NUR 2474 / NUR2474 PHARMACOLOGY FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING:
DEFINITIVE 200-QUESTION COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM BANK
VERIFIED CORRECT RESPONSES, AND IN-DEPTH CLINICAL RATIONALES
COVERING EVERY CORE TOPIC (PHARMACOKINETICS, ADME,
AUTONOMIC & CNS AGENTS, CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY,
ENDOCRINE, GASTROINTESTINAL, ANTI-INFECTIVES,
IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS, HEMATOLOGY, AND PAIN MANAGEMENT) –
LATEST 2026/2027 RASMUSSEN UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM
1. Sharp pain is transmitted through which type of nerve fibers?
A. unmyelinated C fibers
B. mu fibers in the intestine
C. myelinated A-delta
D. CTZ
E. unmyelinated A-delta
Answer: C
Rationale: Myelinated A-delta fibers are responsible for transmitting
sharp, well-localized pain signals rapidly. Unmyelinated C fibers transmit
dull, diffuse pain. The CTZ is the chemoreceptor trigger zone, and mu
fibers are opioid receptors.
2. A patient is prescribed an opioid analgesic. Which adverse effect is
most commonly associated with this class?
A. polyuria
B. constipation
C. mydriasis
,D. convulsions
E. excessive tearing
Answer: B
Rationale: Constipation is a common and troublesome adverse effect of
opioid analgesics due to decreased gastrointestinal motility. Opioids
typically cause miosis (pupillary constriction), not mydriasis. Polyuria,
convulsions, and excessive tearing are not typical adverse effects of
opioids.
3. Opioid drugs are derived from which of the following sources?
A. poppy only
B. opium only
C. chemical synthesis only
D. alkaloids only
E. all of these
Answer: E
Rationale: Opioid drugs can be derived from the poppy plant (natural),
from opium (natural), from alkaloids (semi-synthetic), or through
chemical synthesis (synthetic). All of these sources are correct.
4. During tolerance to opioid analgesics, which of the following is
occurring?
A. increased pain by the patient requires greater doses of medication
B. the body reacts to removal of the opioid analgesic
C. signals from nociceptors are reduced
D. fewer receptors are available to produce a response
E. histamine release causes hypotension
Answer: D
Rationale: Tolerance to opioid analgesics occurs when fewer receptors
are available to produce a response, requiring higher doses to achieve
,the same effect. Increased pain (hyperalgesia) is a different
phenomenon. The body's reaction to removal is withdrawal, not
tolerance.
5. What is the best reason for using a balanced anesthesia strategy?
A. less monitoring of anesthesia is required
B. fewer patients experience emergence delirium
C. producing complementary effects using a few drugs avoids
unnecessary intense CNS depression with one anesthetic
D. there is less chance of aspirating saliva
E. the concentration of volatile anesthetic in the alveoli is balanced
against blood concentration
Answer: C
Rationale: Balanced anesthesia uses a combination of drugs to produce
complementary effects, avoiding the need for deep CNS depression
from a single agent. This reduces the risk of adverse effects and allows
for better control of anesthesia.
6. Why is propofol a drug of choice for induction and maintenance of
anesthesia?
A. it is a potent analgesic at all doses
B. it is a complete anesthetic with a quick onset of action and recovery
period uncomplicated by nausea and vomiting
C. it slowly brings the patient to the stage of surgical anesthesia
D. it is administered by special vaporizer to avoid mask delivery
E. its preparation does not require special handling technique
Answer: B
Rationale: Propofol is a complete anesthetic with a rapid onset and a
quick, smooth recovery that is typically uncomplicated by nausea and
, vomiting. It is not a potent analgesic at all doses, and it does not require
a special vaporizer.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding general
anesthetics?
A. propofol binds to the GABA A receptor and enhances
hyperpolarization of the neuron
B. barbiturates and propofol act on the receptor and directly on the
chloride channel
C. potent anesthetics enhance GABA A receptor function
D. ketamine causes chloride ions to flow out of the nerve cell by binding
to GABA
E. general anesthetics interact with neurotransmitter-gated ion
channels
Answer: D
Rationale: Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist, not a GABA
agonist. It does not cause chloride ions to flow out of the nerve cell by
binding to GABA. The other statements are correct regarding general
anesthetics.
8. What is the study of what the body does to a medication?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacotherapeutics
C. Pharmacognosy
D. Pharmacokinetics
E. Toxicology
Answer: D
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a
medication, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion. Pharmacodynamics is what the medication does to the body.
