toxicology. ✔
b. therapeutics.
c. pharmacognosy.
d. pharmacology.
ANS: A
Toxicology is the study of toxic substances and their pharmacologic actions, including antidotes and poison
control. Therapeutics is the art of treating disease with drugs. Pharmacognosy is the identification of sources of
drugs, from plants and animals. Pharmacology is the study of drugs (chemicals), including their origin, properties,
and interactions with living organisms.
6. The advantages of delivering drugs by oral or nasal inhalation include which of the following?1. Aerosol doses
are smaller than doses administered systemically.2. Side effects are usually fewer and less severe.3. The onset of
action is rapid.4. The delivery process is painless, relatively safe, and usually more convenient. [Multiple Choice]
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 1 and 4 only
c. 1, 2, and 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ✔
ANS: D
The following are advantages of this method and route of delivery:Aerosol doses are smaller than doses used for
the same purpose and given systemically.Side effects are usually fewer and less severe with aerosol delivery than
with oral or parenteral delivery.The onset of action is rapid.Drug delivery is targeted to the respiratory system,
,with lower systemic bioavailability.The inhalation of aerosol drugs is painless, is relatively safe, and may be
convenient depending on the specific delivery device used.
7. If a drug is ordered with the Latin abbreviation ac, it should be administered [Multiple Choice]
a. before a meal. ✔
b. every other hour.
c. twice daily.
d. at bedtime.
ANS: A
The abbreviation for ante cenam (before a meal) is ac, for every other hour is alt hor, for twice daily is bid, and for
at bedtime is hs.
8. Drugs delivered by oral or nasal inhalation are intended to [Multiple Choice]
a. increase heart function.
b. provide a local topical treatment in the respiratory tract. ✔
c. relax patients and relieve anxiety.
d. improve blood flow throughout the body.
ANS: B
Although some inhaled drugs do increase heart rate as a side effect, most drugs intended for this purpose are
given intravenously; orally or nasally inhaled drugs are intended to provide a local topical treatment in the
respiratory tract. Most anxiolytics and drugs used to improve blood flow are given intravenously.
9. Your patient has an order for 2 puffs of albuterol MDI q3h, and it was last given at 0700. When should it be
administered next? [Multiple Choice]
a. 0900
b. 1000 ✔
c. 1100
d. 1200
ANS: B
q3h means every 3 hours. If first given at 0700, 1000 would be 3 hours later.
10. Which of the following may be used when writing or preparing drug orders?1. Latin2. English3. Metric
, measures4. Apothecary measures [Multiple Choice]
a. 1 only
b. 1 and 2 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ✔
ANS: D
Latin, English, and metric and apothecary measures may all be used for drug orders.
11. If drug A is ordered with the Latin abbreviation q4h and drug B is ordered with the Latin abbreviation qid,
which drug would be given more frequently in a 24-hour period? [Multiple Choice]
a. Drug A ✔
b. Drug B
c. Both would be given the same amount.
d. More information is needed to answer the question.
ANS: A
The abbreviation q4h means every 4 hours, which would be 6 times in a day. The abbreviation qid means four
times a day.
12. Once a drug is released for general clinical use, how long must a detailed reporting system remain in place to
track any problems that arise with the drug?s use? [Multiple Choice]
a. For 6 months ✔
b. For 1 year
c. For 5 years
d. For 10 years
ANS: A
The detailed reporting system monitoring a drug released for general clinical use remains in place for only 6
months.
13. Regarding the therapeutic potential of a drug, the code AA symbolizes [Multiple Choice]
a. an important therapeutic gain over other drugs.
b. an important therapeutic gain, indicated for AIDS patients; “fast-track” drug. ✔
1. Drugs may be obtained from which of the following sources? [Multiple Choice]
a. Plants
b. Animals
c. Minerals
d. Plants, animals, and minerals ✔
ANS: D
Drugs may be obtained from plants (e.g., digitalis), animals (e.g., insulin), and minerals (e.g., magnesium sulfate).
2. Which of the following classes of drugs can be aerosolized?1. Antiasthmatic agents2. Adrenergic agents3.
Antiinfective agents4. Mucoactive agents5. Corticosteroids [Multiple Choice]
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 2, 4, and 5 only
c. 2, 3, 4, and 5 only
d. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ✔
ANS: D
Antiasthmatic agents (e.g., cromolyn sodium), adrenergic agents (e.g., racemic epinephrine), and mucoactive
agents (e.g., Pulmozyme?) can be aerosolized. Antiinfective agents (e.g., TOBI?) and corticosteroids (e.g.,
budesonide) may also be aerosolized.
