2026/2027 | 200 Practice Questions & Verified Answers | Complete
Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
1. A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of Drug X to treat a patient's high blood pressure. After giving
the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces the blood pressure without serious harmful effects, but
it also causes the patient to have nausea and headache. Based on this information, which property of an
ideal drug is this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration
Answer: C. Selectivity
Explanation: The drug is effective in lowering blood pressure and safe in that it does not cause harmful
effects. However, as do most drugs, it causes other effects besides the one response desired; therefore,
it lacks selectivity.
2. The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of the drug is the most
compelling indication that it should not be given?
A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect.
B. The drug is difficult to administer.
C. The drug's effects are reversible.
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Answer: D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
,Explanation: If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some drugs may be given even
though they produce unwanted side effects or are difficult to administer. Reversible action is a desired
property for most drugs.
3. Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
B. Less risk of side effects
C. Greater chemical stability
D. Greater likelihood of reversibility
Answer: A. Fewer administration errors
Explanation: Ease of administration is important because it leads to fewer administration errors, which
improves patient safety and adherence.
4. When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability
Answer: C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
,Explanation: Pharmacodynamics can be thought of as the impact of drugs on the body.
Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body. Selectivity is the ability of a drug
to elicit only the response for which it is given.
5. When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
D. Effectiveness
Answer: B. Clinical pharmacology
Explanation: Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans. Pharmacology can be
defined as the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems. Therapeutics, also known as
pharmacotherapeutics, is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.
6. Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. "Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have."
B. "There is no such thing as a safe drug."
C. "Drugs are defined as illegal substances."
D. "There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects."
Answer: C. "Drugs are defined as illegal substances."
, Explanation: A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes. All the other statements are correct.
Effectiveness is the most important property, no drug is completely safe, and all drugs can cause side
effects.
7. The objective of drug therapy is to:
A. Provide as much benefit as possible
B. Provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
C. Eliminate all side effects
D. Cure the disease completely
Answer: B. Provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
Explanation: The objective of drug therapy is to provide maximum benefit with minimal harm. All drugs
have the potential to produce side effects. Because drugs are not ideal, we must exercise skill and care if
treatment is to result in more good than harm.
8. Which pregnancy category indicates that fetal abnormalities have been reported and the drug should
NOT be given?
A. Category A
B. Category B
C. Category C
D. Category X
Answer: D. Category X