NUR 378 Exam 1 V2 | NUR 378
Pharmacology in Nursing | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (NUR378 Exam 1) |
Concordia
1. A nurse is administering a medication that is known to have a high first-pass effect. Which
route of administration would result in the lowest bioavailability for this drug?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Sublingual
Correct Answer: A
The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver before it reaches the
systemic circulation. Oral medications are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and
carried to the liver via the portal vein, where a significant portion of the drug may be
inactivated. In contrast, routes such as intravenous or sublingual bypass the liver initially,
ensuring higher bioavailability of the active compound.
2. When assessing a patient for potential drug toxicity, the nurse recognizes that which
pharmacokinetic process is most affected by end-stage renal disease?
A. Absorption
,B. Excretion
C. Metabolism
D. Distribution
Correct Answer: B
Excretion is the primary process by which drugs are removed from the body, and the
kidneys are the main organ responsible for this function. In patients with end-stage renal
disease, the ability to filter and eliminate drugs is severely compromised, leading to drug
accumulation. This accumulation increases the risk of toxicity, requiring healthcare
providers to adjust dosages or dosing intervals.
3. A patient is prescribed a medication that is highly protein-bound. What is the clinical
implication if the patient’s serum albumin level is significantly low?
A. The therapeutic effect of the drug will be decreased.
B. The patient will require a higher dose of the medication.
C. The drug will be excreted more slowly by the kidneys.
D. There will be an increased risk of drug toxicity.
Correct Answer: D
Drugs that are protein-bound attach to albumin, leaving only the ‘free’ drug available to
exert a pharmacological effect. When albumin levels are low, there are fewer binding sites,
resulting in a higher concentration of free, active drug in the bloodstream. This elevated
, level of free drug can lead to an intensified response and a greater risk of adverse toxic
effects.
4. During a pharmacology lecture, a student asks about the ‘half-life’ of a medication. Which
statement by the instructor is the most accurate definition?
A. The time required for the drug to reach its maximum therapeutic effect.
B. The amount of time it takes for half of the original drug dose to be absorbed.
C. The duration of time the drug remains at a steady-state concentration.
D. The time it takes for the amount of drug in the body to be reduced by fifty percent.
Correct Answer: D
Half-life is a pharmacokinetic parameter that describes the time required for the plasma
concentration of a drug to decrease by half. This value helps determine the dosing
frequency needed to maintain a therapeutic level within the body. It takes approximately
four to five half-lives for a drug to be effectively eliminated from the system after the last
dose.
5. A nurse is monitoring a patient who has been given an ‘antagonist’ medication. How
should the nurse explain the action of this drug to the patient?
A. The drug will bind to a receptor and trigger a positive cellular response.
B. The drug will increase the speed of chemical reactions within the target cell.
C. The drug will enhance the effects of naturally occurring hormones in the body.
Pharmacology in Nursing | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (NUR378 Exam 1) |
Concordia
1. A nurse is administering a medication that is known to have a high first-pass effect. Which
route of administration would result in the lowest bioavailability for this drug?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Sublingual
Correct Answer: A
The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver before it reaches the
systemic circulation. Oral medications are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and
carried to the liver via the portal vein, where a significant portion of the drug may be
inactivated. In contrast, routes such as intravenous or sublingual bypass the liver initially,
ensuring higher bioavailability of the active compound.
2. When assessing a patient for potential drug toxicity, the nurse recognizes that which
pharmacokinetic process is most affected by end-stage renal disease?
A. Absorption
,B. Excretion
C. Metabolism
D. Distribution
Correct Answer: B
Excretion is the primary process by which drugs are removed from the body, and the
kidneys are the main organ responsible for this function. In patients with end-stage renal
disease, the ability to filter and eliminate drugs is severely compromised, leading to drug
accumulation. This accumulation increases the risk of toxicity, requiring healthcare
providers to adjust dosages or dosing intervals.
3. A patient is prescribed a medication that is highly protein-bound. What is the clinical
implication if the patient’s serum albumin level is significantly low?
A. The therapeutic effect of the drug will be decreased.
B. The patient will require a higher dose of the medication.
C. The drug will be excreted more slowly by the kidneys.
D. There will be an increased risk of drug toxicity.
Correct Answer: D
Drugs that are protein-bound attach to albumin, leaving only the ‘free’ drug available to
exert a pharmacological effect. When albumin levels are low, there are fewer binding sites,
resulting in a higher concentration of free, active drug in the bloodstream. This elevated
, level of free drug can lead to an intensified response and a greater risk of adverse toxic
effects.
4. During a pharmacology lecture, a student asks about the ‘half-life’ of a medication. Which
statement by the instructor is the most accurate definition?
A. The time required for the drug to reach its maximum therapeutic effect.
B. The amount of time it takes for half of the original drug dose to be absorbed.
C. The duration of time the drug remains at a steady-state concentration.
D. The time it takes for the amount of drug in the body to be reduced by fifty percent.
Correct Answer: D
Half-life is a pharmacokinetic parameter that describes the time required for the plasma
concentration of a drug to decrease by half. This value helps determine the dosing
frequency needed to maintain a therapeutic level within the body. It takes approximately
four to five half-lives for a drug to be effectively eliminated from the system after the last
dose.
5. A nurse is monitoring a patient who has been given an ‘antagonist’ medication. How
should the nurse explain the action of this drug to the patient?
A. The drug will bind to a receptor and trigger a positive cellular response.
B. The drug will increase the speed of chemical reactions within the target cell.
C. The drug will enhance the effects of naturally occurring hormones in the body.
