NURS 8024 Test 2 Study Guide | Questions and
Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct - University
of Cincinnati
NURS 8024 Test 2 Study Guide – Practice Exam
SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS
1. The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion is
known as:
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Toxicology
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion (ADME) – "what the body does to the drug."
Pharmacodynamics studies "what the drug does to the body" .
2. Which of the following best describes pharmacodynamics?
A) The study of drug absorption and distribution
B) The study of a drug's effect and clinical response
C) The study of undesirable effects of chemicals
D) The study of genetic variations in drug response
,Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of drug concentration and the
patient's response—"what the drug does to the body." Toxicology is the study of
undesirable effects, and pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variations .
3. An agent that binds to and activates a receptor, directly or indirectly causing
an effect, is known as a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Pro-drug
C) Agonist
D) Inhibitor
Answer: C
Rationale: An agonist binds to and activates a receptor, producing a functional
response. An antagonist binds but does not activate the receptor—it inhibits
activation by other molecules .
4. A pro-drug is best described as:
A) A drug that is fully active upon administration
B) An inactive precursor chemical that must be converted to the active form
C) A drug with no therapeutic effect
D) A drug that only works intravenously
Answer: B
Rationale: A pro-drug is an inactive precursor chemical that must be absorbed,
distributed, and converted to the active form by biologic processes .
5. Which route of administration results in 100% bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Sublingual
C) Intravenous (IV)
, D) Rectal
Answer: C
Rationale: IV administration provides 100% bioavailability because the drug
bypasses first-pass metabolism and directly enters systemic circulation. Oral
administration is subject to first-pass metabolism .
6. Enteral drug administration is:
A) Easily self-administered but complicated by first-pass metabolism
B) More expensive than parenteral administration
C) Always absorbed completely
D) Not affected by food or other drugs
Answer: A
Rationale: Enteral administration is easy and cheap, but absorption pathways can
be complicated by first-pass metabolism, which limits the amount of drug entering
systemic circulation .
7. Which of the following is a disadvantage of parenteral drug administration?
A) Slow onset of action
B) Cannot be administered to unconscious patients
C) Once administered, the drug cannot be removed
D) Always subject to first-pass metabolism
Answer: C
Rationale: Parenteral administration provides rapid onset and bypasses first-pass
metabolism, but once the drug is administered, it cannot be "taken back." There is
also risk of infection .
8. Rectal drug administration results in:
A) 100% of the drug going to the liver for first-pass metabolism
B) 0% of the drug reaching systemic circulation
Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct - University
of Cincinnati
NURS 8024 Test 2 Study Guide – Practice Exam
SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS
1. The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion is
known as:
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Toxicology
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion (ADME) – "what the body does to the drug."
Pharmacodynamics studies "what the drug does to the body" .
2. Which of the following best describes pharmacodynamics?
A) The study of drug absorption and distribution
B) The study of a drug's effect and clinical response
C) The study of undesirable effects of chemicals
D) The study of genetic variations in drug response
,Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of drug concentration and the
patient's response—"what the drug does to the body." Toxicology is the study of
undesirable effects, and pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variations .
3. An agent that binds to and activates a receptor, directly or indirectly causing
an effect, is known as a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Pro-drug
C) Agonist
D) Inhibitor
Answer: C
Rationale: An agonist binds to and activates a receptor, producing a functional
response. An antagonist binds but does not activate the receptor—it inhibits
activation by other molecules .
4. A pro-drug is best described as:
A) A drug that is fully active upon administration
B) An inactive precursor chemical that must be converted to the active form
C) A drug with no therapeutic effect
D) A drug that only works intravenously
Answer: B
Rationale: A pro-drug is an inactive precursor chemical that must be absorbed,
distributed, and converted to the active form by biologic processes .
5. Which route of administration results in 100% bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Sublingual
C) Intravenous (IV)
, D) Rectal
Answer: C
Rationale: IV administration provides 100% bioavailability because the drug
bypasses first-pass metabolism and directly enters systemic circulation. Oral
administration is subject to first-pass metabolism .
6. Enteral drug administration is:
A) Easily self-administered but complicated by first-pass metabolism
B) More expensive than parenteral administration
C) Always absorbed completely
D) Not affected by food or other drugs
Answer: A
Rationale: Enteral administration is easy and cheap, but absorption pathways can
be complicated by first-pass metabolism, which limits the amount of drug entering
systemic circulation .
7. Which of the following is a disadvantage of parenteral drug administration?
A) Slow onset of action
B) Cannot be administered to unconscious patients
C) Once administered, the drug cannot be removed
D) Always subject to first-pass metabolism
Answer: C
Rationale: Parenteral administration provides rapid onset and bypasses first-pass
metabolism, but once the drug is administered, it cannot be "taken back." There is
also risk of infection .
8. Rectal drug administration results in:
A) 100% of the drug going to the liver for first-pass metabolism
B) 0% of the drug reaching systemic circulation
