WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM OBJECTIVE
ASSEMENT & PRE-ASSESMENT 700 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
INTRODUCTION
This question bank is designed for nursing students and practicing nurses
preparing for the WGU D116 Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam Objective
Assessment and Pre-Assessment. It contains 300 unique, non-repetitive
multiple-choice questions with verified answers and detailed rationales,
covering the full exam blueprint: pharmacokinetics (absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion, half-life, steady state, first-pass
effect, CYP450 interactions), pharmacodynamics (agonist, antagonist,
partial agonist, therapeutic index, receptor theory), cardiovascular and
renal pharmacology (anticoagulants, antihypertensives, diuretics,
antiarrhythmics, heart failure agents), endocrine and metabolic
pharmacology (insulin, oral antidiabetics, thyroid agents, corticosteroids,
osteoporosis drugs), neurologic and psychiatric pharmacology
(antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, Parkinson's agents,
opioids, muscle relaxants), antimicrobials (antibacterials, antifungals,
antivirals, antituberculars, antimalarials), respiratory and allergy
pharmacology (bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antihistamines,
leukotriene modifiers), and special populations including pregnancy, older
adults, hepatic/renal impairment, and toxicology antidotes.
,SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS
Question 1
A nurse is teaching about Parkinson's medications and states that a side
effect associated with pramipexole that is less likely to occur with other
dopamine agonists is which of the following?
A) Dizziness
B) Dyskinesias
C) Hallucinations
D) Sleep attacks
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Few patients taking pramipexole have experienced sleep
attacks or an overwhelming and irresistible sleepiness that comes
on without warning. Dizziness, hallucinations, and dyskinesias are
listed as side effects of pramipexole and other dopamine agonists.
Question 2
A patient on levodopa for years is now prescribed carbidopa. Which
statement by a nursing student indicates a need for further education?
A) Carbidopa prevents peripheral conversion of levodopa to dopamine
B) Carbidopa increases the amount of levodopa reaching the brain
C) Carbidopa reduces nausea and vomiting caused by levodopa
D) Carbidopa increases the required dose of levodopa
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Carbidopa does NOT increase the required dose of
levodopa. Instead, it prevents peripheral decarboxylation, allowing
more levodopa to reach the CNS and reducing side effects such as
nausea. This allows for a lower dose of levodopa.
Question 3
A patient is switched from oral to IV morphine. The IV dose should be
significantly lower due to which principle?
A) Increased renal clearance
B) Avoidance of first-pass metabolism
C) Decreased protein binding
D) Increased volume of distribution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oral morphine undergoes extensive first-pass hepatic
metabolism, reducing bioavailability to ~30%. IV administration
bypasses first-pass metabolism, delivering 100% of the dose to
systemic circulation. The IV dose must be substantially lower to
avoid toxicity.
, Question 4
A drug has a half-life of 6 hours. Approximately how long until steady
state is achieved?
A) 6 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 24–30 hours
D) 48 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Steady state is reached after 4–5 half-lives. With a 6-
hour half-life, 4 half-lives = 24 hours and 5 half-lives = 30 hours.
Question 5
Which statement accurately describes "ion trapping"?
A) Acidic drugs accumulate in acidic environments
B) Basic drugs accumulate in acidic environments
C) Neutral drugs accumulate in alkaline environments
D) Ionized drugs are always excreted faster
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ion trapping occurs when a weak base crosses into an
acidic environment, becomes ionized, and cannot cross back,
causing accumulation.
ASSEMENT & PRE-ASSESMENT 700 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR - JUST RELEASED
INTRODUCTION
This question bank is designed for nursing students and practicing nurses
preparing for the WGU D116 Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam Objective
Assessment and Pre-Assessment. It contains 300 unique, non-repetitive
multiple-choice questions with verified answers and detailed rationales,
covering the full exam blueprint: pharmacokinetics (absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion, half-life, steady state, first-pass
effect, CYP450 interactions), pharmacodynamics (agonist, antagonist,
partial agonist, therapeutic index, receptor theory), cardiovascular and
renal pharmacology (anticoagulants, antihypertensives, diuretics,
antiarrhythmics, heart failure agents), endocrine and metabolic
pharmacology (insulin, oral antidiabetics, thyroid agents, corticosteroids,
osteoporosis drugs), neurologic and psychiatric pharmacology
(antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, Parkinson's agents,
opioids, muscle relaxants), antimicrobials (antibacterials, antifungals,
antivirals, antituberculars, antimalarials), respiratory and allergy
pharmacology (bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antihistamines,
leukotriene modifiers), and special populations including pregnancy, older
adults, hepatic/renal impairment, and toxicology antidotes.
,SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS
Question 1
A nurse is teaching about Parkinson's medications and states that a side
effect associated with pramipexole that is less likely to occur with other
dopamine agonists is which of the following?
A) Dizziness
B) Dyskinesias
C) Hallucinations
D) Sleep attacks
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Few patients taking pramipexole have experienced sleep
attacks or an overwhelming and irresistible sleepiness that comes
on without warning. Dizziness, hallucinations, and dyskinesias are
listed as side effects of pramipexole and other dopamine agonists.
Question 2
A patient on levodopa for years is now prescribed carbidopa. Which
statement by a nursing student indicates a need for further education?
A) Carbidopa prevents peripheral conversion of levodopa to dopamine
B) Carbidopa increases the amount of levodopa reaching the brain
C) Carbidopa reduces nausea and vomiting caused by levodopa
D) Carbidopa increases the required dose of levodopa
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Carbidopa does NOT increase the required dose of
levodopa. Instead, it prevents peripheral decarboxylation, allowing
more levodopa to reach the CNS and reducing side effects such as
nausea. This allows for a lower dose of levodopa.
Question 3
A patient is switched from oral to IV morphine. The IV dose should be
significantly lower due to which principle?
A) Increased renal clearance
B) Avoidance of first-pass metabolism
C) Decreased protein binding
D) Increased volume of distribution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oral morphine undergoes extensive first-pass hepatic
metabolism, reducing bioavailability to ~30%. IV administration
bypasses first-pass metabolism, delivering 100% of the dose to
systemic circulation. The IV dose must be substantially lower to
avoid toxicity.
, Question 4
A drug has a half-life of 6 hours. Approximately how long until steady
state is achieved?
A) 6 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 24–30 hours
D) 48 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Steady state is reached after 4–5 half-lives. With a 6-
hour half-life, 4 half-lives = 24 hours and 5 half-lives = 30 hours.
Question 5
Which statement accurately describes "ion trapping"?
A) Acidic drugs accumulate in acidic environments
B) Basic drugs accumulate in acidic environments
C) Neutral drugs accumulate in alkaline environments
D) Ionized drugs are always excreted faster
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ion trapping occurs when a weak base crosses into an
acidic environment, becomes ionized, and cannot cross back,
causing accumulation.
