NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam
Practice Questions 300 MultipleChoice Questions
with Answers and Rationales
PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS (Questions 130)
1. Which of the following processes is defined as the movement of a drug from its
site of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Distribution
B) Metabolism
C) Absorption
D) Excretion
Answer: C) Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its
administration site into the bloodstream. Distribution refers to the transport of
the drug throughout the body, metabolism is the biotransformation of the drug,
and excretion is the elimination of the drug from the body.
,2. Which route of administration has the fastest absorption? A) Oral
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
D) Intravenous
Answer: D) Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly into the
bloodstream, resulting in immediate and complete absorption. Oral,
subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes require absorption across biological
membranes before entering the systemic circulation.
3. A patient with cirrhosis of the liver is prescribed a medication that is extensively
metabolized by the liver. What alteration in drug therapy would the nurse
expect?
A) Standard loading dose only
B) Increased maintenance dose
C) Decreased maintenance dose
D) No change in dosing
Answer: C) Decreased maintenance dose
,Rationale: The liver is the most important site for drug metabolism. In cirrhosis,
hepatic metabolism is impaired, leading to prolonged drug halflife and increased
risk of toxicity. Therefore, maintenance doses should be decreased to prevent
drug accumulation.
4. A drug has a halflife of 8 hours. After 24 hours, what fraction of the drug
remains in the body?
A) 1/2
B) 1/4
C) 1/8
D) 1/16
Answer: C) 1/8
Rationale: After one halflife (8 hours), 50% remains; after two halflives (16 hours),
25% remains; after three halflives (24 hours), 12.5% (1/8) remains. Halflife is the
time required for the drug concentration to decrease by 50%.
5. Which of the following statements best describes the mechanism of a
competitive antagonist?
A) It binds to the receptor and activates it
B) It binds to the receptor and blocks it from being activated
, C) It binds to a different receptor site and enhances the effect
D) It destroys the receptor
Answer: B) It binds to the receptor and blocks it from being activated
Rationale: A competitive antagonist binds to the same receptor site as the agonist
but does not activate it, thereby blocking the agonist from binding and producing
an effect. Naloxone (Narcan) is a classic example that blocks opioid receptors.
6. Which type of medication prescribed to a pregnant patient is more likely to
have effects on the fetus?
A) Drugs that are highly polar
B) Ionized drugs
C) Lipidsoluble drugs
D) Proteinbound drugs
Answer: C) Lipidsoluble drugs
Rationale: Lipidsoluble drugs cross the placenta more easily. Drugs that are highly
polar, ionized, or proteinbound have more difficulty crossing the placental barrier.
This is important in pregnancy prescribing to minimize fetal exposure.
Practice Questions 300 MultipleChoice Questions
with Answers and Rationales
PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS (Questions 130)
1. Which of the following processes is defined as the movement of a drug from its
site of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Distribution
B) Metabolism
C) Absorption
D) Excretion
Answer: C) Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its
administration site into the bloodstream. Distribution refers to the transport of
the drug throughout the body, metabolism is the biotransformation of the drug,
and excretion is the elimination of the drug from the body.
,2. Which route of administration has the fastest absorption? A) Oral
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
D) Intravenous
Answer: D) Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers the drug directly into the
bloodstream, resulting in immediate and complete absorption. Oral,
subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes require absorption across biological
membranes before entering the systemic circulation.
3. A patient with cirrhosis of the liver is prescribed a medication that is extensively
metabolized by the liver. What alteration in drug therapy would the nurse
expect?
A) Standard loading dose only
B) Increased maintenance dose
C) Decreased maintenance dose
D) No change in dosing
Answer: C) Decreased maintenance dose
,Rationale: The liver is the most important site for drug metabolism. In cirrhosis,
hepatic metabolism is impaired, leading to prolonged drug halflife and increased
risk of toxicity. Therefore, maintenance doses should be decreased to prevent
drug accumulation.
4. A drug has a halflife of 8 hours. After 24 hours, what fraction of the drug
remains in the body?
A) 1/2
B) 1/4
C) 1/8
D) 1/16
Answer: C) 1/8
Rationale: After one halflife (8 hours), 50% remains; after two halflives (16 hours),
25% remains; after three halflives (24 hours), 12.5% (1/8) remains. Halflife is the
time required for the drug concentration to decrease by 50%.
5. Which of the following statements best describes the mechanism of a
competitive antagonist?
A) It binds to the receptor and activates it
B) It binds to the receptor and blocks it from being activated
, C) It binds to a different receptor site and enhances the effect
D) It destroys the receptor
Answer: B) It binds to the receptor and blocks it from being activated
Rationale: A competitive antagonist binds to the same receptor site as the agonist
but does not activate it, thereby blocking the agonist from binding and producing
an effect. Naloxone (Narcan) is a classic example that blocks opioid receptors.
6. Which type of medication prescribed to a pregnant patient is more likely to
have effects on the fetus?
A) Drugs that are highly polar
B) Ionized drugs
C) Lipidsoluble drugs
D) Proteinbound drugs
Answer: C) Lipidsoluble drugs
Rationale: Lipidsoluble drugs cross the placenta more easily. Drugs that are highly
polar, ionized, or proteinbound have more difficulty crossing the placental barrier.
This is important in pregnancy prescribing to minimize fetal exposure.
