NURS615 PHARM EXAM FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Clinical Judgement - ANSWER-Conclusion/opinion at which a nurse arrives following a process
of observation, reflection, & analysis of observable or available information or data.
*must gather data to make diagnosis, must have diagnosis to select and start treatment
WHO 6-Step Model of Rational Prescribing - ANSWER-1. Define patient's problem (diagnose)
2. Specify the therapeutic objective (goal)
3. Choose treatment
4. Start treatment
5. Educate the patient
6. Monitor the effectiveness
Criteria for choosing an effective drug
"I Can PresCribe A Drug" Mnemonic - ANSWER-I=indication
C=contraindication
P=precautions
C=cost/compliance
E=efficacy
A=adverse effects
D=dose/duration/direction
Role of FDA - ANSWER-Ensures the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs,
biological products, and medical devices. As well as food, cosmetics, and products that emit
radiation.
What is the role of the FDA in regard to supplements and vitamins? - ANSWER-Does NOT
protect or ensure the safety of supplements and vitamins. They have certain rules, but they
aren't as stringent like they are for drugs.
What can St. John's wort interact with? - ANSWER-SSRI, CNS drugs, MAOI, SSNRI, steroids,
caffeine, and anticoagulants.
, Off-label prescribing - ANSWER-medication is being used in a manner not specified in the FDAs
approved packaging label/insert.
*different route, dose, or indication
Pharmacotherapeutics - ANSWER-study of therapeutic uses and effects of drugs. Beneficial and
adverse drug reactions.
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER-what the drug does to the body
Agonist - ANSWER-binds to a receptor & produces a response/stimulates (full activation)
Antagonist - ANSWER-Binds & blocks activity (no activation)
Can a drug be an agonist and antagonist? - ANSWER-Yes. In this case, they do both actions to
have less activation, versus full or no activation.
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-what the body does to the drug (ADME)
What is ADME in pharmacokinetics? - ANSWER-absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
Absorption - ANSWER-first step, occurs after medication administration
What does absorption depend on? - ANSWER-routes of administration, pH and membrane
penetration
What percentage of rectal drugs go through first-pass metabolism? - ANSWER-50%
Membrane penetration involves what? - ANSWER-lipid solubility and ionization
How does pH affect absorption? - ANSWER-If the pH of the stomach is altered, in oral
medication administration, the medication can be absorbed too soon or not soon enough.
Why can't you crush enteric coated medications? - ANSWER-This interferes with absorption, it
will not absorb where intended.
Ionization - ANSWER-the charge of the molecule/drug.
Ionized = charged (polar)
non-ionized = uncharged (non-polar)
Lipophilic - ANSWER-*Lipid loving, uncharged (non-polar/non-ionized), small in size.
*crosses membranes more easily than hydrophilic
How do lipophilic drugs cross membranes? - ANSWER-Passive diffusion. Most cell membranes
are lipophilic, making it easier for lipophilic drugs to cross.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Clinical Judgement - ANSWER-Conclusion/opinion at which a nurse arrives following a process
of observation, reflection, & analysis of observable or available information or data.
*must gather data to make diagnosis, must have diagnosis to select and start treatment
WHO 6-Step Model of Rational Prescribing - ANSWER-1. Define patient's problem (diagnose)
2. Specify the therapeutic objective (goal)
3. Choose treatment
4. Start treatment
5. Educate the patient
6. Monitor the effectiveness
Criteria for choosing an effective drug
"I Can PresCribe A Drug" Mnemonic - ANSWER-I=indication
C=contraindication
P=precautions
C=cost/compliance
E=efficacy
A=adverse effects
D=dose/duration/direction
Role of FDA - ANSWER-Ensures the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs,
biological products, and medical devices. As well as food, cosmetics, and products that emit
radiation.
What is the role of the FDA in regard to supplements and vitamins? - ANSWER-Does NOT
protect or ensure the safety of supplements and vitamins. They have certain rules, but they
aren't as stringent like they are for drugs.
What can St. John's wort interact with? - ANSWER-SSRI, CNS drugs, MAOI, SSNRI, steroids,
caffeine, and anticoagulants.
, Off-label prescribing - ANSWER-medication is being used in a manner not specified in the FDAs
approved packaging label/insert.
*different route, dose, or indication
Pharmacotherapeutics - ANSWER-study of therapeutic uses and effects of drugs. Beneficial and
adverse drug reactions.
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER-what the drug does to the body
Agonist - ANSWER-binds to a receptor & produces a response/stimulates (full activation)
Antagonist - ANSWER-Binds & blocks activity (no activation)
Can a drug be an agonist and antagonist? - ANSWER-Yes. In this case, they do both actions to
have less activation, versus full or no activation.
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-what the body does to the drug (ADME)
What is ADME in pharmacokinetics? - ANSWER-absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
Absorption - ANSWER-first step, occurs after medication administration
What does absorption depend on? - ANSWER-routes of administration, pH and membrane
penetration
What percentage of rectal drugs go through first-pass metabolism? - ANSWER-50%
Membrane penetration involves what? - ANSWER-lipid solubility and ionization
How does pH affect absorption? - ANSWER-If the pH of the stomach is altered, in oral
medication administration, the medication can be absorbed too soon or not soon enough.
Why can't you crush enteric coated medications? - ANSWER-This interferes with absorption, it
will not absorb where intended.
Ionization - ANSWER-the charge of the molecule/drug.
Ionized = charged (polar)
non-ionized = uncharged (non-polar)
Lipophilic - ANSWER-*Lipid loving, uncharged (non-polar/non-ionized), small in size.
*crosses membranes more easily than hydrophilic
How do lipophilic drugs cross membranes? - ANSWER-Passive diffusion. Most cell membranes
are lipophilic, making it easier for lipophilic drugs to cross.
