TEST BANK FOR PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSES
UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSES
● Chapter 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
● Chapter 2: Drug Administration
● Chapter 3: Ethics, Legal Considerations, and Safety
UNIT 2: HOMEOSTASIS
● Chapter 4: Introduction to Homeostasis
● Chapter 5: Fluids and Electrolytes, Vitamins, Minerals, and Alternative Therapies
UNIT 3: IMMUNE SYSTEM
● Chapter 6: Introduction to the Immune System and the Inflammatory Response
, ● Chapter 7: Anti-infective Drugs
● Chapter 8: Introduction to Cancer Therapy and Cancer Drugs
UNIT 4: NERVOUS SYSTEM AND DRUGS FOR MENTAL WELL-BEING
● Chapter 9: Introduction to the Nervous System
● Chapter 10: Drugs to Treat Myasthenia Gravis and Alzheimer’s Disease
● Chapter 11: Drugs to Treat Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
● Chapter 12: Anticonvulsant Drugs and Drugs to Treat Epilepsy, Migraine Headaches,
and Intracranial Emergencies
● Chapter 13: Psychopharmacologic Drugs
● Chapter 14: Pain Response Drugs
● Chapter 15: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Drugs
UNIT 5: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
● Chapter 16: Introduction to the Cardiovascular System
● Chapter 17: Antidysrhythmic Drugs
● Chapter 18: Antihypertensive and Antianginal Drugs
● Chapter 19: Heart Failure Drugs
● Chapter 20: Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet, and Thrombolytic Drugs
● Chapter 21: Lipid-Lowering Drugs
● Chapter 22: Cardiac Emergency and Shock Drugs
UNIT 6: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
● Chapter 23: Introduction to the Respiratory System
● Chapter 24: Upper Respiratory Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 25: Lower Respiratory Disorder Drugs
UNIT 7: ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
● Chapter 26: Hypothalamus, Pituitary, and Adrenal Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 27: Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 28: Diabetic Drugs
UNIT 8: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
● Chapter 29: Introduction to the Digestive System
● Chapter 30: Gastrointestinal Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 31: Hyperacidity and Antiulcer Drugs
● Chapter 32: Weight Management Drugs
UNIT 9: RENAL AND URINARY SYSTEMS
, ● Chapter 33: Introduction to the Renal and Urinary Systems
● Chapter 34: Diuretic Drugs
● Chapter 35: Urinary and Bladder Disorder Drugs
UNIT 10: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
● Chapter 36: Reproductive Health Drugs
● Chapter 37: Transgender and Nonbinary Drugs
UNIT 11: SENSORY AND DERMATOLOGIC SYSTEMS
● Chapter 38: Ophthalmic Drugs
● Chapter 39: Otic Drugs
● Chapter 40: Dermatologic Disorder Drugs
, CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY
Focus: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Principles of Drug Action.
1. A nurse is caring for a 78-year-old patient with a serum albumin level of 2.2 g/dL
(normal: 3.5–5.0 g/dL). The patient is prescribed a highly protein-bound medication.
What is the priority nursing concern?
A. Increased rate of drug excretion.
B. Decreased drug absorption in the GI tract.
C. Increased risk of drug toxicity.
D. Decreased drug half-life.
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: When a drug is "highly protein-bound," it normally hitches a
ride on albumin. With low albumin (hypoalbuminemia), there is less "bus" for the
drug to ride on, resulting in more "free drug" in the circulation. Only free drug is
pharmacologically active; therefore, low albumin significantly increases the risk of
toxicity.
2. A patient is prescribed an oral medication that undergoes an extensive "first-pass effect."
Which route should the nurse anticipate if a 100% bioavailability is required?
A. Sublingual
B. Intravenous
C. Nasogastric tube
D. Rectal
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when the liver metabolizes much
of an oral drug before it reaches systemic circulation. Intravenous (IV)
administration bypasses the liver entirely upon entry, providing 100%
bioavailability.
3. A nurse is explaining "drug half-life" to a student. If a drug has a half-life of 6 hours, how
much of the drug will remain in the body 12 hours after the initial dose?
A. 75%
B. 50%
C. 25%
D. 12.5%
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: After one half-life (6 hours), 50% remains. After a second
half-life (another 6 hours, totaling 12), 50% of that 50% remains, which is 25%.
4. A nurse is monitoring a patient for a "narrow therapeutic index" drug. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer the drug with food to increase absorption.
