Pharmacology test
Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?
a. Intramuscular cephalosporins
b. Intravenous vasopressors
c. Oral analgesics
d. Subcutaneous antiglycemics - ANS c
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid drug
action. Which form of the medication will the nurse administer?
a. Capsule
b. Enteric-coated pill
c. Liquid suspension
d. Tablet - ANS c
The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an
enteric-coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. "I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption."
b. "I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication."
c. "I should expect a delay in onset of the drug's effects after taking the tablet."
d. "I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action." - ANS c
A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be given
by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects. - ANS c
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse
understands that this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract. - ANS b
A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic environment.
How will the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food - ANS c
The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption. How
will the nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
d. SubQ into the upper arm - ANS a
,The nurse is reviewing medication information with a nursing student prior to administering an
oral drug and notes that the drug has extensive first-pass effects. Which statement by the
student indicates a need for further teaching about this medication?
a. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be absorbed into systemic circulation from the
intestinal lumen."
b. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be changed to an inactive form and excreted."
c. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be changed to a metabolite, which may be more
active than the original."
d. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be unchanged as it passes through the liver." -
ANS a
The nurse prepares to change a patient's medication from an intravenous to an oral form and
notes that the oral form is ordered in a higher dose. The nurse understands that this is due to
differences in
a. bioavailability.
b. pinocytosis.
c. protein binding.
d. tachyphylaxis. - ANS a
The nurse is preparing to administer a drug and learns that it binds to protein at a rate of 90%.
The patient's serum albumin level is low. The nurse will observe the patient for
a. decreased drug absorption.
b. decreased drug interactions.
c. decreased drug toxicity.
d. increased drug effects. - ANS d
The nurse is administering two drugs to a patient and learns that both drugs are highly
protein-bound. The nurse may expect
a. decreased bioavailability of both drugs.
b. decreased drug effects.
c. decreased drug interactions.
d. increased risk of adverse effects. - ANS d
The nurse gives a medication to a patient with a history of liver disease. The nurse will monitor
this patient for
a. decreased drug effects.
b. increased drug effects.
c. decreased therapeutic range.
d. increased therapeutic range. - ANS b
The nurse gives 800 mg of a drug that has a half-life of 8 hours. How much drug will be left in
the body in 24 hours if no additional drug is given?
a. None
b. 50 mg
c. 100 mg
d. 200 mg - ANS c
If a drug has a half-life of 12 hours and is given twice daily starting at 0800 on a Monday, when
will a steady state be achieved?
a. 0800 on Tuesday
, b. 0800 on Wednesday
c. 0800 on Thursday
d. 0800 on Friday - ANS b
The nurse administers albuterol to a patient who has asthma. The albuterol acts by stimulating
beta2-adrenergic receptors to cause bronchodilation. The nurse understands that albuterol is a
beta-adrenergic
a. agonist.
b. antagonist.
c. inhibitor.
d. depressant. - ANS a
The nurse is explaining to the patient why a nonspecific drug has so many side effects. Which
statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "Nonspecific drugs can affect specific receptor types in different body tissues."
b. "Nonspecific drugs can affect a variety of receptor types in similar body tissues."
c. "Nonspecific drugs can affect hormone secretion as well as cellular functions."
d. "Nonspecific drugs require higher doses than specific drugs to be effective." - ANS d
The nurse is preparing to give a dose of gentamicin to a patient and notes that the most recent
serum gentamicin trough level was 2 mcg/mL. What will the nurse do next?
a. Administer the drug as ordered.
b. Administer the drug and monitor for adverse effects.
c. Notify the provider to discuss decreasing the dose.
d. Notify the provider to report a toxic drug level. - ANS d
The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to a patient and notes
that the dose ordered is much higher than the usual recommended dose. Which action will the
nurse perform?
a. Administer the dose as ordered.
b. Give the dose and monitor for toxicity.
c. Hold the dose until reviewing it with the provider.
d. Refuse to give the dose. - ANS a
The nurse administers a narcotic analgesic to a patient who has been receiving it for 1 day after
orthopedic surgery. The patient reports no change in pain 30 minutes after the medication is
given. The nurse recognizes that this patient is exhibiting
a. drug-seeking behavior.
b. drug tolerance.
c. the placebo effect.
d. tachyphylaxis. - ANS d
The patient is receiving two different drugs. At current dosages and dosage forms, both drugs
are absorbed into the circulation in identical amounts. Thus, because they have the same
absorption rates, they are
a.bioequivalent.
b.synergistic.
c.prodrugs.
Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?
a. Intramuscular cephalosporins
b. Intravenous vasopressors
c. Oral analgesics
d. Subcutaneous antiglycemics - ANS c
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid drug
action. Which form of the medication will the nurse administer?
a. Capsule
b. Enteric-coated pill
c. Liquid suspension
d. Tablet - ANS c
The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an
enteric-coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. "I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption."
b. "I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication."
c. "I should expect a delay in onset of the drug's effects after taking the tablet."
d. "I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action." - ANS c
A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be given
by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects. - ANS c
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse
understands that this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract. - ANS b
A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic environment.
How will the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food - ANS c
The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption. How
will the nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
d. SubQ into the upper arm - ANS a
,The nurse is reviewing medication information with a nursing student prior to administering an
oral drug and notes that the drug has extensive first-pass effects. Which statement by the
student indicates a need for further teaching about this medication?
a. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be absorbed into systemic circulation from the
intestinal lumen."
b. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be changed to an inactive form and excreted."
c. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be changed to a metabolite, which may be more
active than the original."
d. "The first-pass effect means the drug may be unchanged as it passes through the liver." -
ANS a
The nurse prepares to change a patient's medication from an intravenous to an oral form and
notes that the oral form is ordered in a higher dose. The nurse understands that this is due to
differences in
a. bioavailability.
b. pinocytosis.
c. protein binding.
d. tachyphylaxis. - ANS a
The nurse is preparing to administer a drug and learns that it binds to protein at a rate of 90%.
The patient's serum albumin level is low. The nurse will observe the patient for
a. decreased drug absorption.
b. decreased drug interactions.
c. decreased drug toxicity.
d. increased drug effects. - ANS d
The nurse is administering two drugs to a patient and learns that both drugs are highly
protein-bound. The nurse may expect
a. decreased bioavailability of both drugs.
b. decreased drug effects.
c. decreased drug interactions.
d. increased risk of adverse effects. - ANS d
The nurse gives a medication to a patient with a history of liver disease. The nurse will monitor
this patient for
a. decreased drug effects.
b. increased drug effects.
c. decreased therapeutic range.
d. increased therapeutic range. - ANS b
The nurse gives 800 mg of a drug that has a half-life of 8 hours. How much drug will be left in
the body in 24 hours if no additional drug is given?
a. None
b. 50 mg
c. 100 mg
d. 200 mg - ANS c
If a drug has a half-life of 12 hours and is given twice daily starting at 0800 on a Monday, when
will a steady state be achieved?
a. 0800 on Tuesday
, b. 0800 on Wednesday
c. 0800 on Thursday
d. 0800 on Friday - ANS b
The nurse administers albuterol to a patient who has asthma. The albuterol acts by stimulating
beta2-adrenergic receptors to cause bronchodilation. The nurse understands that albuterol is a
beta-adrenergic
a. agonist.
b. antagonist.
c. inhibitor.
d. depressant. - ANS a
The nurse is explaining to the patient why a nonspecific drug has so many side effects. Which
statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
a. "Nonspecific drugs can affect specific receptor types in different body tissues."
b. "Nonspecific drugs can affect a variety of receptor types in similar body tissues."
c. "Nonspecific drugs can affect hormone secretion as well as cellular functions."
d. "Nonspecific drugs require higher doses than specific drugs to be effective." - ANS d
The nurse is preparing to give a dose of gentamicin to a patient and notes that the most recent
serum gentamicin trough level was 2 mcg/mL. What will the nurse do next?
a. Administer the drug as ordered.
b. Administer the drug and monitor for adverse effects.
c. Notify the provider to discuss decreasing the dose.
d. Notify the provider to report a toxic drug level. - ANS d
The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to a patient and notes
that the dose ordered is much higher than the usual recommended dose. Which action will the
nurse perform?
a. Administer the dose as ordered.
b. Give the dose and monitor for toxicity.
c. Hold the dose until reviewing it with the provider.
d. Refuse to give the dose. - ANS a
The nurse administers a narcotic analgesic to a patient who has been receiving it for 1 day after
orthopedic surgery. The patient reports no change in pain 30 minutes after the medication is
given. The nurse recognizes that this patient is exhibiting
a. drug-seeking behavior.
b. drug tolerance.
c. the placebo effect.
d. tachyphylaxis. - ANS d
The patient is receiving two different drugs. At current dosages and dosage forms, both drugs
are absorbed into the circulation in identical amounts. Thus, because they have the same
absorption rates, they are
a.bioequivalent.
b.synergistic.
c.prodrugs.
