Clayton's Basic Pharmacology for
Nurses: Comprehensive Final
Examination (2026/2027) – 100
Questions & Answer Key | (latest)
DOMAIN I: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY –
Drug Definitions, Standards, and Information
Sources (Questions 1–25)
1. What is the name under which a drug is listed by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)?
A) Brand name
B) Nonproprietary name
C) Official name
D) Trademark name
Answer: C – The official name is the name under which a drug is listed by the FDA.
The brand name or trademark is the name given to a drug by its manufacturer, while
the nonproprietary (generic) name is provided by the U.S. Adopted Names Council.
2. Which source contains information specific to nutritional supplements?
A) USP Dictionary of USAN & International Drug Names
B) Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database
C) United States Pharmacopoeia/National Formulary (USP-NF)
D) Drug Interaction Facts
Answer: C – The United States Pharmacopoeia/National Formulary contains official
standards for drug strength, quality, and purity, including information specific to
nutritional supplements.
,3. Which drug reference contains drug monographs that describe all drugs in a
therapeutic class and allows comparison of similar products?
A) Drug Facts and Comparisons
B) Drug Interaction Facts
C) Handbook on Injectable Drugs
D) Martindale—The Complete Drug Reference
Answer: A – Drug Facts and Comparisons contains monographs formatted as tables
that describe all drugs in a therapeutic class, allowing comparison of brand names,
manufacturers, cost indices, and dosage forms.
4. What is the most comprehensive reference available to research a drug
interaction?
A) Drug Facts and Comparisons
B) Drug Interaction Facts
C) Handbook on Injectable Drugs
D) Martindale—The Complete Drug Reference
Answer: B – Drug Interaction Facts is the most comprehensive reference for
researching drug interactions.
5. The physician has written an order for a drug with which the nurse is
unfamiliar. Which section of the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) is most
helpful to get information about this drug?
A) Manufacturer's section
B) Brand and Generic name section
C) Product category section
D) Product information section
Answer: B – The Brand and Generic name section is most helpful when looking up
an unfamiliar drug.
,6. Which online drug reference makes available to healthcare providers and the
public a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date lookup and downloadable
resource about medicines?
A) American Drug Index
B) American Hospital Formulary
C) DailyMed
D) Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR)
Answer: C – DailyMed provides a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date lookup and
downloadable resource about medicines to healthcare providers and the public.
7. Which legislation authorizes the FDA to determine the safety of a drug
before its marketing?
A) Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938)
B) Durham Humphrey Amendment (1952)
C) Controlled Substances Act (1970)
D) Kefauver Harris Drug Amendment (1962)
Answer: A – The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938) authorizes the FDA to
determine the safety of a drug before its marketing.
8. Meperidine (Demerol) is a narcotic with a high potential for physical and
psychological dependency. Under which classification does this drug fall?
A) Schedule I
B) Schedule II
C) Schedule III
D) Schedule IV
Answer: B – Meperidine (Demerol) is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance
due to its high potential for physical and psychological dependency.
9. Which Schedule of controlled substances has low potential for abuse and
may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence?
, A) Schedule I
B) Schedule II
C) Schedule III
D) Schedule IV
Answer: D – Schedule IV drugs have low potential for abuse. Use may lead to limited
physical or psychological dependence. Examples include diazepam and
phenobarbital.
10. What action would the FDA take to expedite drug development and
approval for an outbreak of smallpox, for which there is no known treatment?
A) List smallpox as a health orphan illness
B) Omit the preclinical research phase
C) Extend the clinical research phase
D) Fast track the investigational drug
Answer: D – Once an Investigational New Drug Application is approved, the drug
can receive highest priority within the agency, called "fast tracking." No phase of
research is omitted to ensure safety.
11. Which statement is true about over-the-counter (OTC) drugs?
A) They are not listed in the USP-NF.
B) A prescription from a healthcare provider is needed.
C) They are sold without a prescription.
D) They are known only by their brand names.
Answer: C – Over-the-counter drugs are sold without a prescription.
