NURS 6521 WEEK 11 FINAL | PROCTORED EXAM PREP +
PHARMACOLOGY MNEMONICS COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
NURS 6521 Week 11 Final | Proctored Exam Prep + Pharmacology
Mnemonics
1. Q: What is the primary focus of pharmacokinetics? ANSWER
What the body does to the drug (Absorption, Distribution,
Metabolism, Excretion).
2. Q: What is bioavailability? ANSWER The percentage of a drug that
reaches systemic circulation unchanged.
3. Q: Which route has 100% bioavailability? ANSWER Intravenous
(IV).
4. Q: What is the first-pass effect? ANSWER Drug metabolism by
the liver before reaching systemic circulation (reduces
bioavailability).
5. Q: Which patient population is most at risk for toxic accumulation
of highly protein-bound drugs? ANSWER Elderly or
malnourished (hypoalbuminemia) because more free drug is
available.
6. Q: What is the blood-brain barrier? ANSWER A tightly packed cell
barrier that prevents lipid-insoluble drugs from entering the CNS.
7. Q: Which drugs cross the blood-brain barrier easily? ANSWER
Lipid-soluble, non-ionized drugs.
,8. Q: Where does Phase I metabolism primarily occur? ANSWER
Liver (via cytochrome P450 enzymes).
9. Q: What is the main purpose of Phase II metabolism? ANSWER To
make the drug more water-soluble for renal excretion
(conjugation).
10. Q: A drug with a half-life of 12 hours will reach steady state in
how long? ANSWER 60 hours (5 half-lives).
11. Q: What is a loading dose? ANSWER A higher initial dose used to
rapidly achieve therapeutic levels.
12. Q: What is pharmacodynamics? ANSWER What the drug does to
the body (receptor binding, therapeutic effects).
13. Q: Define agonist. ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor and
stimulates a response.
14. Q: Define antagonist. ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor
and blocks a response.
15. Q: What is a therapeutic index (TI)? ANSWER The ratio of a drug's
toxic dose to its therapeutic dose.
16. Q: Is a narrow or wide therapeutic index more dangerous?
ANSWER Narrow (small margin between effective and toxic
doses, e.g., Lithium, Digoxin).
17. Q: What is idiosyncrasy? ANSWER An abnormal, unexpected, and
genetically determined response to a drug.
18. Q: What is tachyphylaxis? ANSWER A rapid decrease in response
to a drug after repeated doses (e.g., nitroglycerin).
19. Q: What does the FDA Pregnancy Category X mean? ANSWER
Absolute contraindication in pregnancy; proven fetal risk.
20. Q: What is off-label prescribing? ANSWER Prescribing a
drug for an indication, age group, or route not approved by the
FDA.
21. Q: What is a drug-drug interaction? ANSWER When one drug
alters the effect of another drug.
, 22.Q: What is an inducer of the CYP450 system? ANSWER A
substance that speeds up drug metabolism, decreasing drug
levels (e.g., St. John’s Wort, Rifampin).
23.Q: What is an inhibitor of the CYP450 system? ANSWER A
substance that slows down drug metabolism, increasing drug
levels (e.g., Grapefruit juice, Erythromycin).
24. Q: What is the primary route of excretion for water-soluble
drugs? ANSWER Kidneys (urine).
25. Q: How does kidney disease affect drug dosing? ANSWER
Requires dose reduction to prevent toxicity.
26.Q: What is the onset of action? ANSWER The time it takes for the
drug to reach the minimum effective concentration.
27. Q: What is peak action? ANSWER The time it takes for the drug to
reach its highest blood level.
28. Q: What is duration of action? ANSWER The length of time a
drug has a pharmacologic effect.
29.Q: What is the difference between tolerance and dependence?
ANSWER Tolerance = needing more drug for same effect;
Dependence = experiencing withdrawal if stopped.
30. Q: What is placebo effect? ANSWER A psychological
response to a non-active substance.
Part 2: Autonomic Nervous System (31-55)
31. Q: What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) do?
ANSWER "Rest and Digest" (SLUDGE).
32.Q: What does the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) do?
ANSWER "Fight or Flight" (increases HR, BP, dilates pupils).
33.Q: What are cholinergic drugs? ANSWER Drugs that stimulate
the PNS (acetylcholine mimickers).
34. Q: What are anticholinergic drugs? ANSWER Drugs that
block the PNS (cause dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation,
blurred vision).
