,NUR 210 Exam 1 | Principles of Pharmacology | Actual
Questions and Answers (PDF) | Galen Nursing
1. Which term describes what the body does to a drug, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion?
• A. Pharmacodynamics
• B. Pharmacokinetics
• C. Pharmacotherapeutics
• D. Pharmacogenetics
Answer B: Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics (ADME) describes drug movement through the body.
Pharmacodynamics studies what the drug does to the body.
2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
• A. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
• B. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination
• C. Administration, distribution, metabolism, excretion
• D. Absorption, dispersion, metabolism, excretion
Answer A: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
Rationale: The four phases of pharmacokinetics are absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion (ADME). Metabolism and excretion together are known as elimination.
3. A drug is administered orally. In which part of the gastrointestinal tract does the
majority of absorption occur?
• A. Stomach
• B. Small intestine
, • C. Large intestine
• D. Esophagus
Answer B: Small intestine
Rationale: The small intestine is the primary site of drug absorption due to its large
surface area and extensive blood supply.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure
rapid drug action. Which form of medication will the nurse administer?
• A. Capsule
• B. Enteric-coated tablet
• C. Liquid suspension
• D. Tablet
Answer C: Liquid suspension
Rationale: Liquid drugs are already in solution, which is the form necessary for
absorption. Capsules, enteric-coated pills, and tablets must disintegrate and dissolve
first.
5. Which process involves the breakdown of an oral drug into small particles?
• A. Dissolution
• B. Disintegration
• C. Absorption
• D. Ionization
Answer B: Disintegration
Rationale: Disintegration is the breakdown of an oral drug into small particles.
Dissolution is the process of combining these particles with liquid to form a solution.
, 6. Which term refers to the percentage of an administered drug that reaches
systemic circulation unchanged?
• A. Half-life
• B. Bioavailability
• C. Therapeutic index
• D. Loading dose
Answer B: Bioavailability
Rationale: Bioavailability is affected by absorption and first-pass metabolism. IV drugs
have 100% bioavailability; oral drugs often have less.
7. A patient is receiving an intravenous drug. What is the bioavailability of this
drug?
• A. Less than 50%
• B. 50%
• C. 100%
• D. Variable depending on the drug
Answer C: 100%
Rationale: IV drugs bypass absorption and enter systemic circulation directly, giving
them 100% bioavailability.
8. The nurse is teaching a patient about a medication that undergoes extensive
first-pass metabolism. Which route should the nurse expect to be avoided or
require a higher dose?
• A. Intravenous
• B. Oral
• C. Subcutaneous
Questions and Answers (PDF) | Galen Nursing
1. Which term describes what the body does to a drug, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion?
• A. Pharmacodynamics
• B. Pharmacokinetics
• C. Pharmacotherapeutics
• D. Pharmacogenetics
Answer B: Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics (ADME) describes drug movement through the body.
Pharmacodynamics studies what the drug does to the body.
2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
• A. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
• B. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination
• C. Administration, distribution, metabolism, excretion
• D. Absorption, dispersion, metabolism, excretion
Answer A: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
Rationale: The four phases of pharmacokinetics are absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion (ADME). Metabolism and excretion together are known as elimination.
3. A drug is administered orally. In which part of the gastrointestinal tract does the
majority of absorption occur?
• A. Stomach
• B. Small intestine
, • C. Large intestine
• D. Esophagus
Answer B: Small intestine
Rationale: The small intestine is the primary site of drug absorption due to its large
surface area and extensive blood supply.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure
rapid drug action. Which form of medication will the nurse administer?
• A. Capsule
• B. Enteric-coated tablet
• C. Liquid suspension
• D. Tablet
Answer C: Liquid suspension
Rationale: Liquid drugs are already in solution, which is the form necessary for
absorption. Capsules, enteric-coated pills, and tablets must disintegrate and dissolve
first.
5. Which process involves the breakdown of an oral drug into small particles?
• A. Dissolution
• B. Disintegration
• C. Absorption
• D. Ionization
Answer B: Disintegration
Rationale: Disintegration is the breakdown of an oral drug into small particles.
Dissolution is the process of combining these particles with liquid to form a solution.
, 6. Which term refers to the percentage of an administered drug that reaches
systemic circulation unchanged?
• A. Half-life
• B. Bioavailability
• C. Therapeutic index
• D. Loading dose
Answer B: Bioavailability
Rationale: Bioavailability is affected by absorption and first-pass metabolism. IV drugs
have 100% bioavailability; oral drugs often have less.
7. A patient is receiving an intravenous drug. What is the bioavailability of this
drug?
• A. Less than 50%
• B. 50%
• C. 100%
• D. Variable depending on the drug
Answer C: 100%
Rationale: IV drugs bypass absorption and enter systemic circulation directly, giving
them 100% bioavailability.
8. The nurse is teaching a patient about a medication that undergoes extensive
first-pass metabolism. Which route should the nurse expect to be avoided or
require a higher dose?
• A. Intravenous
• B. Oral
• C. Subcutaneous
