Pharmacology test bank
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?
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?
