Karch’s Focus on Nursing
Pharmacology
9th Edition
Author(s)Rebecca G. Tucker
TEST BANK
Question 1
A nursing student is preparing a presentation on the
foundations of pharmacology for a study group. To explain how
drugs produce their effects, the student is reviewing the various
branches of pharmacology. Which branch of pharmacology is
the student studying if they are focusing on the biochemical
,and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of
action at the molecular level?
A. Pharmacotherapeutics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacokinetics
D. Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B. Pharmacodynamics
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical
and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of
action, including the interaction of drugs with their receptors
and the resulting pharmacological response . It answers the
question, "What does the drug do to the body?"
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Pharmacotherapeutics is the branch of pharmacology that
deals with the use of drugs to treat, prevent, and diagnose
disease. This describes the clinical application of pharmacology,
not the fundamental mechanism of action .
C. Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body acts on a
drug, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME).
D. Pharmacognosy is the study of natural drug sources (plants,
animals, minerals) and is not relevant to the mechanism of drug
action.
,Learning Objective: Differentiate between the key branches of
pharmacology and their focus areas.
Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill: Recognize Cues
Question 2
A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record
(MAR) for a patient prescribed a new drug for hypertension.
The patient's current medications include a high-protein diet
supplement. To ensure safe administration, the nurse should
primarily consider which process, which describes how the
body alters the drug over time?
A. The drug's potency at the receptor site
B. The drug's affinity for plasma proteins
C. The drug's movement through the body
D. The drug's chemical structure and its effect
Correct Answer: C. The drug's movement through the body
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of a drug
through the body, which includes the processes of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This is a
fundamental principle a nurse must understand to anticipate a
drug's onset, peak, and duration of action.
, Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Potency at the receptor site is a pharmacodynamic concept,
which describes the relationship between drug concentration
and response.
B. Affinity for plasma proteins is a component of the
distribution phase of pharmacokinetics but does not encompass
the entire process.
D. The chemical structure of a drug determines its
pharmacologic properties, but the question asks about the
process of the body's action on the drug.
Learning Objective: Define pharmacokinetics and its phases
(ADME).
Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill: Recognize Cues
Question 3
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to an
80-year-old patient. Based on age-related changes, the nurse
expects that the absorption of the drug may be affected by
which physiologic change?
A. Decreased gastric acid secretion
B. Increased splanchnic blood flow
Pharmacology
9th Edition
Author(s)Rebecca G. Tucker
TEST BANK
Question 1
A nursing student is preparing a presentation on the
foundations of pharmacology for a study group. To explain how
drugs produce their effects, the student is reviewing the various
branches of pharmacology. Which branch of pharmacology is
the student studying if they are focusing on the biochemical
,and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of
action at the molecular level?
A. Pharmacotherapeutics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacokinetics
D. Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B. Pharmacodynamics
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical
and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of
action, including the interaction of drugs with their receptors
and the resulting pharmacological response . It answers the
question, "What does the drug do to the body?"
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Pharmacotherapeutics is the branch of pharmacology that
deals with the use of drugs to treat, prevent, and diagnose
disease. This describes the clinical application of pharmacology,
not the fundamental mechanism of action .
C. Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body acts on a
drug, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME).
D. Pharmacognosy is the study of natural drug sources (plants,
animals, minerals) and is not relevant to the mechanism of drug
action.
,Learning Objective: Differentiate between the key branches of
pharmacology and their focus areas.
Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill: Recognize Cues
Question 2
A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record
(MAR) for a patient prescribed a new drug for hypertension.
The patient's current medications include a high-protein diet
supplement. To ensure safe administration, the nurse should
primarily consider which process, which describes how the
body alters the drug over time?
A. The drug's potency at the receptor site
B. The drug's affinity for plasma proteins
C. The drug's movement through the body
D. The drug's chemical structure and its effect
Correct Answer: C. The drug's movement through the body
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of a drug
through the body, which includes the processes of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This is a
fundamental principle a nurse must understand to anticipate a
drug's onset, peak, and duration of action.
, Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Potency at the receptor site is a pharmacodynamic concept,
which describes the relationship between drug concentration
and response.
B. Affinity for plasma proteins is a component of the
distribution phase of pharmacokinetics but does not encompass
the entire process.
D. The chemical structure of a drug determines its
pharmacologic properties, but the question asks about the
process of the body's action on the drug.
Learning Objective: Define pharmacokinetics and its phases
(ADME).
Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity:
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
NCJMM Clinical Judgment Skill: Recognize Cues
Question 3
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to an
80-year-old patient. Based on age-related changes, the nurse
expects that the absorption of the drug may be affected by
which physiologic change?
A. Decreased gastric acid secretion
B. Increased splanchnic blood flow
