NUR 326 Pharm Exam 1 Review
Questions and Answers
True or False?
Pharmacology is the use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms, and
disease processes. - ANSWER-False: pharmacology is the study of drugs that alter
functions of living organisms
Drug Therapy - ANSWER-use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms,
and disease processes
What are the two effects of medications? - ANSWER-Local - act mainly at the site of
application
ex. topical cream
Systemic - taken into the body, circulated via bloodstream to sites of action,
metabolized (liver) and eventually eliminated from the body (kidney)
ex. IV meds
What are drug sources? - ANSWER-plants (ex. Coumadin, penicillin)
animals (ex. heparin, monoclonal antibodies, insulin)
minerals
synthetic compounds
Individual drugs that represent groups of drugs and the first drug of a particular group to
be developed are known as ... - ANSWER-prototypes
What is the prototype for opioid analgesics? - ANSWER-morphine
What is the prototype for antibacterial drugs? - ANSWER-penicillin
Which law (and its amendments) requires that official drugs meet standards of purity
and strength?
a. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
b. Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act
c. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
d. Controlled Substances Act - ANSWER-c. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
What is the purpose of the Controlled Substances Act? - ANSWER-Regulates
manufacturing and distribution of narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and
anabolic steroids
,Schedule I Controlled Substances - ANSWER-High abuse potential; No accepted
medical use
ex. PCP
Schedule II Controlled Substances - ANSWER-high potential for abuse, highly
addictive, prescription required
ex. morphine, opium, dilaudid, Demerol, OxyContin/oxycodone, Adderall
Schedule III Controlled Substances - ANSWER-moderate risk for abuse, moderately
addictive, prescription required
ex. codeine, anabolic steroids
Schedule IV Controlled Substances - ANSWER-mild risk for abuse, less addictive,
prescription required
ex. Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, Butorphanol
Schedule V Controlled Substances - ANSWER-lowest abuse potential, OTC
Who is responsible for regulating documentation and handling of controlled
substances? - ANSWER-DEA
What is the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research responsible for? -
ANSWER--approve new prescription drugs annually
-approve drugs for OTC
-determine need for clinical trials
A Phase I test would consist of what? - ANSWER-first-in-human drug trial
What are examples of high-alert medications? - ANSWER-anticoagulants, opioids,
insulin
What would be used to assess delirium, confusion, and adverse effects of medications
on a geriatric patient? - ANSWER-Beers Criteria
What is pharmacokinetics? - ANSWER-drug movement throughout the body
What factors can affect rate and extent of drug absorption? - ANSWER--dosage form,
route of admin
-admin site blood flow, GI function
-presence of food or other drugs
Where are drugs distributed to? And what does this distribution depend on? -
ANSWER--distributed to action, metabolism, and excretion sites
-depends on adequacy of blood circulation
What affects the distribution process? - ANSWER--protein binding, albumin
, -blood-brain barrier
-pregnancy
-lactation
When metabolized, drugs are changed to - ANSWER--inactive metabolites
-active metabolites
-prodrugs (not activated until metabolized by the liver)
Where are drug-metabolizing enzymes located? - ANSWER-kidneys, liver, RBCs,
plasma, lungs, GI mucosa
What is necessary for proper excretion of medications? - ANSWER-adequate function
of the circulatory system, kidneys, bowels, lungs, and skin
How is a medication delivered by piggyback administered?
a. It is pushed into the IV line
b. It is retrograded into the IV line
c. It is injected intramuscularly after another medication
d. It is mixed with 50 to 100mL of IV fluid in a separate container - ANSWER-d. It is
mixed with 50 to 100mL of IV fluid in a separate container
During an initial nursing assessment, the patient reports that he is allergic to a particular
medicine. What should the nurse ask the patient?
a. What symptoms occurred when you had the allergic reaction
b. Did you need to take epinephrine (adrenalin)
c. Did your physician think this information needed to be communicated
d. Have you ever overdosed on this medication - ANSWER-a. What symptoms occurred
when you had the allergic reaction
How do nursing interventions increase safety and effectiveness of drug therapy?
a. By avoiding the use of nondrug measures during drug therapy
b. By using multiple drugs to relieve most symptoms or problems
c. By teaching patient about their drug therapy
d. By avoiding excessive instructions - ANSWER-c. By teaching patient about their drug
therapy
What should the nurse keep in mind when evaluating a patient's response to drug
therapy?
a. Few drugs cause adverse effects
b. Drugs may cause virtually any symptom or problem
c. Patients always report adverse effects
d. Therapeutic effects are more important than adverse effects - ANSWER-b. Drugs
may cause virtually any symptom or problem
Questions and Answers
True or False?
