BSN3A Pharmacology Exam Practice
Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus
Explained Rationales|2026 Latest Update|
Instant Download PDF
1. A nurse is administering a medication that has a narrow therapeutic
index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor serum drug levels as prescribed
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Give the medication at bedtime
Rationale: Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small
difference between therapeutic and toxic concentrations. Monitoring
serum drug levels helps ensure that the drug remains within the safe
therapeutic range.
2. Which pharmacokinetic process involves the movement of a drug
from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a medication from its
administration site into systemic circulation.
1|Page
,3. The nurse understands that the liver is primarily responsible for
which pharmacokinetic process?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Rationale: The liver is the major organ responsible for drug
metabolism, although other organs can also metabolize medications.
4. Which organ is primarily responsible for eliminating many
medications from the body?
A. Liver
B. Heart
C. Kidneys
D. Pancreas
Rationale: The kidneys eliminate many drugs and their metabolites
through urine. Renal impairment can therefore increase drug
accumulation and toxicity.
5. A patient is prescribed digoxin. Which assessment finding requires
the nurse's immediate attention?
A. Blood pressure of 128/76 mmHg
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Apical pulse of 52 beats/min
D. Temperature of 37°C
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,Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. An unusually low apical
pulse may indicate an adverse effect and requires evaluation before
administration.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hyperchloremia
Rationale: Low potassium levels increase the heart's sensitivity to
digoxin and increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
7. Which finding is commonly associated with digoxin toxicity?
A. Increased appetite
B. Nausea and visual disturbances
C. Severe hypertension only
D. Increased urinary output
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity can produce gastrointestinal symptoms,
dysrhythmias, and visual changes such as blurred or altered color
perception.
8. A patient taking warfarin requires monitoring of which laboratory
value?
A. aPTT
B. Serum sodium
3|Page
, C. INR
D. Troponin
Rationale: The international normalized ratio (INR) is used to monitor
the therapeutic effect of warfarin and assess bleeding risk.
9. Which medication is commonly used as an antidote for serious
warfarin-associated bleeding?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Naloxone
C. Atropine
D. Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K promotes synthesis of clotting factors and is used
to reverse the anticoagulant effects of warfarin when clinically
indicated.
10. Which medication reverses the effects of heparin?
A. Vitamin K
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Flumazenil
Rationale: Protamine sulfate binds to and neutralizes heparin, making
it the specific reversal agent for heparin.
11. Which laboratory test is traditionally used to monitor the
therapeutic effect of unfractionated heparin?
4|Page
Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus
Explained Rationales|2026 Latest Update|
Instant Download PDF
1. A nurse is administering a medication that has a narrow therapeutic
index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor serum drug levels as prescribed
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Give the medication at bedtime
Rationale: Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small
difference between therapeutic and toxic concentrations. Monitoring
serum drug levels helps ensure that the drug remains within the safe
therapeutic range.
2. Which pharmacokinetic process involves the movement of a drug
from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a medication from its
administration site into systemic circulation.
1|Page
,3. The nurse understands that the liver is primarily responsible for
which pharmacokinetic process?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Rationale: The liver is the major organ responsible for drug
metabolism, although other organs can also metabolize medications.
4. Which organ is primarily responsible for eliminating many
medications from the body?
A. Liver
B. Heart
C. Kidneys
D. Pancreas
Rationale: The kidneys eliminate many drugs and their metabolites
through urine. Renal impairment can therefore increase drug
accumulation and toxicity.
5. A patient is prescribed digoxin. Which assessment finding requires
the nurse's immediate attention?
A. Blood pressure of 128/76 mmHg
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Apical pulse of 52 beats/min
D. Temperature of 37°C
2|Page
,Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. An unusually low apical
pulse may indicate an adverse effect and requires evaluation before
administration.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hyperchloremia
Rationale: Low potassium levels increase the heart's sensitivity to
digoxin and increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
7. Which finding is commonly associated with digoxin toxicity?
A. Increased appetite
B. Nausea and visual disturbances
C. Severe hypertension only
D. Increased urinary output
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity can produce gastrointestinal symptoms,
dysrhythmias, and visual changes such as blurred or altered color
perception.
8. A patient taking warfarin requires monitoring of which laboratory
value?
A. aPTT
B. Serum sodium
3|Page
, C. INR
D. Troponin
Rationale: The international normalized ratio (INR) is used to monitor
the therapeutic effect of warfarin and assess bleeding risk.
9. Which medication is commonly used as an antidote for serious
warfarin-associated bleeding?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Naloxone
C. Atropine
D. Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K promotes synthesis of clotting factors and is used
to reverse the anticoagulant effects of warfarin when clinically
indicated.
10. Which medication reverses the effects of heparin?
A. Vitamin K
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Flumazenil
Rationale: Protamine sulfate binds to and neutralizes heparin, making
it the specific reversal agent for heparin.
11. Which laboratory test is traditionally used to monitor the
therapeutic effect of unfractionated heparin?
4|Page
