NURS 520 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE CONTENT 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS,
VERIFIED ANSWERS & COMPREHENSIVE GRADUATE NURSING REVIEW
What are the two identifiers used to verify a patient's identity before medication
administration? - correct answer ✔✔The patient's name and identification band.
What should a nurse do if a pediatric patient cannot identify themselves? - correct answer
✔✔Ask the parents or legal guardians to identify the patient.
What is the first step in verifying the right medication? - correct answer ✔✔Check the
medication order against the medication label or profile.
How many times should a nurse check the medication before administration? - correct answer
✔✔Three times.
What is a critical consideration when confirming the right dose? - correct answer ✔✔The
dosage must be appropriate for the patient's age and size.
What should a nurse do if the prescribed dose appears incorrect? - correct answer ✔✔Recheck
all mathematical calculations and verify with a current drug reference.
What is the significance of leading and trailing zeros in medication dosing? - correct answer
✔✔Use leading zeros (e.g., 0.2 mg) but avoid trailing zeros (e.g., never write 2.0 mg).
What must a nurse confirm about the route of medication administration? - correct answer
✔✔The prescribed route must be appropriate and specified in the order.
What is the time frame for administering medications according to facility policy? - correct
answer ✔✔Typically within 30 minutes before or after the scheduled time.
,What types of data are collected during the initial assessment phase? - correct answer
✔✔Objective and subjective data.
What is the difference between objective and subjective data? - correct answer ✔✔Objective
data is measurable and observable, while subjective data is reported by the patient.
What are human need statements in nursing diagnosis? - correct answer ✔✔They communicate
information about the patient's experience and arise from disturbances related to drug therapy.
What should outcomes in the planning phase be characterized as? - correct answer
✔✔Objective, measurable, realistic, behavior-based, and patient-focused.
What does the implementation phase involve? - correct answer ✔✔Initiating and completing
specific nursing actions defined by human needs and outcomes.
What is the purpose of the evaluation phase in nursing? - correct answer ✔✔To monitor
fulfillment of outcomes and assess therapeutic responses and adverse effects.
What constitutes an adverse drug reaction (ADR)? - correct answer ✔✔Any unexpected and
undesirable reaction to a drug occurring at therapeutic dosages.
What are the four general categories of ADRs? - correct answer ✔✔Pharmacologic reactions,
allergic reactions, idiosyncratic reactions, and drug interactions.
What is an example of a pharmacologic reaction? - correct answer ✔✔A blood pressure
medication that lowers blood pressure excessively, causing unconsciousness.
,What should be done if a patient reports side effects from a medication? - correct answer
✔✔Document the side effects and assess whether they require changes in drug therapy.
Why is it important to gather a complete medication profile during assessment? - correct
answer ✔✔To ensure safe medication administration and identify potential interactions or
allergies.
What role does communication play in the implementation phase? - correct answer ✔✔It
involves constant communication with the patient, healthcare team, and family.
What is the significance of the Nine Rights of medication administration? - correct answer
✔✔They expand beyond the traditional Five Rights to ensure comprehensive safety in
medication delivery.
What should be done if discrepancies are noted between patient reports and observations? -
correct answer ✔✔Further assessment is required to clarify the situation.
What is the importance of clear and concise documentation in the evaluation phase? - correct
answer ✔✔It ensures accurate tracking of patient responses and adherence to standards of
care.
What is an allergic reaction in the context of drug therapy? - correct answer ✔✔An allergic
reaction involves the immune system recognizing a drug as a foreign substance, leading to the
release of chemical mediators like histamine and cytokines.
What are the characteristics of an idiosyncratic reaction? - correct answer ✔✔Idiosyncratic
reactions are unpredictable, not related to known drug properties or allergies, and are often
genetically determined.
What is the definition of drug half-life? - correct answer ✔✔Half-life is the time required for half
(50%) of a drug to be eliminated from the body.
, How does the half-life of a drug affect its elimination from the body? - correct answer ✔✔After
about five half-lives, most drugs are considered effectively removed from the body, with
approximately 97% eliminated.
What is the significance of reaching steady state in drug therapy? - correct answer ✔✔Steady
state is reached when the amount of drug eliminated equals the amount absorbed, typically
occurring after four to five half-lives.
What factors can affect drug half-life in older adults? - correct answer ✔✔Age-related changes
such as decreased liver mass, reduced enzyme production, and decreased cardiac output can
prolong drug half-life.
What is the clinical significance of peak and trough levels in drug monitoring? - correct answer
✔✔Peak levels indicate the highest concentration of a drug, while trough levels indicate the
lowest; monitoring ensures therapeutic efficacy and minimizes toxicity.
What is the onset of action for a drug? - correct answer ✔✔Onset of action is the time it takes
for a drug to produce a therapeutic response after administration.
What is meant by the peak effect of a drug? - correct answer ✔✔Peak effect is the time when
the drug reaches its highest concentration in the blood and produces maximum therapeutic
response.
What does duration of action refer to in pharmacology? - correct answer ✔✔Duration of action
is the length of time a drug concentration remains sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response.
How does dosage form impact drug absorption? - correct answer ✔✔Different pharmaceutical
preparations affect dissolution and absorption rates; for example, liquids are absorbed more
quickly than enteric-coated tablets.
