NURS 1030 : PHARM EXAM 2 (2025/2026 UPDATE) CHAPTER 2 DRUG
AND THE BODY WELL ELABORATED Q&A GRADED A+
1. The nurse’s discussion of the role of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzymes is
focusing on what aspect of pharmacokinetics?
Correct response:
• Drug metabolism that takes place in the liver
Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 24
2. A female client has a 12-year history of ETOH abuse. The client is injured in a
motor vehicle accident and requires surgery with general anesthesia. What would
the nurse expect for this client?
Correct response:
• a larger-than-normal dose of the general anesthetic
Explanation:
Drug tolerance occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a particular drug
over time, so that larger doses must be given to produce the same effects.
Tolerance may be acquired to the pharmacologic action of many drugs, especially
opioid analgesics, alcohol, and other CNS depressants. Tolerance to
pharmacologically related drugs is called cross-tolerance. For example, a person
who regularly drinks large amounts of alcohol becomes able to ingest even larger
amounts before becoming intoxicated; this is tolerance to alcohol. If the person is
then given sedative-type drugs or a general anesthetic, larger-than-usual doses are
required to produce a pharmacologic effect. This is cross-tolerance.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 29
3. A client is receiving 250 mg of a drug that has a half-life of 8 hours. How much
drug would remain after 24 hours?
Correct response:
• 31.25 mg
Explanation:
,For each 8 hours, the drug would be reduced by one-half. Thus, after 8 hours, there
would be 125 mg remaining; after the next 8 hours (16 hours later), there would be
62.5 mg (125/2) remaining; and after the next 8 hours (or 24 hours later), there
would be 31.25 mg (62.5/2) remaining.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 25
4. The nurse is aware that the most relevant way in which aging affects the
pharmacokinetic process of drug administration is decreased:
Correct response:
• function of vital organs.
Explanation:
The most relevant physiologic change is the decreased function of vital organs
needed for the pharmacokinetic process. Decreased affinity to receptor sites for
medication, decreased function of the beta-receptor system, and decreased cellular
biochemical reactions are all changes related to the aging process, but they are
related to the pharmacodynamics area.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 26
5. A client is administered an oral contraceptive. What is the process that occurs
between the time the drug enters the body and the time it enters the bloodstream?
Correct response:
• Absorption
Explanation:
Absorption is the process that occurs from the time the drug enters the body to the
time it enters the bloodstream to be circulated. Distribution involves the transport
of drug molecules within the body. Metabolism is the method by which drugs are
inactivated or biotransformed by the body. Excretion refers to elimination of a drug
from the body.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 22
,6. A gerontological nurse is conducting a medication assessment of a new client on
a subacute medicine unit. Which of the client’s statements should signal to the
nurse a need for education?
Correct response:
• “I use a lot of herbs and supplements, but I’m careful to make sure that
they’re all natural.”
Explanation:
It is a common misconception that because herbs are natural, they have no
potential for harm; the nurse should teach the client about the potential risks of
herbal supplements. Illness prevention reflects an appropriate, proactive view of
health, and implementing a reminder system for drugs is prudent. Similarly,
wanting to discuss the potential for polypharmacy with a care provider shows
appropriate assertiveness and ownership of health.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 29
7. A nurse administers a prescribed loading dose of digoxin based on the
understanding that doing so will result in:
Correct response:
• critical concentration being reached more quickly.
Explanation:
A loading dose, which is used to obtain needed effects quickly, uses a higher dose
than usual to reach critical concentration. A loading dose does not enhance
absorption, prevent drug breakdown by stomach acid, or prolong the half-life.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 21
8. The nurse is caring for a group of clients and is aware that which client may
require a reduction in medication dosage? (Select all that apply.)
Correct response:
• client with cirrhosis of the liver
• client with chronic hepatitis C
• client with cancer of the liver
, Explanation:
Clients who have liver disorders may require decreased doses of medication
because almost all medications are metabolized in the liver.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 28
9. What is the relation between the activity level of older adults and the response
to medication?
Correct response:
• The older adult who is more physically active is less likely to have an adverse
drug effect.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 26-27
10. An older adult client calls the health care provider's office and tells the nurse
that prescriptions for three medications have run out and the pharmacy will not
refill them this close together. A home health referral is made and the client is
found to be taking the medication more often than prescribed. What is a
priority nursing diagnosis for this client?
Correct response:
• Nonadherence to therapeutic medication regimen
Explanation:
When taking a drug at home, older adults may take the medication more or less
often than indicated. This is termed non-adherence. The reason for the behavior
may be ineffective understanding but of the information related to the medication
and not necessarily the medical condition. There is no indication of either
depression or altered mental state, although these are areas that should be
assessed.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 26
AND THE BODY WELL ELABORATED Q&A GRADED A+
1. The nurse’s discussion of the role of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzymes is
focusing on what aspect of pharmacokinetics?
