NURS 300 PHARMACOLOGY UNIT
EXAM 2 | 2026/2027 |320 MULTIPLE
CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
AND RATIONALES
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a halflife of 4 hours.
How long will it take for the drug to reach steady state?
A) 8 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 16 hours
D) 24 hours
Correct Answer: C) 16 hours
Rationale: Steady state is typically achieved after approximately 4 to 5 halflives.
With a halflife of 4 hours, steady state would be reached in about 16 to 20 hours
(4 × 4 = 16 hours).
2. Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action?
A) Oral
,B) Subcutaneous
C) Intravenous
D) Intramuscular
Correct Answer: C) Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly into the
bloodstream, bypassing absorption barriers and producing the fastest onset of
action. Oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes all require some degree of
absorption before the drug reaches systemic circulation.
3. A patient with liver disease is at increased risk for drug toxicity primarily
because of impaired:
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Metabolism
D) Excretion
Correct Answer: C) Metabolism
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism (biotransformation). Liver
disease can significantly impair the liver's ability to metabolize drugs, leading to
drug accumulation and increased risk of toxicity. Phase I and Phase II reactions
occur predominantly in the liver.
,4. The term "pharmacodynamics" refers to:
A) What the body does to the drug
B) What the drug does to the body
C) The study of drug absorption
D) The study of drug excretion
Correct Answer: B) What the drug does to the body
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological
effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of drug action. Pharmacokinetics
(what the body does to the drug) encompasses absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion.
5. A medication with a narrow therapeutic index requires:
A) Less frequent monitoring
B) More frequent monitoring of serum drug levels
C) Higher initial doses
D) Administration with food only
Correct Answer: B) More frequent monitoring of serum drug levels
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index have a small margin between
therapeutic and toxic doses. Examples include digoxin, lithium, and warfarin. These
medications require careful monitoring of serum drug levels to maintain therapeutic
efficacy while avoiding toxicity.
, 6. Which factor does NOT affect drug absorption?
A) Route of administration
B) Blood flow to the absorption site
C) Liver function
D) Drug formulation
Correct Answer: C) Liver function
Rationale: Liver function affects drug metabolism, not absorption. Drug absorption is
influenced by the route of administration, blood flow to the absorption site, drug
formulation, surface area of the absorption site, and GI tract motility.
7. A drug that is highly protein bound will have:
A) A longer duration of action
B) A shorter duration of action
C) No effect on duration of action
D) Increased excretion rate
Correct Answer: A) A longer duration of action
Rationale: Only the unbound (free) fraction of a drug is pharmacologically active
and available for metabolism and excretion. Highly protein bound drugs remain in
the bloodstream longer because the bound portion is inactive and cannot be
metabolized or excreted, thus prolonging the duration of action.
EXAM 2 | 2026/2027 |320 MULTIPLE
CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
AND RATIONALES
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a halflife of 4 hours.
How long will it take for the drug to reach steady state?
A) 8 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 16 hours
D) 24 hours
Correct Answer: C) 16 hours
Rationale: Steady state is typically achieved after approximately 4 to 5 halflives.
With a halflife of 4 hours, steady state would be reached in about 16 to 20 hours
(4 × 4 = 16 hours).
2. Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action?
A) Oral
,B) Subcutaneous
C) Intravenous
D) Intramuscular
Correct Answer: C) Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly into the
bloodstream, bypassing absorption barriers and producing the fastest onset of
action. Oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes all require some degree of
absorption before the drug reaches systemic circulation.
3. A patient with liver disease is at increased risk for drug toxicity primarily
because of impaired:
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Metabolism
D) Excretion
Correct Answer: C) Metabolism
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism (biotransformation). Liver
disease can significantly impair the liver's ability to metabolize drugs, leading to
drug accumulation and increased risk of toxicity. Phase I and Phase II reactions
occur predominantly in the liver.
,4. The term "pharmacodynamics" refers to:
A) What the body does to the drug
B) What the drug does to the body
C) The study of drug absorption
D) The study of drug excretion
Correct Answer: B) What the drug does to the body
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological
effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of drug action. Pharmacokinetics
(what the body does to the drug) encompasses absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion.
5. A medication with a narrow therapeutic index requires:
A) Less frequent monitoring
B) More frequent monitoring of serum drug levels
C) Higher initial doses
D) Administration with food only
Correct Answer: B) More frequent monitoring of serum drug levels
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index have a small margin between
therapeutic and toxic doses. Examples include digoxin, lithium, and warfarin. These
medications require careful monitoring of serum drug levels to maintain therapeutic
efficacy while avoiding toxicity.
, 6. Which factor does NOT affect drug absorption?
A) Route of administration
B) Blood flow to the absorption site
C) Liver function
D) Drug formulation
Correct Answer: C) Liver function
Rationale: Liver function affects drug metabolism, not absorption. Drug absorption is
influenced by the route of administration, blood flow to the absorption site, drug
formulation, surface area of the absorption site, and GI tract motility.
7. A drug that is highly protein bound will have:
A) A longer duration of action
B) A shorter duration of action
C) No effect on duration of action
D) Increased excretion rate
Correct Answer: A) A longer duration of action
Rationale: Only the unbound (free) fraction of a drug is pharmacologically active
and available for metabolism and excretion. Highly protein bound drugs remain in
the bloodstream longer because the bound portion is inactive and cannot be
metabolized or excreted, thus prolonging the duration of action.
