NUR 600 Exam 1 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology –
(2026/2027) Actual Questions, Verified Answers with
Rationales | Guarantee Pass
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics – Absorption
Q1: A drug that is a weak acid (pKa 4.4) is administered orally. In the stomach
(pH 1.4), the drug will be mostly:
A. Non-ionized and readily absorbed
B. Ionized and poorly absorbed
C. Trapped in the stomach
D. Bound to albumin
Correct Answer: A. Non-ionized and readily absorbed
Rationale: Weak acids are non-ionized at low pH (pH < pKa). The non-ionized
form is lipid-soluble and can readily cross cell membranes. In the acidic stomach
environment, the drug will be non-ionized and absorbed across the gastric
mucosa. This follows the principle that "acidic drugs are absorbed in acidic
environments."
Q2: Which property of a drug is most important for absorption from the
stomach?
A. Liver enzyme activity
B. Ability to chew and swallow
C. Protein-binding properties
D. Lipid solubility
Correct Answer: D. Lipid solubility
Rationale: Gastric absorption depends on drug properties such as lipid solubility
because lipid-soluble drugs cross gastric and intestinal membranes more readily.
Liver enzyme activity affects metabolism, not initial gastric absorption. Protein-
binding influences distribution in plasma after absorption.
,Q3: What is true about drugs administered via the intravenous (IV) route?
A. Need to be lipid soluble to be easily absorbed
B. Begin distribution into the body immediately
C. Are easily absorbed if they are nonionized
D. May use pinocytosis to be absorbed
Correct Answer: B. Begin distribution into the body immediately
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption; the drug directly enters
systemic circulation and is available for immediate distribution to tissues,
producing a rapid onset of action.
Q4: Instructions to a client regarding self-administration of oral enteric-coated
tablets should include which statement?
A. "Avoid any other oral medicines while taking this drug."
B. "If swallowing this tablet is difficult, dissolve it in 3 ounces of orange juice."
C. "The tablet may be crushed if you have any difficulty taking it."
D. "To achieve best effect, take the tablet with at least 8 ounces of fluid."
Correct Answer: D. "To achieve best effect, take the tablet with at least 8
ounces of fluid."
Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets should be swallowed whole with adequate fluid.
They should NOT be crushed or dissolved, as this destroys the enteric coating
designed to protect the stomach or delay drug release.
Q5: The major reason for not crushing a sustained-release capsule is that, if
crushed, the coated beads of the drugs could possibly result in:
A. Disintegration
B. Toxicity
C. Malabsorption
D. Deterioration
,Correct Answer: B. Toxicity
Rationale: Crushing sustained-release capsules destroys the controlled-release
mechanism, causing the entire dose to be released at once. This can lead to
potentially toxic drug levels.
Q6: Which of the following variables is a factor in drug absorption?
A. The smaller the surface area for absorption, the more rapidly the drug is
absorbed.
B. A rich blood supply to the area of absorption leads to better absorption.
C. The less soluble the drug, the more easily it is absorbed.
D. Ionized drugs are easily absorbed across the cell membrane.
Correct Answer: B. A rich blood supply to the area of absorption leads to better
absorption.
Rationale: A rich blood supply maintains a concentration gradient by rapidly
carrying absorbed drug away from the absorption site. This promotes continued
absorption.
Q7: Which substance is most likely to be absorbed in the intestines rather than
in the stomach?
A. Sodium bicarbonate
B. Ascorbic acid
C. Salicylic acid
D. Glucose
Correct Answer: A. Sodium bicarbonate
Rationale: Sodium bicarbonate is a weak base. Weak bases are better absorbed in
the intestine where the higher pH favors the non-ionized, lipid-soluble form.
Weak acids (like ascorbic acid and salicylic acid) are better absorbed in the acidic
stomach.
, Q8: An advantage of prescribing a sublingual medication is that the medication
is:
A. Absorbed rapidly
B. Excreted rapidly
C. Metabolized minimally
D. Distributed equally
Correct Answer: A. Absorbed rapidly
Rationale: Sublingual administration provides rapid absorption due to the rich
vascular supply of the oral mucosa. Additionally, it bypasses first-pass hepatic
metabolism.
Q9: Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera) is prescribed IM to create a storage
reservoir of the drug. Storage reservoirs:
A. Assure that the drug will reach its intended target tissue
B. Are the reason for giving loading doses
C. Increase the length of time a drug is available and active
D. Are most common in collagen tissues
Correct Answer: C. Increase the length of time a drug is available and active
Rationale: Intramuscular administration creates a storage reservoir in the muscle
tissue. The drug is slowly released from this site into the circulation, prolonging its
availability and activity.
