Study Guide for Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication Safety 3rd Edition by M. Linda Workman & LaCharity | Pharmacology Review Questions & Answers | Nursing Exam Prep 2025/2026

Test Bank For:
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Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for
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Medication Safety 3rd Edition by M. Linda Workman &
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LaCharity | Pharmacology Review Questions &
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Answers | Nursing Exam Prep 2025/2026
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Testbank b

, TestBankForUnderstandingPharmacology,Essentialsfor
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Medication Safety, 3rd Edition,Workman & LaCharity
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Chapter01: Drug Regulation, Actions, and Responses
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MULTIPLECHOICE b




b BASICCONCEPTS b




1. Which health care professional has the majorresponsibilityfordispensing prescribed
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drugs under the direction of a pharmacist?
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a. Physician
b Nursepractitioner b




.
c. Licensednurse b




d Pharmacytechnician b




.


ANS: D b




The physician and nurse practitioner have the major responsibility for prescribing drugs, not
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dispensing them. The licensed nurse has the primary responsibility for administering drugs,
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although under some circumstances a licensed nurse maydispense prescribed drugs but this is not his
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or her major responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technician has the major responsibility
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of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
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DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering b b REF: p. 3 b




2. Which term describes the effect of a drug that improves bodyfunction?
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a. Side effect b




b Intended action b




.
c. Adversereaction b




d Idiosyncraticresponse b




.


ANS: B b




The purpose of drug therapy is to take a drug to prevent, reduce, or correct a health problem. This
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response is any drug’s intended action also known as a therapeutic response.
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DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering b b REF: p. 3 b




3. Which type of drug name is “owned” bythe companythat manufactures it?
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a. Genericname b




b Chemical name b

, .
c. Categoryname b




d Tradename b




.


ANS: D b




The chemical name is a drug’s exact chemical composition. The generic name is the name assigned
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to the drug by the U.S. Adopted Names Council and is not owned by anyone. The category name
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refers to the type of drug (what it does or what it is used for) and is not an actual drug name. The trade
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name (brand name) is the name provided and owned by a specific drug’s manufacturer.
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DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering b b REF: p. 4 b




4. Which drug or drug class is a “high alert” drug? b b b b b b b b b




a. Penicillin
b Insulin
.
c. NSAIDs
d Calcium
.


ANS: B b




A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong dose, to the wrong patient,
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or not given to the correct patient. Drugs classified as high alert drugs include potassium, narcotics
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(opioids), insulin, cancer chemotherapy drugs, and heparin (or any drug that strongly affects blood
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clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered high alert drugs.
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DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering b b REF: p. 4 b




5. What is the term for a drug that has the same action as a naturally occurring body
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hormone or enzyme?
b b b




a. Agonist
b Blocking agent b




.
c. Chemical
d Duplicator
.


ANS: A b




A drug agonist is an extrinsic drug that activates the receptor sites of a cell and mimics the actions of
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naturallyoccurring bodysubstances (intrinsic drugs). Ablocking agent is a drug
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, antagonist. Achemical would not necessarilybe a drug at all. Aduplicator is not a pharmacologic term.
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DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering b b REF: pp. 6-7 b




6. Which term describes how the bodyaffects drug activity? b b b b b b b b




a. Drug potency b




b Pharmacodynamics
.
c. Therapeutic effect b




d Pharmacokinetics
.


ANS: D b




The term pharmacokinetics refers to drug metabolism and how the body changes a drug.
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Pharmacodynamics refers to how adrug works to change body function. Drug potency refers to how
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strongly or to what degree a drug exerts its effects. The therapeutic effect is closer to
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pharmacodynamics, meaning how a drug works to change body function.
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DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering b b REF: p. 10 b




7. In the United States, which group is responsible for enforcing established standards for drug
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manufacturing?
b




a. U.S. Pharmacopeia b




b National Institutes of Health b b b




.
c. Food and DrugAdministration b b b




d Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers b b b




.


ANS: C b




The standards for drug manufacture are established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia. These standards are
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enforced by the Food and Drug Administration. Neither the National Institutes of Health nor the
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Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers has any authority to enforce drug standards.
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DIF: b b Cognitive Level: Remembering b b b b b REF: b b p. 5 b




8. Which factor is a major disadvantage of the transdermal drug delivery route?
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a. Onlya prescriber can administer drugs bythe transdermal route.
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b Transdermal drugs must be sterile rather than clean. b b b b b b b




.
c. First pass drug loss by this route is the most extensive.
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d Drug absorption is dependent on adequate circulation.
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