NRS 2020: Final Exam Questions with
Actual Solutions 2026.
What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer? - Answer 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: - Answer 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? - Answer The patient is taking another medication that
binds to serum albumin.
What occurs when a drug binds to a receptor in the body? - Answer 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? - Answer The correct answers are: Affinity
refers to the strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor. , Drugs with high affinity
are strongly attracted to their receptors. , The affinity of a drug for its receptors is reflected in its
potency.
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: - Answer raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to
facilitate passage out of the cells.
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true? - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer The
correct answers are: Binding of one or both agents will be reduced. , Plasma levels of free drug
will rise. , The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
, 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? - Answer 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? - Answer 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: - Answer 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.) -
Answer The correct answers are: Older Adults, 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.) - Answer The correct answers are: Family medical history , Patient's
age , Patient's diagnosis
The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. Which action is
not part of the six rights of drug administration? - Answer Assessing the patient's pain level
15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication
Question 16
A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which patient would the nurse consider to have
the greatest predisposition to an adverse reaction? - Answer A 30-year-old man with kidney
disease
A patient claims to get better effects with a tablet of Brand X of a drug than with a tablet of
Brand Y of the same drug. Both brands contain the same amount of the active ingredient. What
does the nurse know to be most likely? - Answer Brands or generic forms of tablets can differ
in composition and can have differing rates of disintegration and dissolution, which can alter the
drug's effects in the body.
A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering this
medication will expect to do what? - Answer Monitor plasma drug levels.
Actual Solutions 2026.
What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer? - Answer 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: - Answer 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? - Answer The patient is taking another medication that
binds to serum albumin.
What occurs when a drug binds to a receptor in the body? - Answer 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? - Answer The correct answers are: Affinity
refers to the strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor. , Drugs with high affinity
are strongly attracted to their receptors. , The affinity of a drug for its receptors is reflected in its
potency.
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: - Answer raises the pH of the interstitial fluid to
facilitate passage out of the cells.
Which statement about food and drug interactions is true? - Answer 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? - Answer 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? - Answer The
correct answers are: Binding of one or both agents will be reduced. , Plasma levels of free drug
will rise. , The increase in free drug will intensify effects.
, 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? - Answer 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? - Answer 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: - Answer 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.) -
Answer The correct answers are: Older Adults, 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.) - Answer The correct answers are: Family medical history , Patient's
age , Patient's diagnosis
The nurse receives an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. Which action is
not part of the six rights of drug administration? - Answer Assessing the patient's pain level
15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication
Question 16
A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which patient would the nurse consider to have
the greatest predisposition to an adverse reaction? - Answer A 30-year-old man with kidney
disease
A patient claims to get better effects with a tablet of Brand X of a drug than with a tablet of
Brand Y of the same drug. Both brands contain the same amount of the active ingredient. What
does the nurse know to be most likely? - Answer Brands or generic forms of tablets can differ
in composition and can have differing rates of disintegration and dissolution, which can alter the
drug's effects in the body.
A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering this
medication will expect to do what? - Answer Monitor plasma drug levels.
