PRN1381 Principles of Pharmacology Final Exam
2025/2026 - Graded A Questions & Verified Answers for
Rasmussen College Nursing
A nurse is preparing to give a 14 kg child oral acetaminophen 15 mg/kg/dose. How
many milligrams will the nurse administer?
1. A) 150 mg
B) 210 mg
C) 300 mg
D) 75 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: 14 kg × 15 mg/kg = 210 mg; accurate weight-based dosing prevents
hepatotoxicity from overdose.
A tablet labeled 0.25 mg must be split to give 0.125 mg. Which action is safest?
2. A) Break tablet with hands along scored line
B) Use a pill cutter on a non-scored tablet
C) Crush tablet and divide powder in half
D) Dissolve tablet in water and estimate volume
Answer: A
Rationale: Only split tablets that are scored; use a calibrated pill cutter along the score
to ensure equal halves and prevent crumbling.
A patient’s serum drug level peaks at 0800 and troughs at 2000. The half-life is 6 h.
When will the nurse expect the next peak?
3. A) 0800 next day
B) 1400 same day
C) 2000 same day
D) 0200 next day
Answer: A
,Rationale: Dosing interval equals 12 h; peak is drawn just after dose, so next peak
remains 0800 regardless of half-life.
A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires which monitoring priority?
4. A) Daily urine output
B) Serum drug levels
C) Blood pressure only
D) Intake and output ratios
Answer: B
Rationale: Narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., digoxin, lithium) need serum level
monitoring to avoid toxicity or sub-therapeutic effects.
A nurse gives an IM injection in the ventrogluteal site to an adult. Which landmark is
correct?
5. A) Greater trochanter & posterior superior iliac spine
B) Acromion process & deltoid tuberosity
C) Anterior superior iliac spine & iliac crest
D) Lateral femoral condyle
Answer: C
Rationale: Place palm on greater trochanter, index finger on ASIS, middle finger on iliac
crest; triangle center is ventrogluteal—avoids sciatic nerve.
Oral nitroglycerin tablets must be stored in original glass container because they:
6. A) Undergo first-pass metabolism rapidly
B) Are light- and moisture-sensitive
C) Need refrigeration
D) React with plastic lids
Answer: B
Rationale: Nitroglycerin is extremely photosensitive and volatile; amber glass with tight
cap maintains potency up to 6 months after opening.
, A patient reports pain 6 h after morphine IV. The nurse understands this indicates:
7. A) Drug tolerance
B) Duration shorter than half-life
C) Duration approximates half-life
D) Placebo response
Answer: C
Rationale: Analgesic duration correlates with half-life; morphine IV half-life 2–3 h, so
redosing q4–6 h is typical.
A drug is 90 % protein-bound. The nurse expects:
8. A) Faster renal excretion
B) Larger volume of distribution
C) Prolonged half-life
D) Increased hepatic first-pass
Answer: C
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs remain in vascular space, metabolized slowly,
yielding longer half-life and slower onset.
Enteric-coated tablets should never be:
9. A) Taken with food
B) Crushed or chewed
C) Given with antacids
D) Swallowed with water
Answer: B
Rationale: Crushing destroys enteric coating, releasing drug in stomach causing
irritation or acid degradation (e.g., omeprazole).
A patient on warfarin needs an antibiotic. Which choice requires INR monitoring due to
CYP2C9 inhibition?
10. A) Amoxicillin
B) Azithromycin
2025/2026 - Graded A Questions & Verified Answers for
Rasmussen College Nursing
A nurse is preparing to give a 14 kg child oral acetaminophen 15 mg/kg/dose. How
many milligrams will the nurse administer?
1. A) 150 mg
B) 210 mg
C) 300 mg
D) 75 mg
Answer: B
Rationale: 14 kg × 15 mg/kg = 210 mg; accurate weight-based dosing prevents
hepatotoxicity from overdose.
A tablet labeled 0.25 mg must be split to give 0.125 mg. Which action is safest?
2. A) Break tablet with hands along scored line
B) Use a pill cutter on a non-scored tablet
C) Crush tablet and divide powder in half
D) Dissolve tablet in water and estimate volume
Answer: A
Rationale: Only split tablets that are scored; use a calibrated pill cutter along the score
to ensure equal halves and prevent crumbling.
A patient’s serum drug level peaks at 0800 and troughs at 2000. The half-life is 6 h.
When will the nurse expect the next peak?
3. A) 0800 next day
B) 1400 same day
C) 2000 same day
D) 0200 next day
Answer: A
,Rationale: Dosing interval equals 12 h; peak is drawn just after dose, so next peak
remains 0800 regardless of half-life.
A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires which monitoring priority?
4. A) Daily urine output
B) Serum drug levels
C) Blood pressure only
D) Intake and output ratios
Answer: B
Rationale: Narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., digoxin, lithium) need serum level
monitoring to avoid toxicity or sub-therapeutic effects.
A nurse gives an IM injection in the ventrogluteal site to an adult. Which landmark is
correct?
5. A) Greater trochanter & posterior superior iliac spine
B) Acromion process & deltoid tuberosity
C) Anterior superior iliac spine & iliac crest
D) Lateral femoral condyle
Answer: C
Rationale: Place palm on greater trochanter, index finger on ASIS, middle finger on iliac
crest; triangle center is ventrogluteal—avoids sciatic nerve.
Oral nitroglycerin tablets must be stored in original glass container because they:
6. A) Undergo first-pass metabolism rapidly
B) Are light- and moisture-sensitive
C) Need refrigeration
D) React with plastic lids
Answer: B
Rationale: Nitroglycerin is extremely photosensitive and volatile; amber glass with tight
cap maintains potency up to 6 months after opening.
, A patient reports pain 6 h after morphine IV. The nurse understands this indicates:
7. A) Drug tolerance
B) Duration shorter than half-life
C) Duration approximates half-life
D) Placebo response
Answer: C
Rationale: Analgesic duration correlates with half-life; morphine IV half-life 2–3 h, so
redosing q4–6 h is typical.
A drug is 90 % protein-bound. The nurse expects:
8. A) Faster renal excretion
B) Larger volume of distribution
C) Prolonged half-life
D) Increased hepatic first-pass
Answer: C
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs remain in vascular space, metabolized slowly,
yielding longer half-life and slower onset.
Enteric-coated tablets should never be:
9. A) Taken with food
B) Crushed or chewed
C) Given with antacids
D) Swallowed with water
Answer: B
Rationale: Crushing destroys enteric coating, releasing drug in stomach causing
irritation or acid degradation (e.g., omeprazole).
A patient on warfarin needs an antibiotic. Which choice requires INR monitoring due to
CYP2C9 inhibition?
10. A) Amoxicillin
B) Azithromycin
