,NU 150|NU 150 Exam 1 | pharmacology |
Galen College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. Which term describes the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems?
A) Pharmacokinetics
B) Pharmacodynamics
C) Pharmacology
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacology is the broad science of drugs and their effects on living systems.
Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug, pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the
body, and toxicology is the study of adverse effects.
2. What does the term "pharmacokinetics" encompass?
A) The study of drug receptors and mechanisms of action
B) The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
C) The clinical use of drugs to treat disease
D) The study of poisonous effects of drugs
Correct Answer: The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, involving four key
processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics refers to
what the drug does to the body at the receptor level.
3. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Partial agonist
,C) Agonist
D) Inhibitor
Correct Answer: Agonist
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates a physiologic response. An
antagonist binds to a receptor but does not activate it, instead blocking the effect of the endogenous
ligand.
4. The movement of a drug from the bloodstream into body tissues is termed:
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Metabolism
D) Excretion
Correct Answer: Distribution
Rationale: Distribution is the transport of drug molecules from the circulation to body tissues.
Absorption is entry into the bloodstream, metabolism is biotransformation, and excretion is elimination.
5. Which route of administration is considered to have 100% bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Intramuscular
C) Intravenous
D) Subcutaneous
Correct Answer: Intravenous
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption barriers, delivering the entire dose directly into the
bloodstream. Oral drugs undergo first-pass metabolism, reducing bioavailability.
, 6. A patient is taking a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What does this indicate?
A) The drug is safe over a wide dose range.
B) The drug has few adverse effects.
C) The drug requires close monitoring because toxic and effective doses are close.
D) The drug is never used clinically.
Correct Answer: The drug requires close monitoring because toxic and effective doses are close.
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose
is small, necessitating regular blood level monitoring (e.g., digoxin, warfarin).
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notes the order is illegible. What is the first
action?
A) Ask a colleague to interpret the order.
B) Administer the medication as written.
C) Contact the provider to clarify the order.
D) Hold the medication and document.
Correct Answer: Contact the provider to clarify the order.
Rationale: Illegible orders must be clarified with the prescriber to ensure patient safety. Never guess or
rely on another nurse's interpretation.
8. Which schedule of controlled substances has the highest abuse potential and no accepted medical
use?
A) Schedule II
B) Schedule III
C) Schedule I
D) Schedule IV
Galen College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. Which term describes the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems?
A) Pharmacokinetics
B) Pharmacodynamics
C) Pharmacology
D) Toxicology
Correct Answer: Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacology is the broad science of drugs and their effects on living systems.
Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug, pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the
body, and toxicology is the study of adverse effects.
2. What does the term "pharmacokinetics" encompass?
A) The study of drug receptors and mechanisms of action
B) The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
C) The clinical use of drugs to treat disease
D) The study of poisonous effects of drugs
Correct Answer: The processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the body, involving four key
processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics refers to
what the drug does to the body at the receptor level.
3. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it is called a(n):
A) Antagonist
B) Partial agonist
,C) Agonist
D) Inhibitor
Correct Answer: Agonist
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates a physiologic response. An
antagonist binds to a receptor but does not activate it, instead blocking the effect of the endogenous
ligand.
4. The movement of a drug from the bloodstream into body tissues is termed:
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Metabolism
D) Excretion
Correct Answer: Distribution
Rationale: Distribution is the transport of drug molecules from the circulation to body tissues.
Absorption is entry into the bloodstream, metabolism is biotransformation, and excretion is elimination.
5. Which route of administration is considered to have 100% bioavailability?
A) Oral
B) Intramuscular
C) Intravenous
D) Subcutaneous
Correct Answer: Intravenous
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption barriers, delivering the entire dose directly into the
bloodstream. Oral drugs undergo first-pass metabolism, reducing bioavailability.
, 6. A patient is taking a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What does this indicate?
A) The drug is safe over a wide dose range.
B) The drug has few adverse effects.
C) The drug requires close monitoring because toxic and effective doses are close.
D) The drug is never used clinically.
Correct Answer: The drug requires close monitoring because toxic and effective doses are close.
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose
is small, necessitating regular blood level monitoring (e.g., digoxin, warfarin).
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notes the order is illegible. What is the first
action?
A) Ask a colleague to interpret the order.
B) Administer the medication as written.
C) Contact the provider to clarify the order.
D) Hold the medication and document.
Correct Answer: Contact the provider to clarify the order.
Rationale: Illegible orders must be clarified with the prescriber to ensure patient safety. Never guess or
rely on another nurse's interpretation.
8. Which schedule of controlled substances has the highest abuse potential and no accepted medical
use?
A) Schedule II
B) Schedule III
C) Schedule I
D) Schedule IV
