PHARMACOLOGY A PATIENT CENTERED
NURSING PROCESS APPROACH EXAM 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
◉ Pharmacodynamics. Answer: study of the biochemical and
physiologic effects of drugs on the body
Think Dynamic (change)
majority of drugs either
(a) mimic or inhibit normal physiological/biochemical processes or
inhibit pathological processes in animals or
(b) inhibit vital processes of endo- or ectoparasites and microbial
organisms
◉ Summarize the main drug actions. Answer: 1 - stimulating action
through direct receptor agonism and downstream effects
2 - depressing action through direct receptor agonism and
downstream effects (ex.: inverse agonist)
3- blocking/antagonizing action (as with silent antagonists), the
drug binds the receptor but does not activate it
4- stabilizing action, the drug seems to act neither as a stimulant or
as a depressant
,5- exchanging/replacing substances or accumulating them to form a
reserve (ex.: glycogen storage)
◉ Desired activity is achieved through what main mechanisms?.
Answer: -Cellular membrane disruption
-Chemical reaction with downstream effects
-Interaction with enzyme proteins
-Interaction with structural proteins
-Interaction with carrier proteins
-Interaction with ion channels
-Ligand binding to receptors: 1)Hormone receptors 2)
Neuromodulator receptors 3)Neurotransmitter receptors
◉ Explain the therapeutic window. Answer: therapeutic window is
the amount of a medication between the amount that gives an effect
(effective dose) and the amount that gives more adverse effects than
desired effects
◉ Duration of action. Answer: duration of action of a drug is the
length of time that particular drug is effective
◉ Explain bioavailability. Answer: drug's bioavailability can be
defined as the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action
,◉ 6 rights to medication administration. Answer: RIGHT CLIENT
RIGHT MEDICATION
RIGHT DOSAGE
RIGHT ROUTE
RIGHT TIME
RIGHT DOCUMENTATION
◉ Potency. Answer: potency is a measure of drug activity expressed
in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given
intensity
(more morphine is needed to give the same effects as fentanyl)
◉ Efficacy. Answer: Efficacy is the relationship between receptor
occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the molecular,
cellular, tissue or system level. In other words, efficacy refers to how
well an action is took after the drug is bound to a receptor
◉ Affinity. Answer: Affinity is how well a drug can bind to a receptor
(Fast/strong binding = higher affinity)
◉ Benzodiazepine MOA. Answer: Act on GABA which is a major
inhibitory NTM in the CNS; Effects are produced by interacting with
a protein complex with in the neuronal membrane GABA which has
a high 'affinity' for benzo's specifically;
, Inhibition of polysynaptic afferent pathways resulting in skeletal
muscle relaxation; It decreases the spread of seizure activity due to
an increased pre-synaptic inhibition of the CNS
◉ Benzodiazepine uses/indications. Answer: Similar actions
however different doses/concentrations/combinations produce
different actions thus have different uses
Anxiety/panic disorders
skeletal muscle relaxation
seizures
sedation for procedures (due to relaxation and amnesic properties)
◉ Benzodiazepines adverse effects. Answer: Most derived through
CNS actions; Ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness/sedation, blurred vision,
hypnosis, weakness, fatigue
More severe: hypersensitivity, mental depression, hypotension,
paradoxical stimulation, rebound seizures
◉ Benzo pharmacokinetics. Answer: Widely distributed throughout
the body
accumulate in lipid rich areas (CNS and adipose tissue)
the more lipophilic the agent the faster it is absorbed
NURSING PROCESS APPROACH EXAM 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
◉ Pharmacodynamics. Answer: study of the biochemical and
physiologic effects of drugs on the body
Think Dynamic (change)
majority of drugs either
(a) mimic or inhibit normal physiological/biochemical processes or
inhibit pathological processes in animals or
(b) inhibit vital processes of endo- or ectoparasites and microbial
organisms
◉ Summarize the main drug actions. Answer: 1 - stimulating action
through direct receptor agonism and downstream effects
2 - depressing action through direct receptor agonism and
downstream effects (ex.: inverse agonist)
3- blocking/antagonizing action (as with silent antagonists), the
drug binds the receptor but does not activate it
4- stabilizing action, the drug seems to act neither as a stimulant or
as a depressant
,5- exchanging/replacing substances or accumulating them to form a
reserve (ex.: glycogen storage)
◉ Desired activity is achieved through what main mechanisms?.
Answer: -Cellular membrane disruption
-Chemical reaction with downstream effects
-Interaction with enzyme proteins
-Interaction with structural proteins
-Interaction with carrier proteins
-Interaction with ion channels
-Ligand binding to receptors: 1)Hormone receptors 2)
Neuromodulator receptors 3)Neurotransmitter receptors
◉ Explain the therapeutic window. Answer: therapeutic window is
the amount of a medication between the amount that gives an effect
(effective dose) and the amount that gives more adverse effects than
desired effects
◉ Duration of action. Answer: duration of action of a drug is the
length of time that particular drug is effective
◉ Explain bioavailability. Answer: drug's bioavailability can be
defined as the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action
,◉ 6 rights to medication administration. Answer: RIGHT CLIENT
RIGHT MEDICATION
RIGHT DOSAGE
RIGHT ROUTE
RIGHT TIME
RIGHT DOCUMENTATION
◉ Potency. Answer: potency is a measure of drug activity expressed
in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given
intensity
(more morphine is needed to give the same effects as fentanyl)
◉ Efficacy. Answer: Efficacy is the relationship between receptor
occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the molecular,
cellular, tissue or system level. In other words, efficacy refers to how
well an action is took after the drug is bound to a receptor
◉ Affinity. Answer: Affinity is how well a drug can bind to a receptor
(Fast/strong binding = higher affinity)
◉ Benzodiazepine MOA. Answer: Act on GABA which is a major
inhibitory NTM in the CNS; Effects are produced by interacting with
a protein complex with in the neuronal membrane GABA which has
a high 'affinity' for benzo's specifically;
, Inhibition of polysynaptic afferent pathways resulting in skeletal
muscle relaxation; It decreases the spread of seizure activity due to
an increased pre-synaptic inhibition of the CNS
◉ Benzodiazepine uses/indications. Answer: Similar actions
however different doses/concentrations/combinations produce
different actions thus have different uses
Anxiety/panic disorders
skeletal muscle relaxation
seizures
sedation for procedures (due to relaxation and amnesic properties)
◉ Benzodiazepines adverse effects. Answer: Most derived through
CNS actions; Ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness/sedation, blurred vision,
hypnosis, weakness, fatigue
More severe: hypersensitivity, mental depression, hypotension,
paradoxical stimulation, rebound seizures
◉ Benzo pharmacokinetics. Answer: Widely distributed throughout
the body
accumulate in lipid rich areas (CNS and adipose tissue)
the more lipophilic the agent the faster it is absorbed
