NUR 2310 LATEST VERSION EXAM PREP - VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS - COMPLETE COVERAGE 2026/2027
Q: What is pharmacokinetics? ANSWER The study of how the body
absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a drug (ADME).
Q: What is pharmacodynamics? ANSWER The study of how a drug affects
the body.
Q: What is the first-pass effect? ANSWER The initial metabolism of an
oral drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing
bioavailability.
Q: Define bioavailability. ANSWER The percentage of a drug that reaches
systemic circulation and is available to produce an effect.
Q: What is a drug's half-life? ANSWER The time it takes for half of the
drug concentration to be eliminated from the body.
Q: How many half-lives does it take for a drug to reach steady state?
ANSWER 4 to 5 half-lives.
Q: What is an agonist? ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor and
stimulates a response.
Q: What is an antagonist? ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor and
blocks the action of an agonist.
Q: Define therapeutic index. ANSWER The ratio between a drug's toxic
dose and its therapeutic dose (a narrow therapeutic index means the drug
is dangerous).
Q: What is the peak level of a drug? ANSWER The highest blood level of a
drug, indicating when it is at maximum effectiveness.
Q: What is the trough level? ANSWER The lowest blood level of a drug,
drawn right before the next scheduled dose.
Q: What is a side effect? ANSWER An expected, predictable, but often
unavoidable secondary drug effect.
Q: What is an adverse reaction? ANSWER An unpredictable, harmful, or
severe reaction to a drug.
,Q: Define idiosyncratic reaction. ANSWER An abnormal, unexpected
response to a drug, often genetically determined.
Q: What is an anaphylactic reaction? ANSWER A severe, life-threatening
allergic response.
Q: What is drug tolerance? ANSWER A decreased response to a drug over
time, requiring a higher dose to achieve the same effect.
Q: What is physical dependence? ANSWER A state where the body adapts
to a drug, and abrupt withdrawal causes physical symptoms.
Q: What is psychological dependence? ANSWER A craving or emotional
need for a drug to maintain a sense of well-being.
Q: What are the "5 Rights" of medication administration? ANSWER Right
patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
Q: What are the additional "Rights" in modern nursing? ANSWER Right
documentation, right reason, right response, and right to refuse.
Q: What is a contraindication? ANSWER A condition in which a drug
should not be given because it would cause harm.
Q: What is an off-label use? ANSWER Prescribing a drug for a purpose or
age group not officially approved by the FDA.
Q: What is a black box warning? ANSWER The strongest FDA warning
placed on a drug's label indicating severe or life-threatening risks.
Q: What is enteric coating? ANSWER A coating that prevents a drug from
dissolving in the stomach, protecting the stomach lining or protecting the
drug from stomach acid.
Q: What is a sustained-release (SR/ER) formulation? ANSWER A pill
designed to release the drug slowly over time; must never be crushed or
chewed.
Q: What is an isotonic IV solution? ANSWER A solution with the same
osmolarity as blood (e.g., 0.9% Normal Saline).
Q: What is a hypotonic IV solution? ANSWER A solution with a lower
osmolarity than blood, causing fluid to shift into the cells.
Q: What is a hypertonic IV solution? ANSWER A solution with a higher
osmolarity than blood, causing fluid to shift out of the cells.
, Q: Define placebo effect. ANSWER A psychological response where a
patient experiences an improvement in condition after receiving an
inactive substance.
Q: What is teratogenicity? ANSWER A drug's ability to cause fetal
malformations or birth defects.
Section 2: Autonomic Nervous System (31-60)
Q: What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) do? ANSWER
"Rest and digest" (slows heart rate, increases digestion, constricts pupils).
Q: What does the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) do? ANSWER "Fight
or flight" (increases heart rate, dilates pupils, dilates airways).
Q: What are the effects of a Cholinergic (Parasympathomimetic) drug?
ANSWER SLUDGE: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI
distress, Emesis.
Q: What is the antidote for cholinergic crisis? ANSWER Atropine.
Q: What is myasthenia gravis? ANSWER An autoimmune disease
destroying acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness.
Q: What drug is used to treat myasthenia gravis? ANSWER
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
Q: What are the effects of an Anticholinergic (Parasympatholytic) drug?
ANSWER Blurred vision, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation,
tachycardia.
Q: What mnemonic helps remember anticholinergic side effects?
ANSWER "Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry
as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone."
Q: What is the antidote for anticholinergic toxicity? ANSWER
Physostigmine.
Q: Which anticholinergic is strictly used for preoperative dilation of the
eyes? ANSWER Cyclopentolate or Tropicamide.
Q: What patient education is crucial for anticholinergics? ANSWER Avoid
driving (blurred vision), use hard candy for dry mouth, increase
fiber/fluids for constipation.
Q: What do Alpha-1 adrenergic agonists do? ANSWER Cause
vasoconstriction, raising blood pressure.
