Pharmacology and the Nursing Process Unit 1
Fundamentals of Nursing Pharmacology Study Guide
2025/ 2026 | 100% Verified with Correct Questions and
Answers | Complete Nursing Pharmacology Review,
Unit 1 Fundamentals, Nursing Process, Medication
Management
PART 1: THE NURSING PROCESS IN PHARMACOLOGY
1. A nurse is assessing a new patient who has been prescribed a new
medication. Which of the following actions is the most critical first step in the
assessment phase of the nursing process?
A. Check the patient's vital signs.
B. Obtain a comprehensive medication history, including prescriptions, over-the-
counter drugs, and herbal supplements.
C. Administer the medication as ordered.
D. Teach the patient about the medication's side effects.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment phase is the first step of the nursing process
and involves gathering comprehensive data about the patient. Obtaining a
complete medication history, including prescriptions, OTC drugs, and herbal
supplements, is critical because it helps identify potential drug interactions,
contraindications, and allergies before administering any medication. While vital
signs (A) are important, they are part of the assessment but not the most critical
first step specifically related to pharmacology. Administering the medication (C)
occurs during the implementation phase and should never happen before a
thorough assessment. Teaching (D) occurs during implementation and requires
assessment data first.
,2. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication administration record (MAR) and
notes a new order for a medication the patient has never taken. During which
phase of the nursing process does the nurse identify potential problems such as
drug interactions or contraindications?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The planning phase involves analyzing the assessment data to
identify potential problems, establish goals, and develop a plan of care. During
planning, the nurse identifies potential drug interactions, contraindications, and
nursing diagnoses related to the medication. Assessment (A) is data collection.
Implementation (C) is the actual administration of the medication. Evaluation (D)
is determining the effectiveness of the medication after administration.
3. A patient states, "I don't like taking pills. They make me feel sick to my
stomach." This information is most relevant during which phase of the nursing
process?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This patient statement is subjective data collected during the
assessment phase. The nurse gathers this information to understand the patient's
beliefs, preferences, and past experiences with medications. This data will then
inform the planning phase (B) where the nurse can develop strategies to address
the patient's concerns, such as requesting a different formulation or
administering the medication with food. Implementation (C) is when the
medication is actually given, and evaluation (D) is assessing the response.
,4. A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient who is prescribed a diuretic.
Which of the following is an appropriate, patient-centered goal?
A. The patient will take the diuretic as prescribed.
B. The patient will demonstrate an understanding of the medication's purpose.
C. The patient will have a urine output of at least 30 mL/hr.
D. The nurse will administer the diuretic at 0900.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A patient-centered goal should focus on what the patient will
achieve or demonstrate. Option B is patient-centered, measurable, and focused
on the patient's learning. Option A is a nursing intervention, not a patient goal.
Option C is a physiological parameter but does not reflect patient learning or
behavior. Option D is a nursing action, not a patient-centered goal.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of the
following actions is a key component of the implementation phase?
A. Evaluating the patient's response to the medication.
B. Checking the patient's allergy history.
C. Administering the medication using the "rights" of medication administration.
D. Determining if the medication is the most cost-effective option.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The implementation phase involves carrying out the nursing
interventions identified in the planning phase. Administering the medication using
the "rights" of medication administration is a core component of this phase.
Evaluating the patient's response (A) is part of the evaluation phase. Checking
allergy history (B) is part of the assessment phase. Determining cost-effectiveness
(D) is part of planning and is typically not a primary nursing responsibility.
, 6. A patient reports feeling dizzy after receiving a new antihypertensive
medication. The nurse checks the patient's blood pressure and finds it is 90/60
mm Hg. This data collection is part of which phase of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The evaluation phase involves monitoring the patient's
response to the medication and determining whether the goals of therapy are
being met. The nurse is evaluating the patient's response (dizziness) and
collecting objective data (blood pressure) to determine the medication's effect.
While data collection is part of assessment (A), in this context, the nurse is
specifically evaluating the response to a medication that was already
administered, which is the evaluation phase.
7. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the evaluation
phase in the nursing process as it relates to pharmacology?
A. To determine if the patient has taken all their medications.
B. To assess the effectiveness of the medication and identify any adverse effects.
C. To decide if a different medication should be prescribed.
D. To document that the medication was given.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The evaluation phase is focused on determining the
effectiveness of the medication and identifying any adverse effects or
complications. This information is then used to modify the plan of care as needed.
Option A is about adherence, which is part of assessment and evaluation but not
the primary purpose. Option C is a medical decision, not a nursing responsibility.
