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NSG 533 Wilkes Exam 1 Advanced
Pharmacology – Complete Review
Questions & Answers 2026
Prepare for NSG 533 Advanced Pharmacology Exam 1 at
Wilkes University with this updated 2025/2026 Q&A
review. Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
drug classifications, CYP450 interactions, cardiovascular,
endocrine, and GI medications. Includes practice
questions with answers and rationales for graduate
nursing students. Instant PDF download for exam review
and study.
1. Which of the following best describes the study of how drugs affect the
body?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenomics
D. Pharmacoeconomics
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of how drugs affect the body,
including receptor binding, signal transduction, and therapeutic effects.
Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body affects drugs.
2. Which of the following best describes the study of how the body affects
drugs?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
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C. Pharmacotherapy
D. Pharmacognosy
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics encompasses absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion (ADME) of drugs. Pharmacodynamics deals with drug effects on
the body.
3. A drug that is administered intravenously has a bioavailability of:
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%
Answer: D
Rationale: Intravenous administration bypasses absorption barriers and first-
pass metabolism, resulting in 100% bioavailability.
4. Which route of administration avoids the first-pass effect?
A. Oral
B. Rectal
C. Sublingual
D. Enteral
Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows drugs to be absorbed directly into
the systemic circulation through the venous drainage under the tongue,
bypassing the liver and first-pass metabolism.
5. The first-pass effect primarily occurs in which organ?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Heart
Answer: B
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs in the liver, where orally administered
drugs are metabolized before reaching systemic circulation.
6. Which of the following is NOT a phase of pharmacokinetics?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Reception
Answer: D
Rationale: The four phases of pharmacokinetics are absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion. Reception is not a pharmacokinetic phase.
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7. Which of the following factors can affect drug absorption?
A. Gastric pH
B. Gastric emptying time
C. Surface area of absorption
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Gastric pH, gastric emptying time, and surface area of absorption all
influence the rate and extent of drug absorption.
8. A drug that is highly lipophilic will:
A. Cross cell membranes easily
B. Remain in the bloodstream
C. Be excreted rapidly
D. Have low bioavailability
Answer: A
Rationale: Lipophilic drugs cross lipid bilayers easily, allowing for rapid
absorption and distribution into tissues.
9. Which of the following is a carrier-mediated transport mechanism?
A. Passive diffusion
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Filtration
D. Osmosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Facilitated diffusion is a carrier-mediated transport mechanism that
does not require energy. Passive diffusion, filtration, and osmosis are not
carrier-mediated.
10. Which of the following requires energy for drug transport?
A. Passive diffusion
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
Answer: C
Rationale: Active transport requires ATP to move drugs against a concentration
gradient. Passive and facilitated diffusion do not require energy.
11. The volume of distribution (Vd) is a measure of:
A. Drug elimination
B. Drug distribution
C. Drug absorption
D. Drug metabolism
Answer: B
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Rationale: Volume of distribution is a pharmacokinetic parameter that
describes the apparent volume into which a drug distributes in the body.
12. A drug with a large volume of distribution is likely to be:
A. Highly protein bound
B. Extensively distributed to tissues
C. Rapidly excreted
D. Poorly absorbed
Answer: B
Rationale: A large Vd indicates extensive distribution of the drug into tissues
rather than remaining in the bloodstream.
13. Which of the following drugs is most likely to be highly protein bound?
A. Warfarin
B. Lithium
C. Metformin
D. Atenolol
Answer: A
Rationale: Warfarin is approximately 99% protein bound. Lithium, metformin,
and atenolol are not highly protein bound.
14. Displacement of a highly protein-bound drug by another drug can lead to:
A. Decreased therapeutic effect
B. Increased free drug concentration
C. Decreased drug metabolism
D. Increased renal excretion
Answer: B
Rationale: When a highly protein-bound drug is displaced, more free (unbound)
drug is available, which can increase therapeutic effects and toxicity.
15. The blood-brain barrier is composed of:
A. Fenestrated capillaries
B. Tight junctions between endothelial cells
C. Porous membranes
D. Lymphatic vessels
Answer: B
Rationale: The blood-brain barrier consists of tight junctions between capillary
endothelial cells, preventing many substances from entering the brain.
