NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
NUR 378 FINAL EXAM 2026 LATEST
SUMMER SEMESTER CONCORDIA ST.
PAUL COMPLETE QUESTION WITH
RATIONALE
A patient is to receive acetylcysteine as part of the treatment for an acetaminophen
overdose.
Which action by the nurse is appropriate when giving this medication?
a. Giving the medication undiluted for full effect
b. Avoiding the use of a straw when giving this medication
c. Disguising the flavor with soda or flavored water
d. Preparing to give this medication via a nebulizer
ANS: C
Acetylcysteine has the flavor of rotten eggs and so is better tolerated if it is diluted and
disguised by mixing with a drink such as cola or flavored water to help increase its
palatability. The use of a straw helps to minimize contact with the mucous membranes
of the
mouth and is recommended. The nebulizer form of this medication is used for certain
types of
pneumonia, not for acetaminophen overdose.
A patient arrives at the urgent care center complaining of leg pain after a fall when
rock
climbing. The radiographs show no broken bones, but he has a large bruise on his
thigh. The
patient says he drives a truck and does not want to take anything strong because he
needs to
stay awake. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. ―It would be best for you not to take anything if you are planning to drive your
truck.‖
b. ―We will discuss with your doctor about taking an opioid because that would work
best for your pain.‖
c. ―You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than
1000 mg per day.‖
,NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
d. ―You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than
3000 mg/day.‖
ANS: D
Acetaminophen is indicated for mild-to-moderate pain and does not cause drowsiness,
as an
opioid would. Currently, the maximum daily amount of acetaminophen is 3000 mg/day.
The
1000-mg amount per day is too low. Telling the patient not to take any pain medications
is
incorrect
The nurse is giving medications to a patient in heart failure.
The intravenous route is chosen instead of the intramuscular
route. What physical function does the nurse recognize as
the most influential when deciding to use the intravenous
route of drug administration?
a. Altered biliary function
b. Increased glomerular filtration
c. Reduced liver metabolism
d. Diminished circulation
C
The nurse is reviewing pharmacology terms for a group of newly graduated nurses.
Which
sentence defines a drug's half-life?
a. The time it takes for the drug to cause half of its therapeutic response
b. The time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to reach the target
cells
c. The time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to be removed from
the body
d. The time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to be absorbed into
the circulation
ANS: C
A drug's half-life is the time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to be
removed from the body. It is a measure of the rate at which drugs are removed from
the body.
The other options are incorrect definitions of half-life.
,NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
When administering drugs, the nurse remembers that the duration of action of a drug
is defined as which of these?
a. The time it takes for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response
b. The amount of time needed to remove a drug from circulation
c. The time it takes for a drug to achieve its maximum therapeutic response
d. The time period at which a drug's concentration is sufficient to cause a therapeutic
response
ANS: D
Duration of action is the time during which drug's concentration is sufficient to elicit a
therapeutic response. The other options do not define duration of action. A drug's onset
of
action is the time it takes for the drug to elicit a therapeutic response. A drug's peak
effect is
the time it takes for the drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response. Elimination
is the
length of time it takes to remove a drug from circulation.
When reviewing the mechanism of action of a specific drug, the nurse reads that the
drug works by selective enzyme interaction. Which of these processes describes
selective enzyme
interaction?
a. The drug alters cell membrane permeability.
b. The drug's effectiveness within the cell walls of the target tissue is enhanced.
c. The drug is attracted to a receptor on the cell wall, preventing an enzyme from
binding to that receptor.
d. The drug binds to an enzyme molecule and inhibits or enhances the enzyme's
action with the normal target cell.
ANS: D
With selective enzyme interaction, the drug attracts the enzymes to bind with the drug
instead
of allowing the enzymes to bind with their normal target cells. As a result, the target
cells are
protected from the action of the enzymes. This results in a drug effect. The actions
described
in the other options do not occur with selective enzyme interactions.
When administering a new medication to a patient, the nurse reads that it is highly
protein bound. Assuming that the patient's albumin levels are normal, the nurse would
expect which result, as compared to a medication, that is not highly protein bound?
, NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
a. Renal excretion will be faster.
b. The drug will be metabolized quickly.
c. The duration of action of the medication will be shorter.
d. The duration of action of the medication will be longer.
ANS: D
Drugs that are bound to plasma proteins are characterized by longer duration of
action. Protein
binding does not make renal excretion faster, does not speed up drug metabolism, and
does
not cause the duration of action to be shorter.
The nurse is aware that excessive drug dosages,
impaired metabolism, or inadequate excretion may
result in which drug effect?
a. Tolerance
b. Cumulative effect
c. Incompatibility
d. Antagonistic effect
B
Drug half-life is defined as the amount of time required for 50% of a drug to:
a. be absorbed by the body.
b. reach a therapeutic level.
c. exert a response.
d. be removed by the body
D
If a drug binds with an enzyme and thereby prevents
the enzyme from binding to its normal target cell, it
will produce which effect?
a. Receptor interaction
b. Enzyme affinity
c. Enzyme interaction
d. Nonspecific interaction
C
The nurse recognizes that drug dosages in older
NUR 378 FINAL EXAM 2026 LATEST
SUMMER SEMESTER CONCORDIA ST.
