NU NUR 320 Final Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Pharmacology for
Nursing Practice Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is teaching a patient about a newly prescribed medication. The
nurse explains that the study of how the drug moves through the body—
including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—is known as:
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a drug,
encompassing the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does to
the body, while pharmacotherapeutics focuses on the use of drugs to treat
disease.
2. A patient asks the nurse why a medication must be taken multiple times a
day. The nurse explains that this is because the drug has a short:
A) Therapeutic index
B) Half-life
C) Peak level
D) Onset of action
Correct Answer: Half-life
Rationale: Half-life is the time it takes for the drug concentration in the body
to decrease by 50%. Drugs with short half-lives require more frequent dosing
,to maintain therapeutic levels. A narrow therapeutic index requires close
monitoring, not more frequent dosing.
3. A patient is prescribed a medication that is known to have a narrow
therapeutic index. Which of the following actions is most important for the
nurse to take?
A) Administer the drug with food to increase absorption
B) Monitor serum drug levels closely
C) Increase the dose to ensure effectiveness
D) Administer the drug via the IV route
Correct Answer: Monitor serum drug levels closely
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means there is a small margin
between the therapeutic dose and a toxic dose. Monitoring serum drug levels
is essential to maintain drug levels within the therapeutic range and prevent
toxicity, as seen with drugs like digoxin and lithium.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is known to be highly
protein-bound. The nurse understands that this drug will have a:
A) Longer duration of action
B) Faster onset of action
C) Increased risk of toxicity if given with another highly protein-bound drug
D) Increased rate of excretion
Correct Answer: Increased risk of toxicity if given with another highly protein-
bound drug
Rationale: Drugs that are highly protein-bound can be displaced by other
protein-bound drugs, increasing the free (active) concentration of the drug in
,the blood, which can lead to toxicity. This is a key concept in drug-drug
interactions.
5. A patient is prescribed a medication that acts as an agonist at a specific
receptor. Which of the following describes the action of this drug?
A) It blocks the receptor and prevents activation
B) It binds to the receptor and produces a response
C) It neutralizes the receptor's natural ligand
D) It has no effect on the receptor
Correct Answer: It binds to the receptor and produces a response
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
producing a response. An antagonist, in contrast, binds to a receptor and
blocks it, preventing a response. This distinction is fundamental to
understanding drug action.
6. A patient is taking two drugs that have synergistic effects. The nurse
should monitor the patient for:
A) Decreased therapeutic effect
B) Increased risk of adverse effects
C) No change in drug response
D) Reduced drug interactions
Correct Answer: Increased risk of adverse effects
Rationale: A synergistic effect occurs when two drugs given together produce
a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects. This can increase the
risk of adverse effects, even at normal doses. The nurse should monitor for
enhanced effects and toxicity.
, 7. A patient is prescribed a prodrug. The nurse understands that this means:
A) The drug is active upon administration
B) The drug must be metabolized to an active form
C) The drug is eliminated unchanged
D) The drug is highly protein-bound
Correct Answer: The drug must be metabolized to an active form
Rationale: A prodrug is an inactive compound that is metabolized in the body
into an active drug. This can improve bioavailability or reduce side effects.
An example is enalapril, which is converted to the active form enalaprilat.
8. The nurse is monitoring a patient's peak and trough levels for a
medication. The trough level is drawn:
A) Immediately after the IV infusion is completed
B) 30 minutes after the oral dose
C) Just before the next dose is administered
D) At the midpoint of the dosing interval
Correct Answer: Just before the next dose is administered
Rationale: The trough level is the lowest concentration of the drug in the
blood, typically drawn just before the next dose is administered. The peak
level is the highest concentration, drawn after the drug has been absorbed.
9. A patient is prescribed a medication that must be given enterally. Which
route is an example of enteral administration?
A) Intravenous
Nursing Practice Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is teaching a patient about a newly prescribed medication. The
nurse explains that the study of how the drug moves through the body—
including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—is known as:
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a drug,
encompassing the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does to
the body, while pharmacotherapeutics focuses on the use of drugs to treat
disease.
2. A patient asks the nurse why a medication must be taken multiple times a
day. The nurse explains that this is because the drug has a short:
A) Therapeutic index
B) Half-life
C) Peak level
D) Onset of action
Correct Answer: Half-life
Rationale: Half-life is the time it takes for the drug concentration in the body
to decrease by 50%. Drugs with short half-lives require more frequent dosing
,to maintain therapeutic levels. A narrow therapeutic index requires close
monitoring, not more frequent dosing.
3. A patient is prescribed a medication that is known to have a narrow
therapeutic index. Which of the following actions is most important for the
nurse to take?
A) Administer the drug with food to increase absorption
B) Monitor serum drug levels closely
C) Increase the dose to ensure effectiveness
D) Administer the drug via the IV route
Correct Answer: Monitor serum drug levels closely
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means there is a small margin
between the therapeutic dose and a toxic dose. Monitoring serum drug levels
is essential to maintain drug levels within the therapeutic range and prevent
toxicity, as seen with drugs like digoxin and lithium.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is known to be highly
protein-bound. The nurse understands that this drug will have a:
A) Longer duration of action
B) Faster onset of action
C) Increased risk of toxicity if given with another highly protein-bound drug
D) Increased rate of excretion
Correct Answer: Increased risk of toxicity if given with another highly protein-
bound drug
Rationale: Drugs that are highly protein-bound can be displaced by other
protein-bound drugs, increasing the free (active) concentration of the drug in
,the blood, which can lead to toxicity. This is a key concept in drug-drug
interactions.
5. A patient is prescribed a medication that acts as an agonist at a specific
receptor. Which of the following describes the action of this drug?
A) It blocks the receptor and prevents activation
B) It binds to the receptor and produces a response
C) It neutralizes the receptor's natural ligand
D) It has no effect on the receptor
Correct Answer: It binds to the receptor and produces a response
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
producing a response. An antagonist, in contrast, binds to a receptor and
blocks it, preventing a response. This distinction is fundamental to
understanding drug action.
6. A patient is taking two drugs that have synergistic effects. The nurse
should monitor the patient for:
A) Decreased therapeutic effect
B) Increased risk of adverse effects
C) No change in drug response
D) Reduced drug interactions
Correct Answer: Increased risk of adverse effects
Rationale: A synergistic effect occurs when two drugs given together produce
a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects. This can increase the
risk of adverse effects, even at normal doses. The nurse should monitor for
enhanced effects and toxicity.
, 7. A patient is prescribed a prodrug. The nurse understands that this means:
A) The drug is active upon administration
B) The drug must be metabolized to an active form
C) The drug is eliminated unchanged
D) The drug is highly protein-bound
Correct Answer: The drug must be metabolized to an active form
Rationale: A prodrug is an inactive compound that is metabolized in the body
into an active drug. This can improve bioavailability or reduce side effects.
An example is enalapril, which is converted to the active form enalaprilat.
8. The nurse is monitoring a patient's peak and trough levels for a
medication. The trough level is drawn:
A) Immediately after the IV infusion is completed
B) 30 minutes after the oral dose
C) Just before the next dose is administered
D) At the midpoint of the dosing interval
Correct Answer: Just before the next dose is administered
Rationale: The trough level is the lowest concentration of the drug in the
blood, typically drawn just before the next dose is administered. The peak
level is the highest concentration, drawn after the drug has been absorbed.
9. A patient is prescribed a medication that must be given enterally. Which
route is an example of enteral administration?
A) Intravenous
