,GCU NSG 318 Exam 1 | Introduction to Pharmacology | Grand
Canyon University | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following best defines pharmacology?
A) The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body
B) The study of the effects of drugs on the body's physiological processes
C) The study of medications and their effects on living systems
D) The study of genetic factors that influence individual drug responses
Correct Answer: The study of medications and their effects on living systems
Rationale: Pharmacology is defined as the study of medications/drugs and the manner in which the
function of living systems is affected by chemical substances. Pharmacokinetics specifically deals with
drug movement through the body, pharmacodynamics focuses on drug effects, and pharmacogenetics
examines genetic influences.
2. What is the primary purpose of the six rights of medication administration?
A) To ensure the nurse administers medications within the correct time frame
B) To prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety
C) To document all medications given in the electronic health record
D) To verify the patient's insurance covers the prescribed medication
Correct Answer: To prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety
Rationale: The six rights (right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right
documentation) are foundational safety principles designed to prevent medication errors. Each right
serves as a critical checkpoint before medication administration, protecting patients from potential
harm.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notes that the order is missing the route of
administration. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer the medication using the most common route for that drug
,B) Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the order
C) Document the omission and proceed with administration
D) Check the patient's medical record for previous routes used
Correct Answer: Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the order
Rationale: If any information is missing from a drug order, such as the dosage or route, the nurse must
contact the healthcare provider for clarification before administering the medication. Administering
without complete information could result in patient harm and is outside the nurse's scope of practice.
4. Which term describes the process by which a drug is completely metabolized by the liver on its first
pass through the gastrointestinal tract?
A) Bioavailability
B) First-pass effect
C) Half-life
D) Therapeutic index
Correct Answer: First-pass effect
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver on its first pass through
the GI tract, reducing the amount of active drug reaching systemic circulation. This effect applies only to
orally administered drugs and explains why oral doses are often higher than intravenous doses.
5. According to the NSG 318 Exam 1 blueprint, what percentage of the exam covers Topic 1:
Introduction to Nursing Pharmacology, Terminology, and Medication Calculation?
A) 18%
B) 20%
C) 30%
D) 32%
Correct Answer: 20%
, Rationale: The exam blueprint specifies that Topic 1 (Introduction to Nursing Pharmacology,
Terminology, and Medication Calculation) comprises 20% of Exam 1. Topic 2 covers 32%, Topic 3 covers
30%, and Topic 4 covers 18% of the exam.
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response is called a:
A) Partial agonist
B) Antagonist
C) Full agonist
D) Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: Full agonist
Rationale: A full agonist binds to a receptor and produces the maximum possible response. A partial
agonist produces a submaximal response even at full receptor occupancy, while an antagonist blocks
receptor activation.
7. The median effective dose (ED₅₀) is the dose at which:
A) 50% of the population experiences a toxic effect
B) 50% of the population experiences a therapeutic effect
C) 50% of the drug is eliminated from the body
D) 50% of the drug is absorbed into systemic circulation
Correct Answer: 50% of the population experiences a therapeutic effect
Rationale: The ED₅₀ is the dose that produces a therapeutic response in 50% of the population. It is used
to compare the potency of different drugs. The TD₅₀ refers to the toxic dose in 50% of the population.
8. Which of the following best describes the therapeutic index (TI)?
A) TI = ED₅₀ / TD₅₀
Canyon University | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following best defines pharmacology?
A) The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body
B) The study of the effects of drugs on the body's physiological processes
C) The study of medications and their effects on living systems
D) The study of genetic factors that influence individual drug responses
Correct Answer: The study of medications and their effects on living systems
Rationale: Pharmacology is defined as the study of medications/drugs and the manner in which the
function of living systems is affected by chemical substances. Pharmacokinetics specifically deals with
drug movement through the body, pharmacodynamics focuses on drug effects, and pharmacogenetics
examines genetic influences.
2. What is the primary purpose of the six rights of medication administration?
A) To ensure the nurse administers medications within the correct time frame
B) To prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety
C) To document all medications given in the electronic health record
D) To verify the patient's insurance covers the prescribed medication
Correct Answer: To prevent medication errors and ensure patient safety
Rationale: The six rights (right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right
documentation) are foundational safety principles designed to prevent medication errors. Each right
serves as a critical checkpoint before medication administration, protecting patients from potential
harm.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notes that the order is missing the route of
administration. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Administer the medication using the most common route for that drug
,B) Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the order
C) Document the omission and proceed with administration
D) Check the patient's medical record for previous routes used
Correct Answer: Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the order
Rationale: If any information is missing from a drug order, such as the dosage or route, the nurse must
contact the healthcare provider for clarification before administering the medication. Administering
without complete information could result in patient harm and is outside the nurse's scope of practice.
4. Which term describes the process by which a drug is completely metabolized by the liver on its first
pass through the gastrointestinal tract?
A) Bioavailability
B) First-pass effect
C) Half-life
D) Therapeutic index
Correct Answer: First-pass effect
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver on its first pass through
the GI tract, reducing the amount of active drug reaching systemic circulation. This effect applies only to
orally administered drugs and explains why oral doses are often higher than intravenous doses.
5. According to the NSG 318 Exam 1 blueprint, what percentage of the exam covers Topic 1:
Introduction to Nursing Pharmacology, Terminology, and Medication Calculation?
A) 18%
B) 20%
C) 30%
D) 32%
Correct Answer: 20%
, Rationale: The exam blueprint specifies that Topic 1 (Introduction to Nursing Pharmacology,
Terminology, and Medication Calculation) comprises 20% of Exam 1. Topic 2 covers 32%, Topic 3 covers
30%, and Topic 4 covers 18% of the exam.
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response is called a:
A) Partial agonist
B) Antagonist
C) Full agonist
D) Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: Full agonist
Rationale: A full agonist binds to a receptor and produces the maximum possible response. A partial
agonist produces a submaximal response even at full receptor occupancy, while an antagonist blocks
receptor activation.
7. The median effective dose (ED₅₀) is the dose at which:
A) 50% of the population experiences a toxic effect
B) 50% of the population experiences a therapeutic effect
C) 50% of the drug is eliminated from the body
D) 50% of the drug is absorbed into systemic circulation
Correct Answer: 50% of the population experiences a therapeutic effect
Rationale: The ED₅₀ is the dose that produces a therapeutic response in 50% of the population. It is used
to compare the potency of different drugs. The TD₅₀ refers to the toxic dose in 50% of the population.
8. Which of the following best describes the therapeutic index (TI)?
A) TI = ED₅₀ / TD₅₀
