ABRAMS CLINICAL DRUG THERAPY
RATIONALES FOR NURSING PRACTICE
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
PHARMACOLOGY PRINCIPLES AND
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
◉ 1.2 The nurse is taking care of a man who is confused about the
different medications he is prescribed. He notes that some of the
drug names have changed over the course of time he has been taking
them. When counseling him, it is most important to keep the
following statement in mind:
A. A drug can belong to only one group or classification.
B. A prototype drug is the standard by which similar drugs are
compared.
C. Drug groups and prototypes change frequently, and knowledge
about a prototype cannot guide knowledge about other drugs in the
same class.
D. The generic name of a drug changes among manufacturers..
Answer: B.
Rationale: The first drug to be developed in a group is usually
considered the prototype or main example of the group, and similar
drugs that are developed later are compared to the prototype.
Knowledge of the prototype drug can help the nurse understand the
actions of other drugs in the class. Most drugs can belong to multiple
,groups (e.g., a therapeutic group, a chemical group), depending on
various characteristics. Drug groups and prototypes are usually
quite stable, and most new drugs fit into a known classification. The
trade or brand name changes among manufacturers, but the generic
name stays the same.
◉ 1.3 In understanding the use of controlled substances for patients,
it is important that the nurse knows that controlled drugs are
A. categorized according to prescription or nonprescription status
B. regulated by state and local laws more than federal laws
C. those that must demonstrate high standards of safety
D. scheduled according to medical use and potential for abuse.
Answer: D.
Rationale: Controlled or scheduled drugs are categorized by federal
law according to use and abuse potential. These drugs have
regulations that govern prescribing, dispensing, administering, and
record-keeping. Almost all scheduled drugs require prescriptions
(i.e., cannot legally be sold over the counter). Basic laws are federal,
and states and local communities may enact additional laws.
◉ 1.4 A patient is asking what the difference is between a
prescription for 800 mg of a medication that can be purchased on an
OTC basis as a 200-mg tablet. To address this issue, it is important
that the nurse knows that OTC drugs
A. are considered safe for any consumer to use
,B. are not available for treatment of most commonly occurring
symptoms
C. often differ in indications for use and recommended dosages from
their prescription versions
D. are paid for by most insurance policies.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Uses may be different, and recommended dosages of
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are usually lower than prescription
versions. Labels of OTC drugs contain a listing of people who should
not use the drugs, and the drugs are not safe for everyone. Many OTC
drugs are available to treat cold symptoms, heartburn, constipation,
and other common problems. Insurance companies do not pay for
OTC drugs.
◉ 1.5 A man is very upset with a drug recall of a medication he has
been taking for a long time. He states that he feels like he can no
longer trust anyone to protect him. In response to his questions
about the process of drug development, it is important to know that
with a new drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is
responsible for
A. testing the drug with animals
B. testing the drug with healthy people
C. marketing the drug to health care providers
D. evaluating the drug for safety and effectiveness.
Answer: D.
, Rationale: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews studies
reported by others, mainly pharmaceutical companies, and
determines whether a drug is sufficiently safe and effective to be
marketed. The drug manufacturer is responsible for testing the drug
(in animals and people) and marketing the drug.
◉ 1.6 Error-reduction strategies during medication administration
include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
A. quiet zone signs at entrance to the medication room
B. protocols and checklist outlining medication administration
C. wearing of a sash or vest to signal others to avoid interruptions of
the nurse during medication administration
D. carrying several patients' prescanned medications on a tray.
Answer: A, B, and C.
Rationale: All of these strategies, except for carrying several clients'
prescanned medications on a cart, potentially reduce the risk of
medication error. The work-around of removing more than one
client's medication from an automated medication dispensing
system could lead to the administration of the wrong medication to
a client.