B. Monitor serum drug levels frequently.
C. Teach the patient that side effects are not expected.
UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSES
● Chapter 1: Introduction to Pharmacology
● Chapter 2: Drug Administration
● Chapter 3: Ethics, Legal Considerations, and Safety
UNIT 2: HOMEOSTASIS
● Chapter 4: Introduction to Homeostasis
● Chapter 5: Fluids and Electrolytes, Vitamins, Minerals, and Alternative Therapies
UNIT 3: IMMUNE SYSTEM
● Chapter 6: Introduction to the Immune System and the Inflammatory Response
, ● Chapter 7: Anti-infective Drugs
● Chapter 8: Introduction to Cancer Therapy and Cancer Drugs
UNIT 4: NERVOUS SYSTEM AND DRUGS FOR MENTAL WELL-BEING
● Chapter 9: Introduction to the Nervous System
● Chapter 10: Drugs to Treat Myasthenia Gravis and Alzheimer’s Disease
● Chapter 11: Drugs to Treat Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
● Chapter 12: Anticonvulsant Drugs and Drugs to Treat Epilepsy, Migraine Headaches,
and Intracranial Emergencies
● Chapter 13: Psychopharmacologic Drugs
● Chapter 14: Pain Response Drugs
● Chapter 15: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Drugs
UNIT 5: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
● Chapter 16: Introduction to the Cardiovascular System
● Chapter 17: Antidysrhythmic Drugs
● Chapter 18: Antihypertensive and Antianginal Drugs
● Chapter 19: Heart Failure Drugs
● Chapter 20: Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet, and Thrombolytic Drugs
● Chapter 21: Lipid-Lowering Drugs
● Chapter 22: Cardiac Emergency and Shock Drugs
UNIT 6: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
● Chapter 23: Introduction to the Respiratory System
● Chapter 24: Upper Respiratory Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 25: Lower Respiratory Disorder Drugs
UNIT 7: ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
● Chapter 26: Hypothalamus, Pituitary, and Adrenal Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 27: Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 28: Diabetic Drugs
UNIT 8: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
● Chapter 29: Introduction to the Digestive System
● Chapter 30: Gastrointestinal Disorder Drugs
● Chapter 31: Hyperacidity and Antiulcer Drugs
● Chapter 32: Weight Management Drugs
UNIT 9: RENAL AND URINARY SYSTEMS
, ● Chapter 33: Introduction to the Renal and Urinary Systems
● Chapter 34: Diuretic Drugs
● Chapter 35: Urinary and Bladder Disorder Drugs
UNIT 10: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
● Chapter 36: Reproductive Health Drugs
● Chapter 37: Transgender and Nonbinary Drugs
UNIT 11: SENSORY AND DERMATOLOGIC SYSTEMS
● Chapter 38: Ophthalmic Drugs
● Chapter 39: Otic Drugs
● Chapter 40: Dermatologic Disorder Drugs
, CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY
Focus: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Principles of Drug Action.
1. A nurse is caring for a 78-year-old patient with a serum albumin level of 2.2 g/dL
(normal: 3.5–5.0 g/dL). The patient is prescribed a highly protein-bound medication.
What is the priority nursing concern?
A. Increased rate of drug excretion.
B. Decreased drug absorption in the GI tract.
C. Increased risk of drug toxicity.
D. Decreased drug half-life.
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: When a drug is "highly protein-bound," it normally hitches a
ride on albumin. With low albumin (hypoalbuminemia), there is less "bus" for the
drug to ride on, resulting in more "free drug" in the circulation. Only free drug is
pharmacologically active; therefore, low albumin significantly increases the risk of
toxicity.
2. A patient is prescribed an oral medication that undergoes an extensive "first-pass effect."
Which route should the nurse anticipate if a 100% bioavailability is required?
A. Sublingual
B. Intravenous
C. Nasogastric tube
D. Rectal
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when the liver metabolizes much
of an oral drug before it reaches systemic circulation. Intravenous (IV)
administration bypasses the liver entirely upon entry, providing 100%
bioavailability.
3. A nurse is explaining "drug half-life" to a student. If a drug has a half-life of 6 hours, how
much of the drug will remain in the body 12 hours after the initial dose?
A. 75%
B. 50%
C. 25%
D. 12.5%
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Rationale: After one half-life (6 hours), 50% remains. After a second
half-life (another 6 hours, totaling 12), 50% of that 50% remains, which is 25%.
4. A nurse is monitoring a patient for a "narrow therapeutic index" drug. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Administer the drug with food to increase absorption.
B. Monitor serum drug levels frequently.
C. Teach the patient that side effects are not expected.
