Nclex Pharmacokinetics-Test
Questions and Answers.
A new graduate nurse, who is preparing to administer medications, knows that what is required
for a drug to move through the body?
A. Selectivity and effectiveness
B. The ability to cross membranes
C. Development of an electric charge
D. A transporter protein - Answer B.
To move through the body, drugs must cross membranes. They cross membranes to enter the
bloodstream, to exit the bloodstream and reach the site of action, and to undergo metabolism
and excretion. Selectivity and effectiveness are not related to drug movement. Development of
an electric charge (ionization) reduces a drug's ability to be absorbed. Transporter proteins are
not required for drugs to move through the body.
The nurse is preparing to give a medication for pain. The label states that the drug is "lipid
soluble." Based on the nurse's knowledge of lipid-soluble drugs, how quickly would the nurse
expect to observe the effects of the drug?
A. Slowly
B. Rapidly
C. Unpredictably
D. Variably - Answer B.
Cell membranes are composed of lipids; therefore, a lipid-soluble drug passes through rapidly. A
water-soluble drug passes through more slowly. The nurse would expect to observe the effects
of a lipid-soluble drug more quickly, because the drug is absorbed more rapidly.
The nurse is administering warfarin, an anticoagulant, to a patient with a low albumin level. As a
result, the nurse can expect to observe which effect of this medication?
A. Increased PT/INR levels
B. Deep vein thromboses
C. Reduced risk of bruising
D. Increased platelet aggregation - Answer A.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant with a high affinity for binding with albumin. If the albumin level is
low, more free drug is available for action, resulting in an increased prothrombin
time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR). Deep vein thromboses can be prevented with
warfarin. An increased risk of bruising and bleeding would occur with more free drug available.
Warfarin acts on vitamin K, not on platelets. Aspirin is an example of an antiplatelet aggregator.
Questions and Answers.
A new graduate nurse, who is preparing to administer medications, knows that what is required
for a drug to move through the body?
A. Selectivity and effectiveness
B. The ability to cross membranes
C. Development of an electric charge
D. A transporter protein - Answer B.
To move through the body, drugs must cross membranes. They cross membranes to enter the
bloodstream, to exit the bloodstream and reach the site of action, and to undergo metabolism
and excretion. Selectivity and effectiveness are not related to drug movement. Development of
an electric charge (ionization) reduces a drug's ability to be absorbed. Transporter proteins are
not required for drugs to move through the body.
The nurse is preparing to give a medication for pain. The label states that the drug is "lipid
soluble." Based on the nurse's knowledge of lipid-soluble drugs, how quickly would the nurse
expect to observe the effects of the drug?
A. Slowly
B. Rapidly
C. Unpredictably
D. Variably - Answer B.
Cell membranes are composed of lipids; therefore, a lipid-soluble drug passes through rapidly. A
water-soluble drug passes through more slowly. The nurse would expect to observe the effects
of a lipid-soluble drug more quickly, because the drug is absorbed more rapidly.
The nurse is administering warfarin, an anticoagulant, to a patient with a low albumin level. As a
result, the nurse can expect to observe which effect of this medication?
A. Increased PT/INR levels
B. Deep vein thromboses
C. Reduced risk of bruising
D. Increased platelet aggregation - Answer A.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant with a high affinity for binding with albumin. If the albumin level is
low, more free drug is available for action, resulting in an increased prothrombin
time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR). Deep vein thromboses can be prevented with
warfarin. An increased risk of bruising and bleeding would occur with more free drug available.
Warfarin acts on vitamin K, not on platelets. Aspirin is an example of an antiplatelet aggregator.
