Pharmacology Final Exam Questions
and All Correct Answers.
What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a. It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen.
b. It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
c. It does not interact significantly with other medications.
d. It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration. - Answer A. It enhances patient
adherence to the drug regimen.
The nurse is caring for a child who has ingested a toxic amount of aspirin. The provider orders
an intravenous drug that will increase pH in the blood and urine. The nurse understands that
this effect is necessary to:
a. increase the serum protein binding of aspirin.
b. increase the urinary excretion of aspirin.
c. decrease the lipid solubility of aspirin.
d. decrease the gastric absorption of aspirin. - Answer B
increase the urinary excretion of aspirin.
A patient is receiving intravenous gentamicin. A serum drug test reveals toxic levels. The dosing
is correct, and this medication has been tolerated by this patient in the past. Which could be a
probable cause of the test result?
a. The patient is taking another medication that binds to serum albumin.
b. The drug was not completely dissolved in the IV solution.
c. A loading dose was not given.
d. The medication is being given at a frequency that is longer than its half-life. - Answer A
The patient is taking another medication that binds to serum albumin.
What occurs when a drug binds to a receptor in the body?
A. It prevents the action of the receptor by altering its response to chemical mediators.
b. It increases or decreases the activity of that receptor
c. It gives the receptor a new function.
,d. It alters the receptor to become nonresponsive to its usual endogenous molecules. - Answer
B.
It increases or decreases the activity of that receptor
Two nurses are discussing theories of drug-receptor interaction. Which statements are true
regarding the affinity of a drug and its receptor? (Select all that apply.)
Select one or more:
a. Drugs with low affinity are strongly attracted to their receptors.
b. Affinity refers to the strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.
c. The affinity of a drug for its receptors is reflected in its potency.
d.Affinity and intrinsic activity are dependent properties.
e. Drugs with high affinity are strongly attracted to their receptors. - Answer B, C, E
b.Affinity refers to the strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.
c. The affinity of a drug for its receptors is reflected in its potency.
e. Drugs with high affinity are strongly attracted to their receptors.
A child ingests a parent's aspirin tablets, and the prescriber orders sodium bicarbonate to block
the toxic effects of the aspirin. The nurse caring for this patient knows that sodium bicarbonate
is effective against the aspirin because it:
a. induces CYP isoenzymes to increase drug metabolism.
b. raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to facilitate passage out of the cells.
c. alters urinary pH to enhance renal excretion.
d. accelerates its passage through the intestine. - Answer B
raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to facilitate passage out of the cells.
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true?
a. Medications are best absorbed on an empty stomach.
b.Some foods, such as grapefruit, can inhibit CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism
c.Patient discomfort is the food and drug interaction of most concern.
d.Foods alter drug absorption and metabolism but not drug action. - Answer B.
Some foods, such as grapefruit, can inhibit CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism
,A nurse is teaching a patient about a drug that induces P-glycoprotein. The nurse will explain
that this drug may cause which effect on other drugs?
a.Decreased elimination through the kidneys
b.Increased brain exposure
c.Increased fetal absorption
d.Decreased absorption in the intestines - Answer A.
Decreased elimination through the kidneys
The nurse is administering morning medications. The nurse gives a patient multiple
medications, two of which compete for plasma albumin receptor sites. As a result of this
concurrent administration, the nurse can anticipate that what might occur? (Select all that
apply.)
Select one or more:
a. The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
b. The increase in bound drug will intensify effects.
c.Plasma levels of free drug will rise.
d.Plasma levels of free drug will fall.
e. Binding of one or both agents will be reduced. - Answer A, C, E
a. The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
c.Plasma levels of free drug will rise.
e. Binding of one or both agents will be reduced.
A nursing student is preparing to give a medication that has a "High Alert" or "Black Boxed
Warning". The student asks the nurse what this means. What will the nurse explain about boxed
warnings?
a. They provide detailed information about the adverse effects of the drug.
b. They provide information about antidotes in the event that toxicity occurs.
c. They indicate that a drug should not be given except in life-threatening circumstances.
d. They alert prescribers to measures to mitigate potential harm from side effects. - Answer
D. They alert prescribers to measures to mitigate potential harm from side effects.
A postoperative patient who is worried about pain control will be discharged several days after
surgery. The nurse providing discharge teaching tells the patient that the prescribed Lortab is
not as strong as the morphine the patient was given in the immediate postoperative period.
Which response is the patient likely to experience?
, a. Optimistic, realistic expectations about the drug
b. A decreased likelihood of filling the prescription for the drug
c.A negative placebo effect when taking the medication
d. An increased compliance with the drug regimen - Answer C.
A negative placebo effect when taking the medication
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends genetic testing of patients receiving
certain medications. Genetic testing helps prescribers:
a.better establish a drug's therapeutic index.
b. determine whether a patient is a rapid or slow metabolizer of the drug.
c. identify racial characteristics that affect psychosocial variation in drug response.
d. produce a drug that is tailored to an individual patient's genetic makeup. - Answer B.
determine whether a patient is a rapid or slow metabolizer of the drug.
Which groups of people are especially sensitive to medication effects? (Select all that apply.)
Select one or more:
a.Older Adults
b. Minorities
c.Caucasians
d.Infants
e.Women - Answer A, D
a.Older Adults
d.Infants
Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how
individual patient variability might affect the patient's physiologic response to the medication?
(Select all that apply.)
Select one or more:
a.Family medical history
b.Patient's diagnosis
c. Chemical stability of the medication
d. Patient's age
and All Correct Answers.
