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NUR 521 Advanced Pharmacology – Exam 1 Practice Questions complete
Exam 1 TEST BANK Practice Questions with 100% correct Answers and
Rationale 2026 | 2027 UPDATED!!!!! University of Alabama
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics (Questions)
1. The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion is known as:
A. Pharmacotherapeutics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacokinetics
D. Pharmacy
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does
to a drug, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is what the drug
does to the body.
2. A patient with renal impairment is prescribed a medication
that is primarily eliminated renally. Which pharmacokinetic
process is most affected?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D
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Rationale: Renal impairment directly affects drug excretion.
Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) leads to drug
accumulation and potential toxicity.
3. A medication has a half-life of 4 hours. How many half-lives
will it take for the drug to reach steady-state concentration?
A. 2 half-lives
B. 3 half-lives
C. 4 half-lives
D. 5 half-lives
Answer: D
Rationale: It takes approximately 5 half-lives to reach steady-
state concentration (about 97% of steady-state). Steady-state
occurs when drug administration equals drug elimination.
4. Which route of administration provides the fastest onset of
action?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Intramuscular
Answer: C
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly
into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption barriers and
providing immediate therapeutic effect.
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5. The nurse understands that drug bioavailability is highest
with which route?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Topical
Answer: C
Rationale: IV administration has 100% bioavailability because
the drug enters the systemic circulation directly without first-
pass metabolism or absorption barriers.
6. First-pass metabolism refers to the metabolism of drugs in
the:
A. Kidney
B. Blood vessels
C. Liver
D. Heart
Answer: C
Rationale: First-pass metabolism refers to the rapid hepatic
inactivation of certain drugs after oral administration. A
significant portion of the drug is metabolized by the liver before
reaching systemic circulation.
7. A nurse practitioner is prescribing an oral medication that is
known to undergo extensive first-pass metabolism. Which
action is most appropriate to ensure therapeutic efficacy?
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A. Prescribe the medication to be taken with a high-fat meal.
B. Anticipate that the oral dose will need to be higher than the
intravenous dose.
C. Recommend the patient crush the medication to increase
absorption.
D. Schedule the medication to be taken sublingually to bypass
the liver entirely.
Answer: B
Rationale: Because a significant portion of the drug is
metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation,
the oral dose often needs to be higher than the parenteral dose
to achieve the same therapeutic effect.
8. The time from drug administration to the first observable
drug effect is known as the:
A. Duration of action
B. Onset of action
C. Ceiling effect
D. Maximal response
Answer: B
Rationale: The onset of action is the time required for a drug to
produce a therapeutic effect after administration.
9. The therapeutic index of a drug is defined as:
A. The ratio of effective dose to lethal dose
B. The amount of drug bound to plasma proteins
NUR 521 Advanced Pharmacology – Exam 1 Practice Questions complete
Exam 1 TEST BANK Practice Questions with 100% correct Answers and
Rationale 2026 | 2027 UPDATED!!!!! University of Alabama
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics (Questions)
1. The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion is known as:
A. Pharmacotherapeutics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacokinetics
D. Pharmacy
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does
to a drug, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is what the drug
does to the body.
2. A patient with renal impairment is prescribed a medication
that is primarily eliminated renally. Which pharmacokinetic
process is most affected?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D
, Page |2
Rationale: Renal impairment directly affects drug excretion.
Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) leads to drug
accumulation and potential toxicity.
3. A medication has a half-life of 4 hours. How many half-lives
will it take for the drug to reach steady-state concentration?
A. 2 half-lives
B. 3 half-lives
C. 4 half-lives
D. 5 half-lives
Answer: D
Rationale: It takes approximately 5 half-lives to reach steady-
state concentration (about 97% of steady-state). Steady-state
occurs when drug administration equals drug elimination.
4. Which route of administration provides the fastest onset of
action?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Intramuscular
Answer: C
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly
into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption barriers and
providing immediate therapeutic effect.
, Page |3
5. The nurse understands that drug bioavailability is highest
with which route?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Topical
Answer: C
Rationale: IV administration has 100% bioavailability because
the drug enters the systemic circulation directly without first-
pass metabolism or absorption barriers.
6. First-pass metabolism refers to the metabolism of drugs in
the:
A. Kidney
B. Blood vessels
C. Liver
D. Heart
Answer: C
Rationale: First-pass metabolism refers to the rapid hepatic
inactivation of certain drugs after oral administration. A
significant portion of the drug is metabolized by the liver before
reaching systemic circulation.
7. A nurse practitioner is prescribing an oral medication that is
known to undergo extensive first-pass metabolism. Which
action is most appropriate to ensure therapeutic efficacy?
, Page |4
A. Prescribe the medication to be taken with a high-fat meal.
B. Anticipate that the oral dose will need to be higher than the
intravenous dose.
C. Recommend the patient crush the medication to increase
absorption.
D. Schedule the medication to be taken sublingually to bypass
the liver entirely.
Answer: B
Rationale: Because a significant portion of the drug is
metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation,
the oral dose often needs to be higher than the parenteral dose
to achieve the same therapeutic effect.
8. The time from drug administration to the first observable
drug effect is known as the:
A. Duration of action
B. Onset of action
C. Ceiling effect
D. Maximal response
Answer: B
Rationale: The onset of action is the time required for a drug to
produce a therapeutic effect after administration.
9. The therapeutic index of a drug is defined as:
A. The ratio of effective dose to lethal dose
B. The amount of drug bound to plasma proteins
