C HAPTER 02: P HARMACOLOGIC
P RINCIPLES
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The patient is experiencing chest pain and needs to take a buccal form of
nitrogl ycerin. Where does the nurse instruct the patient to place the
tablet?
a. Under the tongue
b. On top of the tongue
c. At the back of the throat
d. In the space between the cheek and the gum
ANS: D
Drugs administered via the buccal route are placed in the space
between the cheek and the gum. Drugs administered via the sublingual
route are placed under the tongue. The other options are i ncorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
2. The nurse is administering medications to the patient who is in renal
failure resulting from end-stage renal disease. The nurse is aware that
patients with kidney failure would most likel y have problems with which
pharmacokinetic phase?
, a. Absorption
b. Distribution
c. Metabolism
d. Excretion
ANS: D
The kidneys are the organs that are most re sponsible for drug
excretion. Renal function does not affect the absorption and
distribution of a drug. Renal function may affect metabolism of drugs
to a small extent.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
3. A patient who has advanced cancer is receiving opioid medications around
the clock to keep him comfortable as he nears the end of his life. Which
term best describes this t ype of therap y?
a. Palliative therapy
b. Maintenance therapy
c. Empiric therapy
d. Supplemental therapy
ANS: A
The goal of palliative therapy is to make the patient as comfortable as
possible. It is t ypically used in the end stages of illnesses when all
attempts at curative thera py have failed. Maintenance therapy is used
for the treatment of chronic illnesses such as hypertension. Empiric
therapy is based on clinical probabilities and involves drug
administration when a certain pathologic condition has an uncertain but
P RINCIPLES
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The patient is experiencing chest pain and needs to take a buccal form of
nitrogl ycerin. Where does the nurse instruct the patient to place the
tablet?
a. Under the tongue
b. On top of the tongue
c. At the back of the throat
d. In the space between the cheek and the gum
ANS: D
Drugs administered via the buccal route are placed in the space
between the cheek and the gum. Drugs administered via the sublingual
route are placed under the tongue. The other options are i ncorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
2. The nurse is administering medications to the patient who is in renal
failure resulting from end-stage renal disease. The nurse is aware that
patients with kidney failure would most likel y have problems with which
pharmacokinetic phase?
, a. Absorption
b. Distribution
c. Metabolism
d. Excretion
ANS: D
The kidneys are the organs that are most re sponsible for drug
excretion. Renal function does not affect the absorption and
distribution of a drug. Renal function may affect metabolism of drugs
to a small extent.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
3. A patient who has advanced cancer is receiving opioid medications around
the clock to keep him comfortable as he nears the end of his life. Which
term best describes this t ype of therap y?
a. Palliative therapy
b. Maintenance therapy
c. Empiric therapy
d. Supplemental therapy
ANS: A
The goal of palliative therapy is to make the patient as comfortable as
possible. It is t ypically used in the end stages of illnesses when all
attempts at curative thera py have failed. Maintenance therapy is used
for the treatment of chronic illnesses such as hypertension. Empiric
therapy is based on clinical probabilities and involves drug
administration when a certain pathologic condition has an uncertain but
