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NUR 114 PHARM FINAL EXAM COMPLETE (140) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
PHARM
Prepare effectively for the NUR 114 Pharm Final Exam with this focused study
resource. It supports review of essential pharmacology concepts, medication
classifications, mechanisms of action, dosage considerations, adverse effects, and
safe medication administration. Use the material to reinforce your understanding,
review key topics, and identify areas that may require additional study. This resource
is suited for nursing students, NUR 114 learners, and candidates preparing for their
pharmacology final examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
DOMAIN 1 — Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (Questions 1–14)
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a narrow
therapeutic index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor the patient for therapeutic and toxic effects
C. Give the medication at bedtime
D. Encourage increased fluid intake
Answer: B. Monitor the patient for therapeutic and toxic effects
Rationale: Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small
difference between therapeutic and toxic concentrations. Careful monitoring
of clinical response and, when appropriate, serum drug levels helps prevent
toxicity. The other interventions are not universally required for medications in
this category.
2. A patient with chronic liver disease is prescribed a medication that is
extensively metabolized by the liver. What adjustment should the nurse
anticipate?
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A. Increase the drug dose due to rapid metabolism
B. Decrease the drug dose to prevent toxicity
C. Maintain the standard dose
D. Administer the drug via a different route
Answer: B. Decrease the drug dose to prevent toxicity
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism. In chronic liver
disease, hepatic metabolism is impaired, leading to drug accumulation and
increased risk of toxicity. Doses should be decreased accordingly.
3. The nurse is teaching a patient about a drug's half-life. Which
statement by the patient indicates understanding?
A. "Half-life is the time it takes for the drug to reach its peak effect."
B. "Half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the
body."
C. "Half-life is the time it takes for the drug to start working."
D. "Half-life is the total time the drug stays in my system."
Answer: B. "Half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be
eliminated from the body."
Rationale: Half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug in the
body to decrease by half. It is a key pharmacokinetic parameter that
determines dosing intervals.
4. Which route of administration avoids first-pass hepatic metabolism?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Rectal
D. Enteral
Answer: B. Sublingual
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Rationale: Sublingual administration allows the drug to be absorbed directly
into the systemic circulation through the mucous membranes under the
tongue, bypassing the portal circulation and first-pass metabolism by the
liver. Oral and enteral routes are subject to first-pass metabolism.
5. A drug's half-life is 4 hours. How much of the drug will remain in the
body after 12 hours?
A. 50%
B. 25%
C. 12.5%
D. 6.25%
Answer: C. 12.5%
Rationale: After one half-life (4 hours), 50% remains. After two half-lives (8
hours), 25% remains. After three half-lives (12 hours), 12.5% remains.
6. Which branch of pharmacology studies how the body affects a drug?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Toxicology
Answer: B. Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a drug—
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does to the body.
7. A patient develops severe hypotension after receiving an
antihypertensive medication. This is an example of:
A. An adverse drug reaction
B. A side effect
C. A toxic effect
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D. An idiosyncratic reaction
Answer: A. An adverse drug reaction
Rationale: An adverse drug reaction is any noxious, unintended, and
undesired effect that occurs at normal drug doses. Severe hypotension from
an antihypertensive is an adverse reaction that may require intervention.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with renal impairment. Which
pharmacokinetic process is most affected?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D. Excretion
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs for drug excretion. In renal
impairment, drug elimination is reduced, leading to drug accumulation and
increased risk of toxicity. Doses of renally eliminated drugs must be adjusted.
9. Which patient population is at highest risk for adverse drug reactions
due to changes in pharmacokinetics?
A. Young adults
B. Older adults
C. Adolescents
D. Middle-aged adults
Answer: B. Older adults
Rationale: Older adults experience age-related changes in all
pharmacokinetic processes: decreased gastric motility (absorption),
decreased body water and increased fat (distribution), decreased liver mass
and blood flow (metabolism), and decreased renal function (excretion). These
changes increase the risk of adverse drug reactions.
