HOSA Pharmacology (NEW 2026/2027 Update) | Qs & As| Grade A| 100% Correct (Verified Answers) 2026/2027 | Page 1 | Passing Score: 80%
HOSA - FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
HOSA Pharmacology (NEW 2026/2027 Update) | Qs & As|
Grade A| 100% Correct (Verified Answers)
2026/2027 Edition - Official Exam 2026/2027
75 80% N/A
QUESTIONS PASSING SCORE RECERTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Q1-15
Section 2 Autonomic and Cardiovascular Drugs Q16-30
Section 3 CNS and Psychiatric Medications Q31-45
Section 4 Anti-infectives and Antibiotics Q46-60
Section 5 Endocrine and Respiratory Drugs Q61-75
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each question. This exam is designed for HOSA Pharmacology certification
preparation. Passing score: 80% (60 questions correct).
HOSA Pharmacology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 28
,SECTION 1 | Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics | Q1-Q15 | HOSA Pharmacology 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 75
A 45-year-old male takes 200 mg of a drug with a half-life of 6 hours. The nurse needs to determine
how much drug remains in the body after 18 hours. The amount remaining at that time would be:
A. 100 mg after one half-life has elapsed
B. 50 mg after two half-lives have elapsed
C. 12.5 mg after four half-lives have elapsed
D. 25 mg after three half-lives have elapsed
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
After 18 hours, three half-lives (6 x 3 = 18) have elapsed. Starting with 200 mg, after one half-life 100 mg
remains, after two 50 mg, and after three 25 mg. The calculation demonstrates the exponential decay
principle fundamental to pharmacokinetics.
Q2 Question 2 of 75
A 68-year-old female with cirrhosis is prescribed a drug that is normally 95% metabolized by the
liver on first pass. The nurse anticipates that the bioavailability of this drug will be significantly
increased because:
A. Liver disease enhances protein binding reducing the volume of distribution
B. Cirrhosis increases renal excretion compensating for reduced hepatic clearance
C. The drug will bypass the enterohepatic recirculation pathway entirely
D. Hepatic impairment reduces first-pass metabolism allowing more drug to reach systemic
circulation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
First-pass metabolism in the liver normally destroys a large portion of an orally administered drug before it
reaches systemic circulation. Cirrhosis impairs this hepatic metabolism, dramatically increasing
bioavailability and potentially causing toxicity at standard doses.
Q3 Question 3 of 75
A 10-year-old child weighing 30 kg needs a medication with an adult dose of 500 mg. Using Clark's
rule, the nurse calculates the pediatric dose as:
A. 500 mg because pediatric doses are the same as adult doses when using weight-based
calculations
B. 150 mg calculated using the child's age divided by the age plus 12 times the adult dose
C. 300 mg calculated using the child's body surface area divided by 1.73 times the adult dose
HOSA Pharmacology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 28
, D. 214 mg calculated using the child's weight in pounds divided by 150 pounds times the
adult dose
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Clark's rule uses body weight: pediatric dose = (weight in pounds / 150) x adult dose. A 30 kg child weighs
about 66 pounds, so the dose = (66/150) x 500 = 220 mg. Body surface area calculations use a different
method (BSA rule), and age-based rules like Young's rule are less accurate.
Q4 Question 4 of 75
A patient receiving a drug with a narrow therapeutic index has a plasma drug level of 8 mcg/mL.
The therapeutic range is 10-20 mcg/mL and the toxic level is above 25 mcg/mL. The nurse
interprets this level as:
A. Within the therapeutic range and no adjustment is needed
B. Subtherapeutic and the dose may need to be increased
C. At the toxic threshold and the drug should be held immediately
D. At the minimum effective concentration and should be maintained
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A plasma level of 8 mcg/mL is below the therapeutic range of 10-20 mcg/mL, indicating subtherapeutic
levels where the drug is unlikely to produce the desired clinical effect. The dose may need to be increased
to achieve therapeutic concentrations without reaching toxic levels.
Q5 Question 5 of 75
A 55-year-old male takes warfarin 5 mg daily and is newly prescribed a medication that is a potent
CYP2C9 inhibitor. The nurse should monitor closely for signs of bleeding because:
A. The new medication will displace warfarin from albumin binding sites
B. CYP2C9 inhibition induces warfarin metabolism, decreasing its anticoagulant effect
C. CYP2C9 inhibition reduces warfarin metabolism, increasing its plasma concentration and
anticoagulant effect
D. Warfarin is a prodrug that requires CYP2C9 for activation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Warfarin is metabolized primarily by CYP2C9. Inhibition of this enzyme reduces warfarin clearance,
increasing its plasma concentration and anticoagulant effect, which raises bleeding risk. Warfarin is not a
prodrug requiring CYP2C9 for activation; it is the active compound itself.
