NURS 572 EXAM 1 | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Affinity - ANS ✔✔The strength of attraction between a drug and its receptor, drugs with high affinity are
strongly attracted to their receptor, drugs with low affinity are weakly contracted. This affinity is
reflected in its potency, high affinity is very potent
Plateau or steady state - ANS ✔✔When the amount of drug eliminated between doses equals the dose
administered, average drug levels will remain constant and plateau will have been reached.
Repeated doses of equal size cause the drug to increase in body until plateau or steady-state is obtained;
plateau is reached in 4 half lives
First-pass effect - ANS ✔✔rapid inactivation of certain oral drugs by the liver; if the liver can metabolize
the drug quickly it is rendered inactive with no effect
therapeutic objective of drug therapy - ANS ✔✔to provide maximum benefit with minimum harm
drug absorption - ANS ✔✔movement of a drug from its site of administration into the blood
Rate is influenced by chemical and physical properties and rate of dissolution, surface area, blood flow,
lipid solubility, and pH partitioning
drug distribution - ANS ✔✔movement of drugs from blood to interstitial space in tissue and onto the
cells; determined by blood flow to tissues; ability to exit vascular systems, ability to enter cells; blood
flow determines rate of distribution
drug metabolism - ANS ✔✔chemical or enzymatic alteration of drug structure
drug excretion - ANS ✔✔Removal of drugs from the body via urine, saliva, sweat, saliva, breast milk,
expired air
kidney is most important organ for excretion
Loading dose - ANS ✔✔for drugs with large half-lifes and when plateau must be achieved more quickly a
large initial dose may be administered
Maintenance doses - ANS ✔✔when plateau is achieved and needs to be maintained with smaller doses
Category A drugs - ANS ✔✔Remote Risk of Fetal Harm:
Controlled studies in women have been done and have failed to demonstrate a risk of fetal harm during
the first trimester, and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters
Category B drugs - ANS ✔✔Slightly More Risk Than A: Animal studies show no fetal risk, but controlled
studies have not been done in women
, or Animal studies do show a risk of fetal harm, but controlled studies in women have failed to
demonstrate a risk during the first trimester, and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters.
Category C drugs - ANS ✔✔Greater Risk Than B: Animal studies show a risk of fetal harm, but no
controlled studies have been done in women or
No studies have been done in women or animals.
Category D drugs - ANS ✔✔Proven Risk of Fetal Harm: Studies in women show proof of fetal damage,
but the potential benefits of use during pregnancy may be necessary despite the risks (e.g., treatment of
life-threatening disease for which safer drugs are ineffective). A statement on risk will appear in the
"WARNINGS" section of drug labeling
Category X drugs - ANS ✔✔Proven Risk of Fetal Harm: Studies in women or animals show definite risk of
fetal abnormality or Adverse reaction reports indicate evidence of fetal risk. The risks clearly outweigh
any possible benefit. A statement on risk will appear in the "CONTRAINDICATIONS" section of drug
labeling
Controlled Substances Act 1970 - ANS ✔✔Set rules for manufacturing and distribution of drugs with
potential for abuse: defined drugs into 5 categories
Schedule I Drug - ANS ✔✔No medical use, highest potential for abuse
Schedule II Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a high potential for abuse
Schedule III Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a potential for abuse less than the drugs in schedules 1 and
2.The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
Schedule IV Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs in schedule 3.
Schedule V Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs in schedule 4
Children and Older Adults - ANS ✔✔These populations are more sensitive to drugs due to immature
organs or
age related organ decline in function therefore drug absorption may be
slower, live function results in prolonged drug effects, reduced renal function
resulting in drug accumulation. Creatinine clearance should be determined
for drugs eliminated by the kidneys
Peds the blood brain barrier is not fully developed.
