BSN HESI 315 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM – 350
UNIQUE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES [
ALREADY GRADED A+]
SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS (Questions
1–40)
Question 1
A client asks the nurse, "What is the difference between a generic and brand name
medication?" What is the best response?
A. "Generic medications are less effective than brand name medications."
B. "Generic medications have different active ingredients than brand name
medications."
C. "Generic medications have the same active ingredient and are bioequivalent to
brand name medications."
D. "Brand name medications are always safer than generic medications."
Answer: C
Rationale: Generic medications contain the same active ingredient as the brand
name medication, have the same strength, dosage form, and route of
administration, and are bioequivalent. They are approved by the FDA and are
1
,typically less expensive. They are equally effective and safe when used as
prescribed.
---
Question 2
The nurse is reviewing the pharmacodynamics of a medication. Which statement
accurately describes pharmacodynamics?
A. How the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a drug
B. The study of drug interactions with food
C. What the drug does to the body (mechanism of action)
D. The study of drug toxicity and side effects
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of how a drug affects the body,
including its mechanism of action, receptor binding, and therapeutic and adverse
effects. Pharmacokinetics (A) is how the body affects the drug. Pharmacodynamics
is often summarized as "what the drug does to the body."
---
Question 3
2
,A client is prescribed a medication with a half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-
life, the medication will most likely be prescribed:
A. Once a day
B. Twice a day
C. Three times a day
D. Four times a day
Answer: A
Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between
doses for extended periods, allowing for once-daily dosing. A half-life of 4 days is
considered long, supporting once-daily administration.
---
Question 4
A client being discharged home is prescribed an antibiotic with a dosage three
times higher than it was administered when the client was in the hospital. Which
route of administration should the nurse anticipate will be prescribed for the
greatest first-pass effect?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Subcutaneous
3
, Answer: A
Rationale: Oral medications undergo extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver,
significantly reducing bioavailability before reaching systemic circulation. This is
why oral doses are often higher than IV doses to achieve the same therapeutic
effect.
---
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is 95% protein-bound. Which
statement about this medication is correct?
A. Most of the medication is available to exert a therapeutic effect
B. Only 5% of the medication is pharmacologically active
C. The medication will have a short half-life
D. The medication is excreted unchanged by the kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Only free (unbound) drug is pharmacologically active. A drug that is
95% protein-bound means only 5% is free and active. Highly protein-bound drugs
(warfarin 99%, phenytoin 90-95%, diazepam 99%) have a narrow therapeutic
index and are prone to drug-drug displacement interactions.
---
4
UNIQUE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES [
ALREADY GRADED A+]
SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS (Questions
1–40)
Question 1
A client asks the nurse, "What is the difference between a generic and brand name
medication?" What is the best response?
A. "Generic medications are less effective than brand name medications."
B. "Generic medications have different active ingredients than brand name
medications."
C. "Generic medications have the same active ingredient and are bioequivalent to
brand name medications."
D. "Brand name medications are always safer than generic medications."
Answer: C
Rationale: Generic medications contain the same active ingredient as the brand
name medication, have the same strength, dosage form, and route of
administration, and are bioequivalent. They are approved by the FDA and are
1
,typically less expensive. They are equally effective and safe when used as
prescribed.
---
Question 2
The nurse is reviewing the pharmacodynamics of a medication. Which statement
accurately describes pharmacodynamics?
A. How the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a drug
B. The study of drug interactions with food
C. What the drug does to the body (mechanism of action)
D. The study of drug toxicity and side effects
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of how a drug affects the body,
including its mechanism of action, receptor binding, and therapeutic and adverse
effects. Pharmacokinetics (A) is how the body affects the drug. Pharmacodynamics
is often summarized as "what the drug does to the body."
---
Question 3
2
,A client is prescribed a medication with a half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-
life, the medication will most likely be prescribed:
A. Once a day
B. Twice a day
C. Three times a day
D. Four times a day
Answer: A
Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between
doses for extended periods, allowing for once-daily dosing. A half-life of 4 days is
considered long, supporting once-daily administration.
---
Question 4
A client being discharged home is prescribed an antibiotic with a dosage three
times higher than it was administered when the client was in the hospital. Which
route of administration should the nurse anticipate will be prescribed for the
greatest first-pass effect?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Subcutaneous
3
, Answer: A
Rationale: Oral medications undergo extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver,
significantly reducing bioavailability before reaching systemic circulation. This is
why oral doses are often higher than IV doses to achieve the same therapeutic
effect.
---
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is 95% protein-bound. Which
statement about this medication is correct?
A. Most of the medication is available to exert a therapeutic effect
B. Only 5% of the medication is pharmacologically active
C. The medication will have a short half-life
D. The medication is excreted unchanged by the kidneys
Answer: B
Rationale: Only free (unbound) drug is pharmacologically active. A drug that is
95% protein-bound means only 5% is free and active. Highly protein-bound drugs
(warfarin 99%, phenytoin 90-95%, diazepam 99%) have a narrow therapeutic
index and are prone to drug-drug displacement interactions.
---
4
