Pharmacology Exam 1 Study guide
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
**Chapter 1** - CORRECT ANSWER - Orientation to Pharmacology
The student is providing a presentation to the class regarding concepts in pharmacodynamics.
Which statement made by a student in the class best demonstrates understanding of
pharmacodynamics? - CORRECT ANSWER - "Receptor binding is the main component
of pharmacodynamics."
The nurse is administering morning medications. A patient questions the nurse, "How does the
drug know where to go?" The nurse's best response to the patient is based on the understanding
that a drug that elicits only those responses for which it is given is considered - CORRECT
ANSWER - Selective
A nurse is teaching a continuing education class on pharmacology. The nurse is evaluating the
participants' knowledge and poses the question, "When a disease process triggers increased
metabolism of the drug, the disease has altered the drug's ___________." - CORRECT
ANSWER - pharmacokinetics
A patient with type I diabetes mellitus comes to the clinic with complaints of low blood sugar.
The nurse questions the patient regarding compliance with medications. The patient states that
she gives herself more insulin per dose so she doesn't have to take it as often. Which factors
should the nurse educate the patient about as affecting the patient's response to the medication? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Administration
**Chapter 2** - CORRECT ANSWER - Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
A patient with a history of hepatomegaly secondary to cirrhosis is admitted to a medical-surgical
unit. Among the patient's many medications, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is prescribed. The nurse
understands that this drug should not be used in patients with impaired liver function. Which
,term describes the nurse's understanding of the relationship between acetaminophen and its use
in patients with impaired liver function? - CORRECT ANSWER - A contraindication
The nurse reads the prescriber's orders and prepares to administer a medication "as needed."
Which order would the nurse plan to implement? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg 1 PO q 4 hours prn
The nurse is caring for several patients and prepares to administer morning medications. Which
high-risk patient should the nurse monitor most carefully after the drugs are administered? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The young adult patient with a history of kidney disease
The charge nurse has just received report from another nurse, who is ill and going home. The
nurse gave medications to his patients about 40 minutes ago. The charge nurse is prioritizing
which patient should be seen first based on the nurse's report. Which patient should the charge
nurse assess first? - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient with multiple allergies, just started
on a new medication with complaints of pruritus
The nurse is preparing to administer medications to a patient admitted with a left total knee
replacement. As part of the preadministration assessment, the nurse would first - CORRECT
ANSWER - check the patient's arm band for allergies.
Prior to the administration of penicillin, a nurse reviews medication literature regarding
precautions associated with penicillin. For which patient would the nurse most likely consider
these precautions warranted? - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient who reports a history of a
mild rash from penicillin taken 7 years ago
A nurse on a busy orthopedic unit is preparing to administer morning medications. Which aspect
of the assessment would be most important prior to the administration of an antihypertensive
agent PO? - CORRECT ANSWER - Patient's blood pressure prior to administration
A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which patient would the nurse consider to have
the greatest predisposition to an adverse reaction? - CORRECT ANSWER - A 30-year-old
male with kidney disease
, A nurse is providing education to a patient preparing for discharge from the clinic. What is the
best way for the nurse to promote compliance in the patient going home on a new medication? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Ask the patient to restate the instructions and verify
understanding.
A female patient comes to the clinic and is prescribed tetracycline. She tells the nurse, "I'm
allergic to tetracycline. I always get a yeast infection when I take it." The nurse's best response
would be - CORRECT ANSWER - "Tell me about other reactions or changes you
experience when you take tetracycline."
A nurse is obtaining a health history from a patient. The nurse suspects a drug-drug interaction
and instructs the patient to list every medication he is taking. Which statement would indicate
that the patient needs further teaching regarding inclusion of medication history? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The patient would be correct to omit listing his daily use of herbal teas.
**Chapter 3** - CORRECT ANSWER - Drug Regulation, Development, Names and
Information
A nurse educator is providing a continuing education class on pharmacology. To evaluate the
learning of the nurses in the class, the nurse educator asks, "Which drug name is a generic drug
name?" - CORRECT ANSWER - Acetaminophen
A researcher working for a pharmaceutical company is providing orientation to a new nurse
researcher. The researcher determines that further education is needed when the nurse states that
- CORRECT ANSWER - clinical testing phase 2 involves normal volunteers
A nurse is providing discharge teaching about an opiate analgesic for a patient. The nurse
correctly tells the patient that the greatest potential for abuse exists with drugs from which
schedule? - CORRECT ANSWER - "I" (Schedule I)
A prescriber orders a drug that is considered "off label." A patient asks what "off label" means.
The nurse correctly explains that "off label" means that a drug is - CORRECT ANSWER -
FDA approved for one use but is being prescribed for another purpose.
