ICHS Pharmacology Final Exam | Updated
2025/2026 Review Questions & Answers
A patient with which of the following disorders will need a lower dose of most drugs?
a. Infection
b. Cirrhosis
c. Diabetes
d. Colitis - correct answerb. cirrhosis
You are administering a medication to a patient who is in pain. What is the best way to
know if the medication worked?
a. The patient will ask for the same medication again.
b. The patient will tell you that his pain is gone.
c. The doctor will tell you that you have given enough medication.
d. The patient will no longer put on his call light. - correct answerb. The patient will tell
you that his pain is gone.
The nursing process is a way to solve problems. What step do you carry out to
determine if the method you chose to solve the problem was helpful?
a. Evaluation
b. Assessment
c. Diagnosis
d. Implementation - correct answera. Evaluation
A current concern with elderly patients is the risk of increased adverse reactions and
interactions when many different drugs are taken at once. This is called
a. Synergism
b. Tolerance
c. Interdependence
d. Polypharmacy - correct answerd. Polypharmacy
A PRN medication order gives the nurse discretion regarding when to give the drug
within the ordered parameters.
Select one:
True
False - correct answerTrue
What is the usual order of the nursing process?
Select one:
a. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
b. Diganosis, Evaluation, Assessment, Implementation, Planning
c. Planning, Implementation, Diagnosis, Evaluation, Assessment
,d. Assessment, Evaluation, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation - correct answera.
Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
The patient's family has asked the doctor to make the patient comfortable but the
patient wants to stay alert. The doctor has ordered Morphine 15 mg every 3 hours prn
for pain. The patient is refusing to take the drug. How can you respond to the family and
demonstrate support for the patient's autonomy?
Select one:
a. "I appreciate your concern but your father has told me that he does not want the
drug."
b. "I can see that your dad is having pain; I will prepare the drug."
c. "I will tell your father that you are requesting that he take his drugs for pain."
d. "Your father probably doesn't know what he is saying; I will get the drug for him." -
correct answera. "I appreciate your concern but your father has told me that he does not
want the drug."
The nurse is gathering assessment data for a patient's drug history. The patient states "I
am not able to swallow pills." This is an example of which type of data?
Select one:
a. Objective
b. Subjective - correct answerb. Subjective
Creams and ointments used for skin lesions exert primarily a(an):
Select one:
a. local effect.
b. systemic effect. - correct answera. local effect
Morphine has a high first pass effect. What are the implications of this for a patient
receiving oral morphine for pain?
Select one:
a. The patient will need a lower dose of oral morphine than IV morphine.
b. The patient will need the same amount of IV or oral morphine.
c. The patient will need a higher dose of oral morphine than IV morphine. - correct
answerc. The patient will need a higher dose of oral morphine than IV morphine
Once a drug is administered, it is distributed throughout the body by the:
Select one:
a. blood.
b. liver.
c. kidneys.
d. GI mucosa - correct answera. blood
The nurse is preparing to give a patient amlodipine/benazepril (Lotrel) an
antihypertensive medication. The patient's blood pressure has been in the 110/70 range
the last 3 days which is normal. Prior to administering this medication the nurse should
do which of the following?
,Select one:
a. Check the patient's heart rate.
b. Check the patient's blood pressure.
c. Call the physician and inquire why the medication is being given.
d. Hold the medication for further clarification. - correct answerb. Check the patient's
blood pressure.
Which information is most important to collect when assessing for allergies?
Select one:
a. The date of the last reaction.
b. Whether or not the physician was contacted after the reaction.
c. If there is a supply of Benadryl in the home.
d. What the allergy is to and what type of reaction was experienced. - correct answerd.
What the allergy is to and what type of reaction was experienced.
Most drugs are excreted by which route?
Select one:
a. Urinary
b. Bowel
c. Respiratory
d. Oral - correct answera. Urinary
Older adult patients often need lower drug doses. Which of the following statements
best explains why this occurs?
Select one:
a. Older people are at risk for drug tolerance.
b. Older people may have altered GI function and an inability to absorb and distribute
medications.
c. Older people have diminished liver and kidney function, which will slow metabolism
and excretion of medications.
d. Older people are at risk for polypharmacy, which can lead to dependence and
addiction. - correct answerc. Older people have diminished liver and kidney function,
which will slow metabolism and excretion of medications.
A patient has been on bronchodilator inhalers for 10 years. Over the years, he has had
to increase the dose and frequency of the inhalers to achieve the same effect. This is an
example of:
Select one:
a. drug dependence.
b. drug tolerance.
c. drug abuse.
d. idiosyncratic action. - correct answerb. drug tolerance
A patient is malnourished with an albumin level of 2.6 (normal is 3.2-4.5 g/dl). Low
serum albumin may affect the patient's medication dosage needs because:
Select one:
, a. low serum albumin will impair liver function, thereby reducing metabolism of the drug.
b. low serum albumin will cause increased protein loss by the kidneys, thereby affecting
excretion of the drugs.
c. less serum protein will be available for medication binding, so less free drug will be
available.
d. less serum protein will be available for medication binding, and more free drug will be
available. - correct answerd. less serum protein will be available for medication binding,
and more free drug will be available
It is important to know what the patient eats and drinks because certain foods,
beverages, alcohol, caffeine and even cigarettes can interact with medicines.
Select one:
True
False - correct answerTrue
Controlled substances are described in five categories (schedules). A substance that is
medically accepted but can lead to strong physical and psychologic dependence is in
Schedule _______.
Select one:
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. V - correct answerb. II
The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
have a Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which of the following statements is NOT reflected in
the ANA code for nurses?
Select one:
a. The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity and worth
of all patients.
b. The nurse prescribes medications for clients and their families in health care.
c. The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for nursing judgments and
actions.
d. The nurse maintains competence in nursing. - correct answerb. The nurse prescribes
medications for clients and their families in health care.
Which of the following effects might result from a severe drug allergy?
Select one:
a. nausea and poor appetite
b. anaphylaxis
c. gastrointestinal bleeding
d. teratogenic - correct answerb. anaphylaxis
The serum half life is important in determining:
Select one:
a. renal function.
2025/2026 Review Questions & Answers
A patient with which of the following disorders will need a lower dose of most drugs?
a. Infection
b. Cirrhosis
c. Diabetes
d. Colitis - correct answerb. cirrhosis
You are administering a medication to a patient who is in pain. What is the best way to
know if the medication worked?
a. The patient will ask for the same medication again.
b. The patient will tell you that his pain is gone.
c. The doctor will tell you that you have given enough medication.
d. The patient will no longer put on his call light. - correct answerb. The patient will tell
you that his pain is gone.
The nursing process is a way to solve problems. What step do you carry out to
determine if the method you chose to solve the problem was helpful?
a. Evaluation
b. Assessment
c. Diagnosis
d. Implementation - correct answera. Evaluation
A current concern with elderly patients is the risk of increased adverse reactions and
interactions when many different drugs are taken at once. This is called
a. Synergism
b. Tolerance
c. Interdependence
d. Polypharmacy - correct answerd. Polypharmacy
A PRN medication order gives the nurse discretion regarding when to give the drug
within the ordered parameters.
Select one:
True
False - correct answerTrue
What is the usual order of the nursing process?
Select one:
a. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
b. Diganosis, Evaluation, Assessment, Implementation, Planning
c. Planning, Implementation, Diagnosis, Evaluation, Assessment
,d. Assessment, Evaluation, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation - correct answera.
Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
The patient's family has asked the doctor to make the patient comfortable but the
patient wants to stay alert. The doctor has ordered Morphine 15 mg every 3 hours prn
for pain. The patient is refusing to take the drug. How can you respond to the family and
demonstrate support for the patient's autonomy?
Select one:
a. "I appreciate your concern but your father has told me that he does not want the
drug."
b. "I can see that your dad is having pain; I will prepare the drug."
c. "I will tell your father that you are requesting that he take his drugs for pain."
d. "Your father probably doesn't know what he is saying; I will get the drug for him." -
correct answera. "I appreciate your concern but your father has told me that he does not
want the drug."
The nurse is gathering assessment data for a patient's drug history. The patient states "I
am not able to swallow pills." This is an example of which type of data?
Select one:
a. Objective
b. Subjective - correct answerb. Subjective
Creams and ointments used for skin lesions exert primarily a(an):
Select one:
a. local effect.
b. systemic effect. - correct answera. local effect
Morphine has a high first pass effect. What are the implications of this for a patient
receiving oral morphine for pain?
Select one:
a. The patient will need a lower dose of oral morphine than IV morphine.
b. The patient will need the same amount of IV or oral morphine.
c. The patient will need a higher dose of oral morphine than IV morphine. - correct
answerc. The patient will need a higher dose of oral morphine than IV morphine
Once a drug is administered, it is distributed throughout the body by the:
Select one:
a. blood.
b. liver.
c. kidneys.
d. GI mucosa - correct answera. blood
The nurse is preparing to give a patient amlodipine/benazepril (Lotrel) an
antihypertensive medication. The patient's blood pressure has been in the 110/70 range
the last 3 days which is normal. Prior to administering this medication the nurse should
do which of the following?
,Select one:
a. Check the patient's heart rate.
b. Check the patient's blood pressure.
c. Call the physician and inquire why the medication is being given.
d. Hold the medication for further clarification. - correct answerb. Check the patient's
blood pressure.
Which information is most important to collect when assessing for allergies?
Select one:
a. The date of the last reaction.
b. Whether or not the physician was contacted after the reaction.
c. If there is a supply of Benadryl in the home.
d. What the allergy is to and what type of reaction was experienced. - correct answerd.
What the allergy is to and what type of reaction was experienced.
Most drugs are excreted by which route?
Select one:
a. Urinary
b. Bowel
c. Respiratory
d. Oral - correct answera. Urinary
Older adult patients often need lower drug doses. Which of the following statements
best explains why this occurs?
Select one:
a. Older people are at risk for drug tolerance.
b. Older people may have altered GI function and an inability to absorb and distribute
medications.
c. Older people have diminished liver and kidney function, which will slow metabolism
and excretion of medications.
d. Older people are at risk for polypharmacy, which can lead to dependence and
addiction. - correct answerc. Older people have diminished liver and kidney function,
which will slow metabolism and excretion of medications.
A patient has been on bronchodilator inhalers for 10 years. Over the years, he has had
to increase the dose and frequency of the inhalers to achieve the same effect. This is an
example of:
Select one:
a. drug dependence.
b. drug tolerance.
c. drug abuse.
d. idiosyncratic action. - correct answerb. drug tolerance
A patient is malnourished with an albumin level of 2.6 (normal is 3.2-4.5 g/dl). Low
serum albumin may affect the patient's medication dosage needs because:
Select one:
, a. low serum albumin will impair liver function, thereby reducing metabolism of the drug.
b. low serum albumin will cause increased protein loss by the kidneys, thereby affecting
excretion of the drugs.
c. less serum protein will be available for medication binding, so less free drug will be
available.
d. less serum protein will be available for medication binding, and more free drug will be
available. - correct answerd. less serum protein will be available for medication binding,
and more free drug will be available
It is important to know what the patient eats and drinks because certain foods,
beverages, alcohol, caffeine and even cigarettes can interact with medicines.
Select one:
True
False - correct answerTrue
Controlled substances are described in five categories (schedules). A substance that is
medically accepted but can lead to strong physical and psychologic dependence is in
Schedule _______.
Select one:
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. V - correct answerb. II
The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
have a Code of Ethics for Nurses. Which of the following statements is NOT reflected in
the ANA code for nurses?
Select one:
a. The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity and worth
of all patients.
b. The nurse prescribes medications for clients and their families in health care.
c. The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for nursing judgments and
actions.
d. The nurse maintains competence in nursing. - correct answerb. The nurse prescribes
medications for clients and their families in health care.
Which of the following effects might result from a severe drug allergy?
Select one:
a. nausea and poor appetite
b. anaphylaxis
c. gastrointestinal bleeding
d. teratogenic - correct answerb. anaphylaxis
The serum half life is important in determining:
Select one:
a. renal function.