AND ANSWERS - COMPLETE COVERAGE 2026/2027
Q: What is pharmacokinetics? ANSWER The study of how the body
absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a drug (ADME).
Q: What is pharmacodynamics? ANSWER The study of how a drug affects
the body.
Q: What is the first-pass effect? ANSWER The initial metabolism of an
oral drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing
bioavailability.
Q: Define bioavailability. ANSWER The percentage of a drug that reaches
systemic circulation and is available to produce an effect.
Q: What is a drug's half-life? ANSWER The time it takes for half of the
drug concentration to be eliminated from the body.
Q: How many half-lives does it take for a drug to reach steady state?
ANSWER 4 to 5 half-lives.
Q: What is an agonist? ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor and
stimulates a response.
Q: What is an antagonist? ANSWER A drug that binds to a receptor and
blocks the action of an agonist.
Q: Define therapeutic index. ANSWER The ratio between a drug's toxic
dose and its therapeutic dose (a narrow therapeutic index means the drug
is dangerous).
Q: What is the peak level of a drug? ANSWER The highest blood level of a
drug, indicating when it is at maximum effectiveness.
Q: What is the trough level? ANSWER The lowest blood level of a drug,
drawn right before the next scheduled dose.
Q: What is a side effect? ANSWER An expected, predictable, but often
unavoidable secondary drug effect.
Q: What is an adverse reaction? ANSWER An unpredictable, harmful, or
severe reaction to a drug.
,Q: Define idiosyncratic reaction. ANSWER An abnormal, unexpected
response to a drug, often genetically determined.
Q: What is an anaphylactic reaction? ANSWER A severe, life-threatening
allergic response.
Q: What is drug tolerance? ANSWER A decreased response to a drug over
time, requiring a higher dose to achieve the same effect.
Q: What is physical dependence? ANSWER A state where the body adapts
to a drug, and abrupt withdrawal causes physical symptoms.
Q: What is psychological dependence? ANSWER A craving or emotional
need for a drug to maintain a sense of well-being.
Q: What are the "5 Rights" of medication administration? ANSWER Right
patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
Q: What are the additional "Rights" in modern nursing? ANSWER Right
documentation, right reason, right response, and right to refuse.
Q: What is a contraindication? ANSWER A condition in which a drug
should not be given because it would cause harm.
Q: What is an off-label use? ANSWER Prescribing a drug for a purpose or
age group not officially approved by the FDA.
Q: What is a black box warning? ANSWER The strongest FDA warning
placed on a drug's label indicating severe or life-threatening risks.
Q: What is enteric coating? ANSWER A coating that prevents a drug from
dissolving in the stomach, protecting the stomach lining or protecting the
drug from stomach acid.
Q: What is a sustained-release (SR/ER) formulation? ANSWER A pill
designed to release the drug slowly over time; must never be crushed or
chewed.
Q: What is an isotonic IV solution? ANSWER A solution with the same
osmolarity as blood (e.g., 0.9% Normal Saline).
Q: What is a hypotonic IV solution? ANSWER A solution with a lower
osmolarity than blood, causing fluid to shift into the cells.
Q: What is a hypertonic IV solution? ANSWER A solution with a higher
osmolarity than blood, causing fluid to shift out of the cells.
, Q: Define placebo effect. ANSWER A psychological response where a
patient experiences an improvement in condition after receiving an
inactive substance.
Q: What is teratogenicity? ANSWER A drug's ability to cause fetal
malformations or birth defects.
Section 2: Autonomic Nervous System (31-60)
Q: What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) do? ANSWER
"Rest and digest" (slows heart rate, increases digestion, constricts pupils).
Q: What does the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) do? ANSWER "Fight
or flight" (increases heart rate, dilates pupils, dilates airways).
Q: What are the effects of a Cholinergic (Parasympathomimetic) drug?
ANSWER SLUDGE: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI
distress, Emesis.
Q: What is the antidote for cholinergic crisis? ANSWER Atropine.
Q: What is myasthenia gravis? ANSWER An autoimmune disease
destroying acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness.
Q: What drug is used to treat myasthenia gravis? ANSWER
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
Q: What are the effects of an Anticholinergic (Parasympatholytic) drug?
ANSWER Blurred vision, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation,
tachycardia.
Q: What mnemonic helps remember anticholinergic side effects?
ANSWER "Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry
as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone."
Q: What is the antidote for anticholinergic toxicity? ANSWER
Physostigmine.
Q: Which anticholinergic is strictly used for preoperative dilation of the
eyes? ANSWER Cyclopentolate or Tropicamide.
Q: What patient education is crucial for anticholinergics? ANSWER Avoid
driving (blurred vision), use hard candy for dry mouth, increase
fiber/fluids for constipation.
Q: What do Alpha-1 adrenergic agonists do? ANSWER Cause
vasoconstriction, raising blood pressure.