NUR 114 PHARM FINAL EXAM COMPLETE (140) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
PHARM
Prepare effectively for the NUR 114 Pharm Final Exam with this focused study
resource. It supports review of essential pharmacology concepts, medication
classifications, mechanisms of action, dosage considerations, adverse effects, and
safe medication administration. Use the material to reinforce your understanding,
review key topics, and identify areas that may require additional study. This resource
is suited for nursing students, NUR 114 learners, and candidates preparing for their
pharmacology final examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
DOMAIN 1 — Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (Questions 1–14)
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a narrow
therapeutic index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor the patient for therapeutic and toxic effects
C. Give the medication at bedtime
D. Encourage increased fluid intake
Answer: B. Monitor the patient for therapeutic and toxic effects
Rationale: Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small
difference between therapeutic and toxic concentrations. Careful monitoring
of clinical response and, when appropriate, serum drug levels helps prevent
toxicity. The other interventions are not universally required for medications in
this category.
2. A patient with chronic liver disease is prescribed a medication that is
extensively metabolized by the liver. What adjustment should the nurse
anticipate?
, Page 2 of 55
A. Increase the drug dose due to rapid metabolism
B. Decrease the drug dose to prevent toxicity
C. Maintain the standard dose
D. Administer the drug via a different route
Answer: B. Decrease the drug dose to prevent toxicity
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism. In chronic liver
disease, hepatic metabolism is impaired, leading to drug accumulation and
increased risk of toxicity. Doses should be decreased accordingly.
3. The nurse is teaching a patient about a drug's half-life. Which
statement by the patient indicates understanding?
A. "Half-life is the time it takes for the drug to reach its peak effect."
B. "Half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the
body."
C. "Half-life is the time it takes for the drug to start working."
D. "Half-life is the total time the drug stays in my system."
Answer: B. "Half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be
eliminated from the body."
Rationale: Half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug in the
body to decrease by half. It is a key pharmacokinetic parameter that
determines dosing intervals.
4. Which route of administration avoids first-pass hepatic metabolism?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Rectal
D. Enteral
Answer: B. Sublingual
, Page 3 of 55
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows the drug to be absorbed directly
into the systemic circulation through the mucous membranes under the
tongue, bypassing the portal circulation and first-pass metabolism by the
liver. Oral and enteral routes are subject to first-pass metabolism.
5. A drug's half-life is 4 hours. How much of the drug will remain in the
body after 12 hours?
A. 50%
B. 25%
C. 12.5%
D. 6.25%
Answer: C. 12.5%
Rationale: After one half-life (4 hours), 50% remains. After two half-lives (8
hours), 25% remains. After three half-lives (12 hours), 12.5% remains.
6. Which branch of pharmacology studies how the body affects a drug?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Toxicology
Answer: B. Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to a drug—
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does to the body.
7. A patient develops severe hypotension after receiving an
antihypertensive medication. This is an example of:
A. An adverse drug reaction
B. A side effect
C. A toxic effect
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D. An idiosyncratic reaction
Answer: A. An adverse drug reaction
Rationale: An adverse drug reaction is any noxious, unintended, and
undesired effect that occurs at normal drug doses. Severe hypotension from
an antihypertensive is an adverse reaction that may require intervention.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with renal impairment. Which
pharmacokinetic process is most affected?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D. Excretion
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs for drug excretion. In renal
impairment, drug elimination is reduced, leading to drug accumulation and
increased risk of toxicity. Doses of renally eliminated drugs must be adjusted.
9. Which patient population is at highest risk for adverse drug reactions
due to changes in pharmacokinetics?
A. Young adults
B. Older adults
C. Adolescents
D. Middle-aged adults
Answer: B. Older adults
Rationale: Older adults experience age-related changes in all
pharmacokinetic processes: decreased gastric motility (absorption),
decreased body water and increased fat (distribution), decreased liver mass
and blood flow (metabolism), and decreased renal function (excretion). These
changes increase the risk of adverse drug reactions.