VERIFIED ANSWERS & COMPREHENSIVE GRADUATE NURSING REVIEW
What are the two identifiers used to verify a patient's identity before medication
administration? - correct answer ✔✔The patient's name and identification band.
What should a nurse do if a pediatric patient cannot identify themselves? - correct answer
✔✔Ask the parents or legal guardians to identify the patient.
What is the first step in verifying the right medication? - correct answer ✔✔Check the
medication order against the medication label or profile.
How many times should a nurse check the medication before administration? - correct answer
✔✔Three times.
What is a critical consideration when confirming the right dose? - correct answer ✔✔The
dosage must be appropriate for the patient's age and size.
What should a nurse do if the prescribed dose appears incorrect? - correct answer ✔✔Recheck
all mathematical calculations and verify with a current drug reference.
What is the significance of leading and trailing zeros in medication dosing? - correct answer
✔✔Use leading zeros (e.g., 0.2 mg) but avoid trailing zeros (e.g., never write 2.0 mg).
What must a nurse confirm about the route of medication administration? - correct answer
✔✔The prescribed route must be appropriate and specified in the order.
What is the time frame for administering medications according to facility policy? - correct
answer ✔✔Typically within 30 minutes before or after the scheduled time.
,What types of data are collected during the initial assessment phase? - correct answer
✔✔Objective and subjective data.
What is the difference between objective and subjective data? - correct answer ✔✔Objective
data is measurable and observable, while subjective data is reported by the patient.
What are human need statements in nursing diagnosis? - correct answer ✔✔They communicate
information about the patient's experience and arise from disturbances related to drug therapy.
What should outcomes in the planning phase be characterized as? - correct answer
✔✔Objective, measurable, realistic, behavior-based, and patient-focused.
What does the implementation phase involve? - correct answer ✔✔Initiating and completing
specific nursing actions defined by human needs and outcomes.
What is the purpose of the evaluation phase in nursing? - correct answer ✔✔To monitor
fulfillment of outcomes and assess therapeutic responses and adverse effects.
What constitutes an adverse drug reaction (ADR)? - correct answer ✔✔Any unexpected and
undesirable reaction to a drug occurring at therapeutic dosages.
What are the four general categories of ADRs? - correct answer ✔✔Pharmacologic reactions,
allergic reactions, idiosyncratic reactions, and drug interactions.
What is an example of a pharmacologic reaction? - correct answer ✔✔A blood pressure
medication that lowers blood pressure excessively, causing unconsciousness.
,What should be done if a patient reports side effects from a medication? - correct answer
✔✔Document the side effects and assess whether they require changes in drug therapy.
Why is it important to gather a complete medication profile during assessment? - correct
answer ✔✔To ensure safe medication administration and identify potential interactions or
allergies.
What role does communication play in the implementation phase? - correct answer ✔✔It
involves constant communication with the patient, healthcare team, and family.
What is the significance of the Nine Rights of medication administration? - correct answer
✔✔They expand beyond the traditional Five Rights to ensure comprehensive safety in
medication delivery.
What should be done if discrepancies are noted between patient reports and observations? -
correct answer ✔✔Further assessment is required to clarify the situation.
What is the importance of clear and concise documentation in the evaluation phase? - correct
answer ✔✔It ensures accurate tracking of patient responses and adherence to standards of
care.
What is an allergic reaction in the context of drug therapy? - correct answer ✔✔An allergic
reaction involves the immune system recognizing a drug as a foreign substance, leading to the
release of chemical mediators like histamine and cytokines.
What are the characteristics of an idiosyncratic reaction? - correct answer ✔✔Idiosyncratic
reactions are unpredictable, not related to known drug properties or allergies, and are often
genetically determined.
What is the definition of drug half-life? - correct answer ✔✔Half-life is the time required for half
(50%) of a drug to be eliminated from the body.
, How does the half-life of a drug affect its elimination from the body? - correct answer ✔✔After
about five half-lives, most drugs are considered effectively removed from the body, with
approximately 97% eliminated.
What is the significance of reaching steady state in drug therapy? - correct answer ✔✔Steady
state is reached when the amount of drug eliminated equals the amount absorbed, typically
occurring after four to five half-lives.
What factors can affect drug half-life in older adults? - correct answer ✔✔Age-related changes
such as decreased liver mass, reduced enzyme production, and decreased cardiac output can
prolong drug half-life.
What is the clinical significance of peak and trough levels in drug monitoring? - correct answer
✔✔Peak levels indicate the highest concentration of a drug, while trough levels indicate the
lowest; monitoring ensures therapeutic efficacy and minimizes toxicity.
What is the onset of action for a drug? - correct answer ✔✔Onset of action is the time it takes
for a drug to produce a therapeutic response after administration.
What is meant by the peak effect of a drug? - correct answer ✔✔Peak effect is the time when
the drug reaches its highest concentration in the blood and produces maximum therapeutic
response.
What does duration of action refer to in pharmacology? - correct answer ✔✔Duration of action
is the length of time a drug concentration remains sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response.
How does dosage form impact drug absorption? - correct answer ✔✔Different pharmaceutical
preparations affect dissolution and absorption rates; for example, liquids are absorbed more
quickly than enteric-coated tablets.
