NUR 242 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM BANK 300
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
AND RATIONALES 2026|2027UPDATES|WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
SECTION 1: PHARMACOLOGY & MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
What is the study of how drugs move within the body to reach sites of action,
metabolism, and excretion?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement—absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics refers to
,what the drug does to the body. Pharmacotherapeutics involves the clinical use of
drugs, and pharmacognosy is the study of natural drug sources .
---
Question 2
A nurse is administering a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. Which nursing
action is most important?
A) Assess the patient for a peak and trough level
B) Administer the drug on an empty stomach
C) Teach the patient to increase fluid intake
D) Monitor the patient for a secondary effect
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index require close monitoring of
serum drug levels (peak and trough) to avoid toxicity. The margin between
therapeutic and toxic doses is small, making level monitoring essential for safe
administration .
---
Question 3
Which physiologic change in an older adult patient should the nurse recognize as
impacting drug distribution?
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
,B) Decreased total body water and increased body fat
C) Increased liver enzyme production
D) Increased gastric pH levels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aging is associated with decreased total body water and increased
body fat percentage. This alters drug distribution, making fat-soluble drugs have a
longer half-life and water-soluble drugs having higher concentrations. GFR
decreases with age, not increases .
---
Question 4
A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If 100 mg is given at 12:00 PM, how much drug
remains in the body at 8:00 PM?
A) 50 mg
B) 25 mg
C) 12.5 mg
D) 0 mg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 hours (12:00 PM to 4:00 PM), 50 mg remains. At 8 hours (12:00 PM
to 8:00 PM), 25 mg remains. Half-life represents the time required for the body to
eliminate 50% of the drug. After two half-lives, 25% of the original dose remains .
, ---
Question 5
Which "Right" of medication administration is the nurse practicing when checking
the patient's wristband and asking for their date of birth?
A) Right Dose
B) Right Route
C) Right Patient
D) Right Documentation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Verifying patient identity using two identifiers (e.g., name and date of
birth on wristband) fulfills the "Right Patient" requirement. The other rights
include right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation .
---
Question 6
Which route of administration is most affected by first-pass metabolism?
A) Intravenous (IV)
B) Sublingual (SL)
C) Oral (PO)
D) Transdermal
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
AND RATIONALES 2026|2027UPDATES|WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
SECTION 1: PHARMACOLOGY & MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
What is the study of how drugs move within the body to reach sites of action,
metabolism, and excretion?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacotherapeutics
D) Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement—absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics refers to
,what the drug does to the body. Pharmacotherapeutics involves the clinical use of
drugs, and pharmacognosy is the study of natural drug sources .
---
Question 2
A nurse is administering a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. Which nursing
action is most important?
A) Assess the patient for a peak and trough level
B) Administer the drug on an empty stomach
C) Teach the patient to increase fluid intake
D) Monitor the patient for a secondary effect
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index require close monitoring of
serum drug levels (peak and trough) to avoid toxicity. The margin between
therapeutic and toxic doses is small, making level monitoring essential for safe
administration .
---
Question 3
Which physiologic change in an older adult patient should the nurse recognize as
impacting drug distribution?
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
,B) Decreased total body water and increased body fat
C) Increased liver enzyme production
D) Increased gastric pH levels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aging is associated with decreased total body water and increased
body fat percentage. This alters drug distribution, making fat-soluble drugs have a
longer half-life and water-soluble drugs having higher concentrations. GFR
decreases with age, not increases .
---
Question 4
A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If 100 mg is given at 12:00 PM, how much drug
remains in the body at 8:00 PM?
A) 50 mg
B) 25 mg
C) 12.5 mg
D) 0 mg
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 hours (12:00 PM to 4:00 PM), 50 mg remains. At 8 hours (12:00 PM
to 8:00 PM), 25 mg remains. Half-life represents the time required for the body to
eliminate 50% of the drug. After two half-lives, 25% of the original dose remains .
, ---
Question 5
Which "Right" of medication administration is the nurse practicing when checking
the patient's wristband and asking for their date of birth?
A) Right Dose
B) Right Route
C) Right Patient
D) Right Documentation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Verifying patient identity using two identifiers (e.g., name and date of
birth on wristband) fulfills the "Right Patient" requirement. The other rights
include right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation .
---
Question 6
Which route of administration is most affected by first-pass metabolism?
A) Intravenous (IV)
B) Sublingual (SL)
C) Oral (PO)
D) Transdermal
