NUR 2407 EXAM 1: COMPREHENSIVE
PHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS| 100% CORRECT
|GRADE A –: RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
1. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a medication that is highly metabolized by the
cytochrome P450 system. What is the nurse’s primary concern?
A. Reduced bioavailability due to the first-pass effect
B. Decreased drug half-life leading to therapeutic failure
C. Increased risk of drug toxicity due to impaired metabolism
D. Rapid excretion of the drug through the biliary system
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cirrhosis impairs liver function, reducing the activity of the
P450 enzyme system, which leads to slower metabolism and higher risks of toxic drug
accumulation.
2. When evaluating a drug’s therapeutic index (TI), which finding indicates the safest drug
profile?
A. A wide therapeutic index
,B. A therapeutic index of 2
C. A narrow therapeutic index
D. An ED50 that is very close to the LD50
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A wide therapeutic index indicates a large margin of safety
between the effective dose and the lethal dose. A narrow index requires close monitoring.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If 100 mg is administered, how much of the drug will
remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 12.5 mg
B. 25 mg
C. 50 mg
D. 6.25 mg
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (1st half-life), 50mg remains. After 8 hours (2nd),
25mg remains. After 12 hours (3rd), 12.5mg remains.
4. Which physiological change in an elderly patient most significantly impacts drug
distribution?
A. Decreased serum albumin levels
B. Increased total body water
, C. Increased lean muscle mass
D. Enhanced renal blood flow
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Decreased albumin in the elderly leads to fewer binding sites for
protein-bound drugs, resulting in higher levels of free, active drug in the circulation.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a drug that is a known enzyme inducer. What effect
should the nurse anticipate if a second drug is added to the regimen?
A. Increased serum levels of the second drug
B. Reduced renal clearance of the second drug
C. Prolonged duration of action of the second drug
D. Decreased serum levels of the second drug
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Enzyme inducers increase the metabolic activity of liver
enzymes, causing other drugs to be metabolized faster, which decreases their serum
concentration.
6. Under the Controlled Substances Act, which schedule of drugs has the highest potential for
abuse while still having an accepted medical use?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule I
PHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS| 100% CORRECT
|GRADE A –: RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
1. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a medication that is highly metabolized by the
cytochrome P450 system. What is the nurse’s primary concern?
A. Reduced bioavailability due to the first-pass effect
B. Decreased drug half-life leading to therapeutic failure
C. Increased risk of drug toxicity due to impaired metabolism
D. Rapid excretion of the drug through the biliary system
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cirrhosis impairs liver function, reducing the activity of the
P450 enzyme system, which leads to slower metabolism and higher risks of toxic drug
accumulation.
2. When evaluating a drug’s therapeutic index (TI), which finding indicates the safest drug
profile?
A. A wide therapeutic index
,B. A therapeutic index of 2
C. A narrow therapeutic index
D. An ED50 that is very close to the LD50
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A wide therapeutic index indicates a large margin of safety
between the effective dose and the lethal dose. A narrow index requires close monitoring.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If 100 mg is administered, how much of the drug will
remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 12.5 mg
B. 25 mg
C. 50 mg
D. 6.25 mg
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (1st half-life), 50mg remains. After 8 hours (2nd),
25mg remains. After 12 hours (3rd), 12.5mg remains.
4. Which physiological change in an elderly patient most significantly impacts drug
distribution?
A. Decreased serum albumin levels
B. Increased total body water
, C. Increased lean muscle mass
D. Enhanced renal blood flow
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Decreased albumin in the elderly leads to fewer binding sites for
protein-bound drugs, resulting in higher levels of free, active drug in the circulation.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a drug that is a known enzyme inducer. What effect
should the nurse anticipate if a second drug is added to the regimen?
A. Increased serum levels of the second drug
B. Reduced renal clearance of the second drug
C. Prolonged duration of action of the second drug
D. Decreased serum levels of the second drug
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Enzyme inducers increase the metabolic activity of liver
enzymes, causing other drugs to be metabolized faster, which decreases their serum
concentration.
6. Under the Controlled Substances Act, which schedule of drugs has the highest potential for
abuse while still having an accepted medical use?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule I
