UST ABSN Pathopharmacology 1 Exam Questions
and Answers 2026: Complete with 500+ Practice
Questions, Verified Solutions, and Rationales for
Nursing Students
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X to treat a patient's high
blood pressure. After giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces
the blood pressure without serious harmful effects, but it also causes the
patient to have nausea and headache. Based on this information, which
property of an ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A) Effectiveness
B) Safety
C) Selectivity
D) Ease of administration
Correct Answer: C) Selectivity
Rationale: The drug is effective because it lowers blood pressure, and it is safe
because it does so without serious harmful effects. However, it lacks selectivity
because it also causes other effects (nausea and headache) in addition to its
intended hypotensive effect. A highly selective drug would only produce the
response for which it is given.
Question 2
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of
the drug is the most compelling indication that it should not be given?
A) The drug produces an unwanted side effect.
B) The drug is difficult to administer.
,C) The drug's effects are reversible.
D) The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Correct Answer: D) The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Rationale: The most important property of an ideal drug is effectiveness. If a drug is
not effective for its intended purpose, it has no therapeutic value and should not be
administered. While unwanted side effects (A) and difficulty of administration (B) are
concerns, they do not preclude a drug's use if its benefits outweigh these drawbacks.
Reversibility of effects (C) is often a desirable safety feature.
Question 3
The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine,
because the blood pressure often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is
taken with alcohol. Which drug property does this illustrate?
A) Chemical instability
B) Drug interaction
C) Reversible action
D) Drug selectivity
Correct Answer: B) Drug interaction
Rationale: The scenario describes an exaggerated response (significant drop in
blood pressure) that occurs when two substances (nitroglycerine and alcohol) are
taken together. This is a classic example of a drug interaction, where one drug
(alcohol) alters the effect of another drug (nitroglycerine).
Question 4
The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering
the medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of
drug therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN (as needed) decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk patients
,Correct Answer: D. Identifying high-risk patients
Rationale: Patients receiving penicillin are known to be at a higher risk for
dangerous allergic reactions. By assessing the patient's allergy
history before administering the drug, the nurse is proactively identifying a patient
who is at high risk for an adverse event, allowing them to take appropriate
precautions or withhold the medication.
Question 5
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order:
"Aldomet 250 mg daily." What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as it was given last time.
B. Administer the medication by mouth.
C. Verify the order with the prescriber.
D. Ask the patient how this medication is usually given.
Correct Answer: C. Verify the order with the prescriber.
Rationale: A complete medication order must include the drug name, dose, route,
and frequency. This order ("Aldomet 250 mg daily") is missing the route of
administration. It is a critical nursing responsibility to clarify any incomplete or
questionable orders with the prescriber before administering the medication.
Question 6
When questioning a patient about his or her allergic reaction to a drug, the
nurse should ask for which additional information?
A. The dose taken
B. The type of reaction
C. Who gave the drug
D. What was eaten with the drug
Correct Answer: B. The type of reaction
Rationale: When a patient reports a drug allergy, it is essential to gather specific
details about the reaction to distinguish between a true allergic reaction (e.g., rash,
hives, anaphylaxis) and an expected side effect (e.g., nausea, drowsiness). This
, information is critical for accurate documentation and for ensuring the patient's
safety in the future.
Question 7
The nurse is obtaining a drug history for a patient admitted to the unit. The
nurse obtains information about past and present health histories, currently
used prescription drugs, behavioral factors, and use of over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs. What other information does the nurse need to obtain? (Select all that
apply.)
A) Use of recreational drugs and substances
B) Usual sleep patterns and disturbances
C) Highest level of education completed
D) Use of herbal remedies
E) Self-treatment with complementary and alternative drugs
Correct Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: A comprehensive and holistic drug history must include all substances a
patient takes that could potentially interact with prescribed medications or affect
their condition. This includes recreational drugs (A), herbal remedies (D), and other
complementary and alternative therapies (E). Sleep patterns (B) and education level
(C) are important parts of a general patient assessment but are not vital components
of the specific drug history.
Question 8
When educating patients about their medications, the nurse includes
information about which topics? (Select all that apply.)
