,NUR 210 Exams 1–4 Complete Test Bank |
Principles of Pharmacology | Galen College of
Nursing | 2026/2027 Q&A Exam Prep PDF
EXAM 1: Foundational Pharmacology, Nursing Process & CNS Drugs
(Units 1-3)
1. Which term best describes "what the body does to the drug"?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacotherapeutics
C) Pharmacokinetics
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: C) Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, encompassing
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is "what the
drug does to the body."
,2. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Competitive antagonist
Correct Answer: B) Agonist
Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a biological response. An
antagonist binds to a receptor but blocks it, preventing a response.
3. Which process of pharmacokinetics is primarily affected by the first-pass effect?
A) Metabolism
B) Distribution
C) Absorption
D) Excretion
Correct Answer: A) Metabolism
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver before it reaches
the systemic circulation, significantly reducing its bioavailability.
4. When a drug has a narrow therapeutic index, the nurse should expect which of the following?
, A) The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring
B) The drug will have a very long half-life
C) There is a small margin between the effective dose and the toxic dose
D) The drug must be administered intravenously only
Correct Answer: C) There is a small margin between the effective dose and the toxic dose
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between a therapeutic dose and a
toxic dose is small, requiring close monitoring of blood levels.
5. Which route of administration provides the highest bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Intravenous
C) Sublingual
D) Rectal
Correct Answer: B) Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous (IV) administration bypasses the liver's first-pass metabolism and
absorption barriers, resulting in 100% bioavailability.
6. A patient with low serum albumin levels is receiving a highly protein-bound drug. What is the
nurse's primary concern?
Principles of Pharmacology | Galen College of
Nursing | 2026/2027 Q&A Exam Prep PDF
EXAM 1: Foundational Pharmacology, Nursing Process & CNS Drugs
(Units 1-3)
1. Which term best describes "what the body does to the drug"?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacotherapeutics
C) Pharmacokinetics
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: C) Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, encompassing
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is "what the
drug does to the body."
,2. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Agonist
C) Partial agonist
D) Competitive antagonist
Correct Answer: B) Agonist
Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a biological response. An
antagonist binds to a receptor but blocks it, preventing a response.
3. Which process of pharmacokinetics is primarily affected by the first-pass effect?
A) Metabolism
B) Distribution
C) Absorption
D) Excretion
Correct Answer: A) Metabolism
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver before it reaches
the systemic circulation, significantly reducing its bioavailability.
4. When a drug has a narrow therapeutic index, the nurse should expect which of the following?
, A) The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring
B) The drug will have a very long half-life
C) There is a small margin between the effective dose and the toxic dose
D) The drug must be administered intravenously only
Correct Answer: C) There is a small margin between the effective dose and the toxic dose
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between a therapeutic dose and a
toxic dose is small, requiring close monitoring of blood levels.
5. Which route of administration provides the highest bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Intravenous
C) Sublingual
D) Rectal
Correct Answer: B) Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous (IV) administration bypasses the liver's first-pass metabolism and
absorption barriers, resulting in 100% bioavailability.
6. A patient with low serum albumin levels is receiving a highly protein-bound drug. What is the
nurse's primary concern?
