Introductory Clinical
Pharmacology
12th Edition
• Author(s)Susan Ford
• Print ISBN: 9781975163730
TEST BANK
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to a hospitalized adult. Before
giving the medication, which nursing action is the highest priority?
,A. Ask the patient whether the medication was taken at home.
B. Verify the patient's identity using two approved identifiers.
C. Explain the medication's mechanism of action.
D. Document the medication administration in the health record.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct patient identification is the first priority in safe medication administration and
helps prevent medication errors. Using two approved identifiers (such as the patient's
name and date of birth or medical record number) is a standard safety practice before
administering any medication. Asking about home medications and providing education
are important but occur after confirming the correct patient. Documentation is
completed after the medication is administered.
Question 2
A nurse explains that a medication taken by mouth must first pass through the liver
before reaching the systemic circulation. Which pharmacologic concept is the nurse
describing?
A. Drug distribution
B. First-pass metabolism
C. Drug excretion
D. Receptor activation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
First-pass metabolism occurs when an orally administered drug is absorbed from the
gastrointestinal tract and transported to the liver, where part of the drug is metabolized
,before entering systemic circulation. This process can reduce the amount of active drug
available to produce a therapeutic effect. Distribution refers to movement throughout
the body, excretion is drug elimination, and receptor activation describes drug action at
the cellular level.
Question 3
A patient taking an antibiotic reports developing an itchy rash after the second dose.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled.
B. Instruct the patient that the rash is expected.
C. Assess the patient for additional signs of an allergic reaction and notify the provider.
D. Tell the patient to discontinue all prescribed medications permanently.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
A rash may indicate an allergic reaction. The nurse should assess for additional
symptoms such as swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing and promptly notify the
healthcare provider. Administering another dose without assessment may worsen the
reaction. Although the medication may eventually be discontinued, the nurse should
first assess the patient and follow provider recommendations rather than instructing the
patient to stop all medications.
Question 4
A patient asks why one medication must be taken every 12 hours to remain effective.
Which explanation by the nurse is most accurate?
, A. The medication remains in the body indefinitely.
B. The medication's half-life influences how often it should be administered.
C. The medication is completely eliminated after one hour.
D. The medication only works when taken with meals.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A drug's half-life is the time required for half of the drug concentration in the body to
be eliminated. Half-life is an important factor in determining dosing intervals needed to
maintain therapeutic drug levels while avoiding toxicity or subtherapeutic
concentrations. Drug administration schedules are not determined solely by meal
timing, and medications are not eliminated immediately or retained indefinitely.
Question 5
A nurse reviews a newly prescribed medication and notes that it has a narrow
therapeutic index. What is the most appropriate nursing implication?
A. The medication rarely causes adverse effects.
B. Small changes in drug levels may increase the risk of toxicity or ineffective therapy.
C. The medication does not require monitoring.
D. The medication should always be given by the intravenous route.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A narrow therapeutic index means there is only a small difference between therapeutic
and toxic drug concentrations. Patients receiving these medications often require close
monitoring of clinical response, laboratory values, and, when appropriate, serum drug
levels. This helps ensure effectiveness while minimizing the risk of toxicity. A narrow
Pharmacology
12th Edition
• Author(s)Susan Ford
• Print ISBN: 9781975163730
TEST BANK
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to a hospitalized adult. Before
giving the medication, which nursing action is the highest priority?
,A. Ask the patient whether the medication was taken at home.
B. Verify the patient's identity using two approved identifiers.
C. Explain the medication's mechanism of action.
D. Document the medication administration in the health record.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct patient identification is the first priority in safe medication administration and
helps prevent medication errors. Using two approved identifiers (such as the patient's
name and date of birth or medical record number) is a standard safety practice before
administering any medication. Asking about home medications and providing education
are important but occur after confirming the correct patient. Documentation is
completed after the medication is administered.
Question 2
A nurse explains that a medication taken by mouth must first pass through the liver
before reaching the systemic circulation. Which pharmacologic concept is the nurse
describing?
A. Drug distribution
B. First-pass metabolism
C. Drug excretion
D. Receptor activation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
First-pass metabolism occurs when an orally administered drug is absorbed from the
gastrointestinal tract and transported to the liver, where part of the drug is metabolized
,before entering systemic circulation. This process can reduce the amount of active drug
available to produce a therapeutic effect. Distribution refers to movement throughout
the body, excretion is drug elimination, and receptor activation describes drug action at
the cellular level.
Question 3
A patient taking an antibiotic reports developing an itchy rash after the second dose.
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled.
B. Instruct the patient that the rash is expected.
C. Assess the patient for additional signs of an allergic reaction and notify the provider.
D. Tell the patient to discontinue all prescribed medications permanently.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
A rash may indicate an allergic reaction. The nurse should assess for additional
symptoms such as swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing and promptly notify the
healthcare provider. Administering another dose without assessment may worsen the
reaction. Although the medication may eventually be discontinued, the nurse should
first assess the patient and follow provider recommendations rather than instructing the
patient to stop all medications.
Question 4
A patient asks why one medication must be taken every 12 hours to remain effective.
Which explanation by the nurse is most accurate?
, A. The medication remains in the body indefinitely.
B. The medication's half-life influences how often it should be administered.
C. The medication is completely eliminated after one hour.
D. The medication only works when taken with meals.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A drug's half-life is the time required for half of the drug concentration in the body to
be eliminated. Half-life is an important factor in determining dosing intervals needed to
maintain therapeutic drug levels while avoiding toxicity or subtherapeutic
concentrations. Drug administration schedules are not determined solely by meal
timing, and medications are not eliminated immediately or retained indefinitely.
Question 5
A nurse reviews a newly prescribed medication and notes that it has a narrow
therapeutic index. What is the most appropriate nursing implication?
A. The medication rarely causes adverse effects.
B. Small changes in drug levels may increase the risk of toxicity or ineffective therapy.
C. The medication does not require monitoring.
D. The medication should always be given by the intravenous route.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A narrow therapeutic index means there is only a small difference between therapeutic
and toxic drug concentrations. Patients receiving these medications often require close
monitoring of clinical response, laboratory values, and, when appropriate, serum drug
levels. This helps ensure effectiveness while minimizing the risk of toxicity. A narrow
