NUR 210 EXAM 3 ACTUAL
2026/2027| Principles of
Pharmacology – Galen Q&A with
Rationales Graded A+
1. A nurse is administering an oral medication to a patient. Which
pharmacokinetic process refers to the movement of the drug from the
GI tract into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Absorption
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its
site of administration (e.g., the GI tract) into systemic circulation .
2. A patient receiving IV medication experiences severe itching,
swelling of the lips, and difficulty breathing. Which type of adverse
reaction is occurring?
A. Idiosyncratic reaction
B. Allergic reaction
C. Therapeutic effect
D. Placebo response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Symptoms such as swelling, itching, and breathing
difficulty indicate a hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction .
3. Why must drug dosages be adjusted for patients with impaired
kidney function?
, A. Drugs may accumulate due to reduced elimination
B. Drugs become less effective in the kidneys
C. Renal impairment increases absorption
D. Renal impairment reduces metabolism in the liver
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The kidneys are a primary route for drug elimination.
Impaired renal function leads to drug accumulation and potential
toxicity .
4. Which term refers to the proportion of a drug that reaches systemic
circulation unchanged after administration?
A. Bioavailability
B. Distribution
C. Clearance
D. Potency
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bioavailability describes the fraction of an administered
dose of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in its active form .
5. A nurse gives a medication sublingually. Why does this route
produce rapid drug effects?
A. Drug bypasses first-pass metabolism in the liver
B. Drug dissolves slowly in the stomach
C. Drug enters lymphatic circulation
D. Drug is metabolized immediately
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The sublingual route allows the drug to be absorbed
directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the portal circulation and
first-pass metabolism by the liver .
🫀 Cardiovascular Medications
,6. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of
hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg to a patient with a BP of 160/95 mmHg.
The patient's urine output was 200 mL in the past 12 hours. What
should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Encourage the patient to drink more fluids
C. Hold the medication and request an order for serum BUN and
creatinine
D. Request an order for serum electrolytes and administer the
medication
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This urine output is significantly low (<30 mL/hr). The
patient's renal function should be assessed (BUN, creatinine) before
administering a diuretic that requires adequate kidney function to be
effective and safe .
7. A male client is prescribed prazosin for hypertension. How does the
nurse explain the medication works?
A. “It increases the supply of oxygen to your heart.”
B. “It works by making your blood vessels dilate.”
C. “It works by inhibiting the movement of calcium across the
membrane.”
D. “It promotes the excretion of sodium and water.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker. Its primary action
is to block alpha-adrenergic receptors, leading to vasodilation and a
decrease in blood pressure .
8. A patient with diabetes and hypertension taking metoprolol reports
feeling weak and shaky. The patient’s blood glucose is 52 mg/dL, but
they deny tachycardia or sweating. What is the nurse’s best
explanation?
A. “Your blood sugar reading is inaccurate – let’s recheck it.”
, B. “Beta blockers mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it
harder to recognize.”
C. “You should stop taking propranolol and switch to a different
medication.”
D. “Take your diabetes medication only when your blood sugar is
over 150 mg/dL.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beta-blockers like metoprolol can mask the adrenergic
symptoms of hypoglycemia (e.g., tachycardia, sweating), allowing only
the neuroglycopenic symptoms (shakiness, weakness, confusion) to
appear .
9. A patient taking hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) for hypertension
reports muscle cramps, fatigue, and irregular heartbeats. Which lab
value is most concerning?
A. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
B. Sodium 140 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL
D. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Thiazide diuretics like HCTZ can cause hypokalemia (low
potassium). Symptoms of hypokalemia include muscle cramps,
fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias .
10. Upon review of lab findings, the nurse identifies a client's
potassium level is 5.9 mEq/L. Which antihypertensive may be the
cause?
A. Metoprolol
B. Losartan
C. Prazosin
D. Amlodipine
Correct Answer: B
2026/2027| Principles of
Pharmacology – Galen Q&A with
Rationales Graded A+
1. A nurse is administering an oral medication to a patient. Which
pharmacokinetic process refers to the movement of the drug from the
GI tract into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Absorption
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its
site of administration (e.g., the GI tract) into systemic circulation .
2. A patient receiving IV medication experiences severe itching,
swelling of the lips, and difficulty breathing. Which type of adverse
reaction is occurring?
A. Idiosyncratic reaction
B. Allergic reaction
C. Therapeutic effect
D. Placebo response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Symptoms such as swelling, itching, and breathing
difficulty indicate a hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction .
3. Why must drug dosages be adjusted for patients with impaired
kidney function?
, A. Drugs may accumulate due to reduced elimination
B. Drugs become less effective in the kidneys
C. Renal impairment increases absorption
D. Renal impairment reduces metabolism in the liver
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The kidneys are a primary route for drug elimination.
Impaired renal function leads to drug accumulation and potential
toxicity .
4. Which term refers to the proportion of a drug that reaches systemic
circulation unchanged after administration?
A. Bioavailability
B. Distribution
C. Clearance
D. Potency
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bioavailability describes the fraction of an administered
dose of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in its active form .
5. A nurse gives a medication sublingually. Why does this route
produce rapid drug effects?
A. Drug bypasses first-pass metabolism in the liver
B. Drug dissolves slowly in the stomach
C. Drug enters lymphatic circulation
D. Drug is metabolized immediately
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The sublingual route allows the drug to be absorbed
directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the portal circulation and
first-pass metabolism by the liver .
🫀 Cardiovascular Medications
,6. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of
hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg to a patient with a BP of 160/95 mmHg.
The patient's urine output was 200 mL in the past 12 hours. What
should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Encourage the patient to drink more fluids
C. Hold the medication and request an order for serum BUN and
creatinine
D. Request an order for serum electrolytes and administer the
medication
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This urine output is significantly low (<30 mL/hr). The
patient's renal function should be assessed (BUN, creatinine) before
administering a diuretic that requires adequate kidney function to be
effective and safe .
7. A male client is prescribed prazosin for hypertension. How does the
nurse explain the medication works?
A. “It increases the supply of oxygen to your heart.”
B. “It works by making your blood vessels dilate.”
C. “It works by inhibiting the movement of calcium across the
membrane.”
D. “It promotes the excretion of sodium and water.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker. Its primary action
is to block alpha-adrenergic receptors, leading to vasodilation and a
decrease in blood pressure .
8. A patient with diabetes and hypertension taking metoprolol reports
feeling weak and shaky. The patient’s blood glucose is 52 mg/dL, but
they deny tachycardia or sweating. What is the nurse’s best
explanation?
A. “Your blood sugar reading is inaccurate – let’s recheck it.”
, B. “Beta blockers mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia, making it
harder to recognize.”
C. “You should stop taking propranolol and switch to a different
medication.”
D. “Take your diabetes medication only when your blood sugar is
over 150 mg/dL.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beta-blockers like metoprolol can mask the adrenergic
symptoms of hypoglycemia (e.g., tachycardia, sweating), allowing only
the neuroglycopenic symptoms (shakiness, weakness, confusion) to
appear .
9. A patient taking hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) for hypertension
reports muscle cramps, fatigue, and irregular heartbeats. Which lab
value is most concerning?
A. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
B. Sodium 140 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL
D. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Thiazide diuretics like HCTZ can cause hypokalemia (low
potassium). Symptoms of hypokalemia include muscle cramps,
fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias .
10. Upon review of lab findings, the nurse identifies a client's
potassium level is 5.9 mEq/L. Which antihypertensive may be the
cause?
A. Metoprolol
B. Losartan
C. Prazosin
D. Amlodipine
Correct Answer: B
