NUR 521 Advanced Pharmacology
– Exam 3 Practice Questions,
Answers and Rationales |
University of Alabama | 2026–2027
Description: This comprehensive revision set contains 200 multiple-choice questions
(MCQs) covering Advanced Pharmacology key exam topics, including
pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics, endocrine
agents, CNS medications, chemotherapy, and toxicology. Each question is followed
by the correct answer marked with ✅ and a rationale to reinforce understanding.
Answer choices are intentionally mixed so correct responses are not always in the same
position, promoting true knowledge retention.
Keywords: Advanced Pharmacology, NUR 521, Exam 3, MCQ, Revision,
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Cardiovascular Drugs, Antibiotics, Endocrine
Pharmacology, CNS Drugs, Chemotherapy, Toxicology, Nursing, University of Alabama,
Rationales.
1. Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the movement of a drug from its site
of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption ✅
D. Excretion
,Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from the site of
administration into the systemic circulation.
2. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response is called a:
A. Partial agonist
B. Antagonist
C. Full agonist ✅
D. Inverse agonist
Rationale: A full agonist binds and activates the receptor to produce a maximal
biological response.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidney
B. Liver ✅
C. Lungs
D. Spleen
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism, largely via cytochrome P450
enzymes.
4. Which of the following routes of administration has 100% bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Rectal
C. Intravenous ✅
D. Subcutaneous
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption barriers, giving 100% bioavailability.
5. A patient taking warfarin is prescribed a drug that inhibits CYP2C9. What is the
expected effect?
A. Decreased warfarin effect
B. Increased warfarin effect ✅
,C. No change in warfarin effect
D. Warfarin becomes inactive
Rationale: CYP2C9 inhibition decreases warfarin metabolism, increasing its
anticoagulant effect and bleeding risk.
6. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of aminoglycosides?
A. Hepatotoxicity
B. Nephrotoxicity ✅
C. Cardiotoxicity
D. Neurotoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are known for nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
7. First-pass metabolism can be avoided by which route?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual ✅
C. Enteral
D. Gastric
Rationale: Sublingual absorption bypasses the hepatic portal circulation, avoiding first-
pass metabolism.
8. Which drug is a beta-1 selective blocker?
A. Propranolol
B. Metoprolol ✅
C. Labetalol
D. Carvedilol
Rationale: Metoprolol is cardioselective (beta-1) at usual doses.
9. The therapeutic index of a drug is:
A. The ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose ✅
B. The ratio of lethal dose to effective dose
, C. The time to peak effect
D. The duration of action
Rationale: Therapeutic index = TD50/ED50; a narrow index means little margin between
efficacy and toxicity.
10. Which antibiotic class inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis?
A. Macrolides
B. Penicillins ✅
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Tetracyclines
Rationale: Penicillins inhibit transpeptidase enzymes in cell wall synthesis.
11. A patient on ACE inhibitors should be monitored for which electrolyte
imbalance?
A. Hyperkalemia ✅
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: ACE inhibitors reduce aldosterone, causing potassium retention.
12. Which drug is used to reverse opioid overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone ✅
C. Atropine
D. Protamine
Rationale: Naloxone is a competitive opioid antagonist.
13. Which of the following is a macrolide antibiotic?
A. Azithromycin ✅
B. Amoxicillin
– Exam 3 Practice Questions,
Answers and Rationales |
University of Alabama | 2026–2027
Description: This comprehensive revision set contains 200 multiple-choice questions
(MCQs) covering Advanced Pharmacology key exam topics, including
pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics, endocrine
agents, CNS medications, chemotherapy, and toxicology. Each question is followed
by the correct answer marked with ✅ and a rationale to reinforce understanding.
Answer choices are intentionally mixed so correct responses are not always in the same
position, promoting true knowledge retention.
Keywords: Advanced Pharmacology, NUR 521, Exam 3, MCQ, Revision,
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Cardiovascular Drugs, Antibiotics, Endocrine
Pharmacology, CNS Drugs, Chemotherapy, Toxicology, Nursing, University of Alabama,
Rationales.
1. Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the movement of a drug from its site
of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption ✅
D. Excretion
,Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from the site of
administration into the systemic circulation.
2. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response is called a:
A. Partial agonist
B. Antagonist
C. Full agonist ✅
D. Inverse agonist
Rationale: A full agonist binds and activates the receptor to produce a maximal
biological response.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidney
B. Liver ✅
C. Lungs
D. Spleen
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism, largely via cytochrome P450
enzymes.
4. Which of the following routes of administration has 100% bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Rectal
C. Intravenous ✅
D. Subcutaneous
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption barriers, giving 100% bioavailability.
5. A patient taking warfarin is prescribed a drug that inhibits CYP2C9. What is the
expected effect?
A. Decreased warfarin effect
B. Increased warfarin effect ✅
,C. No change in warfarin effect
D. Warfarin becomes inactive
Rationale: CYP2C9 inhibition decreases warfarin metabolism, increasing its
anticoagulant effect and bleeding risk.
6. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of aminoglycosides?
A. Hepatotoxicity
B. Nephrotoxicity ✅
C. Cardiotoxicity
D. Neurotoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are known for nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
7. First-pass metabolism can be avoided by which route?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual ✅
C. Enteral
D. Gastric
Rationale: Sublingual absorption bypasses the hepatic portal circulation, avoiding first-
pass metabolism.
8. Which drug is a beta-1 selective blocker?
A. Propranolol
B. Metoprolol ✅
C. Labetalol
D. Carvedilol
Rationale: Metoprolol is cardioselective (beta-1) at usual doses.
9. The therapeutic index of a drug is:
A. The ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose ✅
B. The ratio of lethal dose to effective dose
, C. The time to peak effect
D. The duration of action
Rationale: Therapeutic index = TD50/ED50; a narrow index means little margin between
efficacy and toxicity.
10. Which antibiotic class inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis?
A. Macrolides
B. Penicillins ✅
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Tetracyclines
Rationale: Penicillins inhibit transpeptidase enzymes in cell wall synthesis.
11. A patient on ACE inhibitors should be monitored for which electrolyte
imbalance?
A. Hyperkalemia ✅
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: ACE inhibitors reduce aldosterone, causing potassium retention.
12. Which drug is used to reverse opioid overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone ✅
C. Atropine
D. Protamine
Rationale: Naloxone is a competitive opioid antagonist.
13. Which of the following is a macrolide antibiotic?
A. Azithromycin ✅
B. Amoxicillin
