Edition by Jacqueline Burchum, Laura Rosenthal
, Chapter 1: Orientation to Pharmacology
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is explaining to a patient how a drug functions to treat a specific condition. To do this, the
nurse will depend on knowledge of:
a. clinical pharmacology
b. drug efficacy
c. pharmacokinetics
d. pharmacotherapeutics
Correct Answer: D
Pharmacotherapeutics involves the study of how medications are used to identify, manage, and prevent
diseases. Clinical pharmacology examines all elements of drug use in humans. Drug efficacy looks at how
well a medication produces its desired result. Pharmacokinetics focuses on how the body affects a drug.
2. What is implied when a drug is said to be simple to administer?
a. It can be kept for a long time without refrigeration.
b. It has minimal interactions with other drugs.
c. It improves compliance with the medication regimen.
d. It is generally low in production cost.
Correct Answer: C
When drugs are easy to take, patients are more likely to follow the prescribed regimen. Although other
listed characteristics may exist, they are not directly related to how easy a drug is to administer.
, 3. A patient tells the nurse that the prescriber described his pain medication as highly effective. Which
of the following statements by the patient shows understanding of the drug’s effectiveness?
a. “I don’t need to worry about overdose, since it takes a lot of this drug to be toxic.”
b. “It has no side effects and doesn’t mix badly with other drugs.”
c. “I only take it twice a day.”
d. “It can make me tired, but it controls my pain for hours.”
Correct Answer: D
An effective drug achieves the desired result, even if it also causes some side effects. Effectiveness is not
judged by safety alone, as all drugs carry risks. Side effects and interactions are separate from the drug’s
ability to relieve symptoms. Frequency of use also does not reflect effectiveness.
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. Which characteristics define an ideal drug? (Select all that apply.)
a. Irreversible action
b. Predictable effects
c. Simple to use
d. Chemically stable
e. Easy trade name
Correct Answers: B, C, D
Ideal drugs should act in predictable ways, be easy for patients to take, and remain stable chemically. A
reversible effect is preferred so any damage can be reversed. A simple generic name is better than a simple
trade name, as trade names vary and are often unrelated to drug classification.
, 2. Before giving a drug, what must the nurse consider to understand how patient-specific differences
could influence the drug’s effects? (Select all that apply.)
a. Medication’s chemical stability
b. Simplicity of administration
c. Family health background
d. Age of the patient
e. Patient’s health condition
Correct Answers: C, D, E
A patient’s genetics, age, and current medical diagnosis can influence how they respond to medications. In
contrast, how easy the drug is to take and its chemical durability are drug traits, not patient-specific factors.