NU 578 Unit 1 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses |
Questions and Correct Answers with Rationale | New Update
2026-2027 | Graded A+
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. Safety
B. Effectiveness
C. Selectivity
D. Reversibility
Correct Answer: C. Selectivity
Rationale: An ideal drug produces only its intended therapeutic effect. Nausea
and headache indicate the drug affects other tissues/systems, so 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 is not effective for its intended purpose.
B. The drug has a low cost.
C. The drug has a narrow therapeutic index.
D. The drug causes mild nausea.
Correct Answer: A. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Rationale: Effectiveness is the most important property of a drug. If a drug
cannot produce the intended therapeutic response, there is no benefit to giving it.
3. Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
,B. Greater drug selectivity
C. Higher therapeutic index
D. Faster first-pass effect
Correct Answer: A. Fewer administration errors
Rationale: Simple, convenient administration routes and schedules improve
adherence and reduce dosing/administration mistakes.
4. The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine,
because the blood pressure often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is
taken with alcohol. Which drug property does this illustrate?
A. Selectivity
B. Drug interaction
C. Reversibility
D. Therapeutic index
Correct Answer: B. Drug interaction
Rationale: Alcohol and nitroglycerine interact to produce additive vasodilation
and hypotension, illustrating a drug-drug/food interaction.
5. When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing
what?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B. Pharmacodynamics
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of what a drug does to the body,
including therapeutic and adverse effects.
6. When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about
what?
A. Clinical pharmacology
B. Toxicology
,C. Pharmaceutics
D. Pharmacotherapy
Correct Answer: A. Clinical pharmacology
Rationale: Clinical pharmacology focuses on the effects of drugs in humans and
their therapeutic use.
7. Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
B. Drugs can be therapeutic or harmful.
C. Drugs are chemicals that alter physiologic processes.
D. Drugs can be prescription or nonprescription.
Correct Answer: A. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
Rationale: Drugs are broadly defined as substances used to diagnose, prevent,
treat, or cure disease. Illegal substances are only one subset.
8. What is the ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug?
A. Intensity of the response
B. Cost of the drug
C. Route of administration
D. Drug name
Correct Answer: A. Intensity of the response
Rationale: The nurse must monitor whether the drug produces the desired
intensity of therapeutic effect and whether adverse effects occur.
9. What is the objective of drug therapy?
A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
B. To cure all diseases
C. To eliminate all adverse effects
D. To use the highest possible dose
Correct Answer: A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
Rationale: Drug therapy aims to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while
minimizing adverse effects.
, 10. Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's
response to a drug? (SATA)
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Genetics
E. Blood type
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Age, gender, weight, and genetics can alter drug absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion, and response.
11. The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before
administering the medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history.
Which aspect of drug therapy does this represent?
A. Identifying high-risk patients
B. Evaluating therapeutic responses
C. Minimizing adverse effects
D. Promoting adherence
Correct Answer: A. Identifying high-risk patients
Rationale: Allergy history identifies patients at high risk for hypersensitivity
reactions before drug administration.
12. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order:
"Aldomet 250 mg daily." What should the nurse do?
A. Give the drug as ordered.
B. Verify the order with the prescriber.
C. Give half the dose.
D. Hold the drug indefinitely.
Correct Answer: B. Verify the order with the prescriber.
Rationale: The order is incomplete or ambiguous; the nurse must clarify the
route and/or frequency before administration.
Questions and Correct Answers with Rationale | New Update
2026-2027 | Graded A+
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. Safety
B. Effectiveness
C. Selectivity
D. Reversibility
Correct Answer: C. Selectivity
Rationale: An ideal drug produces only its intended therapeutic effect. Nausea
and headache indicate the drug affects other tissues/systems, so 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 is not effective for its intended purpose.
B. The drug has a low cost.
C. The drug has a narrow therapeutic index.
D. The drug causes mild nausea.
Correct Answer: A. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose.
Rationale: Effectiveness is the most important property of a drug. If a drug
cannot produce the intended therapeutic response, there is no benefit to giving it.
3. Why is it important for drugs to have ease of administration?
A. Fewer administration errors
,B. Greater drug selectivity
C. Higher therapeutic index
D. Faster first-pass effect
Correct Answer: A. Fewer administration errors
Rationale: Simple, convenient administration routes and schedules improve
adherence and reduce dosing/administration mistakes.
4. The nurse teaches a patient not to consume alcohol with nitroglycerine,
because the blood pressure often drops significantly when nitroglycerine is
taken with alcohol. Which drug property does this illustrate?
A. Selectivity
B. Drug interaction
C. Reversibility
D. Therapeutic index
Correct Answer: B. Drug interaction
Rationale: Alcohol and nitroglycerine interact to produce additive vasodilation
and hypotension, illustrating a drug-drug/food interaction.
5. When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing
what?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Pharmacognosy
Correct Answer: B. Pharmacodynamics
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of what a drug does to the body,
including therapeutic and adverse effects.
6. When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about
what?
A. Clinical pharmacology
B. Toxicology
,C. Pharmaceutics
D. Pharmacotherapy
Correct Answer: A. Clinical pharmacology
Rationale: Clinical pharmacology focuses on the effects of drugs in humans and
their therapeutic use.
7. Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
B. Drugs can be therapeutic or harmful.
C. Drugs are chemicals that alter physiologic processes.
D. Drugs can be prescription or nonprescription.
Correct Answer: A. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
Rationale: Drugs are broadly defined as substances used to diagnose, prevent,
treat, or cure disease. Illegal substances are only one subset.
8. What is the ultimate concern for the nurse when administering a drug?
A. Intensity of the response
B. Cost of the drug
C. Route of administration
D. Drug name
Correct Answer: A. Intensity of the response
Rationale: The nurse must monitor whether the drug produces the desired
intensity of therapeutic effect and whether adverse effects occur.
9. What is the objective of drug therapy?
A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
B. To cure all diseases
C. To eliminate all adverse effects
D. To use the highest possible dose
Correct Answer: A. To provide maximum benefit with minimal harm
Rationale: Drug therapy aims to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while
minimizing adverse effects.
, 10. Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's
response to a drug? (SATA)
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Genetics
E. Blood type
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Age, gender, weight, and genetics can alter drug absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion, and response.
11. The nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before
administering the medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history.
Which aspect of drug therapy does this represent?
A. Identifying high-risk patients
B. Evaluating therapeutic responses
C. Minimizing adverse effects
D. Promoting adherence
Correct Answer: A. Identifying high-risk patients
Rationale: Allergy history identifies patients at high risk for hypersensitivity
reactions before drug administration.
12. The nurse is preparing to administer a medication with the following order:
"Aldomet 250 mg daily." What should the nurse do?
A. Give the drug as ordered.
B. Verify the order with the prescriber.
C. Give half the dose.
D. Hold the drug indefinitely.
Correct Answer: B. Verify the order with the prescriber.
Rationale: The order is incomplete or ambiguous; the nurse must clarify the
route and/or frequency before administration.