Correct response:
• Drug metabolism that takes place in the liver
Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 24
2. A female client has a 12-year history of ETOH abuse. The client is injured in a
motor vehicle accident and requires surgery with general anesthesia. What would
the nurse expect for this client?
Correct response:
• a larger-than-normal dose of the general anesthetic
Explanation:
Drug tolerance occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a particular drug
over time, so that larger doses must be given to produce the same effects.
Tolerance may be acquired to the pharmacologic action of many drugs, especially
opioid analgesics, alcohol, and other CNS depressants. Tolerance to
pharmacologically related drugs is called cross-tolerance. For example, a person
who regularly drinks large amounts of alcohol becomes able to ingest even larger
amounts before becoming intoxicated; this is tolerance to alcohol. If the person is
then given sedative-type drugs or a general anesthetic, larger-than-usual doses are
required to produce a pharmacologic effect. This is cross-tolerance.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 29
3. A client is receiving 250 mg of a drug that has a half-life of 8 hours. How much
drug would remain after 24 hours?
Correct response:
• 31.25 mg
Explanation:
,For each 8 hours, the drug would be reduced by one-half. Thus, after 8 hours, there
would be 125 mg remaining; after the next 8 hours (16 hours later), there would be
62.5 mg (125/2) remaining; and after the next 8 hours (or 24 hours later), there
would be 31.25 mg (62.5/2) remaining.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 25
4. The nurse is aware that the most relevant way in which aging affects the
pharmacokinetic process of drug administration is decreased:
Correct response:
• function of vital organs.
Explanation:
The most relevant physiologic change is the decreased function of vital organs
needed for the pharmacokinetic process. Decreased affinity to receptor sites for
medication, decreased function of the beta-receptor system, and decreased cellular
biochemical reactions are all changes related to the aging process, but they are
related to the pharmacodynamics area.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 26
5. A client is administered an oral contraceptive. What is the process that occurs
between the time the drug enters the body and the time it enters the bloodstream?
Correct response:
• Absorption
Explanation:
Absorption is the process that occurs from the time the drug enters the body to the
time it enters the bloodstream to be circulated. Distribution involves the transport
of drug molecules within the body. Metabolism is the method by which drugs are
inactivated or biotransformed by the body. Excretion refers to elimination of a drug
from the body.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 22
,6. A gerontological nurse is conducting a medication assessment of a new client on
a subacute medicine unit. Which of the client’s statements should signal to the
nurse a need for education?
Correct response:
• “I use a lot of herbs and supplements, but I’m careful to make sure that
they’re all natural.”
Explanation:
It is a common misconception that because herbs are natural, they have no
potential for harm; the nurse should teach the client about the potential risks of
herbal supplements. Illness prevention reflects an appropriate, proactive view of
health, and implementing a reminder system for drugs is prudent. Similarly,
wanting to discuss the potential for polypharmacy with a care provider shows
appropriate assertiveness and ownership of health.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 29
7. A nurse administers a prescribed loading dose of digoxin based on the
understanding that doing so will result in:
Correct response:
• critical concentration being reached more quickly.
Explanation:
A loading dose, which is used to obtain needed effects quickly, uses a higher dose
than usual to reach critical concentration. A loading dose does not enhance
absorption, prevent drug breakdown by stomach acid, or prolong the half-life.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 21
8. The nurse is caring for a group of clients and is aware that which client may
require a reduction in medication dosage? (Select all that apply.)
Correct response:
• client with cirrhosis of the liver
• client with chronic hepatitis C
• client with cancer of the liver
, Explanation:
Clients who have liver disorders may require decreased doses of medication
because almost all medications are metabolized in the liver.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 28
9. What is the relation between the activity level of older adults and the response
to medication?
Correct response:
• The older adult who is more physically active is less likely to have an adverse
drug effect.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 26-27
10. An older adult client calls the health care provider's office and tells the nurse
that prescriptions for three medications have run out and the pharmacy will not
refill them this close together. A home health referral is made and the client is
found to be taking the medication more often than prescribed. What is a
priority nursing diagnosis for this client?
Correct response:
• Nonadherence to therapeutic medication regimen
Explanation:
When taking a drug at home, older adults may take the medication more or less
often than indicated. This is termed non-adherence. The reason for the behavior
may be ineffective understanding but of the information related to the medication
and not necessarily the medical condition. There is no indication of either
depression or altered mental state, although these are areas that should be
assessed.
Reference:
• Chapter 2: Drugs and the Body - Page 26
