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NUR 210 Exam 1 Study Guide
Principles of Pharmacology – Galen 2026
Updated Exam Questions & Answers With
Detailed Rationales | Instant PDF Download
NUR 210 PHARMACOLOGY
Exam 1 Unit 1-3
Unit 1 (chp 1, 3, 7, 9, 10)
Unit 2 (Chp 18, 24, 25)
Unit 3 (Chp 17, 19, 22, 23)
Unit 1
- Nursing Process - ADPIE
o Concept
o Assessment
o Patient problems (diagnosis)
o Planning
o Nursing interventions
o Evaluation
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, & Pharmacogenetics
- Pharmacokinetics
o What the body does to the drug
o Kinetics = movement
o Movement throughout body to drug
o Drug Phases: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
o Absorption
▪ Happens in small intestine
▪ Disintegration
Breakdown of oral drug to small particles
▪ Dissolution
, Process of combining small drug particles with liquid to form a solution
▪ Drug absorption
Drug movement from GI tract to bloodstream
▪ Factors affecting:
Fillers in pill can effect how fast/slow gets absorbed
Enteric coating = extended release to be absorbed slower
What else is in stomach will effect absorption
● **CANT TAKE ANYTHING WITH ANTACID
● NO ALCOHOL OR GRAPEFRUIT
▪ Route of administration
● Order: IV, IM, Subcutaneous, Oral, Topical
▪ First-pass effect
● Only occurs in oral medications
● When drugs are absorbed in small intestine then go through portal vein
to liver
● Lose part of medication as it goes through process
● Active or free drug – medication that is still working
● Inactive drugs – you lose it through this process
● Never have 100% of medication when taking ORAL medication due to
this effect because it travels through GI tract
▪ Bioavailability
● Percentage left of medication
● Oral will never be 100% due to first-pass metabolism
o Other routes always 100%
● Drug form (extended release vs immediate)
● Depends on route of administration/absorption
● Gastric mucosa and motility
● Administration with food and other drugs
● Changes in liver metabolism
o Distribution
▪ Mainly blood stream
▪ Movement of drug from circulation to body tissue
▪ Drug should be easily distributed if good perfusion
▪ **PROTEIN BINDING
● Protein in body is albumin
● Depends on how nourished you are
● Some drugs that are protein binding drugs
o Once it binds to protein it becomes inactive
o If low albumin at risk for drug toxicity
o Concern for pediatric and geriatric
● If you give multiple protein binding drugs at once there is not enough
protein, one drug may be less effective, one drug may be too effective
● Protein binding drugs bind to protein and the rest circulates to body to
do job of medication
o Metabolism (biotransformation)
, ▪ Occurs xin xliver
▪ Process xof xbody xchemically xchanging xdrug xinto xa xform xto xbe xexcreted
▪ **Half-life x(t x½)
● The xtime xit xtakes xfor xthe xamount xof xdrug xin xthe xbody xto xbe xreduced xby
x half
● How xlong xit xtakes xto xexcrete x50% xof xdrug
● Every xdrug xhas xa xdifferent xhalf xlife
● If xthe xhalf-life xis xlong xand xtakes xa xlong xtime xto xget xto xtherapeutic xlevel
x give xloading xdose
▪ Loading xdose
● Usually xdouble xdose xfor xthe xfirst xone xthen xregular xdose
● Gets xto xtherapeutic xrange xquicker
o Excretion x(elimination)
▪ Mainly xoccurs xin xkidneys
● Can xalso xexcrete xin xother xways x(not xas xmuch)
▪ Excrete xfree xdrugs xleft xover
▪ Body xcan xonly xabsorb xso xmuch xthe xrest xgets xexcreted
▪ Should xnot xbe xexcreting xprotein xtherefore xyou xshould xnot xbe xexcreting xthe xdrugs
x that xbind xto xprotein
▪ Kidney xfunction: xCreatinine, xBUN, xGFR x(Glomerular xfiltration xrate)
● Creatinine xis xmost xsensitive xtest
- Pharmacodynamics
o What xthe xdrug xdoes xto xthe xbody
o Primary xeffect
▪ Desirable xresponse
● What xyou xwant xto xhappen
o Secondary xeffect
▪ Desirable xor xundesirable
▪ What xit xis xnot xintended xfor
▪ Example: xViagra x– xnot xoriginally xintended xfor xthat xuse
o Therapeutic xindex
▪ ED x50 x= xEffective xdose x(on x50% xof xpopulation)
● Dose xthat xgives xtherapeutic xdesired xresponse xin x50% xof xpopulation
