, Chapter 01: Drug Development and Ethical Considerations
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is preparing to administer a schedule II injectable drug and is drawing up half
of the contents of a Single-use vial. Which nursing action is correct?
a. Ask another nurse to observe and cosign wasting the remaining drug from the vial.
b. Keep the remaining amount in the patient’s drawer to give at the next dose.
c. Record the amount unused in the patient’s medication record.
d. Dispose of the vial with the remaining drug into a locked collection
box. ANS: A
Schedule II drugs are controlled substances, and all must be accounted for. When wasting a
portion of a drug, another nurse should observe and cosign that a drug was wasted.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient is prescribed a medication and asks the nurse if the drug is available in a
generic form. The nurse understands that a generic medication will have a name that
a. is a registered trademark.
b. is always capitalized.
c. describes the drugs chemical structure.
d. is non-
proprietary. ANS: D
The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name for a drug. The brand name is the
trademark name and is always capitalized. The chemical name describes the chemical structure
of the drug.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. A patient receives a prescription on which the provider has noted that a generic medication
may be given.The patient asks the nurse what this means. What will the nurse tell the patient
about generic drugs?
a. They contain the same inert ingredients as brand-name drugs.
b. They have chemical structures that are identical to proprietary drugs.
c. They tend to be less expensive than brand-name drugs.
d. They undergo extensive testing before they are marketed.
ANS: C
Generic drugs are approved by the FDA if they are proved to be bioequivalent to the brand-
name drug. They tend to be less expensive because manufacturers of these drugs do not have
to do the extensive testing required of brand-name drugs before marketing. They are not
identical to brand-name drugs and often have different inert ingredients.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Management of Client Care
4. The nurse reviews information about a drug and notes the initials USP after the drugs official
name. The nurse understands that this designation indicates the drug
a. is a controlled substance.
b. is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
,c. is available in generic form.
d. meets quality and safety standards.
ANS: D
The USP designation is given to drugs that have met high standards for therapeutic use, patient
safety, quality, purity, strength, packaging safety, and dosage form by the United States
Pharmacopoeia National Formulary. The FDA classifies controlled substances with Roman
numerals from I to V. The USP designation does not indicate FDA approval. The USP
designation does not indicate generic availability.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5. The nurse is preparing to give a medication to a child. The child’s parent asks whether the
drug is safe for children. How will the nurse respond to the parent?
a. Drugs are tested on adults and safe doses for children are based on weights compared to
adult weights.
b. Drugs are deemed safe for children over time when repeated use proves effectiveness and
safety.
c. Drugs are tested for both efficacy and safety in children in order to be marketed for pediatric
use.
d. Drugs are tested on children in post marketing studies and on a limited
basis. ANS: C
The Pediatric Research Equity Act requires drug manufacturers to test drugs on children.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. Which law(s) govern all drug administration by nurses?
a. Drug Regulation and Reform Act
b. FDA Amendments Act
c. Nurse Practice Acts
d. The Controlled Substances Act
ANS: C
Each states Nurse Practice Act identifies how nurses administer medications. The other acts
govern how drugs are marketed and tested.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse administers a drug and miscalculates the dose by placing the decimal place one
space to the right, resulting in a 10-fold overdose and the death of the patient. What offense
does this represent?
a. Malfeasance
b. Malpractice
c. Misfeasance
d. Nonfeasance
ANS: C
Misfeasance is negligence in giving either the wrong drug or the wrong dose, resulting in the
death of the patient.
, DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
8. The nurse is busy and neglects to give a drug to a patient resulting in the patient’s death.
What offense does this represent?
a. Malfeasance
b. Malpractice
c. Misfeasance
d. Nonfeasance
ANS: D
Nonfeasance is omitting a drug dose, resulting in the patient’s death.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
9. A patient is taking methadone as part of a heroin withdrawal program. The nurse
understands that, in this instance, methadone is classified as which drug schedule?
a. C-I
b. C-II
c. C-III
d. C-V
ANS: B
Methadone is a category II drug, with a high potential for drug abuse.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
10. The nurse is preparing to administer a combination drug containing acetaminophen and
codeine. The nurse
knows that this drug is classified as which drug schedule?
a. C-II
b. C-III
c. C-IV
d. C-V
ANS: B
Codeine is normally a category II drug, except when it is part of a combination product such as
with acetaminophen, making it a category III drug.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
11. The nurse is obtaining consent from a subject newly recruited for a clinical drug trial that will
last for 6 months. All subjects will be given gift certificates for participating. One subject says,
Well, I guess if the drug doesn't work, I'll just have to put up with the symptoms for 6 months.
