NUR 203 Exam #1 Question with verified answers
What is pharmacology?- √√The study of how drugs interact with the body to prevent,
diagnose, and treat disease
What is the nurse's role in pharmacology?- √√The nurse is the final safety check and is
legally responsible for safe medication administration
What is pharmacodynamics?- √√What the drug does to the body, including mechanism of
action and effects
What is pharmacokinetics?- √√What the body does to the drug
What does ADME stand for?- √√Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
What happens to drug levels in liver disease?- √√Decreased metabolism leading to
increased toxicity
What happens to drug levels in renal failure?- √√Decreased excretion leading to increased
toxicity
Why is low albumin dangerous with protein-bound drugs?- √√More free drug is available,
increasing toxicity risk
Which route of administration has the highest risk?- √√Intravenous (IV)
Which route of administration is the safest and slowest?- √√Oral (PO)
What factors can cause unexpected drug responses?- √√Allergies, genetics, age, organ
dysfunction, and drug interactions
How do most drugs produce effects?- √√By binding to or blocking receptors or altering
enzyme activity
What is a therapeutic drug use?- √√Treatment of an existing condition
What is a prophylactic drug use?- √√Prevention of disease
, What does off-label drug use mean?- √√Using a drug for a purpose not FDA approved but
legally allowed
Why are OTC drugs still risky?- √√They can interact with prescription medications
Why should nurses use generic drug names?- √√To reduce medication errors
What are controlled substances?- √√Drugs regulated due to abuse and dependence
potential
What is required when administering controlled substances?- √√Accurate counts,
documentation, and secure storage
What are common causes of medication errors?- √√Look-alike names, calculation errors,
and poor communication
How can medication errors be reduced?- √√Using the 6 rights, double checks, and
barcoding
Are nurses legally responsible for medications they administer?- √√Yes, even if the provider
ordered the medication
What should a nurse do if a medication order is unsafe?- √√Hold the medication and clarify
the order
What is a synergistic drug interaction?- √√When combined drugs increase each other's
effects
What is an antagonistic drug interaction?- √√When one drug reduces the effect of another
Why are medications risky during pregnancy?- √√Drugs can cross the placenta and harm
the fetus
Why must lactation be considered with medications?- √√Drugs can pass into breast milk
Which electrolyte is most important for cardiac rhythm?- √√Potassium
What is pharmacology?- √√The study of how drugs interact with the body to prevent,
diagnose, and treat disease
What is the nurse's role in pharmacology?- √√The nurse is the final safety check and is
legally responsible for safe medication administration
What is pharmacodynamics?- √√What the drug does to the body, including mechanism of
action and effects
What is pharmacokinetics?- √√What the body does to the drug
What does ADME stand for?- √√Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
What happens to drug levels in liver disease?- √√Decreased metabolism leading to
increased toxicity
What happens to drug levels in renal failure?- √√Decreased excretion leading to increased
toxicity
Why is low albumin dangerous with protein-bound drugs?- √√More free drug is available,
increasing toxicity risk
Which route of administration has the highest risk?- √√Intravenous (IV)
Which route of administration is the safest and slowest?- √√Oral (PO)
What factors can cause unexpected drug responses?- √√Allergies, genetics, age, organ
dysfunction, and drug interactions
How do most drugs produce effects?- √√By binding to or blocking receptors or altering
enzyme activity
What is a therapeutic drug use?- √√Treatment of an existing condition
What is a prophylactic drug use?- √√Prevention of disease
, What does off-label drug use mean?- √√Using a drug for a purpose not FDA approved but
legally allowed
Why are OTC drugs still risky?- √√They can interact with prescription medications
Why should nurses use generic drug names?- √√To reduce medication errors
What are controlled substances?- √√Drugs regulated due to abuse and dependence
potential
What is required when administering controlled substances?- √√Accurate counts,
documentation, and secure storage
What are common causes of medication errors?- √√Look-alike names, calculation errors,
and poor communication
How can medication errors be reduced?- √√Using the 6 rights, double checks, and
barcoding
Are nurses legally responsible for medications they administer?- √√Yes, even if the provider
ordered the medication
What should a nurse do if a medication order is unsafe?- √√Hold the medication and clarify
the order
What is a synergistic drug interaction?- √√When combined drugs increase each other's
effects
What is an antagonistic drug interaction?- √√When one drug reduces the effect of another
Why are medications risky during pregnancy?- √√Drugs can cross the placenta and harm
the fetus
Why must lactation be considered with medications?- √√Drugs can pass into breast milk
Which electrolyte is most important for cardiac rhythm?- √√Potassium