What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a. It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen.
b. It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce.
c. It does not interact significantly with other medications.
d. It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration. - Answer A. It enhances patient
adherence to the drug regimen.
The nurse is caring for a child who has ingested a toxic amount of aspirin. The provider orders
an intravenous drug that will increase pH in the blood and urine. The nurse understands that
this effect is necessary to:
a. increase the serum protein binding of aspirin.
b. increase the urinary excretion of aspirin.
c. decrease the lipid solubility of aspirin.
d. decrease the gastric absorption of aspirin. - Answer B
increase the urinary excretion of aspirin.
A patient is receiving intravenous gentamicin. A serum drug test reveals toxic levels. The dosing
is correct, and this medication has been tolerated by this patient in the past. Which could be a
probable cause of the test result?
a. The patient is taking another medication that binds to serum albumin.
b. The drug was not completely dissolved in the IV solution.
c. A loading dose was not given.
d. The medication is being given at a frequency that is longer than its half-life. - Answer A
The patient is taking another medication that binds to serum albumin.
What occurs when a drug binds to a receptor in the body?
A. It prevents the action of the receptor by altering its response to chemical mediators.
b. It increases or decreases the activity of that receptor
c. It gives the receptor a new function.
,d. It alters the receptor to become nonresponsive to its usual endogenous molecules. - Answer
B.
It increases or decreases the activity of that receptor
Two nurses are discussing theories of drug-receptor interaction. Which statements are true
regarding the affinity of a drug and its receptor? (Select all that apply.)
Select one or more:
a. Drugs with low affinity are strongly attracted to their receptors.
b. Affinity refers to the strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.
c. The affinity of a drug for its receptors is reflected in its potency.
d.Affinity and intrinsic activity are dependent properties.
e. Drugs with high affinity are strongly attracted to their receptors. - Answer B, C, E
b.Affinity refers to the strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.
c. The affinity of a drug for its receptors is reflected in its potency.
e. Drugs with high affinity are strongly attracted to their receptors.
A child ingests a parent's aspirin tablets, and the prescriber orders sodium bicarbonate to block
the toxic effects of the aspirin. The nurse caring for this patient knows that sodium bicarbonate
is effective against the aspirin because it:
a. induces CYP isoenzymes to increase drug metabolism.
b. raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to facilitate passage out of the cells.
c. alters urinary pH to enhance renal excretion.
d. accelerates its passage through the intestine. - Answer B
raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to facilitate passage out of the cells.
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true?
a. Medications are best absorbed on an empty stomach.
b.Some foods, such as grapefruit, can inhibit CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism
c.Patient discomfort is the food and drug interaction of most concern.
d.Foods alter drug absorption and metabolism but not drug action. - Answer B.
Some foods, such as grapefruit, can inhibit CYP isoenzymes and alter drug metabolism
,A nurse is teaching a patient about a drug that induces P-glycoprotein. The nurse will explain
that this drug may cause which effect on other drugs?
a.Decreased elimination through the kidneys
b.Increased brain exposure
c.Increased fetal absorption
d.Decreased absorption in the intestines - Answer A.
Decreased elimination through the kidneys
The nurse is administering morning medications. The nurse gives a patient multiple
medications, two of which compete for plasma albumin receptor sites. As a result of this
concurrent administration, the nurse can anticipate that what might occur? (Select all that
apply.)
Select one or more:
a. The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
b. The increase in bound drug will intensify effects.
c.Plasma levels of free drug will rise.
d.Plasma levels of free drug will fall.
e. Binding of one or both agents will be reduced. - Answer A, C, E
a. The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
c.Plasma levels of free drug will rise.
e. Binding of one or both agents will be reduced.
A nursing student is preparing to give a medication that has a "High Alert" or "Black Boxed
Warning". The student asks the nurse what this means. What will the nurse explain about boxed
warnings?
a. They provide detailed information about the adverse effects of the drug.
b. They provide information about antidotes in the event that toxicity occurs.
c. They indicate that a drug should not be given except in life-threatening circumstances.
d. They alert prescribers to measures to mitigate potential harm from side effects. - Answer
D. They alert prescribers to measures to mitigate potential harm from side effects.
A postoperative patient who is worried about pain control will be discharged several days after
surgery. The nurse providing discharge teaching tells the patient that the prescribed Lortab is
not as strong as the morphine the patient was given in the immediate postoperative period.
Which response is the patient likely to experience?
, a. Optimistic, realistic expectations about the drug
b. A decreased likelihood of filling the prescription for the drug
c.A negative placebo effect when taking the medication
d. An increased compliance with the drug regimen - Answer C.
A negative placebo effect when taking the medication
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends genetic testing of patients receiving
certain medications. Genetic testing helps prescribers:
a.better establish a drug's therapeutic index.
b. determine whether a patient is a rapid or slow metabolizer of the drug.
c. identify racial characteristics that affect psychosocial variation in drug response.
d. produce a drug that is tailored to an individual patient's genetic makeup. - Answer B.
determine whether a patient is a rapid or slow metabolizer of the drug.
Which groups of people are especially sensitive to medication effects? (Select all that apply.)
Select one or more:
a.Older Adults
b. Minorities
c.Caucasians
d.Infants
e.Women - Answer A, D
a.Older Adults
d.Infants
Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to evaluate how
individual patient variability might affect the patient's physiologic response to the medication?
(Select all that apply.)
Select one or more:
a.Family medical history
b.Patient's diagnosis
c. Chemical stability of the medication
d. Patient's age