A) What to do if a dose is missed
B) The duration of treatment
C) Prescription of drug coverage
D) The method of drug storage
E) Symptoms of adverse effects
Correct Answer: A, B, D, E
and Answers 2026: Complete with 500+ Practice
Questions, Verified Solutions, and Rationales for
Nursing Students
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X to treat a patient's high
blood pressure. After giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces
the blood pressure without serious harmful effects, but it also causes the
patient to have nausea and headache. Based on this information, which
property of an ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A) Effectiveness
B) Safety
C) Selectivity
D) Ease of administration
Correct Answer: C) Selectivity
Rationale: The drug is effective because it lowers blood pressure, and it is safe
because it does so without serious harmful effects. However, it lacks selectivity
because it also causes other effects (nausea and headache) in addition to its
intended hypotensive effect. A highly selective drug would only produce the
response for which it is given.
Question 2
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of
the drug is the most compelling indication that it should not be given?
A) The drug produces an unwanted side effect.
B) The drug is difficult to administer.
,C) The drug's effects are reversible.
D) The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Correct Answer: D) The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Rationale: The most important property of an ideal drug is effectiveness. If a drug is
not effective for its intended purpose, it has no therapeutic value and should not be
administered. While unwanted side effects (A) and difficulty of administration (B) are
concerns, they do not preclude a drug's use if its benefits outweigh these drawbacks.
Reversibility of effects (C) is often a desirable safety feature.
Question 3
The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine,
because the blood pressure often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is
taken with alcohol. Which drug property does this illustrate?
A) Chemical instability
B) Drug interaction
C) Reversible action
D) Drug selectivity
Correct Answer: B) Drug interaction
Rationale: The scenario describes an exaggerated response (significant drop in
blood pressure) that occurs when two substances (nitroglycerine and alcohol) are
taken together. This is a classic example of a drug interaction, where one drug
(alcohol) alters the effect of another drug (nitroglycerine).
Question 4
The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering
the medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of
drug therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN (as needed) decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk patients
,Correct Answer: D. Identifying high-risk patients
Rationale: Patients receiving penicillin are known to be at a higher risk for
dangerous allergic reactions. By assessing the patient's allergy
history before administering the drug, the nurse is proactively identifying a patient
who is at high risk for an adverse event, allowing them to take appropriate
precautions or withhold the medication.
Question 5
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order:
"Aldomet 250 mg daily." What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as it was given last time.
B. Administer the medication by mouth.
C. Verify the order with the prescriber.
D. Ask the patient how this medication is usually given.
Correct Answer: C. Verify the order with the prescriber.
Rationale: A complete medication order must include the drug name, dose, route,
and frequency. This order ("Aldomet 250 mg daily") is missing the route of
administration. It is a critical nursing responsibility to clarify any incomplete or
questionable orders with the prescriber before administering the medication.
Question 6
When questioning a patient about his or her allergic reaction to a drug, the
nurse should ask for which additional information?
A. The dose taken
B. The type of reaction
C. Who gave the drug
D. What was eaten with the drug
Correct Answer: B. The type of reaction
Rationale: When a patient reports a drug allergy, it is essential to gather specific
details about the reaction to distinguish between a true allergic reaction (e.g., rash,
hives, anaphylaxis) and an expected side effect (e.g., nausea, drowsiness). This
, information is critical for accurate documentation and for ensuring the patient's
safety in the future.
Question 7
The nurse is obtaining a drug history for a patient admitted to the unit. The
nurse obtains information about past and present health histories, currently
used prescription drugs, behavioral factors, and use of over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs. What other information does the nurse need to obtain? (Select all that
apply.)
A) Use of recreational drugs and substances
B) Usual sleep patterns and disturbances
C) Highest level of education completed
D) Use of herbal remedies
E) Self-treatment with complementary and alternative drugs
Correct Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: A comprehensive and holistic drug history must include all substances a
patient takes that could potentially interact with prescribed medications or affect
their condition. This includes recreational drugs (A), herbal remedies (D), and other
complementary and alternative therapies (E). Sleep patterns (B) and education level
(C) are important parts of a general patient assessment but are not vital components
of the specific drug history.
Question 8
When educating patients about their medications, the nurse includes
information about which topics? (Select all that apply.)
A) What to do if a dose is missed
B) The duration of treatment
C) Prescription of drug coverage
D) The method of drug storage
E) Symptoms of adverse effects
Correct Answer: A, B, D, E