Q6 Question 6 of 75
HOSA Pharmacology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 28
HOSA - FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
HOSA Pharmacology (NEW 2026/2027 Update) | Qs & As|
Grade A| 100% Correct (Verified Answers)
2026/2027 Edition - Official Exam 2026/2027
75 80% N/A
QUESTIONS PASSING SCORE RECERTIFICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Q1-15
Section 2 Autonomic and Cardiovascular Drugs Q16-30
Section 3 CNS and Psychiatric Medications Q31-45
Section 4 Anti-infectives and Antibiotics Q46-60
Section 5 Endocrine and Respiratory Drugs Q61-75
Instructions: Select the single best answer for each question. This exam is designed for HOSA Pharmacology certification
preparation. Passing score: 80% (60 questions correct).
HOSA Pharmacology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 28
,SECTION 1 | Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics | Q1-Q15 | HOSA Pharmacology 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 75
A 45-year-old male takes 200 mg of a drug with a half-life of 6 hours. The nurse needs to determine
how much drug remains in the body after 18 hours. The amount remaining at that time would be:
A. 100 mg after one half-life has elapsed
B. 50 mg after two half-lives have elapsed
C. 12.5 mg after four half-lives have elapsed
D. 25 mg after three half-lives have elapsed
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
After 18 hours, three half-lives (6 x 3 = 18) have elapsed. Starting with 200 mg, after one half-life 100 mg
remains, after two 50 mg, and after three 25 mg. The calculation demonstrates the exponential decay
principle fundamental to pharmacokinetics.
Q2 Question 2 of 75
A 68-year-old female with cirrhosis is prescribed a drug that is normally 95% metabolized by the
liver on first pass. The nurse anticipates that the bioavailability of this drug will be significantly
increased because:
A. Liver disease enhances protein binding reducing the volume of distribution
B. Cirrhosis increases renal excretion compensating for reduced hepatic clearance
C. The drug will bypass the enterohepatic recirculation pathway entirely
D. Hepatic impairment reduces first-pass metabolism allowing more drug to reach systemic
circulation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
First-pass metabolism in the liver normally destroys a large portion of an orally administered drug before it
reaches systemic circulation. Cirrhosis impairs this hepatic metabolism, dramatically increasing
bioavailability and potentially causing toxicity at standard doses.
Q3 Question 3 of 75
A 10-year-old child weighing 30 kg needs a medication with an adult dose of 500 mg. Using Clark's
rule, the nurse calculates the pediatric dose as:
A. 500 mg because pediatric doses are the same as adult doses when using weight-based
calculations
B. 150 mg calculated using the child's age divided by the age plus 12 times the adult dose
C. 300 mg calculated using the child's body surface area divided by 1.73 times the adult dose
HOSA Pharmacology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 28
, D. 214 mg calculated using the child's weight in pounds divided by 150 pounds times the
adult dose
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Clark's rule uses body weight: pediatric dose = (weight in pounds / 150) x adult dose. A 30 kg child weighs
about 66 pounds, so the dose = (66/150) x 500 = 220 mg. Body surface area calculations use a different
method (BSA rule), and age-based rules like Young's rule are less accurate.
Q4 Question 4 of 75
A patient receiving a drug with a narrow therapeutic index has a plasma drug level of 8 mcg/mL.
The therapeutic range is 10-20 mcg/mL and the toxic level is above 25 mcg/mL. The nurse
interprets this level as:
A. Within the therapeutic range and no adjustment is needed
B. Subtherapeutic and the dose may need to be increased
C. At the toxic threshold and the drug should be held immediately
D. At the minimum effective concentration and should be maintained
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A plasma level of 8 mcg/mL is below the therapeutic range of 10-20 mcg/mL, indicating subtherapeutic
levels where the drug is unlikely to produce the desired clinical effect. The dose may need to be increased
to achieve therapeutic concentrations without reaching toxic levels.
Q5 Question 5 of 75
A 55-year-old male takes warfarin 5 mg daily and is newly prescribed a medication that is a potent
CYP2C9 inhibitor. The nurse should monitor closely for signs of bleeding because:
A. The new medication will displace warfarin from albumin binding sites
B. CYP2C9 inhibition induces warfarin metabolism, decreasing its anticoagulant effect
C. CYP2C9 inhibition reduces warfarin metabolism, increasing its plasma concentration and
anticoagulant effect
D. Warfarin is a prodrug that requires CYP2C9 for activation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Warfarin is metabolized primarily by CYP2C9. Inhibition of this enzyme reduces warfarin clearance,
increasing its plasma concentration and anticoagulant effect, which raises bleeding risk. Warfarin is not a
prodrug requiring CYP2C9 for activation; it is the active compound itself.
Q6 Question 6 of 75
HOSA Pharmacology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 28
