Pharmacology Test Bank Exam
Questions with Correct Answers
If a drug has a half-life of 12 hours and is given twice daily starting at 0800 on a
Monday, when will a steady state be achieved?
a. 0800 on Tuesday
b. 0800 on Wednesday
c. 0800 on Thursday
d. 0800 on Friday - Answer-b
The nurse administers albuterol to a patient who has asthma. The albuterol acts by
stimulating beta2-adrenergic receptors to cause bronchodilation. The nurse
understands that albuterol is a beta-adrenergic
a. agonist.
b. antagonist.
c. inhibitor.
d. depressant. - Answer-a
The nurse is explaining to the patient why a nonspecific drug has so many side
effects. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "Nonspecific drugs can affect specific receptor types in different body tissues."
b. "Nonspecific drugs can affect a variety of receptor types in similar body tissues."
c. "Nonspecific drugs can affect hormone secretion as well as cellular functions."
d. "Nonspecific drugs require higher doses than specific drugs to be effective." -
Answer-d
The nurse is preparing to give a dose of gentamicin to a patient and notes that the
most recent serum gentamicin trough level was 2 mcg/mL. What will the nurse do
next?
a. Administer the drug as ordered.
b. Administer the drug and monitor for adverse effects.
c. Notify the provider to discuss decreasing the dose.
d. Notify the provider to report a toxic drug level. - Answer-d
The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to a patient
and notes that the dose ordered is much higher than the usual recommended dose.
Which action will the nurse perform?
a. Administer the dose as ordered.
b. Give the dose and monitor for toxicity.
c. Hold the dose until reviewing it with the provider.
d. Refuse to give the dose. - Answer-a
The nurse administers a narcotic analgesic to a patient who has been receiving it for
1 day after orthopedic surgery. The patient reports no change in pain 30 minutes
after the medication is given. The nurse recognizes that this patient is exhibiting
a. drug-seeking behavior.
b. drug tolerance.
c. the placebo effect.
,d. tachyphylaxis. - Answer-d
The patient is receiving two different drugs. At current dosages and dosage forms,
both drugs are absorbed into the circulation in identical amounts. Thus, because
they have the same absorption rates, they are
a.bioequivalent.
b.synergistic.
c.prodrugs.
d.in a steady state. - Answer-a
The nurse is administering parenteral drugs. Which statement is true regarding
parenteral drugs?
a.
Parenteral drugs bypass the first-pass effect.
b.
Absorption of parenteral drugs is affected by reduced blood flow to the stomach.
c.
Absorption of parenteral drugs is faster when the stomach is empty.
d.
Parenteral drugs exert their effects while circulating in the bloodstream. - Answer-a
When monitoring the patient receiving an intravenous infusion to reduce blood
pressure, the nurse notes that the patient's blood pressure is extremely low, and the
patient is lethargic and difficult to awaken. This would be classified as which type of
adverse drug reaction?
a.
An adverse effect
b.
An allergic reaction
c.
An idiosyncratic reaction
d.
A pharmacologic reaction - Answer-d
When administering drugs, the nurse remembers that the duration of action of a drug
is defined as the time
a.
it takes for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response.
b.
needed to remove a drug from circulation.
c.
it takes for a drug to achieve its maximum therapeutic response.
, d.
period when a drug's concentration is sufficient to cause a therapeutic response -
Answer-d
When administering a new medication to a patient, the nurse reads that it is highly
protein bound. Assuming that the patient's albumin levels are normal, the nurse
would expect which result, as compared to a medication that is not highly protein
bound?
a.
Renal excretion will be faster.
b.
The drug will be metabolized quickly.
c.
The duration of action of the medication will be shorter.
d.
The duration of action of the medication will be longer. - Answer-d
The nurse administered a sleeping pill to an elderly patient at bedtime. Two hours
later, the patient was irritable, restless, and unable to sleep. The nurse describes the
patient's response as which type of reaction?
a.
Allergic reaction
b.
Mutagenic effect
c.
Idiosyncratic reaction
d.
Teratogenic reaction - Answer-c
. The patient is complaining of a headache and asks the nurse which over-the-
counter medication form would work the fastest to help reduce the pain. Which
medication form will the nurse suggest?
a.
A capsule
b.
A tablet
c.
An enteric-coated tablet
d.
