NURS 1150 EXAM 1 – NURSE
PHARMACOLOGY I (2026/2027)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
VERIFIED
1. A patient is prescribed a drug that undergoes significant first-pass metabolism. Which
route of administration would result in the lowest bioavailability?
A. Intravenous
B. Transdermal
C. Sublingual
D. Oral
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Drugs taken orally are absorbed from the GI tract into the portal
circulation and metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation (first-pass
effect), significantly reducing bioavailability.
,2. The nurse is monitoring a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What does this indicate
about the drug?
A. The difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is small.
B. The drug has a long half-life and stays in the body for days.
C. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
D. The drug is only effective if given by the parenteral route.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means there is a slim margin of
safety between the dose that is effective and the dose that is lethal or toxic, requiring
frequent blood level monitoring.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient takes a 200 mg dose at 08:00, how much of the
drug will remain in the system at 16:00?
A. 50 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 0 mg
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (12:00), 100 mg remains. After another 4 hours
(16:00), 50% of that remains, which is 50 mg.
, 4. Which pharmacokinetic process is primarily affected in a patient with chronic renal failure?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Excretion
D. Metabolism
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The kidneys are the primary organs for excretion. Renal failure
impairs the body’s ability to eliminate drugs, leading to potential toxicity.
5. A medication that binds to a receptor and initiates a physiological response is known as
a(n):
A. Enzyme inhibitor
B. Antagonist
C. Agonist
D. Competitive binder
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and triggers a
response that mimics the action of endogenous substances.
PHARMACOLOGY I (2026/2027)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
VERIFIED
1. A patient is prescribed a drug that undergoes significant first-pass metabolism. Which
route of administration would result in the lowest bioavailability?
A. Intravenous
B. Transdermal
C. Sublingual
D. Oral
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Drugs taken orally are absorbed from the GI tract into the portal
circulation and metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation (first-pass
effect), significantly reducing bioavailability.
,2. The nurse is monitoring a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What does this indicate
about the drug?
A. The difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is small.
B. The drug has a long half-life and stays in the body for days.
C. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
D. The drug is only effective if given by the parenteral route.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means there is a slim margin of
safety between the dose that is effective and the dose that is lethal or toxic, requiring
frequent blood level monitoring.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient takes a 200 mg dose at 08:00, how much of the
drug will remain in the system at 16:00?
A. 50 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 0 mg
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (12:00), 100 mg remains. After another 4 hours
(16:00), 50% of that remains, which is 50 mg.
, 4. Which pharmacokinetic process is primarily affected in a patient with chronic renal failure?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Excretion
D. Metabolism
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The kidneys are the primary organs for excretion. Renal failure
impairs the body’s ability to eliminate drugs, leading to potential toxicity.
5. A medication that binds to a receptor and initiates a physiological response is known as
a(n):
A. Enzyme inhibitor
B. Antagonist
C. Agonist
D. Competitive binder
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and triggers a
response that mimics the action of endogenous substances.
