Pharmacology Exam Questions and Answers –
Comprehensive Practice and Review | Nursing
Pharmacology Study Guide & Exam
Preparation
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. A nurse is reviewing the process by which a drug moves from the site of
administration into the bloodstream. Which term describes this process?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its site of
administration into the systemic circulation. Distribution (A) is movement from
blood to tissues. Metabolism (B) is biotransformation, primarily hepatic. Excretion
(D) is removal, primarily renal.
2. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lung
D. Spleen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism via cytochrome
P450 enzymes. The kidney (A) is the primary organ of excretion. Lungs (C) and
spleen (D) play minor roles.
,3. A patient with chronic kidney disease is prescribed a renally excreted drug. The
nurse should anticipate which change?
A. Increased dose
B. Decreased dose
C. No change
D. Increased frequency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reduced renal function decreases drug clearance, increasing
risk of toxicity. Doses are typically decreased or intervals extended. Increasing
dose (A) or frequency (D) would worsen toxicity.
4. A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires what nursing action?
A. Routine monitoring only
B. No monitoring
C. Close serum drug level monitoring
D. Administration with food only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., digoxin, warfarin,
phenytoin, lithium) have small margins between therapeutic and toxic levels,
requiring serum level monitoring. Routine monitoring (A) is insufficient.
5. Which route has the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Topical
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption, producing the fastest
onset. Oral (A) is slowest. Subcutaneous (B) and topical (D) are intermediate/slow.
6. A nurse administers a drug that stimulates a receptor to produce a response.
This drug is a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Partial agonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An agonist binds and activates a receptor. An antagonist (A)
blocks. A partial agonist (C) produces partial response. An inverse agonist (D)
produces opposite effect.
7. Which factor most affects drug distribution?
A. Protein binding
B. GI motility
C. First-pass effect
D. Route of administration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Protein binding determines free (active) drug available for
tissues. GI motility (B) affects absorption. First-pass (C) affects bioavailability.
Route (D) affects absorption, not distribution.
8. A patient with low albumin takes a highly protein-bound drug. The nurse
should monitor for:
A. Reduced effect
B. Increased toxicity
, C. No change
D. Allergic reaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Low albumin means more free drug, increasing effect and
toxicity risk. Reduced effect (A) is incorrect.
9. The study of what the drug does to the body is called:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is drug action on the body.
Pharmacokinetics (A) is body action on drug. Pharmacogenetics (C) is genetic
influence. Pharmacognosy (D) is natural drug sources.
10. Which is a pharmacokinetic process? (Select all that apply.)
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
E. Receptor binding
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: ADME = Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
Receptor binding (E) is pharmacodynamic.
11. A drug's half-life is 6 hours. How long until approximately 94% is eliminated?
Comprehensive Practice and Review | Nursing
Pharmacology Study Guide & Exam
Preparation
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. A nurse is reviewing the process by which a drug moves from the site of
administration into the bloodstream. Which term describes this process?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Absorption is the movement of a drug from its site of
administration into the systemic circulation. Distribution (A) is movement from
blood to tissues. Metabolism (B) is biotransformation, primarily hepatic. Excretion
(D) is removal, primarily renal.
2. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lung
D. Spleen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism via cytochrome
P450 enzymes. The kidney (A) is the primary organ of excretion. Lungs (C) and
spleen (D) play minor roles.
,3. A patient with chronic kidney disease is prescribed a renally excreted drug. The
nurse should anticipate which change?
A. Increased dose
B. Decreased dose
C. No change
D. Increased frequency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reduced renal function decreases drug clearance, increasing
risk of toxicity. Doses are typically decreased or intervals extended. Increasing
dose (A) or frequency (D) would worsen toxicity.
4. A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires what nursing action?
A. Routine monitoring only
B. No monitoring
C. Close serum drug level monitoring
D. Administration with food only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., digoxin, warfarin,
phenytoin, lithium) have small margins between therapeutic and toxic levels,
requiring serum level monitoring. Routine monitoring (A) is insufficient.
5. Which route has the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Topical
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption, producing the fastest
onset. Oral (A) is slowest. Subcutaneous (B) and topical (D) are intermediate/slow.
6. A nurse administers a drug that stimulates a receptor to produce a response.
This drug is a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Partial agonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An agonist binds and activates a receptor. An antagonist (A)
blocks. A partial agonist (C) produces partial response. An inverse agonist (D)
produces opposite effect.
7. Which factor most affects drug distribution?
A. Protein binding
B. GI motility
C. First-pass effect
D. Route of administration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Protein binding determines free (active) drug available for
tissues. GI motility (B) affects absorption. First-pass (C) affects bioavailability.
Route (D) affects absorption, not distribution.
8. A patient with low albumin takes a highly protein-bound drug. The nurse
should monitor for:
A. Reduced effect
B. Increased toxicity
, C. No change
D. Allergic reaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Low albumin means more free drug, increasing effect and
toxicity risk. Reduced effect (A) is incorrect.
9. The study of what the drug does to the body is called:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is drug action on the body.
Pharmacokinetics (A) is body action on drug. Pharmacogenetics (C) is genetic
influence. Pharmacognosy (D) is natural drug sources.
10. Which is a pharmacokinetic process? (Select all that apply.)
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
E. Receptor binding
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: ADME = Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
Receptor binding (E) is pharmacodynamic.
11. A drug's half-life is 6 hours. How long until approximately 94% is eliminated?
