2026 PN
Pharmacology
Practice Exam
Pharmacologic Principles & Safe Medication Administration
1. A nurse is reviewing pharmacokinetics with a client. Which process
describes the movement of a medication from the gastrointestinal
tract into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
Absorption is the movement of a medication from its site of
administration into systemic circulation.
2. Which organ is primarily responsible for medication metabolism?
A. Heart
B. Liver
C. Spleen
D. Pancreas
The liver is the primary site of biotransformation for many
medications.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for the excretion of many
medications?
,A. Liver
B. Lungs
C. Kidneys
D. Pancreas
The kidneys eliminate many medications and metabolites through
urine.
4. A nurse is administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic
index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor serum medication levels as prescribed
C. Give the medication at bedtime
D. Crush the medication before administration
Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small difference
between therapeutic and toxic concentrations, making monitoring
important.
5. A client develops an unexpected harmful response to a medication
at a normal dose. The nurse should recognize this as which type of
response?
A. Therapeutic effect
B. Adverse effect
C. Placebo effect
D. Desired effect
An adverse effect is an unintended and potentially harmful response
to a medication.
6. Which medication route generally produces the most rapid
systemic effect?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
,C. Intramuscular
D. Intravenous
IV medications enter the bloodstream directly and generally produce
the most rapid systemic effect.
7. Which factor can increase the risk for medication toxicity in an
older adult?
A. Increased renal function
B. Increased hepatic blood flow
C. Decreased renal clearance
D. Increased total body water
Age-related decreases in renal function can reduce medication
clearance and increase toxicity.
8. Before administering a medication, which action best verifies the
client's identity?
A. Ask the client for the room number
B. Check the client's diagnosis
C. Use two approved identifiers
D. Ask another client to identify the person
Two approved identifiers help prevent medication administration
errors.
9. A prescription reads, "Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily." Which
assessment is most important before administration?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Temperature
C. Apical pulse
D. Bowel sounds
Digoxin can decrease heart rate, so the apical pulse should be
assessed before administration.
, 10. Which abbreviation should the nurse avoid when documenting
medication prescriptions?
A. PO
B. IM
C. U for units
D. IV
The abbreviation "U" can be mistaken for a zero or another
abbreviation and is considered unsafe.
11. A nurse discovers that the wrong medication was administered.
What is the priority action?
A. Complete the incident report first
B. Notify the pharmacy
C. Assess the client
D. Document that the medication was correct
The client's immediate safety and assessment take priority after a
medication error.
12. Which action helps prevent contamination of an oral medication?
A. Touching tablets with bare hands
B. Pouring tablets into the medication cup without touching them
C. Returning unused tablets to the stock bottle
D. Placing tablets on the bedside table
Medication should be handled in a way that prevents contamination.
13. A client refuses a prescribed medication. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Hide the medication in food
B. Document noncompliance
C. Ask the client why the medication is being refused
D. Contact the provider immediately
Pharmacology
Practice Exam
Pharmacologic Principles & Safe Medication Administration
1. A nurse is reviewing pharmacokinetics with a client. Which process
describes the movement of a medication from the gastrointestinal
tract into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
Absorption is the movement of a medication from its site of
administration into systemic circulation.
2. Which organ is primarily responsible for medication metabolism?
A. Heart
B. Liver
C. Spleen
D. Pancreas
The liver is the primary site of biotransformation for many
medications.
3. Which organ is primarily responsible for the excretion of many
medications?
,A. Liver
B. Lungs
C. Kidneys
D. Pancreas
The kidneys eliminate many medications and metabolites through
urine.
4. A nurse is administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic
index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor serum medication levels as prescribed
C. Give the medication at bedtime
D. Crush the medication before administration
Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small difference
between therapeutic and toxic concentrations, making monitoring
important.
5. A client develops an unexpected harmful response to a medication
at a normal dose. The nurse should recognize this as which type of
response?
A. Therapeutic effect
B. Adverse effect
C. Placebo effect
D. Desired effect
An adverse effect is an unintended and potentially harmful response
to a medication.
6. Which medication route generally produces the most rapid
systemic effect?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
,C. Intramuscular
D. Intravenous
IV medications enter the bloodstream directly and generally produce
the most rapid systemic effect.
7. Which factor can increase the risk for medication toxicity in an
older adult?
A. Increased renal function
B. Increased hepatic blood flow
C. Decreased renal clearance
D. Increased total body water
Age-related decreases in renal function can reduce medication
clearance and increase toxicity.
8. Before administering a medication, which action best verifies the
client's identity?
A. Ask the client for the room number
B. Check the client's diagnosis
C. Use two approved identifiers
D. Ask another client to identify the person
Two approved identifiers help prevent medication administration
errors.
9. A prescription reads, "Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily." Which
assessment is most important before administration?
A. Respiratory rate
B. Temperature
C. Apical pulse
D. Bowel sounds
Digoxin can decrease heart rate, so the apical pulse should be
assessed before administration.
, 10. Which abbreviation should the nurse avoid when documenting
medication prescriptions?
A. PO
B. IM
C. U for units
D. IV
The abbreviation "U" can be mistaken for a zero or another
abbreviation and is considered unsafe.
11. A nurse discovers that the wrong medication was administered.
What is the priority action?
A. Complete the incident report first
B. Notify the pharmacy
C. Assess the client
D. Document that the medication was correct
The client's immediate safety and assessment take priority after a
medication error.
12. Which action helps prevent contamination of an oral medication?
A. Touching tablets with bare hands
B. Pouring tablets into the medication cup without touching them
C. Returning unused tablets to the stock bottle
D. Placing tablets on the bedside table
Medication should be handled in a way that prevents contamination.
13. A client refuses a prescribed medication. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Hide the medication in food
B. Document noncompliance
C. Ask the client why the medication is being refused
D. Contact the provider immediately
