WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY OA AND PRE-ASSESSMENT
STUDY SET – 550+ FULLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES AND VERIFIED ACCURACY 2025-2026 A+ GRADED.
A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. What is the nurse
administering this medication expected to do? - - ANS - -Monitor plasma drug levels
Narrow therapeutic range is more difficult to administer safely because the difference
between MEC and toxic concentration is small
A patient is receiving intravenous gentamicin. A serum drug test reveals toxic levels. The
dosing is correct, and this medication has been tolerated by this patient in the past.
What is a probable cause of the test result? - - ANS - -The pt is taking another medication
that binds to serum albumin
BGentamicin binds to albumin but weakly. In presence of another drug that binds to albumin,
gentamicin can rise to toxic levels in blood stream
What are the components of pharmacokinetics? - - ANS - -Absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Does the volume of distribution increase or decrease as the concentration of a drug in the
blood plasma increases? - - ANS - -DECREASES
A patient reports becoming "immune" to a medication because it no longer works to
alleviate symptoms.
The provider recognizes that this decreased effectiveness is likely caused by what? - - ANS
- -Desensitization of receptor sites by continual exposure to the drug
,Continual exposure to an agonist would cause the cell to become less responsive or
desensitized
What occurs when a drug binds to a receptor in the body? - - ANS - -It increases or
decreases the activity of that receptor
Which pharmacodynamic principle is most correlated with drug toxicity? - - ANS - -
Therapeutic index
Which is calculated by dividing the median toxic dose by the median efficacious dose
A patient who is taking morphine for pain asks the nurse how a pain medication can also
cause constipation.
What is the nurse's response? - - ANS - -It is selective to receptors that regulate more than
one body process
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true? - - ANS - -Some foods can inhibit
CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism
Grapefruit inhibits which lowers metabolism of drugs, leading to toxic effects of drugs
With respect to the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, what will result in a higher
concentration of a drug? - - ANS - -Inhibition of the enzyme
Decreasing enzyme activity leads to decreased metabolism of the drug, leading to toxic
effects of drug
,An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) works in a urology clinic under the
supervision of a physician who does not restrict the types of medications the APRN is
allowed to prescribe. State law does not require the APRN to practice under physician
supervision.
How would the APRN's prescriptive authority be described? - - ANS - -Independent because
the prescriptive authority does not require the APRN work under physician supervision
Which drug requires registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to
prescribe? - - ANS - -Chlordiazepoxide
Schedule IV substance
All scheduled substances require the prescriber to be registered with the DEA
True or False
Your DEA registration allows you to prescribe Schedule II and Schedule III controlled
substances for addiction. - - ANS - -FALSE
Special waiver is required
A patient with diabetes reports losing their job and an inability to purchase the required
medications.
As the FNP, which action is most appropriate? - - ANS - -Contact a different pharmacy-it
could decrease the cost of the medication
A nurse is preparing to administer a drug. After reading the medication guide, the nurse
notes that the drug has been linked to symptoms of Parkinson disease in some patients.
, What should the nurse do? - - ANS - -Observe the patient closely for such symptoms and
prepare to tx them if needed
A drug that causes disease-like s/s is known to be iatrogenic
Iatrogenic effects are not typically expected side effects
True or False
Macrolide antibiotics are classic inducers of common cytochrome enzymes. - - ANS - -False
Macrolide antibiotics are inhibitors
True or False
The World Health Organization (WHO) accounts for the cost to the patient when they consider
rational drug use. - - ANS - -True
Accounts for cost, adequate length of therapy, individualized dosing, medication appropriate
to the pt's clinical needs
A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium.
Which action is most important to determine whether the therapeutic level is maintained? -
- ANS - -ensure periodic lab testing is completed
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for hepatic side
effects.
Which action is most important when prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old patient?
- - ANS - -Obtain pretreatment lab work
STUDY SET – 550+ FULLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES AND VERIFIED ACCURACY 2025-2026 A+ GRADED.
A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. What is the nurse
administering this medication expected to do? - - ANS - -Monitor plasma drug levels
Narrow therapeutic range is more difficult to administer safely because the difference
between MEC and toxic concentration is small
A patient is receiving intravenous gentamicin. A serum drug test reveals toxic levels. The
dosing is correct, and this medication has been tolerated by this patient in the past.
What is a probable cause of the test result? - - ANS - -The pt is taking another medication
that binds to serum albumin
BGentamicin binds to albumin but weakly. In presence of another drug that binds to albumin,
gentamicin can rise to toxic levels in blood stream
What are the components of pharmacokinetics? - - ANS - -Absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Does the volume of distribution increase or decrease as the concentration of a drug in the
blood plasma increases? - - ANS - -DECREASES
A patient reports becoming "immune" to a medication because it no longer works to
alleviate symptoms.
The provider recognizes that this decreased effectiveness is likely caused by what? - - ANS
- -Desensitization of receptor sites by continual exposure to the drug
,Continual exposure to an agonist would cause the cell to become less responsive or
desensitized
What occurs when a drug binds to a receptor in the body? - - ANS - -It increases or
decreases the activity of that receptor
Which pharmacodynamic principle is most correlated with drug toxicity? - - ANS - -
Therapeutic index
Which is calculated by dividing the median toxic dose by the median efficacious dose
A patient who is taking morphine for pain asks the nurse how a pain medication can also
cause constipation.
What is the nurse's response? - - ANS - -It is selective to receptors that regulate more than
one body process
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true? - - ANS - -Some foods can inhibit
CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism
Grapefruit inhibits which lowers metabolism of drugs, leading to toxic effects of drugs
With respect to the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, what will result in a higher
concentration of a drug? - - ANS - -Inhibition of the enzyme
Decreasing enzyme activity leads to decreased metabolism of the drug, leading to toxic
effects of drug
,An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) works in a urology clinic under the
supervision of a physician who does not restrict the types of medications the APRN is
allowed to prescribe. State law does not require the APRN to practice under physician
supervision.
How would the APRN's prescriptive authority be described? - - ANS - -Independent because
the prescriptive authority does not require the APRN work under physician supervision
Which drug requires registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to
prescribe? - - ANS - -Chlordiazepoxide
Schedule IV substance
All scheduled substances require the prescriber to be registered with the DEA
True or False
Your DEA registration allows you to prescribe Schedule II and Schedule III controlled
substances for addiction. - - ANS - -FALSE
Special waiver is required
A patient with diabetes reports losing their job and an inability to purchase the required
medications.
As the FNP, which action is most appropriate? - - ANS - -Contact a different pharmacy-it
could decrease the cost of the medication
A nurse is preparing to administer a drug. After reading the medication guide, the nurse
notes that the drug has been linked to symptoms of Parkinson disease in some patients.
, What should the nurse do? - - ANS - -Observe the patient closely for such symptoms and
prepare to tx them if needed
A drug that causes disease-like s/s is known to be iatrogenic
Iatrogenic effects are not typically expected side effects
True or False
Macrolide antibiotics are classic inducers of common cytochrome enzymes. - - ANS - -False
Macrolide antibiotics are inhibitors
True or False
The World Health Organization (WHO) accounts for the cost to the patient when they consider
rational drug use. - - ANS - -True
Accounts for cost, adequate length of therapy, individualized dosing, medication appropriate
to the pt's clinical needs
A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder is prescribed daily lithium.
Which action is most important to determine whether the therapeutic level is maintained? -
- ANS - -ensure periodic lab testing is completed
The drug manual states that older adult patients are at increased risk for hepatic side
effects.
Which action is most important when prescribing this medication to an 80-year-old patient?
- - ANS - -Obtain pretreatment lab work
