NURS 293
NURS 293 PHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS EXAM 1 2026
Pharmacotherapeutics - -is the use of medications to prevent illnesses or as an
intervention to treat diseases.
Pharmacokinetics - -what the body does to a medication and entails four very important
processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the drug
Pharmacodynamics - -explores what the drug does to the body.
The nursing process - -evidence-based framework that is used to guide professional
nursing practice. The nursing process consists of five steps: assessment, nursing
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Critical decision making
underscores the nursing process in action. The nurse collects both subjective and
objective information in utilizing the steps of the nursing process. The nurse addresses
the multifaceted concerns of the patient, including physiological, psychological, spiritual,
cultural, and socioeconomic needs.
Drug interactions - -can occur at any time.
The reasons that clients may experience drug interactions include
polypharmacy: the simultaneous use multiple drugs;
patient's lack of knowledge of medication instructions; and
interactions that may occur when taking over-the-counter and herbal supplements.
Strategies to Prevent Drug Interactions - -The patient should understand the reason for
taking the medication, instructions for how to take the medication, and how long he or
she should take the medication.
Encourage the patient to keep a current list of medications and bring it to each
physician appointment.
Educate the patient about interactions with food and other medications that may
increase or decrease efficacy.
Support the patient in asking his or her healthcare provider and pharmacist to verify his
or her medication list, and if supplements or herbal therapies interact.
Have the patient return to demonstrate patient teaching regarding how to take the
medications.
Designate friends or family members to assist patients with medication administration
when the patient has vision or memory problems.
Incorporate the use of a pillbox, calendar, or storage containers with labels to assist with
organizing medications.
Discard old or expired medications.
NURS 293
, NURS 293
Pharmacological responses - -the physiological reactions that occur within the body.
These medication-body reactions may be therapeutic or toxic.
Administration Routes - -There are two general types of drug administration routes—
enteral (via the GI tract) and parenteral (by injection).
Common routes include oral (PO), intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and
subcutaneous (SQ).
intravenous (IV) - -Advantages:
Complete absorption
100% bioavailability
Precise control of dosing
Quick dilution of irritating drugs
Disadvantages:
Irreversible administration
Drug concentration, formulation, and rate of injection sensitivity
Risks of overloading body fluid volume, infection, and embolism
intramuscular (IM) - -Advantages:
The use of poorly water-soluble drugs
The use for depot drug formulation (e.g., Penicillin G)
Disadvantages:
Discomfort and inconvenience
Local tissue injury caused by chronic administration
Risk of nerve damage because of improper injection
Moderate to low bioavailability
subcutaneous (SQ) - -Advantages:
The use of poorly water-soluble drugs
The use for depot drug formulation
Disadvantages:
Discomfort and inconvenience
Local tissue injury caused by chronic administration
Risk of nerve damage because of improper injection
Moderate to low bioavailability
oral (PO) - -Advantages:
Convenient and inexpensive
Higher safety of administration
Disadvantages:
Variability of drug absorption and difficulty of drug concentration control
Inactivation of certain drugs because of acidic environment of the stomach (e.g.,
Penicillin G) and/or the liver "first-pass" effect (nitroglycerin)
Patients consciousness requirement
Local irritation of the GI tract to cause vomiting and nausea
NURS 293
NURS 293 PHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS EXAM 1 2026
Pharmacotherapeutics - -is the use of medications to prevent illnesses or as an
intervention to treat diseases.
Pharmacokinetics - -what the body does to a medication and entails four very important
processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the drug
Pharmacodynamics - -explores what the drug does to the body.
The nursing process - -evidence-based framework that is used to guide professional
nursing practice. The nursing process consists of five steps: assessment, nursing
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Critical decision making
underscores the nursing process in action. The nurse collects both subjective and
objective information in utilizing the steps of the nursing process. The nurse addresses
the multifaceted concerns of the patient, including physiological, psychological, spiritual,
cultural, and socioeconomic needs.
Drug interactions - -can occur at any time.
The reasons that clients may experience drug interactions include
polypharmacy: the simultaneous use multiple drugs;
patient's lack of knowledge of medication instructions; and
interactions that may occur when taking over-the-counter and herbal supplements.
Strategies to Prevent Drug Interactions - -The patient should understand the reason for
taking the medication, instructions for how to take the medication, and how long he or
she should take the medication.
Encourage the patient to keep a current list of medications and bring it to each
physician appointment.
Educate the patient about interactions with food and other medications that may
increase or decrease efficacy.
Support the patient in asking his or her healthcare provider and pharmacist to verify his
or her medication list, and if supplements or herbal therapies interact.
Have the patient return to demonstrate patient teaching regarding how to take the
medications.
Designate friends or family members to assist patients with medication administration
when the patient has vision or memory problems.
Incorporate the use of a pillbox, calendar, or storage containers with labels to assist with
organizing medications.
Discard old or expired medications.
NURS 293
, NURS 293
Pharmacological responses - -the physiological reactions that occur within the body.
These medication-body reactions may be therapeutic or toxic.
Administration Routes - -There are two general types of drug administration routes—
enteral (via the GI tract) and parenteral (by injection).
Common routes include oral (PO), intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and
subcutaneous (SQ).
intravenous (IV) - -Advantages:
Complete absorption
100% bioavailability
Precise control of dosing
Quick dilution of irritating drugs
Disadvantages:
Irreversible administration
Drug concentration, formulation, and rate of injection sensitivity
Risks of overloading body fluid volume, infection, and embolism
intramuscular (IM) - -Advantages:
The use of poorly water-soluble drugs
The use for depot drug formulation (e.g., Penicillin G)
Disadvantages:
Discomfort and inconvenience
Local tissue injury caused by chronic administration
Risk of nerve damage because of improper injection
Moderate to low bioavailability
subcutaneous (SQ) - -Advantages:
The use of poorly water-soluble drugs
The use for depot drug formulation
Disadvantages:
Discomfort and inconvenience
Local tissue injury caused by chronic administration
Risk of nerve damage because of improper injection
Moderate to low bioavailability
oral (PO) - -Advantages:
Convenient and inexpensive
Higher safety of administration
Disadvantages:
Variability of drug absorption and difficulty of drug concentration control
Inactivation of certain drugs because of acidic environment of the stomach (e.g.,
Penicillin G) and/or the liver "first-pass" effect (nitroglycerin)
Patients consciousness requirement
Local irritation of the GI tract to cause vomiting and nausea
NURS 293
