NUR 210 Exams 1-4 Galen Pharmacology –
(2026) Actual Questions and Answers (PDF)
EXAMS 1
Question 1
Which term best describes "what the body does to the drug"?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacotherapeutics
C. Pharmacokinetics
D. Toxicology
Correct Answer: C. Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
(ADME). Pharmacodynamics, in contrast, is "what the drug does to the
body" .
Question 2
What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
A. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
B. Action, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
C. Absorption, Digestion, Metabolism, Elimination
D. Action, Digestion, Metabolism, Excretion
,Correct Answer: A. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
Rationale: The four phases of pharmacokinetics are Absorption,
Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) .
Question 3
A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response
is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Partial agonist
D. Competitive antagonist
Correct Answer: B. Agonist
Rationale: An agonist activates a receptor and produces a biological
response. An antagonist blocks the receptor and produces no response .
Question 4
The nurse understands that the pharmaceutical phase of drug action
involves:
A. Absorption of the drug into the bloodstream
B. Dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract
C. Distribution of the drug to target tissues
D. Excretion of the drug via the kidneys
Correct Answer: B. Dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal
tract
Rationale: The pharmaceutical phase is the first phase of drug action,
where the solid drug must dissolve into a liquid so it can be absorbed .
,Question 5
A patient asks the nurse, "What does 'first-pass effect' mean?" The
best response is:
A. "The drug is absorbed faster when taken on an empty stomach."
B. "The drug is metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic
circulation, reducing its bioavailability."
C. "The drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys."
D. "The drug binds to plasma proteins and becomes inactive."
Correct Answer: B. "The drug is metabolized in the liver before
reaching systemic circulation, reducing its bioavailability."
Rationale: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of an oral drug
by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing the amount
of active drug available .
Question 6
A medication given by which route has 100% bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Intramuscular
Correct Answer: C. Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration places the drug directly into the
bloodstream, bypassing absorption and first-pass metabolism, resulting
in 100% bioavailability .
, Question 7
The nurse is preparing to administer a drug that has a narrow
therapeutic index. Which of the following is the most important
nursing action?
A. Administer the drug with food
B. Monitor the patient's serum drug levels
C. Give the drug at the same time each day
D. Assess the patient for allergies
Correct Answer: B. Monitor the patient's serum drug levels
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the toxic concentration is
close to the therapeutic concentration, so serum levels must be
monitored to ensure safety and efficacy .
Question 8
A client with both liver and kidney disease is prescribed a
medication with a half-life of 30 hours. How will these conditions
most likely affect the drug?
A. The drug will be eliminated more quickly
B. The drug's duration of action will increase
C. The drug will not enter the bloodstream
D. The drug's half-life will remain unchanged
Correct Answer: B. The drug's duration of action will increase
Rationale: Impaired liver and kidney function prolong half-life because
metabolism and excretion are decreased. This increases duration of
action and toxicity risk .
(2026) Actual Questions and Answers (PDF)
EXAMS 1
Question 1
Which term best describes "what the body does to the drug"?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacotherapeutics
C. Pharmacokinetics
D. Toxicology
Correct Answer: C. Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
(ADME). Pharmacodynamics, in contrast, is "what the drug does to the
body" .
Question 2
What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
A. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
B. Action, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
C. Absorption, Digestion, Metabolism, Elimination
D. Action, Digestion, Metabolism, Excretion
,Correct Answer: A. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
Rationale: The four phases of pharmacokinetics are Absorption,
Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) .
Question 3
A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response
is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Partial agonist
D. Competitive antagonist
Correct Answer: B. Agonist
Rationale: An agonist activates a receptor and produces a biological
response. An antagonist blocks the receptor and produces no response .
Question 4
The nurse understands that the pharmaceutical phase of drug action
involves:
A. Absorption of the drug into the bloodstream
B. Dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract
C. Distribution of the drug to target tissues
D. Excretion of the drug via the kidneys
Correct Answer: B. Dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal
tract
Rationale: The pharmaceutical phase is the first phase of drug action,
where the solid drug must dissolve into a liquid so it can be absorbed .
,Question 5
A patient asks the nurse, "What does 'first-pass effect' mean?" The
best response is:
A. "The drug is absorbed faster when taken on an empty stomach."
B. "The drug is metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic
circulation, reducing its bioavailability."
C. "The drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys."
D. "The drug binds to plasma proteins and becomes inactive."
Correct Answer: B. "The drug is metabolized in the liver before
reaching systemic circulation, reducing its bioavailability."
Rationale: The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of an oral drug
by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing the amount
of active drug available .
Question 6
A medication given by which route has 100% bioavailability?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Intravenous
D. Intramuscular
Correct Answer: C. Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration places the drug directly into the
bloodstream, bypassing absorption and first-pass metabolism, resulting
in 100% bioavailability .
, Question 7
The nurse is preparing to administer a drug that has a narrow
therapeutic index. Which of the following is the most important
nursing action?
A. Administer the drug with food
B. Monitor the patient's serum drug levels
C. Give the drug at the same time each day
D. Assess the patient for allergies
Correct Answer: B. Monitor the patient's serum drug levels
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the toxic concentration is
close to the therapeutic concentration, so serum levels must be
monitored to ensure safety and efficacy .
Question 8
A client with both liver and kidney disease is prescribed a
medication with a half-life of 30 hours. How will these conditions
most likely affect the drug?
A. The drug will be eliminated more quickly
B. The drug's duration of action will increase
C. The drug will not enter the bloodstream
D. The drug's half-life will remain unchanged
Correct Answer: B. The drug's duration of action will increase
Rationale: Impaired liver and kidney function prolong half-life because
metabolism and excretion are decreased. This increases duration of
action and toxicity risk .