Pharmacology is the use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms, and
disease processes. - ANSWER-False: pharmacology is the study of drugs that alter
functions of living organisms
Drug Therapy - ANSWER-use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms,
and disease processes
What are the two effects of medications? - ANSWER-Local - act mainly at the site of
application
ex. topical cream
Systemic - taken into the body, circulated via bloodstream to sites of action,
metabolized (liver) and eventually eliminated from the body (kidney)
ex. IV meds
What are drug sources? - ANSWER-plants (ex. Coumadin, penicillin)
animals (ex. heparin, monoclonal antibodies, insulin)
minerals
synthetic compounds
Individual drugs that represent groups of drugs and the first drug of a particular group to
be developed are known as ... - ANSWER-prototypes
What is the prototype for opioid analgesics? - ANSWER-morphine
What is the prototype for antibacterial drugs? - ANSWER-penicillin
Which law (and its amendments) requires that official drugs meet standards of purity
and strength?
a. Durham-Humphrey Amendment
b. Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act
c. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
d. Controlled Substances Act - ANSWER-c. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
What is the purpose of the Controlled Substances Act? - ANSWER-Regulates
manufacturing and distribution of narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and
anabolic steroids
,Schedule I Controlled Substances - ANSWER-High abuse potential; No accepted
medical use
ex. PCP
Schedule II Controlled Substances - ANSWER-high potential for abuse, highly
addictive, prescription required
ex. morphine, opium, dilaudid, Demerol, OxyContin/oxycodone, Adderall
Schedule III Controlled Substances - ANSWER-moderate risk for abuse, moderately
addictive, prescription required
ex. codeine, anabolic steroids
Schedule IV Controlled Substances - ANSWER-mild risk for abuse, less addictive,
prescription required
ex. Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, Butorphanol
Schedule V Controlled Substances - ANSWER-lowest abuse potential, OTC
Who is responsible for regulating documentation and handling of controlled
substances? - ANSWER-DEA
What is the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research responsible for? -
ANSWER--approve new prescription drugs annually
-approve drugs for OTC
-determine need for clinical trials
A Phase I test would consist of what? - ANSWER-first-in-human drug trial
What are examples of high-alert medications? - ANSWER-anticoagulants, opioids,
insulin
What would be used to assess delirium, confusion, and adverse effects of medications
on a geriatric patient? - ANSWER-Beers Criteria
What is pharmacokinetics? - ANSWER-drug movement throughout the body
What factors can affect rate and extent of drug absorption? - ANSWER--dosage form,
route of admin
-admin site blood flow, GI function
-presence of food or other drugs
Where are drugs distributed to? And what does this distribution depend on? -
ANSWER--distributed to action, metabolism, and excretion sites
-depends on adequacy of blood circulation
What affects the distribution process? - ANSWER--protein binding, albumin
, -blood-brain barrier
-pregnancy
-lactation
When metabolized, drugs are changed to - ANSWER--inactive metabolites
-active metabolites
-prodrugs (not activated until metabolized by the liver)
Where are drug-metabolizing enzymes located? - ANSWER-kidneys, liver, RBCs,
plasma, lungs, GI mucosa
What is necessary for proper excretion of medications? - ANSWER-adequate function
of the circulatory system, kidneys, bowels, lungs, and skin
How is a medication delivered by piggyback administered?
a. It is pushed into the IV line
b. It is retrograded into the IV line
c. It is injected intramuscularly after another medication
d. It is mixed with 50 to 100mL of IV fluid in a separate container - ANSWER-d. It is
mixed with 50 to 100mL of IV fluid in a separate container
During an initial nursing assessment, the patient reports that he is allergic to a particular
medicine. What should the nurse ask the patient?
a. What symptoms occurred when you had the allergic reaction
b. Did you need to take epinephrine (adrenalin)
c. Did your physician think this information needed to be communicated
d. Have you ever overdosed on this medication - ANSWER-a. What symptoms occurred
when you had the allergic reaction
How do nursing interventions increase safety and effectiveness of drug therapy?
a. By avoiding the use of nondrug measures during drug therapy
b. By using multiple drugs to relieve most symptoms or problems
c. By teaching patient about their drug therapy
d. By avoiding excessive instructions - ANSWER-c. By teaching patient about their drug
therapy
What should the nurse keep in mind when evaluating a patient's response to drug
therapy?
a. Few drugs cause adverse effects
b. Drugs may cause virtually any symptom or problem
c. Patients always report adverse effects
d. Therapeutic effects are more important than adverse effects - ANSWER-b. Drugs
may cause virtually any symptom or problem
