NUR 2407 PHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|
100% CORRECT |GRADE A –:
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
1. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a highly protein-bound medication. What is the
primary pharmacokinetic concern for this patient?
A. Decreased absorption in the GI tract
B. Accelerated excretion by the kidneys
C. Increased risk of drug toxicity due to higher levels of free drug
D. Reduced first-pass effect in the stomach
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Liver cirrhosis leads to hypoalbuminemia. Since the drug is
highly protein-bound, fewer albumin binding sites result in more ‘free’ active drug in the
bloodstream, increasing the risk of toxicity.
2. Which term describes the process where a drug is chemically converted by enzymes into a
metabolite, primarily occurring in the liver?
A. Absorption
,B. Biotransformation
C. Distribution
D. Elimination
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Biotransformation, also known as metabolism, is the enzymatic
alteration of drug structure, most commonly performed by the Cytochrome P450 system in
the liver.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient takes a 400 mg dose, how much of the drug will
remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 100 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 50 mg
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: 12 hours equals three half-lives (12/4=3). 400mg -> 200mg
(1st) -> 100mg (2nd) -> 50mg (3rd).
4. When administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic index, the nurse should
prioritize which action?
A. Monitoring serum drug levels closely
, B. Administering the drug with food to prevent GI upset
C. Teaching the patient to increase fluid intake
D. Ensuring the patient remains upright for 30 minutes
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index have a small margin
between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose; blood level monitoring is essential for safety.
5. A patient is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. The nurse expects to administer
Epinephrine. Which adrenergic receptors does Epinephrine stimulate?
A. Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-2
B. Beta-1 and Beta-2 only
C. Alpha-1 and Beta-1 only
D. Alpha-2 and Beta-2 only
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Epinephrine is a non-selective adrenergic agonist that
stimulates all four major adrenergic receptor subtypes (Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-
2).
6. A patient is prescribed Propranolol for hypertension. Which concurrent condition would be
a contraindication for this non-selective beta-blocker?
A. Asthma
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|
100% CORRECT |GRADE A –:
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
1. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a highly protein-bound medication. What is the
primary pharmacokinetic concern for this patient?
A. Decreased absorption in the GI tract
B. Accelerated excretion by the kidneys
C. Increased risk of drug toxicity due to higher levels of free drug
D. Reduced first-pass effect in the stomach
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Liver cirrhosis leads to hypoalbuminemia. Since the drug is
highly protein-bound, fewer albumin binding sites result in more ‘free’ active drug in the
bloodstream, increasing the risk of toxicity.
2. Which term describes the process where a drug is chemically converted by enzymes into a
metabolite, primarily occurring in the liver?
A. Absorption
,B. Biotransformation
C. Distribution
D. Elimination
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Biotransformation, also known as metabolism, is the enzymatic
alteration of drug structure, most commonly performed by the Cytochrome P450 system in
the liver.
3. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient takes a 400 mg dose, how much of the drug will
remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 100 mg
B. 200 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 50 mg
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: 12 hours equals three half-lives (12/4=3). 400mg -> 200mg
(1st) -> 100mg (2nd) -> 50mg (3rd).
4. When administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic index, the nurse should
prioritize which action?
A. Monitoring serum drug levels closely
, B. Administering the drug with food to prevent GI upset
C. Teaching the patient to increase fluid intake
D. Ensuring the patient remains upright for 30 minutes
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index have a small margin
between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose; blood level monitoring is essential for safety.
5. A patient is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. The nurse expects to administer
Epinephrine. Which adrenergic receptors does Epinephrine stimulate?
A. Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-2
B. Beta-1 and Beta-2 only
C. Alpha-1 and Beta-1 only
D. Alpha-2 and Beta-2 only
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Epinephrine is a non-selective adrenergic agonist that
stimulates all four major adrenergic receptor subtypes (Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-
2).
6. A patient is prescribed Propranolol for hypertension. Which concurrent condition would be
a contraindication for this non-selective beta-blocker?
A. Asthma