◉ 2.1 A nurse practitioner (NP) has just changed a patient's
medication from an oral form to a patch formulation to avoid the
first-pass effect. The NP has explained it to the patient, but the
patient still has questions and asks the nurse to explain again what
RATIONALES FOR NURSING PRACTICE
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
PHARMACOLOGY PRINCIPLES AND
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
◉ 1.2 The nurse is taking care of a man who is confused about the
different medications he is prescribed. He notes that some of the
drug names have changed over the course of time he has been taking
them. When counseling him, it is most important to keep the
following statement in mind:
A. A drug can belong to only one group or classification.
B. A prototype drug is the standard by which similar drugs are
compared.
C. Drug groups and prototypes change frequently, and knowledge
about a prototype cannot guide knowledge about other drugs in the
same class.
D. The generic name of a drug changes among manufacturers..
Answer: B.
Rationale: The first drug to be developed in a group is usually
considered the prototype or main example of the group, and similar
drugs that are developed later are compared to the prototype.
Knowledge of the prototype drug can help the nurse understand the
actions of other drugs in the class. Most drugs can belong to multiple
,groups (e.g., a therapeutic group, a chemical group), depending on
various characteristics. Drug groups and prototypes are usually
quite stable, and most new drugs fit into a known classification. The
trade or brand name changes among manufacturers, but the generic
name stays the same.
◉ 1.3 In understanding the use of controlled substances for patients,
it is important that the nurse knows that controlled drugs are
A. categorized according to prescription or nonprescription status
B. regulated by state and local laws more than federal laws
C. those that must demonstrate high standards of safety
D. scheduled according to medical use and potential for abuse.
Answer: D.
Rationale: Controlled or scheduled drugs are categorized by federal
law according to use and abuse potential. These drugs have
regulations that govern prescribing, dispensing, administering, and
record-keeping. Almost all scheduled drugs require prescriptions
(i.e., cannot legally be sold over the counter). Basic laws are federal,
and states and local communities may enact additional laws.
◉ 1.4 A patient is asking what the difference is between a
prescription for 800 mg of a medication that can be purchased on an
OTC basis as a 200-mg tablet. To address this issue, it is important
that the nurse knows that OTC drugs
A. are considered safe for any consumer to use
,B. are not available for treatment of most commonly occurring
symptoms
C. often differ in indications for use and recommended dosages from
their prescription versions
D. are paid for by most insurance policies.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Uses may be different, and recommended dosages of
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are usually lower than prescription
versions. Labels of OTC drugs contain a listing of people who should
not use the drugs, and the drugs are not safe for everyone. Many OTC
drugs are available to treat cold symptoms, heartburn, constipation,
and other common problems. Insurance companies do not pay for
OTC drugs.
◉ 1.5 A man is very upset with a drug recall of a medication he has
been taking for a long time. He states that he feels like he can no
longer trust anyone to protect him. In response to his questions
about the process of drug development, it is important to know that
with a new drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is
responsible for
A. testing the drug with animals
B. testing the drug with healthy people
C. marketing the drug to health care providers
D. evaluating the drug for safety and effectiveness.
Answer: D.
, Rationale: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews studies
reported by others, mainly pharmaceutical companies, and
determines whether a drug is sufficiently safe and effective to be
marketed. The drug manufacturer is responsible for testing the drug
(in animals and people) and marketing the drug.
◉ 1.6 Error-reduction strategies during medication administration
include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
A. quiet zone signs at entrance to the medication room
B. protocols and checklist outlining medication administration
C. wearing of a sash or vest to signal others to avoid interruptions of
the nurse during medication administration
D. carrying several patients' prescanned medications on a tray.
Answer: A, B, and C.
Rationale: All of these strategies, except for carrying several clients'
prescanned medications on a cart, potentially reduce the risk of
medication error. The work-around of removing more than one
client's medication from an automated medication dispensing
system could lead to the administration of the wrong medication to
a client.
◉ 2.1 A nurse practitioner (NP) has just changed a patient's
medication from an oral form to a patch formulation to avoid the
first-pass effect. The NP has explained it to the patient, but the
patient still has questions and asks the nurse to explain again what