DEFINITIVE 200-QUESTION COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM BANK
VERIFIED CORRECT RESPONSES, AND IN-DEPTH CLINICAL RATIONALES
COVERING EVERY CORE TOPIC (PHARMACOKINETICS, ADME,
AUTONOMIC & CNS AGENTS, CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY,
ENDOCRINE, GASTROINTESTINAL, ANTI-INFECTIVES,
IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS, HEMATOLOGY, AND PAIN MANAGEMENT) –
LATEST 2026/2027 RASMUSSEN UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM
1. Sharp pain is transmitted through which type of nerve fibers?
A. unmyelinated C fibers
B. mu fibers in the intestine
C. myelinated A-delta
D. CTZ
E. unmyelinated A-delta
Answer: C
Rationale: Myelinated A-delta fibers are responsible for transmitting
sharp, well-localized pain signals rapidly. Unmyelinated C fibers transmit
dull, diffuse pain. The CTZ is the chemoreceptor trigger zone, and mu
fibers are opioid receptors.
2. A patient is prescribed an opioid analgesic. Which adverse effect is
most commonly associated with this class?
A. polyuria
B. constipation
C. mydriasis
,D. convulsions
E. excessive tearing
Answer: B
Rationale: Constipation is a common and troublesome adverse effect of
opioid analgesics due to decreased gastrointestinal motility. Opioids
typically cause miosis (pupillary constriction), not mydriasis. Polyuria,
convulsions, and excessive tearing are not typical adverse effects of
opioids.
3. Opioid drugs are derived from which of the following sources?
A. poppy only
B. opium only
C. chemical synthesis only
D. alkaloids only
E. all of these
Answer: E
Rationale: Opioid drugs can be derived from the poppy plant (natural),
from opium (natural), from alkaloids (semi-synthetic), or through
chemical synthesis (synthetic). All of these sources are correct.
4. During tolerance to opioid analgesics, which of the following is
occurring?
A. increased pain by the patient requires greater doses of medication
B. the body reacts to removal of the opioid analgesic
C. signals from nociceptors are reduced
D. fewer receptors are available to produce a response
E. histamine release causes hypotension
Answer: D
Rationale: Tolerance to opioid analgesics occurs when fewer receptors
are available to produce a response, requiring higher doses to achieve
,the same effect. Increased pain (hyperalgesia) is a different
phenomenon. The body's reaction to removal is withdrawal, not
tolerance.
5. What is the best reason for using a balanced anesthesia strategy?
A. less monitoring of anesthesia is required
B. fewer patients experience emergence delirium
C. producing complementary effects using a few drugs avoids
unnecessary intense CNS depression with one anesthetic
D. there is less chance of aspirating saliva
E. the concentration of volatile anesthetic in the alveoli is balanced
against blood concentration
Answer: C
Rationale: Balanced anesthesia uses a combination of drugs to produce
complementary effects, avoiding the need for deep CNS depression
from a single agent. This reduces the risk of adverse effects and allows
for better control of anesthesia.
6. Why is propofol a drug of choice for induction and maintenance of
anesthesia?
A. it is a potent analgesic at all doses
B. it is a complete anesthetic with a quick onset of action and recovery
period uncomplicated by nausea and vomiting
C. it slowly brings the patient to the stage of surgical anesthesia
D. it is administered by special vaporizer to avoid mask delivery
E. its preparation does not require special handling technique
Answer: B
Rationale: Propofol is a complete anesthetic with a rapid onset and a
quick, smooth recovery that is typically uncomplicated by nausea and
, vomiting. It is not a potent analgesic at all doses, and it does not require
a special vaporizer.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding general
anesthetics?
A. propofol binds to the GABA A receptor and enhances
hyperpolarization of the neuron
B. barbiturates and propofol act on the receptor and directly on the
chloride channel
C. potent anesthetics enhance GABA A receptor function
D. ketamine causes chloride ions to flow out of the nerve cell by binding
to GABA
E. general anesthetics interact with neurotransmitter-gated ion
channels
Answer: D
Rationale: Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist, not a GABA
agonist. It does not cause chloride ions to flow out of the nerve cell by
binding to GABA. The other statements are correct regarding general
anesthetics.
8. What is the study of what the body does to a medication?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacotherapeutics
C. Pharmacognosy
D. Pharmacokinetics
E. Toxicology
Answer: D
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a
medication, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion. Pharmacodynamics is what the medication does to the body.