What will the nurse tell the subject?
a. Participation for the duration of the study is required.
b. Participation may end at any time without penalty.
c. Withdrawal from the study may end at any time, but the gift certificate will not be given.
d. You can request placement in the treatment group.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is preparing to administer a schedule II injectable drug and is drawing up half
of the contents of a Single-use vial. Which nursing action is correct?
a. Ask another nurse to observe and cosign wasting the remaining drug from the vial.
b. Keep the remaining amount in the patient’s drawer to give at the next dose.
c. Record the amount unused in the patient’s medication record.
d. Dispose of the vial with the remaining drug into a locked collection
box. ANS: A
Schedule II drugs are controlled substances, and all must be accounted for. When wasting a
portion of a drug, another nurse should observe and cosign that a drug was wasted.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient is prescribed a medication and asks the nurse if the drug is available in a
generic form. The nurse understands that a generic medication will have a name that
a. is a registered trademark.
b. is always capitalized.
c. describes the drugs chemical structure.
d. is non-
proprietary. ANS: D
The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name for a drug. The brand name is the
trademark name and is always capitalized. The chemical name describes the chemical structure
of the drug.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. A patient receives a prescription on which the provider has noted that a generic medication
may be given.The patient asks the nurse what this means. What will the nurse tell the patient
about generic drugs?
a. They contain the same inert ingredients as brand-name drugs.
b. They have chemical structures that are identical to proprietary drugs.
c. They tend to be less expensive than brand-name drugs.
d. They undergo extensive testing before they are marketed.
ANS: C
Generic drugs are approved by the FDA if they are proved to be bioequivalent to the brand-
name drug. They tend to be less expensive because manufacturers of these drugs do not have
to do the extensive testing required of brand-name drugs before marketing. They are not
identical to brand-name drugs and often have different inert ingredients.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Management of Client Care
4. The nurse reviews information about a drug and notes the initials USP after the drugs official
name. The nurse understands that this designation indicates the drug
a. is a controlled substance.
b. is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
,c. is available in generic form.
d. meets quality and safety standards.
ANS: D
The USP designation is given to drugs that have met high standards for therapeutic use, patient
safety, quality, purity, strength, packaging safety, and dosage form by the United States
Pharmacopoeia National Formulary. The FDA classifies controlled substances with Roman
numerals from I to V. The USP designation does not indicate FDA approval. The USP
designation does not indicate generic availability.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5. The nurse is preparing to give a medication to a child. The child’s parent asks whether the
drug is safe for children. How will the nurse respond to the parent?
a. Drugs are tested on adults and safe doses for children are based on weights compared to
adult weights.
b. Drugs are deemed safe for children over time when repeated use proves effectiveness and
safety.
c. Drugs are tested for both efficacy and safety in children in order to be marketed for pediatric
use.
d. Drugs are tested on children in post marketing studies and on a limited
basis. ANS: C
The Pediatric Research Equity Act requires drug manufacturers to test drugs on children.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. Which law(s) govern all drug administration by nurses?
a. Drug Regulation and Reform Act
b. FDA Amendments Act
c. Nurse Practice Acts
d. The Controlled Substances Act
ANS: C
Each states Nurse Practice Act identifies how nurses administer medications. The other acts
govern how drugs are marketed and tested.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse administers a drug and miscalculates the dose by placing the decimal place one
space to the right, resulting in a 10-fold overdose and the death of the patient. What offense
does this represent?
a. Malfeasance
b. Malpractice
c. Misfeasance
d. Nonfeasance
ANS: C
Misfeasance is negligence in giving either the wrong drug or the wrong dose, resulting in the
death of the patient.
, DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
8. The nurse is busy and neglects to give a drug to a patient resulting in the patient’s death.
What offense does this represent?
a. Malfeasance
b. Malpractice
c. Misfeasance
d. Nonfeasance
ANS: D
Nonfeasance is omitting a drug dose, resulting in the patient’s death.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
9. A patient is taking methadone as part of a heroin withdrawal program. The nurse
understands that, in this instance, methadone is classified as which drug schedule?
a. C-I
b. C-II
c. C-III
d. C-V
ANS: B
Methadone is a category II drug, with a high potential for drug abuse.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
10. The nurse is preparing to administer a combination drug containing acetaminophen and
codeine. The nurse
knows that this drug is classified as which drug schedule?
a. C-II
b. C-III
c. C-IV
d. C-V
ANS: B
Codeine is normally a category II drug, except when it is part of a combination product such as
with acetaminophen, making it a category III drug.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
11. The nurse is obtaining consent from a subject newly recruited for a clinical drug trial that will
last for 6 months. All subjects will be given gift certificates for participating. One subject says,
Well, I guess if the drug doesn't work, I'll just have to put up with the symptoms for 6 months.
What will the nurse tell the subject?
a. Participation for the duration of the study is required.
b. Participation may end at any time without penalty.
c. Withdrawal from the study may end at any time, but the gift certificate will not be given.
d. You can request placement in the treatment group.
