,NUR 210 Exams 1-4 Galen Pharmacology
– (2026) Actual Questions and Answers
(PDF)
NUR 210 EXAMS 1–4
GALEN PHARMACOLOGY — 2026
ORIGINAL EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES
1. Which class of antibiotics is closely related to penicillins?
a. Macrolides
b. Tetracyclines
c. Cephalosporins
d. Aminoglycosides
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Cephalosporins
RATIONALE: Penicillins and cephalosporins are β-lactam antibiotics. Both interfere with
bacterial cell-wall synthesis.
2. Which adverse reaction should the nurse recognize as potentially life-threatening in a
patient receiving penicillin?
a. Mild nausea
b. Headache
c. Anaphylaxis
d. Increased appetite
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Anaphylaxis
RATIONALE: Penicillins can cause hypersensitivity reactions. Anaphylaxis can cause airway
swelling, bronchospasm, hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse and requires immediate
treatment.
,3. A patient receiving a cephalosporin should have which laboratory/clinical parameter
closely monitored when renal toxicity is a concern?
a. Blood glucose
b. Hemoglobin only
c. Renal function and intake/output
d. Visual acuity
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Renal function and intake/output
RATIONALE: Some cephalosporins are eliminated through the kidneys. Monitoring renal
function and I&O helps identify impaired renal clearance or nephrotoxicity.
4. Which medication is classified as a macrolide antibiotic?
a. Gentamicin
b. Vancomycin
c. Doxycycline
d. Azithromycin
CORRECT ANSWER: d. Azithromycin
RATIONALE: Azithromycin is a macrolide. Macrolides inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by
binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit.
5. What is the primary mechanism of action of azithromycin?
a. Inhibits folic acid synthesis
b. Destroys bacterial DNA directly
c. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
d. Prevents viral replication
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
RATIONALE: Macrolides bind to the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and interfere with
protein synthesis.
6. Which antibiotic is associated with Red Man Syndrome when administered too rapidly IV?
, a. Gentamicin
b. Ciprofloxacin
c. Doxycycline
d. Vancomycin
CORRECT ANSWER: d. Vancomycin
RATIONALE: Rapid IV administration of vancomycin can cause flushing, erythema, itching,
and hypotension. Infusing vancomycin at the recommended rate reduces this risk.
7. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate when administering IV vancomycin?
a. Administer it rapidly
b. Give it IM
c. Infuse it slowly and monitor the IV site
d. Restrict all fluids
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Infuse it slowly and monitor the IV site
RATIONALE: Slow infusion reduces infusion-related reactions. The IV site should also be
monitored because vancomycin can cause local irritation and phlebitis.
8. Which laboratory value is particularly important when monitoring a patient receiving
vancomycin?
a. Serum amylase
b. Serum creatinine
c. Hemoglobin A1c
d. Bilirubin only
CORRECT ANSWER: b. Serum creatinine
RATIONALE: Vancomycin is primarily eliminated by the kidneys and can cause
nephrotoxicity. Serum creatinine and other renal-function measures help guide safe dosing.
9. Which antibiotic belongs to the aminoglycoside class?
a. Azithromycin
b. Vancomycin
– (2026) Actual Questions and Answers
(PDF)
NUR 210 EXAMS 1–4
GALEN PHARMACOLOGY — 2026
ORIGINAL EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES
1. Which class of antibiotics is closely related to penicillins?
a. Macrolides
b. Tetracyclines
c. Cephalosporins
d. Aminoglycosides
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Cephalosporins
RATIONALE: Penicillins and cephalosporins are β-lactam antibiotics. Both interfere with
bacterial cell-wall synthesis.
2. Which adverse reaction should the nurse recognize as potentially life-threatening in a
patient receiving penicillin?
a. Mild nausea
b. Headache
c. Anaphylaxis
d. Increased appetite
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Anaphylaxis
RATIONALE: Penicillins can cause hypersensitivity reactions. Anaphylaxis can cause airway
swelling, bronchospasm, hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse and requires immediate
treatment.
,3. A patient receiving a cephalosporin should have which laboratory/clinical parameter
closely monitored when renal toxicity is a concern?
a. Blood glucose
b. Hemoglobin only
c. Renal function and intake/output
d. Visual acuity
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Renal function and intake/output
RATIONALE: Some cephalosporins are eliminated through the kidneys. Monitoring renal
function and I&O helps identify impaired renal clearance or nephrotoxicity.
4. Which medication is classified as a macrolide antibiotic?
a. Gentamicin
b. Vancomycin
c. Doxycycline
d. Azithromycin
CORRECT ANSWER: d. Azithromycin
RATIONALE: Azithromycin is a macrolide. Macrolides inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by
binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit.
5. What is the primary mechanism of action of azithromycin?
a. Inhibits folic acid synthesis
b. Destroys bacterial DNA directly
c. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
d. Prevents viral replication
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
RATIONALE: Macrolides bind to the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and interfere with
protein synthesis.
6. Which antibiotic is associated with Red Man Syndrome when administered too rapidly IV?
, a. Gentamicin
b. Ciprofloxacin
c. Doxycycline
d. Vancomycin
CORRECT ANSWER: d. Vancomycin
RATIONALE: Rapid IV administration of vancomycin can cause flushing, erythema, itching,
and hypotension. Infusing vancomycin at the recommended rate reduces this risk.
7. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate when administering IV vancomycin?
a. Administer it rapidly
b. Give it IM
c. Infuse it slowly and monitor the IV site
d. Restrict all fluids
CORRECT ANSWER: c. Infuse it slowly and monitor the IV site
RATIONALE: Slow infusion reduces infusion-related reactions. The IV site should also be
monitored because vancomycin can cause local irritation and phlebitis.
8. Which laboratory value is particularly important when monitoring a patient receiving
vancomycin?
a. Serum amylase
b. Serum creatinine
c. Hemoglobin A1c
d. Bilirubin only
CORRECT ANSWER: b. Serum creatinine
RATIONALE: Vancomycin is primarily eliminated by the kidneys and can cause
nephrotoxicity. Serum creatinine and other renal-function measures help guide safe dosing.
9. Which antibiotic belongs to the aminoglycoside class?
a. Azithromycin
b. Vancomycin
