Galen College NU 150 Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Pharmacology Q&A
| Pharmacology
1. Which term describes the study of drugs and their interactions with living
systems?
A) Pharmacokinetics
B) Pharmacodynamics
C) Pharmacology
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacology is the broad science of drugs and their effects on
living systems. Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug,
pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body, and toxicology is the
study of adverse effects.
2. What does the term "pharmacokinetics" encompass?
A) The study of drug receptors and mechanisms of action
B) The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
C) The clinical use of drugs to treat disease
D) The study of poisonous effects of drugs
Correct Answer: The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, involving four key processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics refers to what the drug does to the
body at the receptor level.
,3. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which is the correct
sequence for performing the three checks of the six rights?
A) When removing drugs from storage, when preparing the meds, right
before administering
B) Before receiving the medication order, when preparing, after
administration
C) When documenting, when administering, after the patient takes the
medication
D) Before assessment, during assessment, after evaluation
Correct Answer: When removing drugs from storage, when preparing the
meds, right before administering
Rationale: The three checks should be performed: (1) when you remove
drugs from storage, (2) when you prepare the meds, and (3) right before
administering the meds. This ensures accuracy and patient safety
throughout the medication administration process.
4. A patient asks the nurse about a medication that must be placed under
the tongue and allowed to dissolve. The nurse identifies this route as:
A) Buccal
B) Sublingual
C) Oral
D) Topical
Correct Answer: Sublingual
Rationale: Sublingual administration involves placing the medication under
the tongue where it dissolves and is absorbed through the mucous
membranes directly into the bloodstream. Buccal administration involves
placement between the cheek and gum.
,5. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the nursing
process?
A) To ensure all patients receive identical care
B) To delegate all care decisions to the physician
C) To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for individualized care
D) To document only patient outcomes after discharge
Correct Answer: To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for
individualized care
Rationale: The nursing process (ADPIE) is a critical thinking method that
guides assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. It
ensures care is tailored to each patient's unique needs rather than a one-
size-fits-all approach.
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: Agonist
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
producing a response. An antagonist binds to a receptor but does not
activate it, instead blocking the action of agonists.
, 7. Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action and 100%
bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
D) Intravenous
Correct Answer: Intravenous
Rationale: The IV route has the fastest onset of action and 100%
bioavailability because the drug is delivered directly into the bloodstream.
Oral drugs undergo first-pass metabolism in the liver before reaching
systemic circulation.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient who develops a sudden onset of dyspnea
and wheezing. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Assess the patient's respiratory status and vital signs
C) Call the health care provider
D) Document the symptoms
Correct Answer: Assess the patient's respiratory status and vital signs
Rationale: Assessment is always the first step. The nurse must gather
objective data such as breath sounds, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate,
and work of breathing before implementing interventions or notifying the
provider.
9. The "first-pass effect" refers to:
| Pharmacology
1. Which term describes the study of drugs and their interactions with living
systems?
A) Pharmacokinetics
B) Pharmacodynamics
C) Pharmacology
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacology is the broad science of drugs and their effects on
living systems. Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug,
pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body, and toxicology is the
study of adverse effects.
2. What does the term "pharmacokinetics" encompass?
A) The study of drug receptors and mechanisms of action
B) The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
C) The clinical use of drugs to treat disease
D) The study of poisonous effects of drugs
Correct Answer: The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, involving four key processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics refers to what the drug does to the
body at the receptor level.
,3. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which is the correct
sequence for performing the three checks of the six rights?
A) When removing drugs from storage, when preparing the meds, right
before administering
B) Before receiving the medication order, when preparing, after
administration
C) When documenting, when administering, after the patient takes the
medication
D) Before assessment, during assessment, after evaluation
Correct Answer: When removing drugs from storage, when preparing the
meds, right before administering
Rationale: The three checks should be performed: (1) when you remove
drugs from storage, (2) when you prepare the meds, and (3) right before
administering the meds. This ensures accuracy and patient safety
throughout the medication administration process.
4. A patient asks the nurse about a medication that must be placed under
the tongue and allowed to dissolve. The nurse identifies this route as:
A) Buccal
B) Sublingual
C) Oral
D) Topical
Correct Answer: Sublingual
Rationale: Sublingual administration involves placing the medication under
the tongue where it dissolves and is absorbed through the mucous
membranes directly into the bloodstream. Buccal administration involves
placement between the cheek and gum.
,5. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the nursing
process?
A) To ensure all patients receive identical care
B) To delegate all care decisions to the physician
C) To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for individualized care
D) To document only patient outcomes after discharge
Correct Answer: To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for
individualized care
Rationale: The nursing process (ADPIE) is a critical thinking method that
guides assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. It
ensures care is tailored to each patient's unique needs rather than a one-
size-fits-all approach.
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: Agonist
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
producing a response. An antagonist binds to a receptor but does not
activate it, instead blocking the action of agonists.
, 7. Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action and 100%
bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
D) Intravenous
Correct Answer: Intravenous
Rationale: The IV route has the fastest onset of action and 100%
bioavailability because the drug is delivered directly into the bloodstream.
Oral drugs undergo first-pass metabolism in the liver before reaching
systemic circulation.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient who develops a sudden onset of dyspnea
and wheezing. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Assess the patient's respiratory status and vital signs
C) Call the health care provider
D) Document the symptoms
Correct Answer: Assess the patient's respiratory status and vital signs
Rationale: Assessment is always the first step. The nurse must gather
objective data such as breath sounds, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate,
and work of breathing before implementing interventions or notifying the
provider.
9. The "first-pass effect" refers to:
