Strayer University NUR 280 Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Pharmacology Q&A | Pharmacology
1. Which of the following best describes the study of pharmacokinetics?
A) The study of how drugs produce their effects on the body
B) The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes
drugs
C) The study of genetic differences that influence drug responses
D) The study of drug interactions with receptor sites
Correct Answer: The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes,
and excretes drugs
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, often summarized by the acronym ADME (absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion). Pharmacodynamics is the study of drug effects on
the body. Pharmacogenetics examines genetic influences on drug response.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. According to the rights of
medication administration, which action should the nurse perform first?
A) Verify the medication's expiration date
B) Check the patient's identification using two identifiers
C) Assess the patient's vital signs
D) Calculate the correct dosage
Correct Answer: Check the patient's identification using two identifiers
Rationale: The first right of medication administration is verifying the right
patient. Using two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is the
priority to ensure the medication is given to the correct individual. All other
rights follow this verification.
,3. A patient is prescribed a medication that undergoes extensive first-pass
metabolism. The nurse understands that this means:
A) The medication is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract
B) A significant portion of the medication is metabolized by the liver before
reaching systemic circulation
C) The medication is excreted unchanged by the kidneys
D) The medication has a high therapeutic index
Correct Answer: A significant portion of the medication is metabolized by the
liver before reaching systemic circulation
Rationale: First-pass metabolism occurs when orally administered drugs are
absorbed from the GI tract and transported via the portal vein to the liver,
where they are metabolized before reaching systemic circulation. This
reduces bioavailability and may necessitate higher oral doses or alternative
routes.
4. Which of the following describes the therapeutic index of a drug?
A) The time required for the drug to reach peak plasma concentration
B) The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose of a drug
C) The percentage of the drug that reaches systemic circulation
D) The amount of drug required to produce 50% of the maximum effect
Correct Answer: The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose
of a drug
Rationale: The therapeutic index (TI) is the ratio of a drug's toxic dose to its
therapeutic dose. A narrow TI indicates that the drug has a small margin of
,safety and requires careful monitoring. Bioavailability describes the
percentage reaching circulation.
5. A patient is receiving a drug with a half-life of 4 hours. How much of the
drug will remain in the body after 12 hours?
A) 50% of the original dose
B) 25% of the original dose
C) 12.5% of the original dose
D) 6.25% of the original dose
Correct Answer: 12.5% of the original dose
Rationale: After one half-life (4 hours), 50% remains. After two half-lives (8
hours), 25% remains. After three half-lives (12 hours), 12.5% remains. Half-
life is the time required for the body to eliminate 50% of the drug.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient prescribed a medication that is highly
protein-bound. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to
perform?
A) Monitor the patient's liver function tests
B) Assess the patient's serum albumin levels
C) Monitor the patient's renal function
D) Assess the patient's blood glucose levels
Correct Answer: Assess the patient's serum albumin levels
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs rely on albumin for transport. Low
albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia) result in more free (unbound) drug,
potentially leading to toxicity. This is especially important in patients with
liver disease, malnutrition, or kidney disease.
, 7. A patient is receiving two drugs that are both highly protein-bound. The
nurse understands that this combination may lead to:
A) Decreased therapeutic effect of both drugs
B) Increased risk of adverse effects due to competition for protein-binding
sites
C) Enhanced excretion of both drugs
D) Reduced absorption of both drugs
Correct Answer: Increased risk of adverse effects due to competition for
protein-binding sites
Rationale: When two highly protein-bound drugs are administered
concurrently, they compete for binding sites on plasma proteins. This can
displace one drug, increasing the concentration of free (active) drug and
potentially leading to toxicity.
8. Which branch of pharmacology studies how drugs affect mood, perception,
thinking, or behavior by acting in the nervous system?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Psychopharmacology
D) Pharmacogenetics
Correct Answer: Psychopharmacology
Rationale: Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect mood,
perception, thinking, and behavior by acting in the nervous system.
Psychoactive drugs affect psychological functioning. Pharmacodynamics
studies drug effects on the body generally.
