NUR 210 Principles of Pharmacology |
Galen College of Nursing | Academic Year
2026/2027 | Exam 1
SECTION 1: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (Questions 1–30)
1. Which term best describes "what the body does to a drug," including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion?
• A) Pharmacodynamics
• B) Pharmacotherapeutics
• C) Pharmacokinetics
• D) Toxicology
• Correct Answer: C
• Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics is "what the drug does to the body."
2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
• A) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
• B) Action, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
• C) Absorption, Digestion, Metabolism, Elimination
• D) Action, Digestion, Metabolism, Excretion
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: The four phases are Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism,
and Excretion (ADME).
,3. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response is called
a(n):
• A) Antagonist
• B) Agonist
• C) Partial agonist
• D) Competitive antagonist
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: An agonist activates a receptor and produces a biological
response. An antagonist blocks the receptor and produces no response.
4. The pharmaceutic phase of drug action involves:
• A) Absorption of the drug into the bloodstream
• B) Dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract
• C) Distribution of the drug to target tissues
• D) Excretion of the drug via the kidneys
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: The pharmaceutic phase is the first phase where the solid
drug dissolves into a liquid so it can be absorbed. Most oral absorption
occurs in the small intestine.
5. A patient asks the nurse, "What does 'first-pass effect' mean?" The best
response is:
• A) "The drug is absorbed faster when taken on an empty stomach."
• B) "The drug is metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation,
reducing its bioavailability."
• C) "The drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys."
• D) "The drug binds to plasma proteins and becomes inactive."
, • Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: First-pass effect refers to the metabolism of an oral drug by
the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, which reduces the amount
of active drug available.
6. A medication given by which route has 100% bioavailability?
• A) Oral
• B) Sublingual
• C) Intravenous
• D) Intramuscular
• Correct Answer: C
• Rationale: Intravenous administration places the drug directly into the
bloodstream, bypassing absorption and first-pass metabolism, resulting in
100% bioavailability.
7. What is polypharmacy?
• A) Use of multiple medications (more than 5)
• B) Use of a single medication
• C) Use of over-the-counter drugs only
• D) Use of herbal supplements
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications
(more than 5) and is common in the geriatric population, increasing the risk
of drug interactions.
8. When two drugs are administered in combination and the response is increased
beyond what either could produce alone, this is called:
• A) Synergistic effect
, • B) Additive effect
• C) Antagonistic effect
• D) Idiosyncratic effect
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: A synergistic effect occurs when the combined response is
substantially greater than the sum of individual effects.
9. When two drugs given together produce a response equal to the sum of their
individual effects, this is called:
• A) Additive effect
• B) Synergistic effect
• C) Potentiation
• D) Antagonism
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: An additive effect occurs when the combined response of
two drugs is equal to the sum of their individual effects.
10. The primary site of drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is the:
• A) Stomach
• B) Small intestine
• C) Large intestine
• D) Esophagus
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: The small intestine is the primary site of drug absorption
because of its large surface area, extensive blood supply, and longer transit
time compared to the stomach.
Galen College of Nursing | Academic Year
2026/2027 | Exam 1
SECTION 1: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (Questions 1–30)
1. Which term best describes "what the body does to a drug," including
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion?
• A) Pharmacodynamics
• B) Pharmacotherapeutics
• C) Pharmacokinetics
• D) Toxicology
• Correct Answer: C
• Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics is "what the drug does to the body."
2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
• A) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
• B) Action, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
• C) Absorption, Digestion, Metabolism, Elimination
• D) Action, Digestion, Metabolism, Excretion
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: The four phases are Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism,
and Excretion (ADME).
,3. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a biological response is called
a(n):
• A) Antagonist
• B) Agonist
• C) Partial agonist
• D) Competitive antagonist
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: An agonist activates a receptor and produces a biological
response. An antagonist blocks the receptor and produces no response.
4. The pharmaceutic phase of drug action involves:
• A) Absorption of the drug into the bloodstream
• B) Dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract
• C) Distribution of the drug to target tissues
• D) Excretion of the drug via the kidneys
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: The pharmaceutic phase is the first phase where the solid
drug dissolves into a liquid so it can be absorbed. Most oral absorption
occurs in the small intestine.
5. A patient asks the nurse, "What does 'first-pass effect' mean?" The best
response is:
• A) "The drug is absorbed faster when taken on an empty stomach."
• B) "The drug is metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation,
reducing its bioavailability."
• C) "The drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys."
• D) "The drug binds to plasma proteins and becomes inactive."
, • Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: First-pass effect refers to the metabolism of an oral drug by
the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, which reduces the amount
of active drug available.
6. A medication given by which route has 100% bioavailability?
• A) Oral
• B) Sublingual
• C) Intravenous
• D) Intramuscular
• Correct Answer: C
• Rationale: Intravenous administration places the drug directly into the
bloodstream, bypassing absorption and first-pass metabolism, resulting in
100% bioavailability.
7. What is polypharmacy?
• A) Use of multiple medications (more than 5)
• B) Use of a single medication
• C) Use of over-the-counter drugs only
• D) Use of herbal supplements
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications
(more than 5) and is common in the geriatric population, increasing the risk
of drug interactions.
8. When two drugs are administered in combination and the response is increased
beyond what either could produce alone, this is called:
• A) Synergistic effect
, • B) Additive effect
• C) Antagonistic effect
• D) Idiosyncratic effect
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: A synergistic effect occurs when the combined response is
substantially greater than the sum of individual effects.
9. When two drugs given together produce a response equal to the sum of their
individual effects, this is called:
• A) Additive effect
• B) Synergistic effect
• C) Potentiation
• D) Antagonism
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: An additive effect occurs when the combined response of
two drugs is equal to the sum of their individual effects.
10. The primary site of drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is the:
• A) Stomach
• B) Small intestine
• C) Large intestine
• D) Esophagus
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: The small intestine is the primary site of drug absorption
because of its large surface area, extensive blood supply, and longer transit
time compared to the stomach.