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
**Chapter 1** - CORRECT ANSWER - Orientation to Pharmacology
The student is providing a presentation to the class regarding concepts in pharmacodynamics.
Which statement made by a student in the class best demonstrates understanding of
pharmacodynamics? - CORRECT ANSWER - "Receptor binding is the main component
of pharmacodynamics."
The nurse is administering morning medications. A patient questions the nurse, "How does the
drug know where to go?" The nurse's best response to the patient is based on the understanding
that a drug that elicits only those responses for which it is given is considered - CORRECT
ANSWER - Selective
A nurse is teaching a continuing education class on pharmacology. The nurse is evaluating the
participants' knowledge and poses the question, "When a disease process triggers increased
metabolism of the drug, the disease has altered the drug's ___________." - CORRECT
ANSWER - pharmacokinetics
A patient with type I diabetes mellitus comes to the clinic with complaints of low blood sugar.
The nurse questions the patient regarding compliance with medications. The patient states that
she gives herself more insulin per dose so she doesn't have to take it as often. Which factors
should the nurse educate the patient about as affecting the patient's response to the medication? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Administration
**Chapter 2** - CORRECT ANSWER - Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
A patient with a history of hepatomegaly secondary to cirrhosis is admitted to a medical-surgical
unit. Among the patient's many medications, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is prescribed. The nurse
understands that this drug should not be used in patients with impaired liver function. Which
,term describes the nurse's understanding of the relationship between acetaminophen and its use
in patients with impaired liver function? - CORRECT ANSWER - A contraindication
The nurse reads the prescriber's orders and prepares to administer a medication "as needed."
Which order would the nurse plan to implement? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg 1 PO q 4 hours prn
The nurse is caring for several patients and prepares to administer morning medications. Which
high-risk patient should the nurse monitor most carefully after the drugs are administered? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The young adult patient with a history of kidney disease
The charge nurse has just received report from another nurse, who is ill and going home. The
nurse gave medications to his patients about 40 minutes ago. The charge nurse is prioritizing
which patient should be seen first based on the nurse's report. Which patient should the charge
nurse assess first? - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient with multiple allergies, just started
on a new medication with complaints of pruritus
The nurse is preparing to administer medications to a patient admitted with a left total knee
replacement. As part of the preadministration assessment, the nurse would first - CORRECT
ANSWER - check the patient's arm band for allergies.
Prior to the administration of penicillin, a nurse reviews medication literature regarding
precautions associated with penicillin. For which patient would the nurse most likely consider
these precautions warranted? - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient who reports a history of a
mild rash from penicillin taken 7 years ago
A nurse on a busy orthopedic unit is preparing to administer morning medications. Which aspect
of the assessment would be most important prior to the administration of an antihypertensive
agent PO? - CORRECT ANSWER - Patient's blood pressure prior to administration
A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which patient would the nurse consider to have
the greatest predisposition to an adverse reaction? - CORRECT ANSWER - A 30-year-old
male with kidney disease
, A nurse is providing education to a patient preparing for discharge from the clinic. What is the
best way for the nurse to promote compliance in the patient going home on a new medication? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Ask the patient to restate the instructions and verify
understanding.
A female patient comes to the clinic and is prescribed tetracycline. She tells the nurse, "I'm
allergic to tetracycline. I always get a yeast infection when I take it." The nurse's best response
would be - CORRECT ANSWER - "Tell me about other reactions or changes you
experience when you take tetracycline."
A nurse is obtaining a health history from a patient. The nurse suspects a drug-drug interaction
and instructs the patient to list every medication he is taking. Which statement would indicate
that the patient needs further teaching regarding inclusion of medication history? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The patient would be correct to omit listing his daily use of herbal teas.
**Chapter 3** - CORRECT ANSWER - Drug Regulation, Development, Names and
Information
A nurse educator is providing a continuing education class on pharmacology. To evaluate the
learning of the nurses in the class, the nurse educator asks, "Which drug name is a generic drug
name?" - CORRECT ANSWER - Acetaminophen
A researcher working for a pharmaceutical company is providing orientation to a new nurse
researcher. The researcher determines that further education is needed when the nurse states that
- CORRECT ANSWER - clinical testing phase 2 involves normal volunteers
A nurse is providing discharge teaching about an opiate analgesic for a patient. The nurse
correctly tells the patient that the greatest potential for abuse exists with drugs from which
schedule? - CORRECT ANSWER - "I" (Schedule I)
A prescriber orders a drug that is considered "off label." A patient asks what "off label" means.
The nurse correctly explains that "off label" means that a drug is - CORRECT ANSWER -
FDA approved for one use but is being prescribed for another purpose.
