NURS 676 Advanced Pharmacology Midterm
Exam 2026 update (WCU) ACCURATE
SUMMER SEMESTER @Question And
Answers
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
NURS 676 Advanced Pharmacology
NURS 676
NURS 676 Advanced Pharmacology Midterm
Exam
2026 update
(WCU) ACCURATE SUMMER SEMESTER
Question And Answers
,Question 1
A nurse works in a private hospital and needs to administer some narcotic drugs to
one of her patients. Which of the following should the nurse consider when
administering narcotics to patients in a hospital setting?
A) Narcotics can be administered without a prescription in emergency situations
B) Narcotics are regulated by federal law and require specific documentation and
secure storage
C) Narcotics can be freely transferred between patients if needed
D) Narcotics do not require any special handling or monitoring
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Narcotics are controlled substances regulated by federal law (e.g., the
Controlled Substances Act). Nurses must follow strict guidelines for documentation,
secure storage, and administration. They require a valid prescription and cannot be
transferred between patients without proper authorization.
Question 2
A patient has been receiving regular doses of an agonist for 2 weeks. Which of the
following should the nurse anticipate?
A) The patient will experience no change in drug response
B) The patient will likely develop tolerance and may require a higher dose for the same
effect
C) The patient will develop an allergic reaction
D) The drug will become more effective over time
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Continuous use of an agonist can lead to tolerance, where the body adapts
to the drug and requires higher doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect. This is a
common phenomenon with opioids, beta-agonists, and other receptor agonists.
,Question 3
A nurse is creating a plan of care for a 68-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of
unstable angina and new prescription for nitroglycerin. Which of the following
nursing diagnoses should the nurse prioritize in the planning of this patient's care?
A) Risk for injury related to dizziness
B) Acute pain related to myocardial ischemia
C) Anxiety related to new diagnosis
D) Decreased cardiac output related to altered heart rate
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The priority for a patient with unstable angina is relieving acute pain
caused by myocardial ischemia. Nitroglycerin is prescribed to vasodilate coronary
arteries and reduce pain. While other diagnoses are relevant, acute pain is the most
immediate concern.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient who abuses marijuana. The treatment for marijuana
abuse consists mainly of:
A) Naltrexone therapy
B) Behavioral therapy and supportive care
C) Methadone maintenance
D) Antipsychotic medications
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: There is no specific pharmacologic treatment for marijuana abuse.
Management focuses on behavioral therapy, counseling, and supportive care.
, Medications may be used for co-occurring conditions but are not primary treatments for
cannabis use disorder.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who is in severe pain and is receiving an opioid
analgesic. Which of the following would be the nurse's priority assessments?
A) Respiratory rate, sedation level, and pain level
B) Blood glucose and electrolyte levels
C) Liver function tests and renal function
D) Skin integrity and wound healing
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The priority assessments for a patient receiving opioid analgesics are
respiratory rate (risk of respiratory depression), sedation level (oversedation), and pain
level (effectiveness of analgesia). These are the most critical safety parameters.
Question 6
A patient has been prescribed an oral drug that is known to have a high first-pass
effect. Which of the following measures has the potential to increase the amount of
the free drug that is available to body cells?
A) Administering the drug with food
B) Administering the drug intravenously
C) Administering the drug with a high-protein meal
D) Administering the drug with an antacid
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: First-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug in the liver before it
Exam 2026 update (WCU) ACCURATE
SUMMER SEMESTER @Question And
Answers
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS:
NURS 676 Advanced Pharmacology
NURS 676
NURS 676 Advanced Pharmacology Midterm
Exam
2026 update
(WCU) ACCURATE SUMMER SEMESTER
Question And Answers
,Question 1
A nurse works in a private hospital and needs to administer some narcotic drugs to
one of her patients. Which of the following should the nurse consider when
administering narcotics to patients in a hospital setting?
A) Narcotics can be administered without a prescription in emergency situations
B) Narcotics are regulated by federal law and require specific documentation and
secure storage
C) Narcotics can be freely transferred between patients if needed
D) Narcotics do not require any special handling or monitoring
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Narcotics are controlled substances regulated by federal law (e.g., the
Controlled Substances Act). Nurses must follow strict guidelines for documentation,
secure storage, and administration. They require a valid prescription and cannot be
transferred between patients without proper authorization.
Question 2
A patient has been receiving regular doses of an agonist for 2 weeks. Which of the
following should the nurse anticipate?
A) The patient will experience no change in drug response
B) The patient will likely develop tolerance and may require a higher dose for the same
effect
C) The patient will develop an allergic reaction
D) The drug will become more effective over time
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Continuous use of an agonist can lead to tolerance, where the body adapts
to the drug and requires higher doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect. This is a
common phenomenon with opioids, beta-agonists, and other receptor agonists.
,Question 3
A nurse is creating a plan of care for a 68-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of
unstable angina and new prescription for nitroglycerin. Which of the following
nursing diagnoses should the nurse prioritize in the planning of this patient's care?
A) Risk for injury related to dizziness
B) Acute pain related to myocardial ischemia
C) Anxiety related to new diagnosis
D) Decreased cardiac output related to altered heart rate
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The priority for a patient with unstable angina is relieving acute pain
caused by myocardial ischemia. Nitroglycerin is prescribed to vasodilate coronary
arteries and reduce pain. While other diagnoses are relevant, acute pain is the most
immediate concern.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient who abuses marijuana. The treatment for marijuana
abuse consists mainly of:
A) Naltrexone therapy
B) Behavioral therapy and supportive care
C) Methadone maintenance
D) Antipsychotic medications
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: There is no specific pharmacologic treatment for marijuana abuse.
Management focuses on behavioral therapy, counseling, and supportive care.
, Medications may be used for co-occurring conditions but are not primary treatments for
cannabis use disorder.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who is in severe pain and is receiving an opioid
analgesic. Which of the following would be the nurse's priority assessments?
A) Respiratory rate, sedation level, and pain level
B) Blood glucose and electrolyte levels
C) Liver function tests and renal function
D) Skin integrity and wound healing
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The priority assessments for a patient receiving opioid analgesics are
respiratory rate (risk of respiratory depression), sedation level (oversedation), and pain
level (effectiveness of analgesia). These are the most critical safety parameters.
Question 6
A patient has been prescribed an oral drug that is known to have a high first-pass
effect. Which of the following measures has the potential to increase the amount of
the free drug that is available to body cells?
A) Administering the drug with food
B) Administering the drug intravenously
C) Administering the drug with a high-protein meal
D) Administering the drug with an antacid
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: First-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug in the liver before it
