NU 578 Advanced Pharmacology Unit 1 Exam
Study Guide | University of South Alabama (USA) |
Complete Exam Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Latest Update 2026/2027 |
Already Graded A+
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X to treat a patient's high blood
pressure. After giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces the blood
pressure without serious harmful effects, but it also causes the patient to have
nausea and headache. Based on this information, which property of an ideal drug is
this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration
Answer: C
Rationale: The drug is effective in lowering blood pressure and safe in that it does
not cause harmful effects. However, it causes other effects besides the desired
response, meaning it lacks selectivity. The oral form provides ease of
administration.
Question 2
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of the
drug is the most compelling indication that it should not be given?
A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect
B. The drug is difficult to administer
C. The drug's effects are reversible
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose
Answer: D
Rationale: If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some
drugs may be given even though they produce unwanted side effects or are difficult
to administer. Reversible action is a desired property for most drugs.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
B. Less risk of side effects
C. Greater chemical stability
D. Greater likelihood of reversibility
Answer: A
Rationale: Ease of administration increases convenience and adherence and can
reduce administration errors. It is not related to side effects, chemical stability, or
reversibility.
Question 4
The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine because the
blood pressure often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is taken with alcohol.
Which drug property does this illustrate?
A. Chemical instability
B. Drug interaction
C. Reversible action
D. Drug selectivity
Answer: B
Rationale: When two or more drugs are taken together, they can interact, causing
either increased or decreased drug responses. In this case, alcohol increases the
nitroglycerine response.
Question 5
When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the impact of drugs on the body.
Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body. Selectivity is
the ability to elicit only the desired response.
Question 6
When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
pg. 2
,D. Effectiveness
Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
Therapeutics is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.
Question 7
Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have
B. There is no such thing as a safe drug
C. Drugs are defined as illegal substances
D. There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects
Answer: C
Rationale: A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes, not just illegal
substances. All the other statements are correct.
Question 8
What is the ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug?
A. Intensity of the response
B. Dosage
C. Route of administration
D. Timing of administration
Answer: A
Rationale: The ultimate concern is the intensity of the response, which is
determined by dosage size, route of administration, and timing of administration.
Question 9
What is the objective of drug therapy?
A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
B. To provide minimum benefit with maximum harm
C. To provide total relief of symptoms regardless of harm
D. To provide as much benefit as possible
Answer: A
Rationale: The objective of drug therapy is to provide maximum benefit with
minimal harm. All drugs have the potential to produce side effects.
Question 10
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's
response to a drug? (Select all that apply.)
pg. 3
, A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Mood
E. Genetics
Answer: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Sources of individual variation include drug interactions; physiologic
variables (age, gender, weight); pathologic variables (diminished kidney/liver
function); and genetic variables. Mood is not a primary determinant.
Question 11
The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering the
medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of drug
therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk patients
Answer: D
Rationale: Patients receiving penicillin are at high risk for dangerous allergic
reactions. This intervention represents identifying situations with high risk.
Question 12
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order:
"Adlomet 250 mg daily." What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as it was given last time
B. Administer the medication by mouth
C. Verify the order with the prescriber
D. Ask the patient how this medication is usually given
Answer: C
Rationale: This order does not include a drug route. The nurse should clarify any
questionable orders with the prescriber.
Question 13
Which aspect of drug therapy indicates to the nurse whether a drug is having a
beneficial effect?
A. Performing a preadministration assessment
B. Evaluating therapeutic responses
C. Minimizing adverse effects
D. Managing toxicity
pg. 4
Study Guide | University of South Alabama (USA) |
Complete Exam Questions with Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Latest Update 2026/2027 |
Already Graded A+
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of drug X to treat a patient's high blood
pressure. After giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces the blood
pressure without serious harmful effects, but it also causes the patient to have
nausea and headache. Based on this information, which property of an ideal drug is
this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration
Answer: C
Rationale: The drug is effective in lowering blood pressure and safe in that it does
not cause harmful effects. However, it causes other effects besides the desired
response, meaning it lacks selectivity. The oral form provides ease of
administration.
Question 2
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of the
drug is the most compelling indication that it should not be given?
A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect
B. The drug is difficult to administer
C. The drug's effects are reversible
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose
Answer: D
Rationale: If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some
drugs may be given even though they produce unwanted side effects or are difficult
to administer. Reversible action is a desired property for most drugs.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
B. Less risk of side effects
C. Greater chemical stability
D. Greater likelihood of reversibility
Answer: A
Rationale: Ease of administration increases convenience and adherence and can
reduce administration errors. It is not related to side effects, chemical stability, or
reversibility.
Question 4
The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine because the
blood pressure often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is taken with alcohol.
Which drug property does this illustrate?
A. Chemical instability
B. Drug interaction
C. Reversible action
D. Drug selectivity
Answer: B
Rationale: When two or more drugs are taken together, they can interact, causing
either increased or decreased drug responses. In this case, alcohol increases the
nitroglycerine response.
Question 5
When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the impact of drugs on the body.
Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body. Selectivity is
the ability to elicit only the desired response.
Question 6
When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
pg. 2
,D. Effectiveness
Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
Therapeutics is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.
Question 7
Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have
B. There is no such thing as a safe drug
C. Drugs are defined as illegal substances
D. There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects
Answer: C
Rationale: A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes, not just illegal
substances. All the other statements are correct.
Question 8
What is the ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug?
A. Intensity of the response
B. Dosage
C. Route of administration
D. Timing of administration
Answer: A
Rationale: The ultimate concern is the intensity of the response, which is
determined by dosage size, route of administration, and timing of administration.
Question 9
What is the objective of drug therapy?
A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
B. To provide minimum benefit with maximum harm
C. To provide total relief of symptoms regardless of harm
D. To provide as much benefit as possible
Answer: A
Rationale: The objective of drug therapy is to provide maximum benefit with
minimal harm. All drugs have the potential to produce side effects.
Question 10
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's
response to a drug? (Select all that apply.)
pg. 3
, A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Mood
E. Genetics
Answer: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Sources of individual variation include drug interactions; physiologic
variables (age, gender, weight); pathologic variables (diminished kidney/liver
function); and genetic variables. Mood is not a primary determinant.
Question 11
The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering the
medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of drug
therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk patients
Answer: D
Rationale: Patients receiving penicillin are at high risk for dangerous allergic
reactions. This intervention represents identifying situations with high risk.
Question 12
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order:
"Adlomet 250 mg daily." What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication as it was given last time
B. Administer the medication by mouth
C. Verify the order with the prescriber
D. Ask the patient how this medication is usually given
Answer: C
Rationale: This order does not include a drug route. The nurse should clarify any
questionable orders with the prescriber.
Question 13
Which aspect of drug therapy indicates to the nurse whether a drug is having a
beneficial effect?
A. Performing a preadministration assessment
B. Evaluating therapeutic responses
C. Minimizing adverse effects
D. Managing toxicity
pg. 4