Pharmacology Q&A | Pharmacology
1. Which of the following best describes the study of pharmacokinetics?
A) The study of how drugs produce their effects on the body
B) The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes
drugs
C) The study of genetic differences that influence drug responses
D) The study of drug interactions with receptor sites
Correct Answer: The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes,
and excretes drugs
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, often summarized by the acronym ADME (absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion). Pharmacodynamics is the study of drug effects on
the body. Pharmacogenetics examines genetic influences on drug response.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. According to the rights of
medication administration, which action should the nurse perform first?
A) Verify the medication's expiration date
B) Check the patient's identification using two identifiers
C) Assess the patient's vital signs
D) Calculate the correct dosage
Correct Answer: Check the patient's identification using two identifiers
Rationale: The first right of medication administration is verifying the right
patient. Using two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is the
priority to ensure the medication is given to the correct individual. All other
rights follow this verification.
,3. A patient is prescribed a medication that undergoes extensive first-pass
metabolism. The nurse understands that this means:
A) The medication is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract
B) A significant portion of the medication is metabolized by the liver before
reaching systemic circulation
C) The medication is excreted unchanged by the kidneys
D) The medication has a high therapeutic index
Correct Answer: A significant portion of the medication is metabolized by the
liver before reaching systemic circulation
Rationale: First-pass metabolism occurs when orally administered drugs are
absorbed from the GI tract and transported via the portal vein to the liver,
where they are metabolized before reaching systemic circulation. This
reduces bioavailability and may necessitate higher oral doses or alternative
routes.
4. Which of the following describes the therapeutic index of a drug?
A) The time required for the drug to reach peak plasma concentration
B) The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose of a drug
C) The percentage of the drug that reaches systemic circulation
D) The amount of drug required to produce 50% of the maximum effect
Correct Answer: The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose
of a drug
Rationale: The therapeutic index (TI) is the ratio of a drug's toxic dose to its
therapeutic dose. A narrow TI indicates that the drug has a small margin of
,safety and requires careful monitoring. Bioavailability describes the
percentage reaching circulation.
5. A patient is receiving a drug with a half-life of 4 hours. How much of the
drug will remain in the body after 12 hours?
A) 50% of the original dose
B) 25% of the original dose
C) 12.5% of the original dose
D) 6.25% of the original dose
Correct Answer: 12.5% of the original dose
Rationale: After one half-life (4 hours), 50% remains. After two half-lives (8
hours), 25% remains. After three half-lives (12 hours), 12.5% remains. Half-
life is the time required for the body to eliminate 50% of the drug.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient prescribed a medication that is highly
protein-bound. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to
perform?
A) Monitor the patient's liver function tests
B) Assess the patient's serum albumin levels
C) Monitor the patient's renal function
D) Assess the patient's blood glucose levels
Correct Answer: Assess the patient's serum albumin levels
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs rely on albumin for transport. Low
albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia) result in more free (unbound) drug,
potentially leading to toxicity. This is especially important in patients with
liver disease, malnutrition, or kidney disease.
, 7. A patient is receiving two drugs that are both highly protein-bound. The
nurse understands that this combination may lead to:
A) Decreased therapeutic effect of both drugs
B) Increased risk of adverse effects due to competition for protein-binding
sites
C) Enhanced excretion of both drugs
D) Reduced absorption of both drugs
Correct Answer: Increased risk of adverse effects due to competition for
protein-binding sites
Rationale: When two highly protein-bound drugs are administered
concurrently, they compete for binding sites on plasma proteins. This can
displace one drug, increasing the concentration of free (active) drug and
potentially leading to toxicity.
8. Which branch of pharmacology studies how drugs affect mood, perception,
thinking, or behavior by acting in the nervous system?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Psychopharmacology
D) Pharmacogenetics
Correct Answer: Psychopharmacology
Rationale: Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect mood,
perception, thinking, and behavior by acting in the nervous system.
Psychoactive drugs affect psychological functioning. Pharmacodynamics
studies drug effects on the body generally.
