NUR-641E ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
AND PHARMACOLOGY FOR THE NURSE
EDUCATOR | 2026 UPDATE | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWERS-Involves ADME (absorption, distribution,
metabolism and elimination).
Absorption: absorption from the administration site either directly or
indirectly into the blood/plasma.
Distribution: reversibly or irreversibly move from the bloodstream into the
interstitial and intracellular fluid.
Metabolism: bio-transformed via hepatic metabolism or by other tissues.
Elimination: lastly, the drug & its metabolites are eliminated from the body
The route of administration with the highest bio-availability is - ANSWERS-
Intravenous; putting entire dose into a patient's vein and bypassing
absorption. Intravenous route avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver.
rectal administration disadvantages - ANSWERS-variable and erratic
absorption
Steady state (SS) - ANSWERS-is usually reached within 4-5 half-lives of a
drug
,The half-life of a drug is defined as - ANSWERS-how long it takes for half the
drug to be excreted from the body
Half-life of a drug - ANSWERS-Determines how frequently the drug must be
administered
Predicts how long toxic effects can last
Half-life is constant with first-order pharmacokinetics of a drug
Zero-order (nonlinear) pharmacokinetics means a drug is metabolized at a
constant rate per unit time.
CYP3A4 substrate drugs - ANSWERS-May have enhanced activity if any
CYP3A4 inducer drugs are used along with it.
Drug development steps (according to the FDA) - ANSWERS-Discovery:
laboratory research to develop the new drug
Pre-clinical research with animal testing for safety (Phase I)
Clinical research on human subjects for medication safety (Phase II)
Clinical research in humans comparing the new drug to accepted
medications or placebo depending on the study (Phase III)
FDA review of the results to determine approval
, Post-marketing study to identify adverse effects not found in earlier clinical
studies (Phase IV)
Medication safety organizations - ANSWERS-The Institute for Safe Medication
Practices (ISMP)
The Institute of Medicine (IOM)
The Joint Commission
The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and
Prevention (NCCMERP)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safe Use Initiative
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) - ANSWERS-Two basic type of ADRs:
pharmacological and idiosyncratic.
85% to 90% of ADRs are pharmacological.
Adverse drug reactions are usually preventable, frequently occur in a
hospital or nursing home setting, and include medication errors, adverse
drug effects, allergic and idiosyncratic type reactions.
ADRs are not commonly reported; the FDA does not mandate that ADRs be
reported.
Polypharmacy involves using multiple healthcare providers for care, using
multiple medications, and using several pharmacies for prescription filling.
AND PHARMACOLOGY FOR THE NURSE
EDUCATOR | 2026 UPDATE | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWERS-Involves ADME (absorption, distribution,
metabolism and elimination).
Absorption: absorption from the administration site either directly or
indirectly into the blood/plasma.
Distribution: reversibly or irreversibly move from the bloodstream into the
interstitial and intracellular fluid.
Metabolism: bio-transformed via hepatic metabolism or by other tissues.
Elimination: lastly, the drug & its metabolites are eliminated from the body
The route of administration with the highest bio-availability is - ANSWERS-
Intravenous; putting entire dose into a patient's vein and bypassing
absorption. Intravenous route avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver.
rectal administration disadvantages - ANSWERS-variable and erratic
absorption
Steady state (SS) - ANSWERS-is usually reached within 4-5 half-lives of a
drug
,The half-life of a drug is defined as - ANSWERS-how long it takes for half the
drug to be excreted from the body
Half-life of a drug - ANSWERS-Determines how frequently the drug must be
administered
Predicts how long toxic effects can last
Half-life is constant with first-order pharmacokinetics of a drug
Zero-order (nonlinear) pharmacokinetics means a drug is metabolized at a
constant rate per unit time.
CYP3A4 substrate drugs - ANSWERS-May have enhanced activity if any
CYP3A4 inducer drugs are used along with it.
Drug development steps (according to the FDA) - ANSWERS-Discovery:
laboratory research to develop the new drug
Pre-clinical research with animal testing for safety (Phase I)
Clinical research on human subjects for medication safety (Phase II)
Clinical research in humans comparing the new drug to accepted
medications or placebo depending on the study (Phase III)
FDA review of the results to determine approval
, Post-marketing study to identify adverse effects not found in earlier clinical
studies (Phase IV)
Medication safety organizations - ANSWERS-The Institute for Safe Medication
Practices (ISMP)
The Institute of Medicine (IOM)
The Joint Commission
The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and
Prevention (NCCMERP)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safe Use Initiative
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) - ANSWERS-Two basic type of ADRs:
pharmacological and idiosyncratic.
85% to 90% of ADRs are pharmacological.
Adverse drug reactions are usually preventable, frequently occur in a
hospital or nursing home setting, and include medication errors, adverse
drug effects, allergic and idiosyncratic type reactions.
ADRs are not commonly reported; the FDA does not mandate that ADRs be
reported.
Polypharmacy involves using multiple healthcare providers for care, using
multiple medications, and using several pharmacies for prescription filling.
