NURS 5334 (2262) - Quiz 1 + Pediatric Prescriber Exercise
200-Question Practice Test - Instructor Version (Answers + Rationales)
How to use this set
• Use timed blocks (e.g., 40 questions in 50 minutes) to match quiz pacing, then
immediately review the rationales for missed items.
• For pediatric items: always lb-to-kg, use an appropriate dose within range (often mid-
range), check max daily dose, convert mg to mL, and round to a measurable volume.
• For prescribing safety: avoid error-prone abbreviations and unsafe decimals; write
clear, complete SIGs.
,1. Pharmacokinetics is best defined as:
A. What a drug does to the body (mechanism of action and effects)
B. What the body does to a drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination)
C. How to select a prototype drug for a class
D. A comparison of brand vs generic medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics (PK) describes how the body handles the drug over time -
absorption into the body, distribution to tissues, metabolism (biotransformation), and
elimination (metabolism + excretion). Pharmacodynamics (PD) is the opposite concept:
what the drug does to the body (receptors, effects, adverse effects).
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (PK/PD overview); Whalen et al.
Lippincott Pharmacology (PK/PD foundations)
2. Which GI absorption mechanism is energy-dependent and can move a drug against a
concentration gradient?
A. Facilitated diffusion
B. Bulk flow (filtration)
C. Active transport
D. Passive diffusion
Answer: C
Rationale: Active transport uses carrier proteins plus cellular energy to move a drug
against a concentration gradient. Passive diffusion is driven only by the gradient (no
energy). Facilitated diffusion uses a carrier but still moves down the gradient without
energy.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (absorption mechanisms); Whalen et
al. (membrane transport)
3. Which statement about passive diffusion is TRUE?
A. It uses a carrier that is easily saturated
B. It transports only very large molecules via vesicles
C. It requires ATP hydrolysis
D. It is driven by a concentration gradient and is not saturable
Answer: D
Rationale: Passive diffusion depends on the concentration gradient and membrane
permeability (often favors non-ionized, lipid-soluble molecules). Because it does not rely on
a finite number of transporters, it is not saturable. Carrier-mediated processes (active
transport, facilitated diffusion) can saturate.
,Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology; Whalen et al. (drug movement across
membranes)
4. Facilitated diffusion is characterized by which feature?
A. It uses a carrier and does not require energy
B. It requires ATP and moves drugs against a gradient
C. It is limited to transport of drugs via vesicles
D. It is not saturable and has low structural specificity
Answer: A
Rationale: Facilitated diffusion is carrier-mediated but energy-independent; it moves
molecules down their concentration gradient. Because it uses a transporter, it can be
saturable and selective.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology; Whalen et al. (carrier-mediated
transport)
5. Which statement about the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is TRUE?
A. Drugs cannot cross the BBB via specific transporters
B. Lipid-soluble drugs readily cross the BBB
C. BBB endothelial cells have wide slit junctions
D. Ionized/polar drugs cross the BBB easily
Answer: B
Rationale: The BBB has tight junctions and restricts polar/ionized molecules. Lipid-soluble
(nonpolar) drugs diffuse more readily. Some polar substances can still enter via specific
transporters (for example, glucose transporters).
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (distribution/BBB); Whalen et al. (BBB
permeability)
6. P-glycoprotein primarily:
A. Increases bioavailability by preventing first-pass metabolism
B. Acts only in the stomach and is absent in placenta and brain capillaries
C. Hydrolyzes drugs via Phase I oxidation
D. Pumps drugs out of cells, reducing absorption and/or tissue penetration in organs
where it is expressed
Answer: D
, Rationale: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an efflux transporter that moves drugs out of cells. In
the gut it can limit absorption; at the BBB and placenta it can limit penetration into
protected compartments. It is not a CYP enzyme.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (transporters); Whalen et al. (P-gp
clinical relevance)
7. Bioavailability is best defined as the:
A. Time required to reach steady state
B. Rate and extent to which a drug reaches systemic circulation
C. Percentage of a dose that binds to albumin
D. Degree to which a drug activates receptors
Answer: B
Rationale: Bioavailability (F) describes how much and how quickly an administered dose
reaches systemic circulation unchanged. Oral drugs often have reduced F due to incomplete
absorption and first-pass metabolism.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (bioavailability); Whalen et al. (AUC
and bioavailability)
8. A common method to estimate oral bioavailability is to compare the:
A. Volume of distribution after oral dosing to volume of distribution after IV dosing
B. Area under the curve (AUC) after oral dosing to the AUC after IV dosing
C. Peak plasma concentration (Cmax) after oral dosing to trough after IV dosing
D. Half-life after oral dosing to half-life after IV dosing
Answer: B
Rationale: AUC reflects total systemic exposure. Comparing AUC_oral to AUC_IV (with dose
adjustment when needed) estimates the fraction reaching systemic circulation. Cmax alone
does not capture total exposure.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (AUC); Whalen et al. (bioavailability
calculations)
9. First-pass metabolism refers to:
A. Metabolism in the gut wall and/or liver that reduces unchanged drug reaching systemic
circulation
B. Metabolism that occurs only after IV administration
C. Renal elimination of unchanged drug into urine
D. Drug binding to tissue reservoirs that prolongs effect
200-Question Practice Test - Instructor Version (Answers + Rationales)
How to use this set
• Use timed blocks (e.g., 40 questions in 50 minutes) to match quiz pacing, then
immediately review the rationales for missed items.