▪ TD x50 x= xToxic xeffect x(on x50% xof xpopulation)
● Toxic xresponse xin x50% xof xpopulation
▪ Therapeutic xindex
● In xbetween xED50 xand xTD50
▪ Therapeutic xdrug xmonitoring
● Peak x= xwhen xdrug xreaches xhighest xconcentration xin xyour xbody
o **Oral xmedication x2-3 xhours xafter xis xpeak
, o **IV x30-60 xminutes xto xreach xpeak
o You xwould xdraw xlabs xat xthis xtime xto xcheck xpeak xlevel
●
Trough x= xlowest xplasma xconcentration xin xblood x(how xmuch xis xleft)
o **Doesn’t xmatter xwhat xroute xof xadministration
o **Draw xlab xright xbefore xyou xgive xdose
o If xtrough xis xtoo xhigh xbody xis xnot xabsorbing/excreting xlike xit
x should
▪ Becomes xtoxic
o If xtrough xis xtoo xlow, xantibiotic xis xnot xdoing xwhat xit xshould, xdose
x needs xto xbe xincreased
▪ Drug xtoxicity
● Drug xlevel xexceeds xtherapeutic xrange
o Onset
▪ Time xit xtakes xfor xdrug xto xreach xminimum xeffective xconcentration
o Duration
▪ How xlong xa xdrug xexerts xa xtherapeutic xeffect
o Receptor xtheory
▪ Drug xbinds xto xreceptor xto xdo xwhat xit xneeds xto xdo
● Ex. xAttach xto xpain xreceptor xto xrelieve xpain
● To xeither xactivate xreceptor xor xblock xreceptor xdepending xon
xdesired x effect/medication
▪ Agonist
● Activates xreceptors
● Produce xdesired xresponse
● Continue xto xagonize x= xdo xwhat xyou xwant
▪ Antagonist
● Precent xreceptor xactivation
● Block xresponse xor xproduce xa xdesired xresponse
● Ex. xNarcan xfor xoverdose xof xmorphine
o Side xeffect
▪ Secondary xdrug xeffect
▪ Usually xget xbetter xwith xcontinued xuse
▪ Expected xeffects
o Adverse xreactions
▪ Mild xto xsevere
▪ Undesirable xeffects
▪ Usually xget xworse xwith xcontinuing xuse
▪ Provider xneeds xto xbe xnotified x– xnot xexpected xeffects
o Drug xinteractions
▪ Altered xdrug xeffect xdue xto xinteraction xwith xanother xdrug
o Pharmacokineticxinteractions
▪ Changes xoccurring xin xabsorption, xdistribution, xmetabolism, xand xexcretion
o Additive x(NO xQUESTIONS)
▪ Sum xof xeffects xof xtwo xdrugs
NUR 210 Exam 1 Study Guide
Principles of Pharmacology – Galen 2026
Updated Exam Questions & Answers With
Detailed Rationales | Instant PDF Download
NUR 210 PHARMACOLOGY
Exam 1 Unit 1-3
Unit 1 (chp 1, 3, 7, 9, 10)
Unit 2 (Chp 18, 24, 25)
Unit 3 (Chp 17, 19, 22, 23)
Unit 1
- Nursing Process - ADPIE
o Concept
o Assessment
o Patient problems (diagnosis)
o Planning
o Nursing interventions
o Evaluation
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, & Pharmacogenetics
- Pharmacokinetics
o What the body does to the drug
o Kinetics = movement
o Movement throughout body to drug
o Drug Phases: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
o Absorption
▪ Happens in small intestine
▪ Disintegration
Breakdown of oral drug to small particles
▪ Dissolution
, Process of combining small drug particles with liquid to form a solution
▪ Drug absorption
Drug movement from GI tract to bloodstream
▪ Factors affecting:
Fillers in pill can effect how fast/slow gets absorbed
Enteric coating = extended release to be absorbed slower
What else is in stomach will effect absorption
● **CANT TAKE ANYTHING WITH ANTACID
● NO ALCOHOL OR GRAPEFRUIT
▪ Route of administration
● Order: IV, IM, Subcutaneous, Oral, Topical
▪ First-pass effect
● Only occurs in oral medications
● When drugs are absorbed in small intestine then go through portal vein
to liver
● Lose part of medication as it goes through process
● Active or free drug – medication that is still working
● Inactive drugs – you lose it through this process
● Never have 100% of medication when taking ORAL medication due to
this effect because it travels through GI tract
▪ Bioavailability
● Percentage left of medication
● Oral will never be 100% due to first-pass metabolism
o Other routes always 100%
● Drug form (extended release vs immediate)
● Depends on route of administration/absorption
● Gastric mucosa and motility
● Administration with food and other drugs
● Changes in liver metabolism
o Distribution
▪ Mainly blood stream
