NUR 100/NUR100 Exam 2 V3 | Pharmacology Q&A
with Rationale | Fortis College
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication. Which pharmacokinetic process is
primarily affected if the patient has had a significant portion of their small intestine
removed?
A. Metabolism
B. Excretion
C. Distribution
D. Absorption
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Absorption is the process of a drug moving from its site of administration
into the bloodstream. The small intestine is the primary site for the absorption of most oral
medications due to its large surface area. A reduction in intestinal surface area directly
impairs the efficiency of this process.
2. Which of the following is a key nursing action to prevent medication errors during a
transition of care?
A. Performing medication reconciliation
B. Verifying the patient’s insurance coverage
C. Administering all PRN medications before transfer
,D. Using the patient’s room number as an identifier
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Medication reconciliation is the process of comparing the patient’s current
medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking. This practice is
essential to avoid errors such as omissions, duplications, or dosing errors. It should be
performed at every transition of care, including admission, transfer, and discharge.
3. A patient is prescribed a medication with a very narrow therapeutic index. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Teach the patient to double the dose if a dose is missed
B. Administer the drug only on an empty stomach
C. Monitor serum drug levels frequently
D. Encourage increased fluid intake to speed up excretion
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means that the difference between a therapeutic
dose and a toxic dose is very small. Frequent monitoring of serum drug levels is necessary
to ensure the drug remains within the safe range. Nurses must report any values outside of
the therapeutic window to the provider immediately.
4. The nurse is administering a medication that is highly protein-bound. If the patient has low
serum albumin levels, what is the expected result?
A. There will be an increased risk of drug toxicity
, B. The drug will be ineffective
C. The drug will be excreted more slowly
D. The drug will stay in the bloodstream longer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Drugs that are highly protein-bound attach to albumin, leaving only a small
portion ‘free’ and active. If a patient has low albumin (hypoalbuminemia), there are fewer
binding sites, leading to more free drug in the system. This increases the risk of toxicity
because the free drug is what exerts the pharmacological effect.
5. When administering an IM injection using the Z-track method, what is the primary purpose
of this technique?
A. To decrease the pain associated with the injection
B. To prevent the medication from leaking into the subcutaneous tissue
C. To ensure the medication enters the subcutaneous tissue
D. To increase the speed of medication absorption
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Z-track method involves pulling the skin and subcutaneous tissue to the
side before inserting the needle. Once the needle is withdrawn and the skin is released, the
track left by the needle is closed off. This prevents irritating or staining medications from
leaking back into the sensitive subcutaneous layers.
with Rationale | Fortis College
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication. Which pharmacokinetic process is
primarily affected if the patient has had a significant portion of their small intestine
removed?
A. Metabolism
B. Excretion
C. Distribution
D. Absorption
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Absorption is the process of a drug moving from its site of administration
into the bloodstream. The small intestine is the primary site for the absorption of most oral
medications due to its large surface area. A reduction in intestinal surface area directly
impairs the efficiency of this process.
2. Which of the following is a key nursing action to prevent medication errors during a
transition of care?
A. Performing medication reconciliation
B. Verifying the patient’s insurance coverage
C. Administering all PRN medications before transfer
,D. Using the patient’s room number as an identifier
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Medication reconciliation is the process of comparing the patient’s current
medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking. This practice is
essential to avoid errors such as omissions, duplications, or dosing errors. It should be
performed at every transition of care, including admission, transfer, and discharge.
3. A patient is prescribed a medication with a very narrow therapeutic index. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Teach the patient to double the dose if a dose is missed
B. Administer the drug only on an empty stomach
C. Monitor serum drug levels frequently
D. Encourage increased fluid intake to speed up excretion
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means that the difference between a therapeutic
dose and a toxic dose is very small. Frequent monitoring of serum drug levels is necessary
to ensure the drug remains within the safe range. Nurses must report any values outside of
the therapeutic window to the provider immediately.
4. The nurse is administering a medication that is highly protein-bound. If the patient has low
serum albumin levels, what is the expected result?
A. There will be an increased risk of drug toxicity
, B. The drug will be ineffective
C. The drug will be excreted more slowly
D. The drug will stay in the bloodstream longer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Drugs that are highly protein-bound attach to albumin, leaving only a small
portion ‘free’ and active. If a patient has low albumin (hypoalbuminemia), there are fewer
binding sites, leading to more free drug in the system. This increases the risk of toxicity
because the free drug is what exerts the pharmacological effect.
5. When administering an IM injection using the Z-track method, what is the primary purpose
of this technique?
A. To decrease the pain associated with the injection
B. To prevent the medication from leaking into the subcutaneous tissue
C. To ensure the medication enters the subcutaneous tissue
D. To increase the speed of medication absorption
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Z-track method involves pulling the skin and subcutaneous tissue to the
side before inserting the needle. Once the needle is withdrawn and the skin is released, the
track left by the needle is closed off. This prevents irritating or staining medications from
leaking back into the sensitive subcutaneous layers.
