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RNSG 1201 Exam 1 Questions and Correct
Answers
Pharmaceutics Ans: The science of preparing and dispensing
drugs, including dosage form design.
Pharmacodynamics Ans: The study of what the drug does to the
body (biochemical and physiological interactions of drugs at their
sites of activity)
Pharmacoeconomics Ans: The study of economic factors
impacting the cost of drug therapy.
Pharmacogenomics Ans: The study of the influence of genetic
factors on drug response that result in the absence,
overabundance, or insufficiency of drug-metabolizing enzymes
Pharmacognosy Ans: The study of drugs that are obtained from
natural plant and animal sources.
Pharmacokinetics Ans: The study of what happens to a drug from
the time it is put into the body until the parent drug and all
metabolites have left the body; What the body does to the drugs;
absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and excreted.
Absorption Ans: The transport of dissolved substances into cells.
Bioavailability Ans: A measure of the extent of drug absorption for
a given drug and route (from 0% to 100%). reduced by first pass
effect, Oral medication has a bioavailability of less than 100% and
IV is 100%
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, 2 | Page
first pass effect Ans: The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches
systemic circulation through the bloodstream. Chemically change
into metabolite in the liver
Distribution Ans: transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site
of action. Albumin- most common blood protein and carries the
majority of protein bound molecules.
Metabolism (biotransformation) Ans: One or more biochemical
reactions involving a parent drug; occurs mainly in the liver and
produces a metabolite that is either inactive or active. Also known
as metabolism.
Cytochrome P450 enzymes Ans: The general name for a large class
of enzymes that play a significant role in drug metabolism and
drug interactions. (microsomal enzymes)
Excretion Ans: Process by which metabolic wastes are eliminated
from the body: Renal excretion ; biliary excretions
half-life Ans: time required for half (50%) of a given drug to be
removed from the body
steady state Ans: The physiologic state in which the amount of
drug removed via elimination is equal to the amount of drug
absorbed with each dose; need medication to be at the same level
or a steady level
peak level Ans: highest blood level of a drug / too high = toxic
trough level Ans: The lowest concentration of drug reached in the
body after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in a blood
sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.
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Toxicity occurs Ans: If the peak level of blood is too high
Pharmacology Ans: The broadest term for the study or science of
drugs
Pharmacotherapeutics Ans: The treatment of pathologic
conditions through the use of drugs; The clinical use of drugs to
prevent and treat diseases. Monitor for: Tolerance, dependence,
physical dependence, physiological dependence
indication Ans: Refers to the use of that drug for treating a
particular disease. For example, diabetes is an indication for
insulin. Another way of stating this relationship is that insulin is
indicated for the treatment of diabetes.
Contraindication Ans: Any condition, especially one related to a
disease state or patient characteristic, including current or recent
drug therapy, which renders a particular form of treatment
improper or undesirable. a specific situation in which a drug ,
procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be
harmful to the person.
What is the number one contraindication to any medication? Ans:
A known Allergic reaction
Difference between primary and secondary effects of a drug? Ans:
Primary effect is the intended effect and secondary effect is any
other effect other than the intended/ desired effect
What is the active ingredient? The active pharmaceutical ingredient
(API) is the part of any drug that produces the intended effects.
What does the active ingredient do? Ans: An active ingredient is
the component of a medication responsible for the medication's
effects. In addition to therapeutic benefit, an active ingredient can
© 2025 All rights reserved
RNSG 1201 Exam 1 Questions and Correct
Answers
Pharmaceutics Ans: The science of preparing and dispensing
drugs, including dosage form design.
Pharmacodynamics Ans: The study of what the drug does to the
body (biochemical and physiological interactions of drugs at their
sites of activity)
Pharmacoeconomics Ans: The study of economic factors
impacting the cost of drug therapy.
Pharmacogenomics Ans: The study of the influence of genetic
factors on drug response that result in the absence,
overabundance, or insufficiency of drug-metabolizing enzymes
Pharmacognosy Ans: The study of drugs that are obtained from
natural plant and animal sources.
Pharmacokinetics Ans: The study of what happens to a drug from
the time it is put into the body until the parent drug and all
metabolites have left the body; What the body does to the drugs;
absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and excreted.
Absorption Ans: The transport of dissolved substances into cells.
Bioavailability Ans: A measure of the extent of drug absorption for
a given drug and route (from 0% to 100%). reduced by first pass
effect, Oral medication has a bioavailability of less than 100% and
IV is 100%
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
first pass effect Ans: The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches
systemic circulation through the bloodstream. Chemically change
into metabolite in the liver
Distribution Ans: transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site
of action. Albumin- most common blood protein and carries the
majority of protein bound molecules.
Metabolism (biotransformation) Ans: One or more biochemical
reactions involving a parent drug; occurs mainly in the liver and
produces a metabolite that is either inactive or active. Also known
as metabolism.
Cytochrome P450 enzymes Ans: The general name for a large class
of enzymes that play a significant role in drug metabolism and
drug interactions. (microsomal enzymes)
Excretion Ans: Process by which metabolic wastes are eliminated
from the body: Renal excretion ; biliary excretions
half-life Ans: time required for half (50%) of a given drug to be
removed from the body
steady state Ans: The physiologic state in which the amount of
drug removed via elimination is equal to the amount of drug
absorbed with each dose; need medication to be at the same level
or a steady level
peak level Ans: highest blood level of a drug / too high = toxic
trough level Ans: The lowest concentration of drug reached in the
body after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in a blood
sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Toxicity occurs Ans: If the peak level of blood is too high
Pharmacology Ans: The broadest term for the study or science of
drugs
Pharmacotherapeutics Ans: The treatment of pathologic
conditions through the use of drugs; The clinical use of drugs to
prevent and treat diseases. Monitor for: Tolerance, dependence,
physical dependence, physiological dependence
indication Ans: Refers to the use of that drug for treating a
particular disease. For example, diabetes is an indication for
insulin. Another way of stating this relationship is that insulin is
indicated for the treatment of diabetes.
Contraindication Ans: Any condition, especially one related to a
disease state or patient characteristic, including current or recent
drug therapy, which renders a particular form of treatment
improper or undesirable. a specific situation in which a drug ,
procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be
harmful to the person.
What is the number one contraindication to any medication? Ans:
A known Allergic reaction
Difference between primary and secondary effects of a drug? Ans:
Primary effect is the intended effect and secondary effect is any
other effect other than the intended/ desired effect
What is the active ingredient? The active pharmaceutical ingredient
(API) is the part of any drug that produces the intended effects.
What does the active ingredient do? Ans: An active ingredient is
the component of a medication responsible for the medication's
effects. In addition to therapeutic benefit, an active ingredient can
© 2025 All rights reserved