▪ Movement of drug from circulation to body tissue
▪ Drug should be easily distributed if good perfusion
▪ **PROTEIN BINDING
● Protein in body is albumin
● Depends on how nourished you are
● Some drugs that are protein binding drugs
o Once it binds to protein it becomes inactive
o If low albumin at risk for drug toxicity
o Concern for pediatric and geriatric
● If you give multiple protein binding drugs at once there is not enough
protein, one drug may be less effective, one drug may be too effective
● Protein binding drugs bind to protein and the rest circulates to body to
do job of medication
o Metabolism (biotransformation)
, ▪ Occurs xin xliver
▪ Process xof xbody xchemically xchanging xdrug xinto xa xform xto xbe xexcreted
▪ **Half-life x(t x½)
● The xtime xit xtakes xfor xthe xamount xof xdrug xin xthe xbody xto xbe xreduced xby
x half
● How xlong xit xtakes xto xexcrete x50% xof xdrug
● Every xdrug xhas xa xdifferent xhalf xlife
● If xthe xhalf-life xis xlong xand xtakes xa xlong xtime xto xget xto xtherapeutic xlevel
x give xloading xdose
▪ Loading xdose
● Usually xdouble xdose xfor xthe xfirst xone xthen xregular xdose
● Gets xto xtherapeutic xrange xquicker
o Excretion x(elimination)
▪ Mainly xoccurs xin xkidneys
● Can xalso xexcrete xin xother xways x(not xas xmuch)
▪ Excrete xfree xdrugs xleft xover
▪ Body xcan xonly xabsorb xso xmuch xthe xrest xgets xexcreted
▪ Should xnot xbe xexcreting xprotein xtherefore xyou xshould xnot xbe xexcreting xthe xdrugs
x that xbind xto xprotein
▪ Kidney xfunction: xCreatinine, xBUN, xGFR x(Glomerular xfiltration xrate)
● Creatinine xis xmost xsensitive xtest
- Pharmacodynamics
o What xthe xdrug xdoes xto xthe xbody
o Primary xeffect
▪ Desirable xresponse
● What xyou xwant xto xhappen
o Secondary xeffect
▪ Desirable xor xundesirable
▪ What xit xis xnot xintended xfor
▪ Example: xViagra x– xnot xoriginally xintended xfor xthat xuse
o Therapeutic xindex
▪ ED x50 x= xEffective xdose x(on x50% xof xpopulation)
● Dose xthat xgives xtherapeutic xdesired xresponse xin x50% xof xpopulation
▪ TD x50 x= xToxic xeffect x(on x50% xof xpopulation)
● Toxic xresponse xin x50% xof xpopulation
▪ Therapeutic xindex
● In xbetween xED50 xand xTD50
▪ Therapeutic xdrug xmonitoring
● Peak x= xwhen xdrug xreaches xhighest xconcentration xin xyour xbody
o **Oral xmedication x2-3 xhours xafter xis xpeak
, o **IV x30-60 xminutes xto xreach xpeak
o You xwould xdraw xlabs xat xthis xtime xto xcheck xpeak xlevel
●
Trough x= xlowest xplasma xconcentration xin xblood x(how xmuch xis xleft)
o **Doesn’t xmatter xwhat xroute xof xadministration
o **Draw xlab xright xbefore xyou xgive xdose
o If xtrough xis xtoo xhigh xbody xis xnot xabsorbing/excreting xlike xit
x should
▪ Becomes xtoxic
o If xtrough xis xtoo xlow, xantibiotic xis xnot xdoing xwhat xit xshould, xdose
x needs xto xbe xincreased
▪ Drug xtoxicity
● Drug xlevel xexceeds xtherapeutic xrange
o Onset
▪ Time xit xtakes xfor xdrug xto xreach xminimum xeffective xconcentration
o Duration
▪ How xlong xa xdrug xexerts xa xtherapeutic xeffect
o Receptor xtheory
▪ Drug xbinds xto xreceptor xto xdo xwhat xit xneeds xto xdo
● Ex. xAttach xto xpain xreceptor xto xrelieve xpain
● To xeither xactivate xreceptor xor xblock xreceptor xdepending xon
xdesired x effect/medication
▪ Agonist
● Activates xreceptors
● Produce xdesired xresponse
● Continue xto xagonize x= xdo xwhat xyou xwant
▪ Antagonist
● Precent xreceptor xactivation
● Block xresponse xor xproduce xa xdesired xresponse
● Ex. xNarcan xfor xoverdose xof xmorphine
o Side xeffect
▪ Secondary xdrug xeffect
▪ Usually xget xbetter xwith xcontinued xuse
▪ Expected xeffects
o Adverse xreactions
▪ Mild xto xsevere
▪ Undesirable xeffects
▪ Usually xget xworse xwith xcontinuing xuse
▪ Provider xneeds xto xbe xnotified x– xnot xexpected xeffects
o Drug xinteractions
▪ Altered xdrug xeffect xdue xto xinteraction xwith xanother xdrug
o Pharmacokineticxinteractions
▪ Changes xoccurring xin xabsorption, xdistribution, xmetabolism, xand xexcretion
o Additive x(NO xQUESTIONS)
▪ Sum xof xeffects xof xtwo xdrugs