Children metabolize drugs faster*** dosing must be adjusted on the basis of
clinical outcome and plasma drug levels
Note: lipid soluble drugs cross the placenta
OTC drugs - ANS ✔✔drugs that can be purchased without a prescription. Easy to
obtain and affordable
Spending- more than 30 billion annually
Doses administered- account for 60%
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Affinity - ANS ✔✔The strength of attraction between a drug and its receptor, drugs with high affinity are
strongly attracted to their receptor, drugs with low affinity are weakly contracted. This affinity is
reflected in its potency, high affinity is very potent
Plateau or steady state - ANS ✔✔When the amount of drug eliminated between doses equals the dose
administered, average drug levels will remain constant and plateau will have been reached.
Repeated doses of equal size cause the drug to increase in body until plateau or steady-state is obtained;
plateau is reached in 4 half lives
First-pass effect - ANS ✔✔rapid inactivation of certain oral drugs by the liver; if the liver can metabolize
the drug quickly it is rendered inactive with no effect
therapeutic objective of drug therapy - ANS ✔✔to provide maximum benefit with minimum harm
drug absorption - ANS ✔✔movement of a drug from its site of administration into the blood
Rate is influenced by chemical and physical properties and rate of dissolution, surface area, blood flow,
lipid solubility, and pH partitioning
drug distribution - ANS ✔✔movement of drugs from blood to interstitial space in tissue and onto the
cells; determined by blood flow to tissues; ability to exit vascular systems, ability to enter cells; blood
flow determines rate of distribution
drug metabolism - ANS ✔✔chemical or enzymatic alteration of drug structure
drug excretion - ANS ✔✔Removal of drugs from the body via urine, saliva, sweat, saliva, breast milk,
expired air
kidney is most important organ for excretion
Loading dose - ANS ✔✔for drugs with large half-lifes and when plateau must be achieved more quickly a
large initial dose may be administered
Maintenance doses - ANS ✔✔when plateau is achieved and needs to be maintained with smaller doses
Category A drugs - ANS ✔✔Remote Risk of Fetal Harm:
Controlled studies in women have been done and have failed to demonstrate a risk of fetal harm during
the first trimester, and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters
Category B drugs - ANS ✔✔Slightly More Risk Than A: Animal studies show no fetal risk, but controlled
studies have not been done in women
, or Animal studies do show a risk of fetal harm, but controlled studies in women have failed to
demonstrate a risk during the first trimester, and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters.
Category C drugs - ANS ✔✔Greater Risk Than B: Animal studies show a risk of fetal harm, but no
controlled studies have been done in women or
No studies have been done in women or animals.
Category D drugs - ANS ✔✔Proven Risk of Fetal Harm: Studies in women show proof of fetal damage,
but the potential benefits of use during pregnancy may be necessary despite the risks (e.g., treatment of
life-threatening disease for which safer drugs are ineffective). A statement on risk will appear in the
"WARNINGS" section of drug labeling
Category X drugs - ANS ✔✔Proven Risk of Fetal Harm: Studies in women or animals show definite risk of
fetal abnormality or Adverse reaction reports indicate evidence of fetal risk. The risks clearly outweigh
any possible benefit. A statement on risk will appear in the "CONTRAINDICATIONS" section of drug
labeling
Controlled Substances Act 1970 - ANS ✔✔Set rules for manufacturing and distribution of drugs with
potential for abuse: defined drugs into 5 categories
Schedule I Drug - ANS ✔✔No medical use, highest potential for abuse
Schedule II Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a high potential for abuse
Schedule III Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a potential for abuse less than the drugs in schedules 1 and
2.The drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
Schedule IV Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs in schedule 3.
Schedule V Drug - ANS ✔✔The drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs in schedule 4
Children and Older Adults - ANS ✔✔These populations are more sensitive to drugs due to immature
organs or
age related organ decline in function therefore drug absorption may be
slower, live function results in prolonged drug effects, reduced renal function
resulting in drug accumulation. Creatinine clearance should be determined
for drugs eliminated by the kidneys
Peds the blood brain barrier is not fully developed.
Children metabolize drugs faster*** dosing must be adjusted on the basis of
clinical outcome and plasma drug levels
Note: lipid soluble drugs cross the placenta
OTC drugs - ANS ✔✔drugs that can be purchased without a prescription. Easy to
obtain and affordable
Spending- more than 30 billion annually
Doses administered- account for 60%
