Nursing 354 Pharmacology Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which action best verifies the
patient's identity?
A. Ask the patient to state their room number
B. Compare the medication label with the patient's diagnosis
C. Use two patient identifiers
D. Ask another nurse to identify the patient
**Answer: Use two patient identifiers
Rationale: Two approved patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth,
help prevent medication errors involving the wrong patient.
2. Which pharmacokinetic process describes the movement of a medication from
the bloodstream into body tissues?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
**Answer: Distribution
,Rationale: Distribution is the movement of a medication from the bloodstream
to tissues and organs.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for metabolizing most medications?
A. Liver
B. Heart
C. Pancreas
D. Spleen
**Answer: Liver
Rationale: The liver contains enzymes that metabolize many medications, often
making them easier for the body to eliminate.
4. A medication has a half-life of 8 hours. What does this mean?
A. The medication will be completely eliminated in 8 hours
B. The medication will begin working after 8 hours
C. Half of the medication dose is eliminated in 8 hours
D. The medication must always be administered every 8 hours
**Answer: Half of the medication dose is eliminated in 8 hours
Rationale: Half-life is the time required for the medication concentration in the
body to decrease by 50%.
5. Which route generally produces the most rapid systemic medication effect?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Subcutaneous
D. Intramuscular
**Answer: Intravenous
,Rationale: Intravenous medications enter the bloodstream directly, producing
rapid systemic effects.
6. A patient taking warfarin should be monitored regularly for which laboratory
value?
A. Serum sodium
B. Hemoglobin A1C
C. International normalized ratio
D. Serum potassium
**Answer: International normalized ratio
Rationale: The international normalized ratio is used to monitor the
anticoagulant effect of warfarin and help guide dosing.
7. Which finding should the nurse recognize as a possible adverse effect of an
opioid analgesic?
A. Respiratory depression
B. Hypertension
C. Increased bowel motility
D. Excessive urination
**Answer: Respiratory depression
Rationale: Opioids can depress the central nervous system and decrease
respiratory rate and depth.
8. Which medication is commonly used to reverse significant opioid-induced
respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
, C. Protamine sulfate
D. Vitamin K
**Answer: Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse opioid
effects, particularly respiratory depression.
9. Which medication should the nurse question if prescribed for a patient with a
severe penicillin allergy?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Amoxicillin
C. Ondansetron
D. Famotidine
**Answer: Amoxicillin
Rationale: Amoxicillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic and may cause a serious
allergic reaction in a patient with a severe penicillin allergy.
10. Which instruction is most appropriate for a patient prescribed an oral
antibiotic?
A. Stop taking it when symptoms improve
B. Save remaining medication for future infections
C. Take the medication exactly as prescribed
D. Double the next dose if one dose is missed
**Answer: Take the medication exactly as prescribed
Rationale: Completing the prescribed course and following administration
instructions helps achieve effective treatment and reduces the risk of treatment
failure and resistance.
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which action best verifies the
patient's identity?
A. Ask the patient to state their room number
B. Compare the medication label with the patient's diagnosis
C. Use two patient identifiers
D. Ask another nurse to identify the patient
**Answer: Use two patient identifiers
Rationale: Two approved patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth,
help prevent medication errors involving the wrong patient.
2. Which pharmacokinetic process describes the movement of a medication from
the bloodstream into body tissues?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
**Answer: Distribution
,Rationale: Distribution is the movement of a medication from the bloodstream
to tissues and organs.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for metabolizing most medications?
A. Liver
B. Heart
C. Pancreas
D. Spleen
**Answer: Liver
Rationale: The liver contains enzymes that metabolize many medications, often
making them easier for the body to eliminate.
4. A medication has a half-life of 8 hours. What does this mean?
A. The medication will be completely eliminated in 8 hours
B. The medication will begin working after 8 hours
C. Half of the medication dose is eliminated in 8 hours
D. The medication must always be administered every 8 hours
**Answer: Half of the medication dose is eliminated in 8 hours
Rationale: Half-life is the time required for the medication concentration in the
body to decrease by 50%.
5. Which route generally produces the most rapid systemic medication effect?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Subcutaneous
D. Intramuscular
**Answer: Intravenous
,Rationale: Intravenous medications enter the bloodstream directly, producing
rapid systemic effects.
6. A patient taking warfarin should be monitored regularly for which laboratory
value?
A. Serum sodium
B. Hemoglobin A1C
C. International normalized ratio
D. Serum potassium
**Answer: International normalized ratio
Rationale: The international normalized ratio is used to monitor the
anticoagulant effect of warfarin and help guide dosing.
7. Which finding should the nurse recognize as a possible adverse effect of an
opioid analgesic?
A. Respiratory depression
B. Hypertension
C. Increased bowel motility
D. Excessive urination
**Answer: Respiratory depression
Rationale: Opioids can depress the central nervous system and decrease
respiratory rate and depth.
8. Which medication is commonly used to reverse significant opioid-induced
respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
, C. Protamine sulfate
D. Vitamin K
**Answer: Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse opioid
effects, particularly respiratory depression.
9. Which medication should the nurse question if prescribed for a patient with a
severe penicillin allergy?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Amoxicillin
C. Ondansetron
D. Famotidine
**Answer: Amoxicillin
Rationale: Amoxicillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic and may cause a serious
allergic reaction in a patient with a severe penicillin allergy.
10. Which instruction is most appropriate for a patient prescribed an oral
antibiotic?
A. Stop taking it when symptoms improve
B. Save remaining medication for future infections
C. Take the medication exactly as prescribed
D. Double the next dose if one dose is missed
**Answer: Take the medication exactly as prescribed
Rationale: Completing the prescribed course and following administration
instructions helps achieve effective treatment and reduces the risk of treatment
failure and resistance.