Q10: Bioavailability issues are especially important for drugs with:
A. Wide therapeutic ranges
B. Narrow therapeutic ranges or sustained-release mechanisms
C. High protein binding
D. Low volume of distribution
Correct Answer: B. Narrow therapeutic ranges or sustained-release mechanisms
(2026/2027) Actual Questions, Verified Answers with
Rationales | Guarantee Pass
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics – Absorption
Q1: A drug that is a weak acid (pKa 4.4) is administered orally. In the stomach
(pH 1.4), the drug will be mostly:
A. Non-ionized and readily absorbed
B. Ionized and poorly absorbed
C. Trapped in the stomach
D. Bound to albumin
Correct Answer: A. Non-ionized and readily absorbed
Rationale: Weak acids are non-ionized at low pH (pH < pKa). The non-ionized
form is lipid-soluble and can readily cross cell membranes. In the acidic stomach
environment, the drug will be non-ionized and absorbed across the gastric
mucosa. This follows the principle that "acidic drugs are absorbed in acidic
environments."
Q2: Which property of a drug is most important for absorption from the
stomach?
A. Liver enzyme activity
B. Ability to chew and swallow
C. Protein-binding properties
D. Lipid solubility
Correct Answer: D. Lipid solubility
Rationale: Gastric absorption depends on drug properties such as lipid solubility
because lipid-soluble drugs cross gastric and intestinal membranes more readily.
Liver enzyme activity affects metabolism, not initial gastric absorption. Protein-
binding influences distribution in plasma after absorption.
,Q3: What is true about drugs administered via the intravenous (IV) route?
A. Need to be lipid soluble to be easily absorbed
B. Begin distribution into the body immediately
C. Are easily absorbed if they are nonionized
D. May use pinocytosis to be absorbed
Correct Answer: B. Begin distribution into the body immediately
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption; the drug directly enters
systemic circulation and is available for immediate distribution to tissues,
producing a rapid onset of action.
Q4: Instructions to a client regarding self-administration of oral enteric-coated
tablets should include which statement?
A. "Avoid any other oral medicines while taking this drug."
B. "If swallowing this tablet is difficult, dissolve it in 3 ounces of orange juice."
C. "The tablet may be crushed if you have any difficulty taking it."
D. "To achieve best effect, take the tablet with at least 8 ounces of fluid."
Correct Answer: D. "To achieve best effect, take the tablet with at least 8
ounces of fluid."
Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets should be swallowed whole with adequate fluid.
They should NOT be crushed or dissolved, as this destroys the enteric coating
designed to protect the stomach or delay drug release.
Q5: The major reason for not crushing a sustained-release capsule is that, if
crushed, the coated beads of the drugs could possibly result in:
A. Disintegration
B. Toxicity
C. Malabsorption
D. Deterioration
,Correct Answer: B. Toxicity
Rationale: Crushing sustained-release capsules destroys the controlled-release
mechanism, causing the entire dose to be released at once. This can lead to
potentially toxic drug levels.
Q6: Which of the following variables is a factor in drug absorption?
A. The smaller the surface area for absorption, the more rapidly the drug is
absorbed.
B. A rich blood supply to the area of absorption leads to better absorption.
C. The less soluble the drug, the more easily it is absorbed.
D. Ionized drugs are easily absorbed across the cell membrane.
Correct Answer: B. A rich blood supply to the area of absorption leads to better
absorption.
Rationale: A rich blood supply maintains a concentration gradient by rapidly
carrying absorbed drug away from the absorption site. This promotes continued
absorption.
Q7: Which substance is most likely to be absorbed in the intestines rather than
in the stomach?
A. Sodium bicarbonate
B. Ascorbic acid
C. Salicylic acid
D. Glucose
Correct Answer: A. Sodium bicarbonate
Rationale: Sodium bicarbonate is a weak base. Weak bases are better absorbed in
the intestine where the higher pH favors the non-ionized, lipid-soluble form.
Weak acids (like ascorbic acid and salicylic acid) are better absorbed in the acidic
stomach.
, Q8: An advantage of prescribing a sublingual medication is that the medication
is:
A. Absorbed rapidly
B. Excreted rapidly
C. Metabolized minimally
D. Distributed equally
Correct Answer: A. Absorbed rapidly
Rationale: Sublingual administration provides rapid absorption due to the rich
vascular supply of the oral mucosa. Additionally, it bypasses first-pass hepatic
metabolism.
Q9: Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera) is prescribed IM to create a storage
reservoir of the drug. Storage reservoirs:
A. Assure that the drug will reach its intended target tissue
B. Are the reason for giving loading doses
C. Increase the length of time a drug is available and active
D. Are most common in collagen tissues
Correct Answer: C. Increase the length of time a drug is available and active
Rationale: Intramuscular administration creates a storage reservoir in the muscle
tissue. The drug is slowly released from this site into the circulation, prolonging its
availability and activity.
Q10: Bioavailability issues are especially important for drugs with:
A. Wide therapeutic ranges
B. Narrow therapeutic ranges or sustained-release mechanisms
C. High protein binding
D. Low volume of distribution
Correct Answer: B. Narrow therapeutic ranges or sustained-release mechanisms