Option D is documentation, which occurs during implementation.
Fundamentals of Nursing Pharmacology Study Guide
2025/ 2026 | 100% Verified with Correct Questions and
Answers | Complete Nursing Pharmacology Review,
Unit 1 Fundamentals, Nursing Process, Medication
Management
PART 1: THE NURSING PROCESS IN PHARMACOLOGY
1. A nurse is assessing a new patient who has been prescribed a new
medication. Which of the following actions is the most critical first step in the
assessment phase of the nursing process?
A. Check the patient's vital signs.
B. Obtain a comprehensive medication history, including prescriptions, over-the-
counter drugs, and herbal supplements.
C. Administer the medication as ordered.
D. Teach the patient about the medication's side effects.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment phase is the first step of the nursing process
and involves gathering comprehensive data about the patient. Obtaining a
complete medication history, including prescriptions, OTC drugs, and herbal
supplements, is critical because it helps identify potential drug interactions,
contraindications, and allergies before administering any medication. While vital
signs (A) are important, they are part of the assessment but not the most critical
first step specifically related to pharmacology. Administering the medication (C)
occurs during the implementation phase and should never happen before a
thorough assessment. Teaching (D) occurs during implementation and requires
assessment data first.
,2. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication administration record (MAR) and
notes a new order for a medication the patient has never taken. During which
phase of the nursing process does the nurse identify potential problems such as
drug interactions or contraindications?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The planning phase involves analyzing the assessment data to
identify potential problems, establish goals, and develop a plan of care. During
planning, the nurse identifies potential drug interactions, contraindications, and
nursing diagnoses related to the medication. Assessment (A) is data collection.
Implementation (C) is the actual administration of the medication. Evaluation (D)
is determining the effectiveness of the medication after administration.
3. A patient states, "I don't like taking pills. They make me feel sick to my
stomach." This information is most relevant during which phase of the nursing
process?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This patient statement is subjective data collected during the
assessment phase. The nurse gathers this information to understand the patient's
beliefs, preferences, and past experiences with medications. This data will then
inform the planning phase (B) where the nurse can develop strategies to address
the patient's concerns, such as requesting a different formulation or
administering the medication with food. Implementation (C) is when the
medication is actually given, and evaluation (D) is assessing the response.
,4. A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient who is prescribed a diuretic.
Which of the following is an appropriate, patient-centered goal?
A. The patient will take the diuretic as prescribed.
B. The patient will demonstrate an understanding of the medication's purpose.
C. The patient will have a urine output of at least 30 mL/hr.
D. The nurse will administer the diuretic at 0900.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A patient-centered goal should focus on what the patient will
achieve or demonstrate. Option B is patient-centered, measurable, and focused
on the patient's learning. Option A is a nursing intervention, not a patient goal.
Option C is a physiological parameter but does not reflect patient learning or
behavior. Option D is a nursing action, not a patient-centered goal.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of the
following actions is a key component of the implementation phase?
A. Evaluating the patient's response to the medication.
B. Checking the patient's allergy history.
C. Administering the medication using the "rights" of medication administration.
D. Determining if the medication is the most cost-effective option.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The implementation phase involves carrying out the nursing
interventions identified in the planning phase. Administering the medication using
the "rights" of medication administration is a core component of this phase.
Evaluating the patient's response (A) is part of the evaluation phase. Checking
allergy history (B) is part of the assessment phase. Determining cost-effectiveness
(D) is part of planning and is typically not a primary nursing responsibility.
, 6. A patient reports feeling dizzy after receiving a new antihypertensive
medication. The nurse checks the patient's blood pressure and finds it is 90/60
mm Hg. This data collection is part of which phase of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The evaluation phase involves monitoring the patient's
response to the medication and determining whether the goals of therapy are
being met. The nurse is evaluating the patient's response (dizziness) and
collecting objective data (blood pressure) to determine the medication's effect.
While data collection is part of assessment (A), in this context, the nurse is
specifically evaluating the response to a medication that was already
administered, which is the evaluation phase.
7. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the evaluation
phase in the nursing process as it relates to pharmacology?
A. To determine if the patient has taken all their medications.
B. To assess the effectiveness of the medication and identify any adverse effects.
C. To decide if a different medication should be prescribed.
D. To document that the medication was given.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The evaluation phase is focused on determining the
effectiveness of the medication and identifying any adverse effects or
complications. This information is then used to modify the plan of care as needed.
Option A is about adherence, which is part of assessment and evaluation but not
the primary purpose. Option C is a medical decision, not a nursing responsibility.
Option D is documentation, which occurs during implementation.
