Full Test Bank: Karch’s Focus on Nursing
Pharmacology Edition 10 by Rebecca
Tucker All Chapters 1-60
Chapter 1: Introduction to Drugs
1. A nurse working in radiology administers iodine to a patient having a CT scan.
The nurse on the oncology unit administers chemotherapy to patients with
cancer. At the public health department, a nurse administers an MMR vaccine to
a 14-month-old child. Which branch of pharmacology best describes the actions
of all three nurses?
A) Pharmacoeconomics
B) Pharmacotherapeutics
C) Pharmacodynamics
D) Pharmacokinetics
B) Pharmacotherapeutics
Rationale: Pharmacotherapeutics is the branch of pharmacology that
deals with the uses of drugs to treat, prevent, and diagnose disease. The radiology
nurse administers a drug to help diagnose a disease. The oncology nurse
administers a drug to treat a disease. The public health nurse administers a
vaccine to prevent disease. Pharmacoeconomics includes any costs involved in
drug therapy. Pharmacodynamics involves how a drug affects the body, and
pharmacokinetics is how the body acts on the drug.
2. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the first phase of the
nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
B) Assessment
, Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic method of problem-solving.
The first phase is assessment, which involves gathering both subjective and
objective data. Planning, implementation, and evaluation follow assessment.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notes that the drug has a
narrow therapeutic index. Which nursing action is most important?
A) Administer the drug with food to enhance absorption
B) Monitor the patient closely for therapeutic and toxic effects
C) Crush the medication to ensure rapid absorption
D) Administer the drug at bedtime to minimize side effects
B) Monitor the patient closely for therapeutic and toxic effects
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) have a small range
between therapeutic and toxic levels. Close monitoring for both therapeutic
effects and early signs of toxicity is essential to ensure patient safety.
Administering with food or crushing the medication may alter absorption in
unpredictable ways. Bedtime administration is not relevant to NTI management.
4. A patient asks the nurse why a generic drug is less expensive than the brand-
name version. What is the nurse's best response?
A) "Generic drugs contain different active ingredients."
B) "Generic drugs are less effective than brand-name drugs."
C) "Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient but may differ in inactive
ingredients."
D) "Generic drugs are not approved by the FDA."
C) "Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient but may differ in
inactive ingredients."
Rationale: Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as their
brand-name counterparts and are FDA-approved as therapeutically equivalent.
However, they may contain different inactive ingredients (fillers, binders, dyes),
which can affect patient tolerance in some cases. They are not less effective and
are rigorously regulated.
,5. A nurse is teaching a patient about a newly prescribed medication. Which
statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I should keep a list of all my medications, including over-the-counter drugs
and herbs."
B) "I can stop taking this drug as soon as I feel better."
C) "I should report any unusual side effects to my provider."
D) "I should take the drug at the same time every day."
B) "I can stop taking this drug as soon as I feel better."
Rationale: Patients should never stop taking a prescribed medication
without consulting their provider, especially for drugs such as antibiotics,
antihypertensives, or antidepressants, where abrupt discontinuation can cause
serious consequences (e.g., rebound hypertension, relapse of depression, or
antibiotic resistance). The other statements are correct and demonstrate
appropriate understanding.
Chapter 2: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response is known as a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Competitive antagonist
B) Agonist
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
producing a biological response. An antagonist binds to a receptor but does not
activate it, blocking the effects of agonists. A partial agonist produces a
diminished response compared to a full agonist.
7. A patient is started on a new antihypertensive medication. The nurse
documents the time of the first dose and plans to measure blood pressure at
specific intervals. Which pharmacokinetic parameter is the nurse most concerned
with when planning timing for monitoring therapeutic effects and adverse
hypotension?
, A) Bioavailability
B) Half-life
C) Onset of action
D) Peak plasma concentration
C) Onset of action
Rationale: The onset of action determines when a drug begins to produce
its therapeutic (or adverse) effects. Planning monitoring around the expected
onset helps detect hypotension early. Bioavailability affects the amount reaching
systemic circulation but is less useful for timing immediate monitoring. Half-life
influences dosing intervals and steady state. Peak concentration is important for
toxicity but may occur after onset.
8. Which of the following describes the process by which a drug moves from its
site of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Distribution
B) Metabolism
C) Absorption
D) Excretion
C) Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its site of
administration into the bloodstream. Distribution involves the transport of a drug
throughout the body. Metabolism (biotransformation) involves the chemical
alteration of a drug, primarily in the liver. Excretion is the removal of a drug from
the body, primarily through the kidneys.
9. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a medication that undergoes
extensive first-pass metabolism. The nurse should anticipate:
A) A decreased therapeutic effect due to increased metabolism
B) An increased therapeutic effect due to reduced metabolism
C) No change in drug effect
D) A need for a higher dose of the medication
B) An increased therapeutic effect due to reduced metabolism
Pharmacology Edition 10 by Rebecca
Tucker All Chapters 1-60
Chapter 1: Introduction to Drugs
1. A nurse working in radiology administers iodine to a patient having a CT scan.
The nurse on the oncology unit administers chemotherapy to patients with
cancer. At the public health department, a nurse administers an MMR vaccine to
a 14-month-old child. Which branch of pharmacology best describes the actions
of all three nurses?
A) Pharmacoeconomics
B) Pharmacotherapeutics
C) Pharmacodynamics
D) Pharmacokinetics
B) Pharmacotherapeutics
Rationale: Pharmacotherapeutics is the branch of pharmacology that
deals with the uses of drugs to treat, prevent, and diagnose disease. The radiology
nurse administers a drug to help diagnose a disease. The oncology nurse
administers a drug to treat a disease. The public health nurse administers a
vaccine to prevent disease. Pharmacoeconomics includes any costs involved in
drug therapy. Pharmacodynamics involves how a drug affects the body, and
pharmacokinetics is how the body acts on the drug.
2. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the first phase of the
nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
B) Assessment
, Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic method of problem-solving.
The first phase is assessment, which involves gathering both subjective and
objective data. Planning, implementation, and evaluation follow assessment.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notes that the drug has a
narrow therapeutic index. Which nursing action is most important?
A) Administer the drug with food to enhance absorption
B) Monitor the patient closely for therapeutic and toxic effects
C) Crush the medication to ensure rapid absorption
D) Administer the drug at bedtime to minimize side effects
B) Monitor the patient closely for therapeutic and toxic effects
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) have a small range
between therapeutic and toxic levels. Close monitoring for both therapeutic
effects and early signs of toxicity is essential to ensure patient safety.
Administering with food or crushing the medication may alter absorption in
unpredictable ways. Bedtime administration is not relevant to NTI management.
4. A patient asks the nurse why a generic drug is less expensive than the brand-
name version. What is the nurse's best response?
A) "Generic drugs contain different active ingredients."
B) "Generic drugs are less effective than brand-name drugs."
C) "Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient but may differ in inactive
ingredients."
D) "Generic drugs are not approved by the FDA."
C) "Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient but may differ in
inactive ingredients."
Rationale: Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as their
brand-name counterparts and are FDA-approved as therapeutically equivalent.
However, they may contain different inactive ingredients (fillers, binders, dyes),
which can affect patient tolerance in some cases. They are not less effective and
are rigorously regulated.
,5. A nurse is teaching a patient about a newly prescribed medication. Which
statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I should keep a list of all my medications, including over-the-counter drugs
and herbs."
B) "I can stop taking this drug as soon as I feel better."
C) "I should report any unusual side effects to my provider."
D) "I should take the drug at the same time every day."
B) "I can stop taking this drug as soon as I feel better."
Rationale: Patients should never stop taking a prescribed medication
without consulting their provider, especially for drugs such as antibiotics,
antihypertensives, or antidepressants, where abrupt discontinuation can cause
serious consequences (e.g., rebound hypertension, relapse of depression, or
antibiotic resistance). The other statements are correct and demonstrate
appropriate understanding.
Chapter 2: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a response is known as a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Competitive antagonist
B) Agonist
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
producing a biological response. An antagonist binds to a receptor but does not
activate it, blocking the effects of agonists. A partial agonist produces a
diminished response compared to a full agonist.
7. A patient is started on a new antihypertensive medication. The nurse
documents the time of the first dose and plans to measure blood pressure at
specific intervals. Which pharmacokinetic parameter is the nurse most concerned
with when planning timing for monitoring therapeutic effects and adverse
hypotension?
, A) Bioavailability
B) Half-life
C) Onset of action
D) Peak plasma concentration
C) Onset of action
Rationale: The onset of action determines when a drug begins to produce
its therapeutic (or adverse) effects. Planning monitoring around the expected
onset helps detect hypotension early. Bioavailability affects the amount reaching
systemic circulation but is less useful for timing immediate monitoring. Half-life
influences dosing intervals and steady state. Peak concentration is important for
toxicity but may occur after onset.
8. Which of the following describes the process by which a drug moves from its
site of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Distribution
B) Metabolism
C) Absorption
D) Excretion
C) Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its site of
administration into the bloodstream. Distribution involves the transport of a drug
throughout the body. Metabolism (biotransformation) involves the chemical
alteration of a drug, primarily in the liver. Excretion is the removal of a drug from
the body, primarily through the kidneys.
9. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a medication that undergoes
extensive first-pass metabolism. The nurse should anticipate:
A) A decreased therapeutic effect due to increased metabolism
B) An increased therapeutic effect due to reduced metabolism
C) No change in drug effect
D) A need for a higher dose of the medication
B) An increased therapeutic effect due to reduced metabolism
