NSG 124 Exam 1 Actual Exam V3 | NSG 124 Pharmacology (NSG124
Exam 1) | Herzing University PDF
1. A nurse is reviewing the pharmacokinetics of a newly prescribed drug. Which process
describes the movement of the drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Rationale: Absorption is the primary process of moving a drug into the circulatory system.
This process is influenced by the route of administration and the drug’s solubility.
Distribution follows absorption, moving the drug from the blood to the tissues.
2. A patient with chronic renal failure is receiving a medication that is primarily excreted by
the kidneys. What should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Daily weights and abdominal girth
B. Liver enzymes (AST/ALT)
C. Serum creatinine and BUN levels
D. White blood cell count
Answer: C
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organ for drug excretion, so renal impairment can
lead to drug toxicity. Monitoring BUN and creatinine provides essential data regarding the
patient’s kidney function. If these values are elevated, the drug dosage may need to be
adjusted to prevent harm.
3. The healthcare provider orders 250 mg of a medication. The pharmacy provides the
medication in a concentration of 125 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A. 10 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 12.5 mL
Answer: A
,Rationale: The calculation uses the formula (Desired / Have) x Volume. In this case, (250
mg / 125 mg) x 5 mL equals 10 mL. Accurate dosage calculation is a critical safety measure
in pharmacology to prevent medication errors.
4. When performing medication reconciliation, which action is most important for the nurse
to take?
A. Compare the patient’s current list of home medications with new prescriptions.
B. Review only the medications prescribed during the current hospital stay.
C. Ask the family to bring in all the patient’s pill bottles and leave them at the bedside.
D. Assume the pharmacy has an updated list from the previous admission.
Answer: A
Rationale: Medication reconciliation is the process of creating the most accurate list
possible of all medications a patient is taking. This process helps prevent errors such as
omissions, duplications, and drug interactions. It must occur at every transition of care,
including admission, transfer, and discharge.
5. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient receives a 100 mg dose at 08:00, how much of
the drug will remain in the patient’s body at 16:00?
A. 50 mg
B. 25 mg
C. 12.5 mg
D. 0 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: The half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug to decrease by
half. After 4 hours (12:00), 50 mg remains; after another 4 hours (16:00), half of that
remains, which is 25 mg. Understanding half-life is crucial for determining dosing intervals.
6. Which term refers to the ratio between a drug’s therapeutic effect and its toxic effect?
A. Bioavailability
B. Affinity
C. Therapeutic index
D. Tolerance
Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic index measures the safety of a drug. A narrow therapeutic
index means the margin between a safe dose and a toxic dose is small. Drugs with a narrow
index require frequent blood level monitoring to ensure patient safety.
, 7. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and notes the patient is experiencing
difficulty swallowing. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Assess the patient’s airway and ability to swallow safely.
B. Notify the healthcare provider and request an alternative route.
C. Crush the medication and mix it with applesauce.
D. Give the medication with a large glass of water.
Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nurse must determine
the severity of the dysphagia to prevent aspiration. Following the assessment, the nurse
should consult the provider for appropriate modifications.
8. The nurse is documenting the administration of a PRN analgesic. Which information is
essential to include?
A. The reason for administration and the patient’s pain scale rating
B. The patient’s insurance information
C. The name of the pharmacist who dispensed the drug
D. A list of the patient’s allergies only
Answer: A
Rationale: Documentation of PRN (pro re nata) medications must include the clinical
justification for the dose. The nurse must record the assessment (e.g., pain level) that led to
the administration. Subsequent evaluation of the drug’s effectiveness must also be
documented.
9. Which route of medication administration provides the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral (PO)
B. Subcutaneous (SQ)
C. Intramuscular (IM)
D. Intravenous (IV)
Answer: D
Rationale: The intravenous route delivers medication directly into the bloodstream,
bypassing absorption barriers. This results in an immediate onset of action, which is vital in
emergency situations. Other routes like oral administration require time for disintegration
and absorption in the GI tract.
