NURS 305 Exam 1 V2 | NURS 305
Pharmacology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NURS305 Exam 1) | Liberty University
1. Which process of pharmacokinetics is most significantly affected by a patient with severe
liver cirrhosis?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism via the cytochrome P450
enzyme system. In patients with cirrhosis, enzymatic activity is reduced, leading to
potential drug toxicity due to slowed breakdown. Nurses must monitor these patients
closely for prolonged drug effects and decreased clearance rates.
2. A nurse is administering a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What is the priority
nursing action?
A. Ensure the patient takes the medication with a full glass of water.
B. Administer the drug only via the intravenous route.
C. Assess the patient for a history of allergic reactions.
,D. Monitor serum drug levels frequently to prevent toxicity.
Answer: D
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means that the difference between a therapeutic
dose and a toxic dose is very small. Monitoring blood levels, such as peak and trough levels,
is essential to ensure safety and efficacy. Failure to do so could result in life-threatening
adverse effects or subtherapeutic treatment.
3. Which term describes the phenomenon where a large percentage of an orally administered
drug is inactivated by the liver before reaching systemic circulation?
A. Bioavailability
B. Enzyme induction
C. Protein binding
D. First-pass effect
Answer: D
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when drugs absorbed from the GI tract enter the
portal vein and are metabolized by the liver before reaching the heart. This significantly
reduces the amount of active drug that enters the general circulation. Consequently, oral
doses of these drugs are often much higher than parenteral doses to achieve the same
effect.
, 4. A patient is prescribed a drug that acts as an agonist. How should the nurse explain this
mechanism to the patient?
A. The drug will block a receptor to prevent a response.
B. The drug will increase the excretion of other medications.
C. The drug will bind to a receptor and mimic a natural body response.
D. The drug will permanently alter the cellular DNA.
Answer: C
Rationale: Agonists are drugs that interact with receptors to produce a biological response
similar to endogenous substances. They have both affinity for the receptor and intrinsic
activity to trigger a change. This is contrasted with antagonists, which bind to receptors but
do not activate them, effectively blocking other substances.
5. Which FDA pregnancy category indicates that studies in animals or humans have
demonstrated fetal abnormalities and the risk outweighs any possible benefit?
A. Category B
B. Category C
C. Category X
D. Category D
Answer: C
Pharmacology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NURS305 Exam 1) | Liberty University
1. Which process of pharmacokinetics is most significantly affected by a patient with severe
liver cirrhosis?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: C
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism via the cytochrome P450
enzyme system. In patients with cirrhosis, enzymatic activity is reduced, leading to
potential drug toxicity due to slowed breakdown. Nurses must monitor these patients
closely for prolonged drug effects and decreased clearance rates.
2. A nurse is administering a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What is the priority
nursing action?
A. Ensure the patient takes the medication with a full glass of water.
B. Administer the drug only via the intravenous route.
C. Assess the patient for a history of allergic reactions.
,D. Monitor serum drug levels frequently to prevent toxicity.
Answer: D
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means that the difference between a therapeutic
dose and a toxic dose is very small. Monitoring blood levels, such as peak and trough levels,
is essential to ensure safety and efficacy. Failure to do so could result in life-threatening
adverse effects or subtherapeutic treatment.
3. Which term describes the phenomenon where a large percentage of an orally administered
drug is inactivated by the liver before reaching systemic circulation?
A. Bioavailability
B. Enzyme induction
C. Protein binding
D. First-pass effect
Answer: D
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when drugs absorbed from the GI tract enter the
portal vein and are metabolized by the liver before reaching the heart. This significantly
reduces the amount of active drug that enters the general circulation. Consequently, oral
doses of these drugs are often much higher than parenteral doses to achieve the same
effect.
, 4. A patient is prescribed a drug that acts as an agonist. How should the nurse explain this
mechanism to the patient?
A. The drug will block a receptor to prevent a response.
B. The drug will increase the excretion of other medications.
C. The drug will bind to a receptor and mimic a natural body response.
D. The drug will permanently alter the cellular DNA.
Answer: C
Rationale: Agonists are drugs that interact with receptors to produce a biological response
similar to endogenous substances. They have both affinity for the receptor and intrinsic
activity to trigger a change. This is contrasted with antagonists, which bind to receptors but
do not activate them, effectively blocking other substances.
5. Which FDA pregnancy category indicates that studies in animals or humans have
demonstrated fetal abnormalities and the risk outweighs any possible benefit?
A. Category B
B. Category C
C. Category X
D. Category D
Answer: C
