Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Exam Guide: 200 Essential Questions and
Answers for Clinical Competency and Certification Preparation
Question 1: What is pharmacology?
Answer 1:
Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their sources, properties, actions, and effects on living
organisms.
Question 2: What is the difference between pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics?
Answer 2:
Pharmacodynamics studies what the drug does to the body; pharmacokinetics studies what the
body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
Question 3: Define bioavailability.
Answer 3:
The proportion of a drug that enters systemic circulation and is available to have an active
effect.
Question 4: What is the therapeutic index?
Answer 4:
A ratio comparing the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose of a drug, indicating safety margin.
Question 5: What are agonists and antagonists in pharmacology?
Answer 5:
Agonists activate receptors to produce a response; antagonists block receptors preventing
response.
Question 6: Name four routes of drug administration.
Answer 6:
Oral, intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous.
Question 7: What is the first-pass effect?
Answer 7:
The metabolism of a drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing
bioavailability.
Question 8: What is half-life of a drug?
,Answer 8:
The time required for the concentration of a drug in the plasma to reduce by half.
Question 9: What is drug tolerance?
Answer 9:
A decreased response to a drug after repeated use, requiring higher doses for effect.
Question 10: What is drug allergy?
Answer 10:
An immune system reaction to a drug causing symptoms like rash, itching, or anaphylaxis.
Question 11: What is the significance of peak and trough levels?
Answer 11:
Peak is highest drug concentration; trough is lowest before next dose; used to monitor
therapeutic levels.
Question 12: Name the major organs involved in drug metabolism and excretion.
Answer 12:
Liver (metabolism) and kidneys (excretion).
Question 13: What is a common side effect of opioid analgesics?
Answer 13:
Respiratory depression and constipation.
Question 14: How do beta-blockers work?
Answer 14:
They block beta-adrenergic receptors, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
Question 15: What is the mechanism of action of diuretics?
Answer 15:
They increase urine output by inhibiting sodium and water reabsorption in kidneys.
Question 16: What are the nursing considerations when administering digoxin?
Answer 16:
Monitor heart rate, signs of toxicity, and serum potassium levels.
Question 17: What class of drug is insulin?
, Answer 17:
A hormone and antidiabetic agent used to lower blood glucose.
Question 18: What is the antidote for heparin overdose?
Answer 18:
Protamine sulfate.
Question 19: Define polypharmacy.
Answer 19:
The use of multiple medications by a patient, often increasing the risk of interactions.
Question 20: What is the purpose of a loading dose?
Answer 20:
An initial higher dose to rapidly achieve therapeutic drug concentration.
Question 21: What is meant by a drug’s half-life and why is it important in dosing?
Answer 21:
The half-life is the time it takes for the drug’s plasma concentration to decrease by 50%. It
guides dosing intervals to maintain therapeutic levels without toxicity.
Question 22: Describe the mechanism of action of ACE inhibitors.
Answer 22:
They block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, resulting in vasodilation and
reduced blood pressure.
Question 23: What are common side effects of corticosteroids?
Answer 23:
Weight gain, hyperglycemia, increased infection risk, and osteoporosis.
Question 24: What should a nurse monitor when a patient is on lithium therapy?
Answer 24:
Serum lithium levels, kidney function, thyroid function, and signs of toxicity.
Question 25: What is the difference between generic and brand-name drugs?
Answer 25:
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients and effects but are usually less expensive;
brand-name drugs are marketed under a specific name.
Answers for Clinical Competency and Certification Preparation
Question 1: What is pharmacology?
Answer 1:
Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their sources, properties, actions, and effects on living
organisms.
Question 2: What is the difference between pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics?
Answer 2:
Pharmacodynamics studies what the drug does to the body; pharmacokinetics studies what the
body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
Question 3: Define bioavailability.
Answer 3:
The proportion of a drug that enters systemic circulation and is available to have an active
effect.
Question 4: What is the therapeutic index?
Answer 4:
A ratio comparing the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose of a drug, indicating safety margin.
Question 5: What are agonists and antagonists in pharmacology?
Answer 5:
Agonists activate receptors to produce a response; antagonists block receptors preventing
response.
Question 6: Name four routes of drug administration.
Answer 6:
Oral, intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous.
Question 7: What is the first-pass effect?
Answer 7:
The metabolism of a drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing
bioavailability.
Question 8: What is half-life of a drug?
,Answer 8:
The time required for the concentration of a drug in the plasma to reduce by half.
Question 9: What is drug tolerance?
Answer 9:
A decreased response to a drug after repeated use, requiring higher doses for effect.
Question 10: What is drug allergy?
Answer 10:
An immune system reaction to a drug causing symptoms like rash, itching, or anaphylaxis.
Question 11: What is the significance of peak and trough levels?
Answer 11:
Peak is highest drug concentration; trough is lowest before next dose; used to monitor
therapeutic levels.
Question 12: Name the major organs involved in drug metabolism and excretion.
Answer 12:
Liver (metabolism) and kidneys (excretion).
Question 13: What is a common side effect of opioid analgesics?
Answer 13:
Respiratory depression and constipation.
Question 14: How do beta-blockers work?
Answer 14:
They block beta-adrenergic receptors, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
Question 15: What is the mechanism of action of diuretics?
Answer 15:
They increase urine output by inhibiting sodium and water reabsorption in kidneys.
Question 16: What are the nursing considerations when administering digoxin?
Answer 16:
Monitor heart rate, signs of toxicity, and serum potassium levels.
Question 17: What class of drug is insulin?
, Answer 17:
A hormone and antidiabetic agent used to lower blood glucose.
Question 18: What is the antidote for heparin overdose?
Answer 18:
Protamine sulfate.
Question 19: Define polypharmacy.
Answer 19:
The use of multiple medications by a patient, often increasing the risk of interactions.
Question 20: What is the purpose of a loading dose?
Answer 20:
An initial higher dose to rapidly achieve therapeutic drug concentration.
Question 21: What is meant by a drug’s half-life and why is it important in dosing?
Answer 21:
The half-life is the time it takes for the drug’s plasma concentration to decrease by 50%. It
guides dosing intervals to maintain therapeutic levels without toxicity.
Question 22: Describe the mechanism of action of ACE inhibitors.
Answer 22:
They block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, resulting in vasodilation and
reduced blood pressure.
Question 23: What are common side effects of corticosteroids?
Answer 23:
Weight gain, hyperglycemia, increased infection risk, and osteoporosis.
Question 24: What should a nurse monitor when a patient is on lithium therapy?
Answer 24:
Serum lithium levels, kidney function, thyroid function, and signs of toxicity.
Question 25: What is the difference between generic and brand-name drugs?
Answer 25:
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients and effects but are usually less expensive;
brand-name drugs are marketed under a specific name.