16. Which of the following drugs can cross the blood-brain barrier?
A. Dopamine
B. Levodopa
C. Norepinephrine
D. Epinephrine
NSG 533 Wilkes Exam 1 Advanced
Pharmacology – Complete Review
Questions & Answers 2026
Prepare for NSG 533 Advanced Pharmacology Exam 1 at
Wilkes University with this updated 2025/2026 Q&A
review. Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
drug classifications, CYP450 interactions, cardiovascular,
endocrine, and GI medications. Includes practice
questions with answers and rationales for graduate
nursing students. Instant PDF download for exam review
and study.
1. Which of the following best describes the study of how drugs affect the
body?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenomics
D. Pharmacoeconomics
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of how drugs affect the body,
including receptor binding, signal transduction, and therapeutic effects.
Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body affects drugs.
2. Which of the following best describes the study of how the body affects
drugs?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
,2|Page
C. Pharmacotherapy
D. Pharmacognosy
Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics encompasses absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion (ADME) of drugs. Pharmacodynamics deals with drug effects on
the body.
3. A drug that is administered intravenously has a bioavailability of:
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%
Answer: D
Rationale: Intravenous administration bypasses absorption barriers and first-
pass metabolism, resulting in 100% bioavailability.
4. Which route of administration avoids the first-pass effect?
A. Oral
B. Rectal
C. Sublingual
D. Enteral
Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows drugs to be absorbed directly into
the systemic circulation through the venous drainage under the tongue,
bypassing the liver and first-pass metabolism.
5. The first-pass effect primarily occurs in which organ?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Heart
Answer: B
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs in the liver, where orally administered
drugs are metabolized before reaching systemic circulation.
6. Which of the following is NOT a phase of pharmacokinetics?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Reception
Answer: D
Rationale: The four phases of pharmacokinetics are absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion. Reception is not a pharmacokinetic phase.
,3|Page
7. Which of the following factors can affect drug absorption?
A. Gastric pH
B. Gastric emptying time
C. Surface area of absorption
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Gastric pH, gastric emptying time, and surface area of absorption all
influence the rate and extent of drug absorption.
8. A drug that is highly lipophilic will:
A. Cross cell membranes easily
B. Remain in the bloodstream
C. Be excreted rapidly
D. Have low bioavailability
Answer: A
Rationale: Lipophilic drugs cross lipid bilayers easily, allowing for rapid
absorption and distribution into tissues.
9. Which of the following is a carrier-mediated transport mechanism?
A. Passive diffusion
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Filtration
D. Osmosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Facilitated diffusion is a carrier-mediated transport mechanism that
does not require energy. Passive diffusion, filtration, and osmosis are not
carrier-mediated.
10. Which of the following requires energy for drug transport?
A. Passive diffusion
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
Answer: C
Rationale: Active transport requires ATP to move drugs against a concentration
gradient. Passive and facilitated diffusion do not require energy.
11. The volume of distribution (Vd) is a measure of:
A. Drug elimination
B. Drug distribution
C. Drug absorption
D. Drug metabolism
Answer: B
, 4|Page
Rationale: Volume of distribution is a pharmacokinetic parameter that
describes the apparent volume into which a drug distributes in the body.
12. A drug with a large volume of distribution is likely to be:
A. Highly protein bound
B. Extensively distributed to tissues
C. Rapidly excreted
D. Poorly absorbed
Answer: B
Rationale: A large Vd indicates extensive distribution of the drug into tissues
rather than remaining in the bloodstream.
13. Which of the following drugs is most likely to be highly protein bound?
A. Warfarin
B. Lithium
C. Metformin
D. Atenolol
Answer: A
Rationale: Warfarin is approximately 99% protein bound. Lithium, metformin,
and atenolol are not highly protein bound.
14. Displacement of a highly protein-bound drug by another drug can lead to:
A. Decreased therapeutic effect
B. Increased free drug concentration
C. Decreased drug metabolism
D. Increased renal excretion
Answer: B
Rationale: When a highly protein-bound drug is displaced, more free (unbound)
drug is available, which can increase therapeutic effects and toxicity.
15. The blood-brain barrier is composed of:
A. Fenestrated capillaries
B. Tight junctions between endothelial cells
C. Porous membranes
D. Lymphatic vessels
Answer: B
Rationale: The blood-brain barrier consists of tight junctions between capillary
endothelial cells, preventing many substances from entering the brain.
16. Which of the following drugs can cross the blood-brain barrier?
A. Dopamine
B. Levodopa
C. Norepinephrine
D. Epinephrine
