COMPREHENSIVE NURSING
PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the five steps of the nursing process? Answer: 1.
Assessment 2. Human need statements (nursing diagnoses) 3. Planning
with outcome identification 4. Implementation (including patient
education) 5. Evaluation
◉ What is the role of critical thinking in the nursing process? Answer:
Critical thinking allows nurses to analyze patient data, make informed
decisions, identify potential medication issues, and adjust care to ensure
safe and effective drug therapy.
◉ What sources of patient information should the nurse use during the
assessment phase? Answer: The nurse gathers data from the patient,
family or caregivers, medical records, physical examinations,
observations, interviews, and nursing assessments.
◉ What is the difference between objective data and subjective data?
Answer: Objective data is measurable or observable information (e.g.,
blood pressure, lab results), while subjective data is information reported
by the patient or caregiver (e.g., pain, nausea).
◉ What information must be included in a medication history? Answer:
Allergies, prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbal or
home remedies, and homeopathic treatments.
,◉ What are the seven required elements of a medication order? Answer:
1. Patient's name 2. Date written 3. Drug name 4. Dosage amount 5.
Dosage frequency 6. Route of administration 7. Prescriber's signature
◉ What is the main goal of the planning phase in the nursing process
related to drug therapy? Answer: To prioritize patient needs and
establish objective, measurable, realistic outcomes with a specific time
frame.
◉ What are the types of nursing interventions during medication
administration? Answer: 1. Independent: nurse-initiated actions 2.
Collaborative: performed with other healthcare professionals 3.
Dependent: require a prescriber's order.
◉ What is the importance of the Right Drug in medication
administration? Answer: The nurse must verify the medication order
against the label three times and ensure the prescription is legally signed.
Any questions must be clarified with the prescriber.
◉ Why is the Right Dose critical in medication administration? Answer:
The nurse must confirm that the ordered dose is appropriate for the
patient's age, size, and condition to prevent underdosing or toxicity.
◉ What does the Right Time refer to in medication administration?
Answer: Routine medications are given within 30 minutes before or
after the scheduled time. PRN medications are given only when
, indicated and within the prescribed interval. STAT medications must be
given immediately.
◉ What is the Right Route and Form in medication administration?
Answer: The nurse must ensure the medication is administered via the
correct route and dosage form and that the patient can safely receive it
by that route.
◉ What is included in the Right Documentation? Answer:
Documentation must include the medication, dose, time, route, and
relevant patient data. It is completed after administration. Refusals and
errors must also be documented appropriately.
◉ What is a medication error? Answer: A medication error is any
preventable event that may cause patient harm or inappropriate
medication use. The nurse must ensure patient safety, notify the
prescriber, document the event, and complete an incident report.
◉ What is a drug? Answer: A drug is any chemical that affects the
physiologic processes of a living organism.
◉ What does pharmacology study? Answer: Pharmacology is the
science or study of drugs and their effects on the body.
◉ What are the chemical name, generic name, and trade name of a
medication? Answer: Chemical name describes chemical composition
and structure; generic name is the official, nonproprietary name (e.g.,
PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the five steps of the nursing process? Answer: 1.
Assessment 2. Human need statements (nursing diagnoses) 3. Planning
with outcome identification 4. Implementation (including patient
education) 5. Evaluation
◉ What is the role of critical thinking in the nursing process? Answer:
Critical thinking allows nurses to analyze patient data, make informed
decisions, identify potential medication issues, and adjust care to ensure
safe and effective drug therapy.
◉ What sources of patient information should the nurse use during the
assessment phase? Answer: The nurse gathers data from the patient,
family or caregivers, medical records, physical examinations,
observations, interviews, and nursing assessments.
◉ What is the difference between objective data and subjective data?
Answer: Objective data is measurable or observable information (e.g.,
blood pressure, lab results), while subjective data is information reported
by the patient or caregiver (e.g., pain, nausea).
◉ What information must be included in a medication history? Answer:
Allergies, prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbal or
home remedies, and homeopathic treatments.
,◉ What are the seven required elements of a medication order? Answer:
1. Patient's name 2. Date written 3. Drug name 4. Dosage amount 5.
Dosage frequency 6. Route of administration 7. Prescriber's signature
◉ What is the main goal of the planning phase in the nursing process
related to drug therapy? Answer: To prioritize patient needs and
establish objective, measurable, realistic outcomes with a specific time
frame.
◉ What are the types of nursing interventions during medication
administration? Answer: 1. Independent: nurse-initiated actions 2.
Collaborative: performed with other healthcare professionals 3.
Dependent: require a prescriber's order.
◉ What is the importance of the Right Drug in medication
administration? Answer: The nurse must verify the medication order
against the label three times and ensure the prescription is legally signed.
Any questions must be clarified with the prescriber.
◉ Why is the Right Dose critical in medication administration? Answer:
The nurse must confirm that the ordered dose is appropriate for the
patient's age, size, and condition to prevent underdosing or toxicity.
◉ What does the Right Time refer to in medication administration?
Answer: Routine medications are given within 30 minutes before or
after the scheduled time. PRN medications are given only when
, indicated and within the prescribed interval. STAT medications must be
given immediately.
◉ What is the Right Route and Form in medication administration?
Answer: The nurse must ensure the medication is administered via the
correct route and dosage form and that the patient can safely receive it
by that route.
◉ What is included in the Right Documentation? Answer:
Documentation must include the medication, dose, time, route, and
relevant patient data. It is completed after administration. Refusals and
errors must also be documented appropriately.
◉ What is a medication error? Answer: A medication error is any
preventable event that may cause patient harm or inappropriate
medication use. The nurse must ensure patient safety, notify the
prescriber, document the event, and complete an incident report.
◉ What is a drug? Answer: A drug is any chemical that affects the
physiologic processes of a living organism.
◉ What does pharmacology study? Answer: Pharmacology is the
science or study of drugs and their effects on the body.
◉ What are the chemical name, generic name, and trade name of a
medication? Answer: Chemical name describes chemical composition
and structure; generic name is the official, nonproprietary name (e.g.,
