Maryville University – NUR 615 Unit
Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners
(Based on 2025/2026 Syllabus – Updated Questions & Answers)
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. What is pharmacokinetics?
ANSWER ✓ The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes
drugs.
2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
ANSWER ✓ Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME).
3. What factors affect drug absorption?
ANSWER ✓ Route of administration, solubility, blood flow, pH, and surface area.
4. Define bioavailability.
ANSWER ✓ The proportion of a drug that enters circulation and is available for activity.
5. What is the first-pass effect?
ANSWER ✓ Metabolism of a drug by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation.
6. How does protein binding affect drug distribution?
ANSWER ✓ Only unbound (free) drugs are active; high protein binding can prolong
drug effects.
7. What is a prodrug?
, ANSWER ✓ An inactive drug that becomes active after metabolism.
8. What enzyme system is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
ANSWER ✓ Cytochrome P450 (CYP450).
9. What is the half-life of a drug?
ANSWER ✓ The time it takes for the drug concentration to reduce by 50%.
10. What is pharmacodynamics?
ANSWER ✓ The study of how drugs exert their effects on the body.
Section 2: Prescriptive Authority & Legal Considerations
11. What are the key components of a prescription?
ANSWER ✓ Patient name, drug name, dosage, route, frequency, prescriber info, and
date.
12. What is the DEA’s role in prescribing controlled substances?
ANSWER ✓ Regulates prescriptions for Schedule II-V drugs to prevent misuse.
13. What is required for NP prescriptive authority in most states?
ANSWER ✓ Collaborative agreement with a physician (varies by state).
14. Which schedule has the highest abuse potential?
ANSWER ✓ Schedule I (e.g., heroin, LSD – no accepted medical use).
15. What is the "Black Box Warning"?
ANSWER ✓ FDA’s strictest warning for serious/life-threatening drug risks.
Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners
(Based on 2025/2026 Syllabus – Updated Questions & Answers)
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. What is pharmacokinetics?
ANSWER ✓ The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes
drugs.
2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
ANSWER ✓ Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME).
3. What factors affect drug absorption?
ANSWER ✓ Route of administration, solubility, blood flow, pH, and surface area.
4. Define bioavailability.
ANSWER ✓ The proportion of a drug that enters circulation and is available for activity.
5. What is the first-pass effect?
ANSWER ✓ Metabolism of a drug by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation.
6. How does protein binding affect drug distribution?
ANSWER ✓ Only unbound (free) drugs are active; high protein binding can prolong
drug effects.
7. What is a prodrug?
, ANSWER ✓ An inactive drug that becomes active after metabolism.
8. What enzyme system is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
ANSWER ✓ Cytochrome P450 (CYP450).
9. What is the half-life of a drug?
ANSWER ✓ The time it takes for the drug concentration to reduce by 50%.
10. What is pharmacodynamics?
ANSWER ✓ The study of how drugs exert their effects on the body.
Section 2: Prescriptive Authority & Legal Considerations
11. What are the key components of a prescription?
ANSWER ✓ Patient name, drug name, dosage, route, frequency, prescriber info, and
date.
12. What is the DEA’s role in prescribing controlled substances?
ANSWER ✓ Regulates prescriptions for Schedule II-V drugs to prevent misuse.
13. What is required for NP prescriptive authority in most states?
ANSWER ✓ Collaborative agreement with a physician (varies by state).
14. Which schedule has the highest abuse potential?
ANSWER ✓ Schedule I (e.g., heroin, LSD – no accepted medical use).
15. What is the "Black Box Warning"?
ANSWER ✓ FDA’s strictest warning for serious/life-threatening drug risks.
