Geneva College NURS 251 Module 1 Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Portage Learning Q&A | Pharmacology
1. A patient recently started taking a new medication and reports a dry
mouth, which is not bothersome and is managed by drinking more water.
Which drug effect best describes this response?
A) Therapeutic effect
B) Side effect
C) Adverse effect
D) Toxic effect
Correct Answer: Side effect
Rationale: A side effect is an unintended, secondary drug response that is
usually not harmful. Dry mouth from a medication is a classic example of a
side effect, as it is undesirable but not dangerous. An adverse effect is
potentially harmful, a toxic effect is poisonous, and a therapeutic effect is the
desired response.
2. Which of the following best describes the term "therapeutic effect"?
A) An unintended but harmless reaction to a drug
B) The desired, beneficial effect of a drug to alleviate a condition
C) A harmful, unintended reaction that requires intervention
D) A poisonous effect resulting from drug overdose
Correct Answer: The desired, beneficial effect of a drug to alleviate a
condition
Rationale: The therapeutic effect is the primary, intended positive outcome
of drug therapy. It is the reason the medication is prescribed. Side effects,
,adverse effects, and toxic effects are all types of unintended and often
undesirable responses.
3. Discontinuing drug therapy is always the best course of action whenever a
patient experiences a harmful adverse event.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: It is not always best to stop a drug after an adverse event, as the
benefit of the drug may outweigh the risk. The clinician must conduct a risk-
benefit analysis and consider alternative options. In many cases, the therapy
is continued with careful monitoring.
4. The site within a cell that a drug binds to in order to exert its therapeutic
effect is known as the:
A) Binding site
B) Receptor
C) Cell wall
D) Agonist
Correct Answer: Receptor
Rationale: A receptor is a specific protein molecule on or within a cell that a
drug binds to in order to initiate its therapeutic effect. The binding site is part
of the receptor, and an agonist is a drug that activates the receptor. The cell
wall is not the typical target for drug binding.
,5. When a drug binds to a cell, exerting its effect, and leads to a decrease in
that cell's physiologic response, that drug is acting as an agonist.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
causing an increase in the cell's physiologic response. A drug that decreases
a cell's response is called an antagonist. An antagonist blocks or dampens
the receptor's activity.
6. Which of the following best describes the term "onset of action"?
A) The length of time the drug produces its effect
B) The time from drug administration to the first observable effect
C) The drug concentration above the minimum effective concentration
D) The time it takes for the drug to be eliminated from the body
Correct Answer: The time from drug administration to the first observable
effect
Rationale: Onset of action is defined as the time it takes from when the drug
is administered to when its first therapeutic effect is observed. Duration of
action is the length of time the effect lasts, and therapeutic range is the
concentration between the minimum effective and minimum toxic levels.
7. Which of the following best describes the term "duration of action"?
A) The time from drug administration to the first observable effect
B) The length of time the drug produces its therapeutic effect
, C) The concentration of the drug in the blood
D) The time it takes for the drug to be absorbed
Correct Answer: The length of time the drug produces its therapeutic effect
Rationale: Duration of action is the total length of time that the drug's
concentration remains above the minimum effective concentration,
producing its therapeutic effect. Onset of action is the time to first effect, and
absorption is the process of the drug entering the bloodstream.
8. A drug's therapeutic range is best described as:
A) The time from administration to first effect
B) The length of time the drug produces its effect
C) The drug concentration that is above the minimum effective concentration
and below the minimum toxic concentration
D) The dose of the drug that is always safe for all patients
Correct Answer: The drug concentration that is above the minimum effective
concentration and below the minimum toxic concentration
Rationale: The therapeutic range (or window) is the safe and effective
concentration range of a drug in the blood. It is the zone between the
minimum effective concentration (MEC), below which the drug is ineffective,
and the minimum toxic concentration (MTC), above which toxicity occurs.