PHARMACOLOGY MNEMONICS COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
NURS 6521 Week 11 Final | Proctored Exam Prep + Pharmacology
Mnemonics
1. Q: What is the primary focus of pharmacokinetics? ANSWER
What the body does to the drug (Absorption, Distribution,
Metabolism, Excretion).
2. Q: What is bioavailability? ANSWER The percentage of a drug that
reaches systemic circulation unchanged.
3. Q: Which route has 100% bioavailability? ANSWER Intravenous
(IV).
4. Q: What is the first-pass effect? ANSWER Drug metabolism by
the liver before reaching systemic circulation (reduces
bioavailability).
5. Q: Which patient population is most at risk for toxic accumulation
of highly protein-bound drugs? ANSWER Elderly or
malnourished (hypoalbuminemia) because more free drug is
available.
6. Q: What is the blood-brain barrier? ANSWER A tightly packed cell
barrier that prevents lipid-insoluble drugs from entering the CNS.
7. Q: Which drugs cross the blood-brain barrier easily? ANSWER
Lipid-soluble, non-ionized drugs.
,8. Q: Where does Phase I metabolism primarily occur? ANSWER
Liver (via cytochrome P450 enzymes).
9. Q: What is the main purpose of Phase II metabolism? ANSWER To
make the drug more water-soluble for renal excretion
(conjugation).
10. Q: A drug with a half-life of 12 hours will reach steady state in
how long? ANSWER 60 hours (5 half-lives).
11. Q: What is a loading dose? ANSWER A higher initial dose used to
rapidly achieve therapeutic levels.
12. Q: What is pharmacodynamics? ANSWER What the drug does to
the body (receptor binding, therapeutic effects).
13. Q: Define agonist. ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor and
stimulates a response.
14. Q: Define antagonist. ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor
and blocks a response.
15. Q: What is a therapeutic index (TI)? ANSWER The ratio of a drug's
toxic dose to its therapeutic dose.
16. Q: Is a narrow or wide therapeutic index more dangerous?
ANSWER Narrow (small margin between effective and toxic
doses, e.g., Lithium, Digoxin).
17. Q: What is idiosyncrasy? ANSWER An abnormal, unexpected, and
genetically determined response to a drug.
18. Q: What is tachyphylaxis? ANSWER A rapid decrease in response
to a drug after repeated doses (e.g., nitroglycerin).
19. Q: What does the FDA Pregnancy Category X mean? ANSWER
Absolute contraindication in pregnancy; proven fetal risk.
20. Q: What is off-label prescribing? ANSWER Prescribing a
drug for an indication, age group, or route not approved by the
FDA.
21. Q: What is a drug-drug interaction? ANSWER When one drug
alters the effect of another drug.
, 22.Q: What is an inducer of the CYP450 system? ANSWER A
substance that speeds up drug metabolism, decreasing drug
levels (e.g., St. John’s Wort, Rifampin).
23.Q: What is an inhibitor of the CYP450 system? ANSWER A
substance that slows down drug metabolism, increasing drug
levels (e.g., Grapefruit juice, Erythromycin).
24. Q: What is the primary route of excretion for water-soluble
drugs? ANSWER Kidneys (urine).
25. Q: How does kidney disease affect drug dosing? ANSWER
Requires dose reduction to prevent toxicity.
26.Q: What is the onset of action? ANSWER The time it takes for the
drug to reach the minimum effective concentration.
27. Q: What is peak action? ANSWER The time it takes for the drug to
reach its highest blood level.
28. Q: What is duration of action? ANSWER The length of time a
drug has a pharmacologic effect.
29.Q: What is the difference between tolerance and dependence?
ANSWER Tolerance = needing more drug for same effect;
Dependence = experiencing withdrawal if stopped.
30. Q: What is placebo effect? ANSWER A psychological
response to a non-active substance.
Part 2: Autonomic Nervous System (31-55)
31. Q: What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) do?
ANSWER "Rest and Digest" (SLUDGE).
32.Q: What does the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) do?
ANSWER "Fight or Flight" (increases HR, BP, dilates pupils).
33.Q: What are cholinergic drugs? ANSWER Drugs that stimulate
the PNS (acetylcholine mimickers).
34. Q: What are anticholinergic drugs? ANSWER Drugs that
block the PNS (cause dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation,
blurred vision).
