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NUR 2407 Exam 1 – Rasmussen Pharmacology
2025 | Complete Verified Questions and Correct
A+ Answers | Latest Version
Question 1
What is the primary goal of pharmacotherapeutics?
A. To study drug interactions in the body
B. To achieve a therapeutic outcome using medications
C. To analyze the chemical composition of drugs
D. To determine the cost-effectiveness of drug therapy
Correct Answer: B. To achieve a therapeutic outcome using medications
Rationale: Pharmacotherapeutics focuses on using drugs to treat diseases and achieve desired
clinical outcomes, such as symptom relief or disease management. Option A refers to
pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics, C is related to pharmaceutical chemistry, and D is a health
economics concern, not the primary goal.
Question 2
Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the drug being transported across cell membranes
into the bloodstream?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from its
administration site. Distribution (B) involves drug transport to tissues, metabolism (C) is the
chemical alteration of the drug, and excretion (D) is the elimination of the drug from the body.
Question 3
A drug with a half-life of 8 hours is administered at 8 AM. When will 50% of the drug remain in
the body?
A. 12 PM
B. 4 PM
, 2
C. 8 PM
D. 12 AM
Correct Answer: B. 4 PM
Rationale: The half-life is the time it takes for half the drug to be eliminated. After 8 hours (one
half-life), 50% of the drug remains. From 8 AM, 8 hours later is 4 PM. Other options represent
incorrect time intervals.
Question 4
What does the term "therapeutic window" refer to?
A. The time frame for administering a drug
B. The range between the minimum effective and toxic concentrations
C. The duration a drug remains active in the body
D. The period during which a drug is absorbed
Correct Answer: B. The range between the minimum effective and toxic concentrations
Rationale: The therapeutic window is the drug concentration range that produces the desired
effect without toxicity. Option A is unrelated, C refers to duration of action, and D pertains to
absorption time.
Question 5
Which of the following is a common route of drug administration that bypasses first-pass
metabolism?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Rectal
D. Transdermal
Correct Answer: B. Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers drugs directly into the bloodstream, bypassing
the liver’s first-pass metabolism. Oral (A) and rectal (C) routes undergo first-pass metabolism,
while transdermal (D) avoids it but is slower.
Question 6
A nurse is administering a drug that is highly protein-bound. What is a potential risk for this
patient?
A. Decreased drug effectiveness
B. Increased risk of toxicity
C. Rapid drug excretion
, 3
D. No significant risk
Correct Answer: B. Increased risk of toxicity
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs compete for binding sites. If displaced (e.g., by another
drug), free drug levels increase, raising toxicity risk. A is incorrect as effectiveness may increase,
C is unrelated, and D ignores the risk.
Question 7
What is the primary role of an agonist drug?
A. Blocks receptor activity
B. Enhances receptor activity
C. Prevents drug metabolism
D. Reduces drug absorption
Correct Answer: B. Enhances receptor activity
Rationale: An agonist binds to receptors and mimics the natural ligand, enhancing activity.
Antagonists (A) block receptors, while C and D are unrelated to receptor function.
Question 8
Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Stomach
Correct Answer: B. Liver
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism, where enzymes (e.g., cytochrome
P450) chemically alter drugs. Kidneys (A) excrete drugs, lungs (C) play a minor role, and the
stomach (D) is involved in absorption.
Question 9
A patient is prescribed a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What does this imply?
A. The drug is safe at high doses
B. The drug has a wide range of effective doses
C. The drug requires careful monitoring
D. The drug is rapidly excreted
Correct Answer: C. The drug requires careful monitoring
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the effective and toxic doses are close, requiring
NUR 2407 Exam 1 – Rasmussen Pharmacology
2025 | Complete Verified Questions and Correct
A+ Answers | Latest Version
Question 1
What is the primary goal of pharmacotherapeutics?
A. To study drug interactions in the body
B. To achieve a therapeutic outcome using medications
C. To analyze the chemical composition of drugs
D. To determine the cost-effectiveness of drug therapy
Correct Answer: B. To achieve a therapeutic outcome using medications
Rationale: Pharmacotherapeutics focuses on using drugs to treat diseases and achieve desired
clinical outcomes, such as symptom relief or disease management. Option A refers to
pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics, C is related to pharmaceutical chemistry, and D is a health
economics concern, not the primary goal.
Question 2
Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the drug being transported across cell membranes
into the bloodstream?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from its
administration site. Distribution (B) involves drug transport to tissues, metabolism (C) is the
chemical alteration of the drug, and excretion (D) is the elimination of the drug from the body.
Question 3
A drug with a half-life of 8 hours is administered at 8 AM. When will 50% of the drug remain in
the body?
A. 12 PM
B. 4 PM
, 2
C. 8 PM
D. 12 AM
Correct Answer: B. 4 PM
Rationale: The half-life is the time it takes for half the drug to be eliminated. After 8 hours (one
half-life), 50% of the drug remains. From 8 AM, 8 hours later is 4 PM. Other options represent
incorrect time intervals.
Question 4
What does the term "therapeutic window" refer to?
A. The time frame for administering a drug
B. The range between the minimum effective and toxic concentrations
C. The duration a drug remains active in the body
D. The period during which a drug is absorbed
Correct Answer: B. The range between the minimum effective and toxic concentrations
Rationale: The therapeutic window is the drug concentration range that produces the desired
effect without toxicity. Option A is unrelated, C refers to duration of action, and D pertains to
absorption time.
Question 5
Which of the following is a common route of drug administration that bypasses first-pass
metabolism?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Rectal
D. Transdermal
Correct Answer: B. Intravenous
Rationale: Intravenous administration delivers drugs directly into the bloodstream, bypassing
the liver’s first-pass metabolism. Oral (A) and rectal (C) routes undergo first-pass metabolism,
while transdermal (D) avoids it but is slower.
Question 6
A nurse is administering a drug that is highly protein-bound. What is a potential risk for this
patient?
A. Decreased drug effectiveness
B. Increased risk of toxicity
C. Rapid drug excretion
, 3
D. No significant risk
Correct Answer: B. Increased risk of toxicity
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs compete for binding sites. If displaced (e.g., by another
drug), free drug levels increase, raising toxicity risk. A is incorrect as effectiveness may increase,
C is unrelated, and D ignores the risk.
Question 7
What is the primary role of an agonist drug?
A. Blocks receptor activity
B. Enhances receptor activity
C. Prevents drug metabolism
D. Reduces drug absorption
Correct Answer: B. Enhances receptor activity
Rationale: An agonist binds to receptors and mimics the natural ligand, enhancing activity.
Antagonists (A) block receptors, while C and D are unrelated to receptor function.
Question 8
Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Stomach
Correct Answer: B. Liver
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism, where enzymes (e.g., cytochrome
P450) chemically alter drugs. Kidneys (A) excrete drugs, lungs (C) play a minor role, and the
stomach (D) is involved in absorption.
Question 9
A patient is prescribed a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What does this imply?
A. The drug is safe at high doses
B. The drug has a wide range of effective doses
C. The drug requires careful monitoring
D. The drug is rapidly excreted
Correct Answer: C. The drug requires careful monitoring
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the effective and toxic doses are close, requiring