3. The listing of a drug and the amount of drug are found in which part of a prescription? [Multiple Choice]
a. Superscription
b. Inscription ✔
c. Subscription
d. Transcription (signature)
ANS: B
The superscription directs the pharmacist to take the drug listed and prepare the medication; the inscription lists
the name and quantity of the drug being prescribed; the subscription provides directions to the pharmacist for
preparing the medication; and the transcription, or signature, is the information the pharmacist writes on the
label as instructions to the patient.
,4. If a physician desires a drug to be administered as needed, he or she should use which of the following
abbreviations? [Multiple Choice]
a. pr
b. prn ✔
c. npo
d. po
ANS: B
The abbreviation pr means rectally, prn means as needed, npo means nothing by mouth, and po means by mouth.
5. The study of toxic substances and their pharmacologic actions, including antidotes and poison control is known
as [Multiple Choice]
a. toxicology. ✔
b. therapeutics.
c. pharmacognosy.
d. pharmacology.
ANS: A
Toxicology is the study of toxic substances and their pharmacologic actions, including antidotes and poison
control. Therapeutics is the art of treating disease with drugs. Pharmacognosy is the identification of sources of
drugs, from plants and animals. Pharmacology is the study of drugs (chemicals), including their origin, properties,
and interactions with living organisms.
6. The advantages of delivering drugs by oral or nasal inhalation include which of the following?1. Aerosol doses
are smaller than doses administered systemically.2. Side effects are usually fewer and less severe.3. The onset of
action is rapid.4. The delivery process is painless, relatively safe, and usually more convenient. [Multiple Choice]
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 1 and 4 only
c. 1, 2, and 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ✔
ANS: D
The following are advantages of this method and route of delivery:Aerosol doses are smaller than doses used for
the same purpose and given systemically.Side effects are usually fewer and less severe with aerosol delivery than
with oral or parenteral delivery.The onset of action is rapid.Drug delivery is targeted to the respiratory system,
,with lower systemic bioavailability.The inhalation of aerosol drugs is painless, is relatively safe, and may be
convenient depending on the specific delivery device used.
7. If a drug is ordered with the Latin abbreviation ac, it should be administered [Multiple Choice]
a. before a meal. ✔
b. every other hour.
c. twice daily.
d. at bedtime.
ANS: A
The abbreviation for ante cenam (before a meal) is ac, for every other hour is alt hor, for twice daily is bid, and for
at bedtime is hs.
8. Drugs delivered by oral or nasal inhalation are intended to [Multiple Choice]
a. increase heart function.
b. provide a local topical treatment in the respiratory tract. ✔
c. relax patients and relieve anxiety.
d. improve blood flow throughout the body.
ANS: B
Although some inhaled drugs do increase heart rate as a side effect, most drugs intended for this purpose are
given intravenously; orally or nasally inhaled drugs are intended to provide a local topical treatment in the
respiratory tract. Most anxiolytics and drugs used to improve blood flow are given intravenously.
9. Your patient has an order for 2 puffs of albuterol MDI q3h, and it was last given at 0700. When should it be
administered next? [Multiple Choice]
a. 0900
b. 1000 ✔
c. 1100
d. 1200
ANS: B
q3h means every 3 hours. If first given at 0700, 1000 would be 3 hours later.
10. Which of the following may be used when writing or preparing drug orders?1. Latin2. English3. Metric
, measures4. Apothecary measures [Multiple Choice]
a. 1 only
b. 1 and 2 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, 3, and 4 ✔
ANS: D
Latin, English, and metric and apothecary measures may all be used for drug orders.
11. If drug A is ordered with the Latin abbreviation q4h and drug B is ordered with the Latin abbreviation qid,
which drug would be given more frequently in a 24-hour period? [Multiple Choice]
a. Drug A ✔
b. Drug B
c. Both would be given the same amount.
d. More information is needed to answer the question.
ANS: A
The abbreviation q4h means every 4 hours, which would be 6 times in a day. The abbreviation qid means four
times a day.
12. Once a drug is released for general clinical use, how long must a detailed reporting system remain in place to
track any problems that arise with the drug?s use? [Multiple Choice]
a. For 6 months ✔
b. For 1 year
c. For 5 years
d. For 10 years
ANS: A
The detailed reporting system monitoring a drug released for general clinical use remains in place for only 6
months.
13. Regarding the therapeutic potential of a drug, the code AA symbolizes [Multiple Choice]
a. an important therapeutic gain over other drugs.
b. an important therapeutic gain, indicated for AIDS patients; “fast-track” drug. ✔
