NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
NURS 1150
COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM
(2026/2027) | Questions & Answers
135 ORIGINAL A–D PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Exam
Answer each item before reviewing the correct answer and detailed rationale. For every
scenario, identify the medication purpose, key assessment, major risk, monitoring need,
interaction, and patient-teaching point.
These are original educational practice questions—not official, leaked, or guaranteed exam
items. NURS 1150 content varies by institution and instructor; compare this review with your
syllabus, lecture notes, assigned readings, and medication list.
Comprehensive Topic Map
• Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, receptor action, bioavailability, and therapeutic
index
• Medication calculations, order verification, medication reconciliation, and high-alert safety
• Cardiovascular medications, anticoagulants, diuretics, pulse/BP assessment, and
electrolyte monitoring
• Insulin, hypoglycemia, metformin, thyroid replacement, corticosteroids, and newer diabetes
therapies
• Respiratory medications, inhaler technique, pain management, opioids, NSAIDs, aspirin,
acetaminophen, and iron
• Antidepressants, lithium, antiseizure medications, antipsychotics, sedatives, and serious
reactions
• Antibiotic administration, allergies, infusion reactions, toxicity, and antimicrobial adherence
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
, NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
• Drug interactions, herbal/OTC products, laboratory monitoring, adverse-effect reporting, and
patient education
• Routes and dosage forms, eye/ear medication administration, IV complications, transitions
of care, and adherence
Practice Questions, Answers & Rationales
Question 1. Which process describes the movement of a drug from its
administration site into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Absorption
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its administration site into
systemic circulation.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Distribution is movement between blood and tissues.
C. Metabolism is chemical transformation of a drug.
D. Excretion is removal from the body.
Key Pharmacology Concept: Pharmacokinetics
Question 2. Which sequence correctly represents ADME?
A. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
B. Action, dose, medication, evaluation
C. Administration, dilution, monitoring, elimination
D. Absorption, diagnosis, metabolism, evaluation
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
, NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Rationale: ADME stands for absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion,
the major pharmacokinetic processes.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. The other terms do not form the standard pharmacokinetic sequence.
C. Dilution and monitoring are not ADME stages.
D. Diagnosis and evaluation are not ADME stages.
Key Pharmacology Concept: ADME
Question 3. A medication that binds to a receptor and activates it is a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Enzyme inhibitor only
D. Placebo
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a response.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. An antagonist blocks receptor activation.
C. Enzyme inhibition is a different mechanism.
D. A placebo does not contain the active drug.
Key Pharmacology Concept: Receptor action
Question 4. Which route provides 100% systemic bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Intramuscular
C. Intravenous
D. Subcutaneous
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
, NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: An IV medication enters systemic circulation directly, giving it 100%
bioavailability.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Oral absorption and first-pass metabolism may reduce bioavailability.
B. IM absorption varies with perfusion and formulation.
D. Subcutaneous absorption varies with the drug and tissue perfusion.
Key Pharmacology Concept: Bioavailability
Question 5. Why may an oral medication have lower bioavailability than an IV
medication?
A. It always expires sooner
B. It may undergo incomplete absorption and first-pass metabolism
C. It cannot reach the bloodstream
D. It is always less potent
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: Oral drugs may be incompletely absorbed and may be metabolized in
the gut wall or liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Expiration date is unrelated to bioavailability.
C. Oral drugs can reach the bloodstream after absorption.
D. Potency is not the same as bioavailability.
Key Pharmacology Concept: First-pass effect
Question 6. A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires particular
attention to:
A. Routine monitoring and consistent dosing
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
NURS 1150
COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM
(2026/2027) | Questions & Answers
135 ORIGINAL A–D PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Exam
Answer each item before reviewing the correct answer and detailed rationale. For every
scenario, identify the medication purpose, key assessment, major risk, monitoring need,
interaction, and patient-teaching point.
These are original educational practice questions—not official, leaked, or guaranteed exam
items. NURS 1150 content varies by institution and instructor; compare this review with your
syllabus, lecture notes, assigned readings, and medication list.
Comprehensive Topic Map
• Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, receptor action, bioavailability, and therapeutic
index
• Medication calculations, order verification, medication reconciliation, and high-alert safety
• Cardiovascular medications, anticoagulants, diuretics, pulse/BP assessment, and
electrolyte monitoring
• Insulin, hypoglycemia, metformin, thyroid replacement, corticosteroids, and newer diabetes
therapies
• Respiratory medications, inhaler technique, pain management, opioids, NSAIDs, aspirin,
acetaminophen, and iron
• Antidepressants, lithium, antiseizure medications, antipsychotics, sedatives, and serious
reactions
• Antibiotic administration, allergies, infusion reactions, toxicity, and antimicrobial adherence
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
, NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
• Drug interactions, herbal/OTC products, laboratory monitoring, adverse-effect reporting, and
patient education
• Routes and dosage forms, eye/ear medication administration, IV complications, transitions
of care, and adherence
Practice Questions, Answers & Rationales
Question 1. Which process describes the movement of a drug from its
administration site into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Absorption
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its administration site into
systemic circulation.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Distribution is movement between blood and tissues.
C. Metabolism is chemical transformation of a drug.
D. Excretion is removal from the body.
Key Pharmacology Concept: Pharmacokinetics
Question 2. Which sequence correctly represents ADME?
A. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
B. Action, dose, medication, evaluation
C. Administration, dilution, monitoring, elimination
D. Absorption, diagnosis, metabolism, evaluation
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
, NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Rationale: ADME stands for absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion,
the major pharmacokinetic processes.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. The other terms do not form the standard pharmacokinetic sequence.
C. Dilution and monitoring are not ADME stages.
D. Diagnosis and evaluation are not ADME stages.
Key Pharmacology Concept: ADME
Question 3. A medication that binds to a receptor and activates it is a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Enzyme inhibitor only
D. Placebo
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a response.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. An antagonist blocks receptor activation.
C. Enzyme inhibition is a different mechanism.
D. A placebo does not contain the active drug.
Key Pharmacology Concept: Receptor action
Question 4. Which route provides 100% systemic bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Intramuscular
C. Intravenous
D. Subcutaneous
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
, NURS 1150 • COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY • 2026/2027
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: An IV medication enters systemic circulation directly, giving it 100%
bioavailability.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Oral absorption and first-pass metabolism may reduce bioavailability.
B. IM absorption varies with perfusion and formulation.
D. Subcutaneous absorption varies with the drug and tissue perfusion.
Key Pharmacology Concept: Bioavailability
Question 5. Why may an oral medication have lower bioavailability than an IV
medication?
A. It always expires sooner
B. It may undergo incomplete absorption and first-pass metabolism
C. It cannot reach the bloodstream
D. It is always less potent
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: Oral drugs may be incompletely absorbed and may be metabolized in
the gut wall or liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Expiration date is unrelated to bioavailability.
C. Oral drugs can reach the bloodstream after absorption.
D. Potency is not the same as bioavailability.
Key Pharmacology Concept: First-pass effect
Question 6. A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires particular
attention to:
A. Routine monitoring and consistent dosing
NURS 1150 Comprehensive Pharmacology Practice Exam | Original educational material
