NUR 210 Exams 1-4 Galen Pharmacology
NUR 210 Exams 1-4 Galen Pharmacology
NUR 210 Exams 1-4 Galen Pharmacology
Mostly Accurate Tested Relevant Coverage Areas
1. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Principles
2. Medication Administration Routes and Techniques
3. Benzodiazepines and Non-Benzodiazepine Sedative-Hypnotics
4. NSAIDs, Acetaminophen, and Anti-Inflammatory Agents
5. Opioid Analgesics and Pain Management
6. Adrenergic Agonists and Antagonists
7. Cardiovascular Medications: Antihypertensives and Beta-Blockers
8. Antiepileptic Drugs and Neurologic Agents
9. Antimicrobial Agents and Therapeutic Monitoring
10. Endocrine Medications: Antidiabetic Agents and Insulin Safety
,NUR 210 Exams 1-4 Galen Pharmacology
1. The nursing student is reviewing the pharmacokinetic phase that involves the
movement of a drug from the gastrointestinal tract into the systemic
bloodstream, which is correctly identified as which process?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: C
Explanation Notes:
Absorption is the pharmacokinetic phase defined as the movement of a drug
from its site of administration (most commonly the GI tract for oral medications)
into the bloodstream for systemic circulation . 8 11
Distribution involves the transport of a drug through the bloodstream to its site
of action in various body tissues and organs.
Metabolism (biotransformation) primarily occurs in the liver and involves the
chemical alteration of the drug into metabolites, often making it more water-
soluble for excretion.
Excretion is the final phase where drugs and their metabolites are eliminated
from the body, primarily through the kidneys via urine.
,2. A patient is prescribed a medication that is known to be highly protein-bound.
The nurse understands that which portion of the drug is pharmacologically
active and capable of producing a therapeutic effect?
A. The portion bound to albumin
B. The free unbound portion
C. The portion stored in adipose tissue
D. The portion metabolized by the liver
Correct Answer: B
Explanation Notes:
Only the free unbound drug is pharmacologically active because it can leave
the bloodstream, cross cell membranes, and bind to target receptors to exert a
therapeutic effect . 2
Albumin-bound drugs act as a reservoir but are temporarily inactive and unable
to reach target tissues while bound to the protein molecule.
Adipose tissue storage affects the duration of action by slowly releasing lipid-
soluble drugs but does not determine immediate pharmacological activity.
Hepatic metabolism transforms the drug into metabolites, which may be active
or inactive, but this process occurs after the drug has already distributed to the
liver.
, 3. The nurse is teaching a patient about the concept of steady state, explaining
that it is typically achieved after approximately four to five half-lives of a
medication, which means which of the following occurs?
A. The drug is completely eliminated from the body
B. The plasma drug level fluctuates widely between doses
C. The rate of drug intake equals the rate of elimination
D. The medication can be safely discontinued without tapering
Correct Answer: C
Explanation Notes:
Steady state is reached when the amount of drug entering the bloodstream
(intake) equals the amount being eliminated, resulting in a relatively stable
plasma concentration and consistent therapeutic effect . 13
Complete elimination occurs much later, after approximately four to five half-
lives after the last dose, not when steady state is achieved during ongoing
therapy.
Wide fluctuations are characteristic of the accumulation phase before steady
state is reached, not the steady state condition itself.
Discontinuation without tapering is unrelated to steady state and depends on
the specific drug's withdrawal potential and the patient's clinical status.