PAUL COMPLETE QUESTION WITH
RATIONALE
A patient is to receive acetylcysteine as part of the treatment for an acetaminophen
overdose.
Which action by the nurse is appropriate when giving this medication?
a. Giving the medication undiluted for full effect
b. Avoiding the use of a straw when giving this medication
c. Disguising the flavor with soda or flavored water
d. Preparing to give this medication via a nebulizer
ANS: C
Acetylcysteine has the flavor of rotten eggs and so is better tolerated if it is diluted and
disguised by mixing with a drink such as cola or flavored water to help increase its
palatability. The use of a straw helps to minimize contact with the mucous membranes
of the
mouth and is recommended. The nebulizer form of this medication is used for certain
types of
pneumonia, not for acetaminophen overdose.
A patient arrives at the urgent care center complaining of leg pain after a fall when
rock
climbing. The radiographs show no broken bones, but he has a large bruise on his
thigh. The
patient says he drives a truck and does not want to take anything strong because he
needs to
stay awake. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. ―It would be best for you not to take anything if you are planning to drive your
truck.‖
b. ―We will discuss with your doctor about taking an opioid because that would work
best for your pain.‖
c. ―You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than
1000 mg per day.‖
,NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
d. ―You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than
3000 mg/day.‖
ANS: D
Acetaminophen is indicated for mild-to-moderate pain and does not cause drowsiness,
as an
opioid would. Currently, the maximum daily amount of acetaminophen is 3000 mg/day.
The
1000-mg amount per day is too low. Telling the patient not to take any pain medications
is
incorrect
The nurse is giving medications to a patient in heart failure.
The intravenous route is chosen instead of the intramuscular
route. What physical function does the nurse recognize as
the most influential when deciding to use the intravenous
route of drug administration?
a. Altered biliary function
b. Increased glomerular filtration
c. Reduced liver metabolism
d. Diminished circulation
C
The nurse is reviewing pharmacology terms for a group of newly graduated nurses.
Which
sentence defines a drug's half-life?
a. The time it takes for the drug to cause half of its therapeutic response
b. The time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to reach the target
cells
c. The time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to be removed from
the body
d. The time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to be absorbed into
the circulation
ANS: C
A drug's half-life is the time it takes for one half of the original amount of a drug to be
removed from the body. It is a measure of the rate at which drugs are removed from
the body.
The other options are incorrect definitions of half-life.
,NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
When administering drugs, the nurse remembers that the duration of action of a drug
is defined as which of these?
a. The time it takes for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response
b. The amount of time needed to remove a drug from circulation
c. The time it takes for a drug to achieve its maximum therapeutic response
d. The time period at which a drug's concentration is sufficient to cause a therapeutic
response
ANS: D
Duration of action is the time during which drug's concentration is sufficient to elicit a
therapeutic response. The other options do not define duration of action. A drug's onset
of
action is the time it takes for the drug to elicit a therapeutic response. A drug's peak
effect is
the time it takes for the drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response. Elimination
is the
length of time it takes to remove a drug from circulation.
When reviewing the mechanism of action of a specific drug, the nurse reads that the
drug works by selective enzyme interaction. Which of these processes describes
selective enzyme
interaction?
a. The drug alters cell membrane permeability.
b. The drug's effectiveness within the cell walls of the target tissue is enhanced.
c. The drug is attracted to a receptor on the cell wall, preventing an enzyme from
binding to that receptor.
d. The drug binds to an enzyme molecule and inhibits or enhances the enzyme's
action with the normal target cell.
ANS: D
With selective enzyme interaction, the drug attracts the enzymes to bind with the drug
instead
of allowing the enzymes to bind with their normal target cells. As a result, the target
cells are
protected from the action of the enzymes. This results in a drug effect. The actions
described
in the other options do not occur with selective enzyme interactions.
When administering a new medication to a patient, the nurse reads that it is highly
protein bound. Assuming that the patient's albumin levels are normal, the nurse would
expect which result, as compared to a medication, that is not highly protein bound?
, NUR 378 Pharmacology in Nursing
a. Renal excretion will be faster.
b. The drug will be metabolized quickly.
c. The duration of action of the medication will be shorter.
d. The duration of action of the medication will be longer.
ANS: D
Drugs that are bound to plasma proteins are characterized by longer duration of
action. Protein
binding does not make renal excretion faster, does not speed up drug metabolism, and
does
not cause the duration of action to be shorter.
The nurse is aware that excessive drug dosages,
impaired metabolism, or inadequate excretion may
result in which drug effect?
a. Tolerance
b. Cumulative effect
c. Incompatibility
d. Antagonistic effect
B
Drug half-life is defined as the amount of time required for 50% of a drug to:
a. be absorbed by the body.
b. reach a therapeutic level.
c. exert a response.
d. be removed by the body
D
If a drug binds with an enzyme and thereby prevents
the enzyme from binding to its normal target cell, it
will produce which effect?
a. Receptor interaction
b. Enzyme affinity
c. Enzyme interaction
d. Nonspecific interaction
C
The nurse recognizes that drug dosages in older
