NURS 615 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 –
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS
PLUS RATIONALES | EXAM PREP | STUDY
GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
1. A patient with liver disease is prescribed a medication that is highly
protein-bound. What is the expected pharmacologic effect?
A. Decreased drug activity
B. Increased free drug concentration
C. No change in drug effect
D. Complete drug inactivation
Low albumin increases free (active) drug levels, increasing risk of toxicity and
adverse effects.
2. What does drug half-life primarily indicate?
A. Time to peak effect
B. Time for drug to be eliminated by half
C. Maximum drug concentration
D. Duration of therapeutic effect only
Half-life is the time required for plasma concentration of a drug to reduce by
50%.
3. Which phase occurs first in drug action?
A. Metabolism
B. Excretion
C. Absorption
D. Distribution
,Drug must first enter systemic circulation before distribution, metabolism, and
excretion occur.
4. What is the primary purpose of a Black Box Warning?
A. Suggest routine monitoring
B. Indicate serious or life-threatening risks
C. Recommend dosage increase
D. Replace clinical judgment
Black box warnings highlight the most severe safety risks associated with a drug.
5. Which laboratory value is most important when monitoring warfarin
therapy?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
INR is used to assess therapeutic anticoagulation for warfarin.
6. A patient is prescribed a beta-blocker. Which assessment finding requires
withholding the medication?
A. HR 58 bpm
B. BP 140/90
C. RR 18
D. Temp 98.6°F
Beta-blockers reduce heart rate; bradycardia increases risk of complications.
7. What is the primary goal of pharmacodynamics?
,A. Drug absorption
B. Drug effect on the body
C. Drug elimination
D. Drug packaging
Pharmacodynamics studies how drugs interact with receptors to produce effects.
8. Which statement best describes bioavailability?
A. Rate of excretion
B. Fraction of drug reaching circulation
C. Drug toxicity level
D. Duration of action
Bioavailability refers to the proportion of drug that enters systemic circulation
unchanged.
9. A patient taking ACE inhibitors develops a dry cough. What is the best
explanation?
A. Allergy
B. Increased bradykinin levels
C. Infection
D. Liver toxicity
ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin, causing persistent dry cough.
10. Which is the most serious adverse effect of statin therapy?
A. Headache
B. Myopathy/rhabdomyolysis
C. Dry mouth
D. Dizziness
Muscle breakdown is the most serious complication of statins.
, 11. What is the primary action of diuretics?
A. Increase blood pressure
B. Increase urine output
C. Decrease heart rate
D. Increase infection risk
Diuretics promote renal excretion of sodium and water.
12. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lung
D. Skin
The liver metabolizes most medications via hepatic enzymes (CYP450 system).
13. What is the purpose of peak drug levels?
A. Measure toxicity risk
B. Measure lowest concentration
C. Measure elimination rate
D. Measure absorption only
Peak levels assess maximum concentration and toxicity risk.
14. A patient is taking digoxin. What symptom indicates toxicity?
A. Bradycardia and nausea
B. Increased appetite
C. Hypertension
D. Fever
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS
PLUS RATIONALES | EXAM PREP | STUDY
GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
1. A patient with liver disease is prescribed a medication that is highly
protein-bound. What is the expected pharmacologic effect?
A. Decreased drug activity
B. Increased free drug concentration
C. No change in drug effect
D. Complete drug inactivation
Low albumin increases free (active) drug levels, increasing risk of toxicity and
adverse effects.
2. What does drug half-life primarily indicate?
A. Time to peak effect
B. Time for drug to be eliminated by half
C. Maximum drug concentration
D. Duration of therapeutic effect only
Half-life is the time required for plasma concentration of a drug to reduce by
50%.
3. Which phase occurs first in drug action?
A. Metabolism
B. Excretion
C. Absorption
D. Distribution
,Drug must first enter systemic circulation before distribution, metabolism, and
excretion occur.
4. What is the primary purpose of a Black Box Warning?
A. Suggest routine monitoring
B. Indicate serious or life-threatening risks
C. Recommend dosage increase
D. Replace clinical judgment
Black box warnings highlight the most severe safety risks associated with a drug.
5. Which laboratory value is most important when monitoring warfarin
therapy?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
INR is used to assess therapeutic anticoagulation for warfarin.
6. A patient is prescribed a beta-blocker. Which assessment finding requires
withholding the medication?
A. HR 58 bpm
B. BP 140/90
C. RR 18
D. Temp 98.6°F
Beta-blockers reduce heart rate; bradycardia increases risk of complications.
7. What is the primary goal of pharmacodynamics?
,A. Drug absorption
B. Drug effect on the body
C. Drug elimination
D. Drug packaging
Pharmacodynamics studies how drugs interact with receptors to produce effects.
8. Which statement best describes bioavailability?
A. Rate of excretion
B. Fraction of drug reaching circulation
C. Drug toxicity level
D. Duration of action
Bioavailability refers to the proportion of drug that enters systemic circulation
unchanged.
9. A patient taking ACE inhibitors develops a dry cough. What is the best
explanation?
A. Allergy
B. Increased bradykinin levels
C. Infection
D. Liver toxicity
ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin, causing persistent dry cough.
10. Which is the most serious adverse effect of statin therapy?
A. Headache
B. Myopathy/rhabdomyolysis
C. Dry mouth
D. Dizziness
Muscle breakdown is the most serious complication of statins.
, 11. What is the primary action of diuretics?
A. Increase blood pressure
B. Increase urine output
C. Decrease heart rate
D. Increase infection risk
Diuretics promote renal excretion of sodium and water.
12. Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lung
D. Skin
The liver metabolizes most medications via hepatic enzymes (CYP450 system).
13. What is the purpose of peak drug levels?
A. Measure toxicity risk
B. Measure lowest concentration
C. Measure elimination rate
D. Measure absorption only
Peak levels assess maximum concentration and toxicity risk.
14. A patient is taking digoxin. What symptom indicates toxicity?
A. Bradycardia and nausea
B. Increased appetite
C. Hypertension
D. Fever