12. Which is the most authoritative reference for medications that are injected?
A) Physicians' Desk Reference
B) Handbook on Injectable Drugs
C) DailyMed
D) Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
Nurses: Comprehensive Final
Examination (2026/2027) – 100
Questions & Answer Key | (latest)
DOMAIN I: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY –
Drug Definitions, Standards, and Information
Sources (Questions 1–25)
1. What is the name under which a drug is listed by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)?
A) Brand name
B) Nonproprietary name
C) Official name
D) Trademark name
Answer: C – The official name is the name under which a drug is listed by the FDA.
The brand name or trademark is the name given to a drug by its manufacturer, while
the nonproprietary (generic) name is provided by the U.S. Adopted Names Council.
2. Which source contains information specific to nutritional supplements?
A) USP Dictionary of USAN & International Drug Names
B) Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database
C) United States Pharmacopoeia/National Formulary (USP-NF)
D) Drug Interaction Facts
Answer: C – The United States Pharmacopoeia/National Formulary contains official
standards for drug strength, quality, and purity, including information specific to
nutritional supplements.
,3. Which drug reference contains drug monographs that describe all drugs in a
therapeutic class and allows comparison of similar products?
A) Drug Facts and Comparisons
B) Drug Interaction Facts
C) Handbook on Injectable Drugs
D) Martindale—The Complete Drug Reference
Answer: A – Drug Facts and Comparisons contains monographs formatted as tables
that describe all drugs in a therapeutic class, allowing comparison of brand names,
manufacturers, cost indices, and dosage forms.
4. What is the most comprehensive reference available to research a drug
interaction?
A) Drug Facts and Comparisons
B) Drug Interaction Facts
C) Handbook on Injectable Drugs
D) Martindale—The Complete Drug Reference
Answer: B – Drug Interaction Facts is the most comprehensive reference for
researching drug interactions.
5. The physician has written an order for a drug with which the nurse is
unfamiliar. Which section of the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) is most
helpful to get information about this drug?
A) Manufacturer's section
B) Brand and Generic name section
C) Product category section
D) Product information section
Answer: B – The Brand and Generic name section is most helpful when looking up
an unfamiliar drug.
,6. Which online drug reference makes available to healthcare providers and the
public a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date lookup and downloadable
resource about medicines?
A) American Drug Index
B) American Hospital Formulary
C) DailyMed
D) Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR)
Answer: C – DailyMed provides a standard, comprehensive, up-to-date lookup and
downloadable resource about medicines to healthcare providers and the public.
7. Which legislation authorizes the FDA to determine the safety of a drug
before its marketing?
A) Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938)
B) Durham Humphrey Amendment (1952)
C) Controlled Substances Act (1970)
D) Kefauver Harris Drug Amendment (1962)
Answer: A – The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938) authorizes the FDA to
determine the safety of a drug before its marketing.
8. Meperidine (Demerol) is a narcotic with a high potential for physical and
psychological dependency. Under which classification does this drug fall?
A) Schedule I
B) Schedule II
C) Schedule III
D) Schedule IV
Answer: B – Meperidine (Demerol) is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance
due to its high potential for physical and psychological dependency.
9. Which Schedule of controlled substances has low potential for abuse and
may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence?
, A) Schedule I
B) Schedule II
C) Schedule III
D) Schedule IV
Answer: D – Schedule IV drugs have low potential for abuse. Use may lead to limited
physical or psychological dependence. Examples include diazepam and
phenobarbital.
10. What action would the FDA take to expedite drug development and
approval for an outbreak of smallpox, for which there is no known treatment?
A) List smallpox as a health orphan illness
B) Omit the preclinical research phase
C) Extend the clinical research phase
D) Fast track the investigational drug
Answer: D – Once an Investigational New Drug Application is approved, the drug
can receive highest priority within the agency, called "fast tracking." No phase of
research is omitted to ensure safety.
11. Which statement is true about over-the-counter (OTC) drugs?
A) They are not listed in the USP-NF.
B) A prescription from a healthcare provider is needed.
C) They are sold without a prescription.
D) They are known only by their brand names.
Answer: C – Over-the-counter drugs are sold without a prescription.
12. Which is the most authoritative reference for medications that are injected?
A) Physicians' Desk Reference
B) Handbook on Injectable Drugs
C) DailyMed
D) Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