• For pediatric items: always lb-to-kg, use an appropriate dose within range (often mid-
range), check max daily dose, convert mg to mL, and round to a measurable volume.
• For prescribing safety: avoid error-prone abbreviations and unsafe decimals; write
clear, complete SIGs.
,1. Pharmacokinetics is best defined as:
A. What a drug does to the body (mechanism of action and effects)
B. What the body does to a drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination)
C. How to select a prototype drug for a class
D. A comparison of brand vs generic medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics (PK) describes how the body handles the drug over time -
absorption into the body, distribution to tissues, metabolism (biotransformation), and
elimination (metabolism + excretion). Pharmacodynamics (PD) is the opposite concept:
what the drug does to the body (receptors, effects, adverse effects).
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (PK/PD overview); Whalen et al.
Lippincott Pharmacology (PK/PD foundations)
2. Which GI absorption mechanism is energy-dependent and can move a drug against a
concentration gradient?
A. Facilitated diffusion
B. Bulk flow (filtration)
C. Active transport
D. Passive diffusion
Answer: C
Rationale: Active transport uses carrier proteins plus cellular energy to move a drug
against a concentration gradient. Passive diffusion is driven only by the gradient (no
energy). Facilitated diffusion uses a carrier but still moves down the gradient without
energy.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (absorption mechanisms); Whalen et
al. (membrane transport)
3. Which statement about passive diffusion is TRUE?
A. It uses a carrier that is easily saturated
B. It transports only very large molecules via vesicles
C. It requires ATP hydrolysis
D. It is driven by a concentration gradient and is not saturable
Answer: D
Rationale: Passive diffusion depends on the concentration gradient and membrane
permeability (often favors non-ionized, lipid-soluble molecules). Because it does not rely on
a finite number of transporters, it is not saturable. Carrier-mediated processes (active
transport, facilitated diffusion) can saturate.
,Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology; Whalen et al. (drug movement across
membranes)
4. Facilitated diffusion is characterized by which feature?
A. It uses a carrier and does not require energy
B. It requires ATP and moves drugs against a gradient
C. It is limited to transport of drugs via vesicles
D. It is not saturable and has low structural specificity
Answer: A
Rationale: Facilitated diffusion is carrier-mediated but energy-independent; it moves
molecules down their concentration gradient. Because it uses a transporter, it can be
saturable and selective.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology; Whalen et al. (carrier-mediated
transport)
5. Which statement about the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is TRUE?
A. Drugs cannot cross the BBB via specific transporters
B. Lipid-soluble drugs readily cross the BBB
C. BBB endothelial cells have wide slit junctions
D. Ionized/polar drugs cross the BBB easily
Answer: B
Rationale: The BBB has tight junctions and restricts polar/ionized molecules. Lipid-soluble
(nonpolar) drugs diffuse more readily. Some polar substances can still enter via specific
transporters (for example, glucose transporters).
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (distribution/BBB); Whalen et al. (BBB
permeability)
6. P-glycoprotein primarily:
A. Increases bioavailability by preventing first-pass metabolism
B. Acts only in the stomach and is absent in placenta and brain capillaries
C. Hydrolyzes drugs via Phase I oxidation
D. Pumps drugs out of cells, reducing absorption and/or tissue penetration in organs
where it is expressed
Answer: D
, Rationale: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an efflux transporter that moves drugs out of cells. In
the gut it can limit absorption; at the BBB and placenta it can limit penetration into
protected compartments. It is not a CYP enzyme.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (transporters); Whalen et al. (P-gp
clinical relevance)
7. Bioavailability is best defined as the:
A. Time required to reach steady state
B. Rate and extent to which a drug reaches systemic circulation
C. Percentage of a dose that binds to albumin
D. Degree to which a drug activates receptors
Answer: B
Rationale: Bioavailability (F) describes how much and how quickly an administered dose
reaches systemic circulation unchanged. Oral drugs often have reduced F due to incomplete
absorption and first-pass metabolism.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (bioavailability); Whalen et al. (AUC
and bioavailability)
8. A common method to estimate oral bioavailability is to compare the:
A. Volume of distribution after oral dosing to volume of distribution after IV dosing
B. Area under the curve (AUC) after oral dosing to the AUC after IV dosing
C. Peak plasma concentration (Cmax) after oral dosing to trough after IV dosing
D. Half-life after oral dosing to half-life after IV dosing
Answer: B
Rationale: AUC reflects total systemic exposure. Comparing AUC_oral to AUC_IV (with dose
adjustment when needed) estimates the fraction reaching systemic circulation. Cmax alone
does not capture total exposure.
Sources: UTA Lesson 1: Principles of Pharmacology (AUC); Whalen et al. (bioavailability
calculations)
9. First-pass metabolism refers to:
A. Metabolism in the gut wall and/or liver that reduces unchanged drug reaching systemic
circulation
B. Metabolism that occurs only after IV administration
C. Renal elimination of unchanged drug into urine
D. Drug binding to tissue reservoirs that prolongs effect
