NURS 5334: Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse
Practitioners – Final Exam (Latest 2025 Edition)
Questions and Verified Answers Graded A+
100% Pass 2025 Update
The NURS 5334 final exam at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
consists of *100 multiple-choice questions* with a *120-minute time
limit*. It covers prescribing basics, pharmacology principles,
pharmacogenomics, drugs across the lifespan, local anesthetics,
antibiotics/UTIs, dermatology, pain management, CNS drugs, CV
pharmacology, endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes, thyroid),
respiratory/antihistamines, GI/hepatic, reproductive/hormones, and
immunizations. The passing score is typically 80%, emphasizing clinical
application, mechanisms of action (MOA), adverse effects (AE), drug
interactions, and patient-specific considerations (e.g., pregnancy,
pediatrics, elderly).
#### *Module 1: Prescribing Basics & Pharmacology Principles
(Questions 1-20)*
1. *What regulates prescriptive authority for NPs in Texas?*
*State Board of Nursing (BON).*
, Rationale: BON sets rules; DEA handles controlled substances.
Includes tall man lettering for look-alike drugs (e.g., hydrALAZINE vs.
hydrOXYzine).
2. *Key elements of a proper prescription include:*
*Provider name/address/phone, DEA (for CII-V), patient
name/DOB/address/weight, date (expires 1 year), drug
name/strength (no trailing zeros, leading zeros), SIG
(directions/indication/route/frequency), quantity, refills (written out),
signature, NPI, and role (e.g., APRN-FNP).*
Rationale: Ensures safety and compliance; electronic prescribing
preferred.
3. *Drug schedules (most to least addictive):*
*Schedule I: Heroin, LSD, marijuana (no medical use); II:
Hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, Adderall (high abuse); III: Codeine,
ketamine, testosterone (moderate); IV: Xanax, Valium, tramadol (low);
V: Lomotil, Lyrica (lowest).*
Rationale: CII requires special forms, no refills; CV can auto-refill.
4. *Pharmacodynamics:*
*Effects of drug on the body (e.g., via receptors).*
Rationale: Agonist stimulates (e.g., morphine on mu-opioid);
antagonist blocks (e.g., naloxone).
,5. *Pharmacokinetics (ADME):*
*Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.*
Rationale: Phase I (oxidation via CYP450, 75% liver); Phase II
(conjugation for excretion). First-pass effect reduces oral
bioavailability.
6. *What is a substrate in drug metabolism?*
*Drug acted upon by an enzyme (e.g., CYP3A4 metabolizes statins).*
Rationale: Inducers (e.g., rifampin) speed up; inhibitors (e.g.,
ketoconazole) slow down, causing interactions.
7. *Beer's Criteria:*
*List of drugs to avoid in elderly (e.g., diphenhydramine, long-acting
benzos).*
Rationale: High risk of AE like falls, confusion; use lowest effective
dose.
8. *Tall man lettering example:*
*DopTEAline vs. dobuTAMine.*
Rationale: Prevents errors with look-alike/sound-alike drugs (ISMP
list).
, 9. *DEA number format:*
*Two letters + 7 numbers (last checks validity).*
Rationale: Required for CII-V; NPs get temporary then full.
10. *Calculation question example: Convert 500 mg to tsp (if 250 mg/5
mL):*
*10 mL (2 tsp).*
Rationale: Dose = (desired/available) × volume; verify with patient
weight.
11. *What is the therapeutic index?*
*Ratio of toxic dose to effective dose (TD50/ED50); narrow = high
risk (e.g., digoxin).*
Rationale: Guides monitoring.
12. *Prodrug example:*
*Levodopa (converted to dopamine in brain).*
Rationale: Improves delivery across BBB.
13. *Half-life impact on dosing:*
*Time for plasma to drop 50%; short (e.g., aspirin 15 min) needs
frequent dosing.*
Practitioners – Final Exam (Latest 2025 Edition)
Questions and Verified Answers Graded A+
100% Pass 2025 Update
The NURS 5334 final exam at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
consists of *100 multiple-choice questions* with a *120-minute time
limit*. It covers prescribing basics, pharmacology principles,
pharmacogenomics, drugs across the lifespan, local anesthetics,
antibiotics/UTIs, dermatology, pain management, CNS drugs, CV
pharmacology, endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes, thyroid),
respiratory/antihistamines, GI/hepatic, reproductive/hormones, and
immunizations. The passing score is typically 80%, emphasizing clinical
application, mechanisms of action (MOA), adverse effects (AE), drug
interactions, and patient-specific considerations (e.g., pregnancy,
pediatrics, elderly).
#### *Module 1: Prescribing Basics & Pharmacology Principles
(Questions 1-20)*
1. *What regulates prescriptive authority for NPs in Texas?*
*State Board of Nursing (BON).*
, Rationale: BON sets rules; DEA handles controlled substances.
Includes tall man lettering for look-alike drugs (e.g., hydrALAZINE vs.
hydrOXYzine).
2. *Key elements of a proper prescription include:*
*Provider name/address/phone, DEA (for CII-V), patient
name/DOB/address/weight, date (expires 1 year), drug
name/strength (no trailing zeros, leading zeros), SIG
(directions/indication/route/frequency), quantity, refills (written out),
signature, NPI, and role (e.g., APRN-FNP).*
Rationale: Ensures safety and compliance; electronic prescribing
preferred.
3. *Drug schedules (most to least addictive):*
*Schedule I: Heroin, LSD, marijuana (no medical use); II:
Hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, Adderall (high abuse); III: Codeine,
ketamine, testosterone (moderate); IV: Xanax, Valium, tramadol (low);
V: Lomotil, Lyrica (lowest).*
Rationale: CII requires special forms, no refills; CV can auto-refill.
4. *Pharmacodynamics:*
*Effects of drug on the body (e.g., via receptors).*
Rationale: Agonist stimulates (e.g., morphine on mu-opioid);
antagonist blocks (e.g., naloxone).
,5. *Pharmacokinetics (ADME):*
*Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.*
Rationale: Phase I (oxidation via CYP450, 75% liver); Phase II
(conjugation for excretion). First-pass effect reduces oral
bioavailability.
6. *What is a substrate in drug metabolism?*
*Drug acted upon by an enzyme (e.g., CYP3A4 metabolizes statins).*
Rationale: Inducers (e.g., rifampin) speed up; inhibitors (e.g.,
ketoconazole) slow down, causing interactions.
7. *Beer's Criteria:*
*List of drugs to avoid in elderly (e.g., diphenhydramine, long-acting
benzos).*
Rationale: High risk of AE like falls, confusion; use lowest effective
dose.
8. *Tall man lettering example:*
*DopTEAline vs. dobuTAMine.*
Rationale: Prevents errors with look-alike/sound-alike drugs (ISMP
list).
, 9. *DEA number format:*
*Two letters + 7 numbers (last checks validity).*
Rationale: Required for CII-V; NPs get temporary then full.
10. *Calculation question example: Convert 500 mg to tsp (if 250 mg/5
mL):*
*10 mL (2 tsp).*
Rationale: Dose = (desired/available) × volume; verify with patient
weight.
11. *What is the therapeutic index?*
*Ratio of toxic dose to effective dose (TD50/ED50); narrow = high
risk (e.g., digoxin).*
Rationale: Guides monitoring.
12. *Prodrug example:*
*Levodopa (converted to dopamine in brain).*
Rationale: Improves delivery across BBB.
13. *Half-life impact on dosing:*
*Time for plasma to drop 50%; short (e.g., aspirin 15 min) needs
frequent dosing.*