Exam 1) | Herzing University PDF
1. A nurse is reviewing the pharmacokinetics of a newly prescribed drug. Which process
describes the movement of the drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Rationale: Absorption is the primary process of moving a drug into the circulatory system.
This process is influenced by the route of administration and the drug’s solubility.
Distribution follows absorption, moving the drug from the blood to the tissues.
2. A patient with chronic renal failure is receiving a medication that is primarily excreted by
the kidneys. What should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Daily weights and abdominal girth
B. Liver enzymes (AST/ALT)
C. Serum creatinine and BUN levels
D. White blood cell count
Answer: C
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organ for drug excretion, so renal impairment can
lead to drug toxicity. Monitoring BUN and creatinine provides essential data regarding the
patient’s kidney function. If these values are elevated, the drug dosage may need to be
adjusted to prevent harm.
3. The healthcare provider orders 250 mg of a medication. The pharmacy provides the
medication in a concentration of 125 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A. 10 mL
B. 5 mL
C. 2 mL
D. 12.5 mL
Answer: A
,Rationale: The calculation uses the formula (Desired / Have) x Volume. In this case, (250
mg / 125 mg) x 5 mL equals 10 mL. Accurate dosage calculation is a critical safety measure
in pharmacology to prevent medication errors.
4. When performing medication reconciliation, which action is most important for the nurse
to take?
A. Compare the patient’s current list of home medications with new prescriptions.
B. Review only the medications prescribed during the current hospital stay.
C. Ask the family to bring in all the patient’s pill bottles and leave them at the bedside.
D. Assume the pharmacy has an updated list from the previous admission.
Answer: A
Rationale: Medication reconciliation is the process of creating the most accurate list
possible of all medications a patient is taking. This process helps prevent errors such as
omissions, duplications, and drug interactions. It must occur at every transition of care,
including admission, transfer, and discharge.
5. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient receives a 100 mg dose at 08:00, how much of
the drug will remain in the patient’s body at 16:00?
A. 50 mg
B. 25 mg
C. 12.5 mg
D. 0 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: The half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug to decrease by
half. After 4 hours (12:00), 50 mg remains; after another 4 hours (16:00), half of that
remains, which is 25 mg. Understanding half-life is crucial for determining dosing intervals.
6. Which term refers to the ratio between a drug’s therapeutic effect and its toxic effect?
A. Bioavailability
B. Affinity
C. Therapeutic index
D. Tolerance
Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic index measures the safety of a drug. A narrow therapeutic
index means the margin between a safe dose and a toxic dose is small. Drugs with a narrow
index require frequent blood level monitoring to ensure patient safety.
, 7. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and notes the patient is experiencing
difficulty swallowing. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Assess the patient’s airway and ability to swallow safely.
B. Notify the healthcare provider and request an alternative route.
C. Crush the medication and mix it with applesauce.
D. Give the medication with a large glass of water.
Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nurse must determine
the severity of the dysphagia to prevent aspiration. Following the assessment, the nurse
should consult the provider for appropriate modifications.
8. The nurse is documenting the administration of a PRN analgesic. Which information is
essential to include?
A. The reason for administration and the patient’s pain scale rating
B. The patient’s insurance information
C. The name of the pharmacist who dispensed the drug
D. A list of the patient’s allergies only
Answer: A
Rationale: Documentation of PRN (pro re nata) medications must include the clinical
justification for the dose. The nurse must record the assessment (e.g., pain level) that led to
the administration. Subsequent evaluation of the drug’s effectiveness must also be
documented.
9. Which route of medication administration provides the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral (PO)
B. Subcutaneous (SQ)
C. Intramuscular (IM)
D. Intravenous (IV)
Answer: D
Rationale: The intravenous route delivers medication directly into the bloodstream,
bypassing absorption barriers. This results in an immediate onset of action, which is vital in
emergency situations. Other routes like oral administration require time for disintegration
and absorption in the GI tract.