A powder - Answer-d
A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained of a
dull ache in the abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually
Questions with Correct Answers
If a drug has a half-life of 12 hours and is given twice daily starting at 0800 on a
Monday, when will a steady state be achieved?
a. 0800 on Tuesday
b. 0800 on Wednesday
c. 0800 on Thursday
d. 0800 on Friday - Answer-b
The nurse administers albuterol to a patient who has asthma. The albuterol acts by
stimulating beta2-adrenergic receptors to cause bronchodilation. The nurse
understands that albuterol is a beta-adrenergic
a. agonist.
b. antagonist.
c. inhibitor.
d. depressant. - Answer-a
The nurse is explaining to the patient why a nonspecific drug has so many side
effects. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "Nonspecific drugs can affect specific receptor types in different body tissues."
b. "Nonspecific drugs can affect a variety of receptor types in similar body tissues."
c. "Nonspecific drugs can affect hormone secretion as well as cellular functions."
d. "Nonspecific drugs require higher doses than specific drugs to be effective." -
Answer-d
The nurse is preparing to give a dose of gentamicin to a patient and notes that the
most recent serum gentamicin trough level was 2 mcg/mL. What will the nurse do
next?
a. Administer the drug as ordered.
b. Administer the drug and monitor for adverse effects.
c. Notify the provider to discuss decreasing the dose.
d. Notify the provider to report a toxic drug level. - Answer-d
The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to a patient
and notes that the dose ordered is much higher than the usual recommended dose.
Which action will the nurse perform?
a. Administer the dose as ordered.
b. Give the dose and monitor for toxicity.
c. Hold the dose until reviewing it with the provider.
d. Refuse to give the dose. - Answer-a
The nurse administers a narcotic analgesic to a patient who has been receiving it for
1 day after orthopedic surgery. The patient reports no change in pain 30 minutes
after the medication is given. The nurse recognizes that this patient is exhibiting
a. drug-seeking behavior.
b. drug tolerance.
c. the placebo effect.
,d. tachyphylaxis. - Answer-d
The patient is receiving two different drugs. At current dosages and dosage forms,
both drugs are absorbed into the circulation in identical amounts. Thus, because
they have the same absorption rates, they are
a.bioequivalent.
b.synergistic.
c.prodrugs.
d.in a steady state. - Answer-a
The nurse is administering parenteral drugs. Which statement is true regarding
parenteral drugs?
a.
Parenteral drugs bypass the first-pass effect.
b.
Absorption of parenteral drugs is affected by reduced blood flow to the stomach.
c.
Absorption of parenteral drugs is faster when the stomach is empty.
d.
Parenteral drugs exert their effects while circulating in the bloodstream. - Answer-a
When monitoring the patient receiving an intravenous infusion to reduce blood
pressure, the nurse notes that the patient's blood pressure is extremely low, and the
patient is lethargic and difficult to awaken. This would be classified as which type of
adverse drug reaction?
a.
An adverse effect
b.
An allergic reaction
c.
An idiosyncratic reaction
d.
A pharmacologic reaction - Answer-d
When administering drugs, the nurse remembers that the duration of action of a drug
is defined as the time
a.
it takes for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response.
b.
needed to remove a drug from circulation.
c.
it takes for a drug to achieve its maximum therapeutic response.
, d.
period when a drug's concentration is sufficient to cause a therapeutic response -
Answer-d
When administering a new medication to a patient, the nurse reads that it is highly
protein bound. Assuming that the patient's albumin levels are normal, the nurse
would expect which result, as compared to a medication that is not highly protein
bound?
a.
Renal excretion will be faster.
b.
The drug will be metabolized quickly.
c.
The duration of action of the medication will be shorter.
d.
The duration of action of the medication will be longer. - Answer-d
The nurse administered a sleeping pill to an elderly patient at bedtime. Two hours
later, the patient was irritable, restless, and unable to sleep. The nurse describes the
patient's response as which type of reaction?
a.
Allergic reaction
b.
Mutagenic effect
c.
Idiosyncratic reaction
d.
Teratogenic reaction - Answer-c
. The patient is complaining of a headache and asks the nurse which over-the-
counter medication form would work the fastest to help reduce the pain. Which
medication form will the nurse suggest?
a.
A capsule
b.
A tablet
c.
An enteric-coated tablet
d.
A powder - Answer-d
A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained of a
dull ache in the abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually
