Test Bank For Basic Pharmacology for
Nurses 17th Edition by Michelle J.
Willihnganz MS RN CNE, Bruce D. Clayton
BS PharmD RPh Chapter 1-48
Chapter 1 — Introduction to
Pharmacology
1. Which term describes the study of how drugs move through the body?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Toxicology
D. Pharmacognosy
Answer: B. Pharmacokinetics. Rationale: Pharmacokinetics covers absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
2. Half-life of a drug primarily determines:
A. The mechanism of action
B. The dosing interval
C. The site of action
D. Drug potency
Answer: B. The dosing interval. Rationale: Half-life indicates how long drug levels
decline and guides dosing frequency.
3. First-pass effect occurs when a drug is:
A. Absorbed via sublingual route
, B. Metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation
C. Excreted unchanged in urine
D. Bound to plasma proteins
Answer: B. Metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Rationale: First-pass metabolism reduces oral bioavailability via hepatic metabolism.
Chapter 2 — Drug Regulations, Safety, and
Legislation
1. Which agency enforces drug safety, labeling, and approval in the United States?
A. CDC
B. OSHA
C. FDA
D. DEA
Answer: C. FDA. Rationale: The Food and Drug Administration regulates drug approval
and labeling.
2. A black box warning on a medication indicates:
A. The drug is controlled substance
B. Serious or life-threatening risks associated with the drug
C. The drug is not yet approved
D. Generic substitution is not allowed
Answer: B. Serious or life-threatening risks associated with the drug. Rationale:
Black box warnings highlight severe adverse effects.
3. The nurse’s best action when a medication error is discovered is to:
A. Hide the error to avoid trouble
B. Report the error per facility policy and monitor the patient
C. Only inform the prescriber if the patient is symptomatic
D. Document a different route to cover mistake
Answer: B. Report the error per facility policy and monitor the patient. Rationale:
Ethical and legal obligations require prompt reporting and patient safety measures.
Chapter 3 — Medication Administration
and Nursing Process
, 1. The "rights" of medication administration typically include all EXCEPT:
A. Right patient
B. Right medication
C. Right concentration
D. Right documentation
Answer: C. Right concentration. Rationale: Standard rights include patient, drug,
dose, route, time, and documentation (concentration is not a typical "right").
2. Before giving a new antihypertensive, the nurse should check:
A. Heart rate and blood pressure
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Pain score
D. Visual acuity
Answer: A. Heart rate and blood pressure. Rationale: Baseline vitals are essential to
detect hypotension or bradycardia.
3. When administering an IM injection, the nurse should:
A. Inject slowly and aspirate in all sites routinely
B. Use the smallest needle always regardless of patient size
C. Select a proper site, clean skin, and use correct needle length for muscle depth
D. Massage vigorously after injection to increase absorption
Answer: C. Select a proper site, clean skin, and use correct needle length for
muscle depth. Rationale: Proper technique reduces complications; aspiration is not
universally required.
Chapter 4 — Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption & Distribution
1. Which factor increases the rate of drug absorption from the GI tract?
A. Decreased GI motility
B. High gastric pH for acid drugs
C. Presence of food that binds the drug
D. Large surface area (e.g., jejunum)
Answer: D. Large surface area (e.g., jejunum). Rationale: Larger absorptive area
enhances drug uptake.
2. Protein binding of drugs in plasma primarily affects:
A. Drug half-life only
B. Free (active) drug concentration
C. Drug chemical stability
D. Drug palatability
Nurses 17th Edition by Michelle J.
Willihnganz MS RN CNE, Bruce D. Clayton
BS PharmD RPh Chapter 1-48
Chapter 1 — Introduction to
Pharmacology
1. Which term describes the study of how drugs move through the body?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Toxicology
D. Pharmacognosy
Answer: B. Pharmacokinetics. Rationale: Pharmacokinetics covers absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
2. Half-life of a drug primarily determines:
A. The mechanism of action
B. The dosing interval
C. The site of action
D. Drug potency
Answer: B. The dosing interval. Rationale: Half-life indicates how long drug levels
decline and guides dosing frequency.
3. First-pass effect occurs when a drug is:
A. Absorbed via sublingual route
, B. Metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation
C. Excreted unchanged in urine
D. Bound to plasma proteins
Answer: B. Metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Rationale: First-pass metabolism reduces oral bioavailability via hepatic metabolism.
Chapter 2 — Drug Regulations, Safety, and
Legislation
1. Which agency enforces drug safety, labeling, and approval in the United States?
A. CDC
B. OSHA
C. FDA
D. DEA
Answer: C. FDA. Rationale: The Food and Drug Administration regulates drug approval
and labeling.
2. A black box warning on a medication indicates:
A. The drug is controlled substance
B. Serious or life-threatening risks associated with the drug
C. The drug is not yet approved
D. Generic substitution is not allowed
Answer: B. Serious or life-threatening risks associated with the drug. Rationale:
Black box warnings highlight severe adverse effects.
3. The nurse’s best action when a medication error is discovered is to:
A. Hide the error to avoid trouble
B. Report the error per facility policy and monitor the patient
C. Only inform the prescriber if the patient is symptomatic
D. Document a different route to cover mistake
Answer: B. Report the error per facility policy and monitor the patient. Rationale:
Ethical and legal obligations require prompt reporting and patient safety measures.
Chapter 3 — Medication Administration
and Nursing Process
, 1. The "rights" of medication administration typically include all EXCEPT:
A. Right patient
B. Right medication
C. Right concentration
D. Right documentation
Answer: C. Right concentration. Rationale: Standard rights include patient, drug,
dose, route, time, and documentation (concentration is not a typical "right").
2. Before giving a new antihypertensive, the nurse should check:
A. Heart rate and blood pressure
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Pain score
D. Visual acuity
Answer: A. Heart rate and blood pressure. Rationale: Baseline vitals are essential to
detect hypotension or bradycardia.
3. When administering an IM injection, the nurse should:
A. Inject slowly and aspirate in all sites routinely
B. Use the smallest needle always regardless of patient size
C. Select a proper site, clean skin, and use correct needle length for muscle depth
D. Massage vigorously after injection to increase absorption
Answer: C. Select a proper site, clean skin, and use correct needle length for
muscle depth. Rationale: Proper technique reduces complications; aspiration is not
universally required.
Chapter 4 — Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption & Distribution
1. Which factor increases the rate of drug absorption from the GI tract?
A. Decreased GI motility
B. High gastric pH for acid drugs
C. Presence of food that binds the drug
D. Large surface area (e.g., jejunum)
Answer: D. Large surface area (e.g., jejunum). Rationale: Larger absorptive area
enhances drug uptake.
2. Protein binding of drugs in plasma primarily affects:
A. Drug half-life only
B. Free (active) drug concentration
C. Drug chemical stability
D. Drug palatability