9. Drugs either have a trade name or a generic name.
A) True
B) False
Portage Learning Q&A | Pharmacology
1. A patient recently started taking a new medication and reports a dry
mouth, which is not bothersome and is managed by drinking more water.
Which drug effect best describes this response?
A) Therapeutic effect
B) Side effect
C) Adverse effect
D) Toxic effect
Correct Answer: Side effect
Rationale: A side effect is an unintended, secondary drug response that is
usually not harmful. Dry mouth from a medication is a classic example of a
side effect, as it is undesirable but not dangerous. An adverse effect is
potentially harmful, a toxic effect is poisonous, and a therapeutic effect is the
desired response.
2. Which of the following best describes the term "therapeutic effect"?
A) An unintended but harmless reaction to a drug
B) The desired, beneficial effect of a drug to alleviate a condition
C) A harmful, unintended reaction that requires intervention
D) A poisonous effect resulting from drug overdose
Correct Answer: The desired, beneficial effect of a drug to alleviate a
condition
Rationale: The therapeutic effect is the primary, intended positive outcome
of drug therapy. It is the reason the medication is prescribed. Side effects,
,adverse effects, and toxic effects are all types of unintended and often
undesirable responses.
3. Discontinuing drug therapy is always the best course of action whenever a
patient experiences a harmful adverse event.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: It is not always best to stop a drug after an adverse event, as the
benefit of the drug may outweigh the risk. The clinician must conduct a risk-
benefit analysis and consider alternative options. In many cases, the therapy
is continued with careful monitoring.
4. The site within a cell that a drug binds to in order to exert its therapeutic
effect is known as the:
A) Binding site
B) Receptor
C) Cell wall
D) Agonist
Correct Answer: Receptor
Rationale: A receptor is a specific protein molecule on or within a cell that a
drug binds to in order to initiate its therapeutic effect. The binding site is part
of the receptor, and an agonist is a drug that activates the receptor. The cell
wall is not the typical target for drug binding.
,5. When a drug binds to a cell, exerting its effect, and leads to a decrease in
that cell's physiologic response, that drug is acting as an agonist.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: An agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it,
causing an increase in the cell's physiologic response. A drug that decreases
a cell's response is called an antagonist. An antagonist blocks or dampens
the receptor's activity.
6. Which of the following best describes the term "onset of action"?
A) The length of time the drug produces its effect
B) The time from drug administration to the first observable effect
C) The drug concentration above the minimum effective concentration
D) The time it takes for the drug to be eliminated from the body
Correct Answer: The time from drug administration to the first observable
effect
Rationale: Onset of action is defined as the time it takes from when the drug
is administered to when its first therapeutic effect is observed. Duration of
action is the length of time the effect lasts, and therapeutic range is the
concentration between the minimum effective and minimum toxic levels.
7. Which of the following best describes the term "duration of action"?
A) The time from drug administration to the first observable effect
B) The length of time the drug produces its therapeutic effect
, C) The concentration of the drug in the blood
D) The time it takes for the drug to be absorbed
Correct Answer: The length of time the drug produces its therapeutic effect
Rationale: Duration of action is the total length of time that the drug's
concentration remains above the minimum effective concentration,
producing its therapeutic effect. Onset of action is the time to first effect, and
absorption is the process of the drug entering the bloodstream.
8. A drug's therapeutic range is best described as:
A) The time from administration to first effect
B) The length of time the drug produces its effect
C) The drug concentration that is above the minimum effective concentration
and below the minimum toxic concentration
D) The dose of the drug that is always safe for all patients
Correct Answer: The drug concentration that is above the minimum effective
concentration and below the minimum toxic concentration
Rationale: The therapeutic range (or window) is the safe and effective
concentration range of a drug in the blood. It is the zone between the
minimum effective concentration (MEC), below which the drug is ineffective,
and the minimum toxic concentration (MTC), above which toxicity occurs.
9. Drugs either have a trade name or a generic name.
A) True
B) False
