NR 568 EXAM PREP LATEST
ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FOR
THE ADULT GERONTOLOGY
PRIMARY CARE NURSE
PRACTITIONER
ANSWERED
2026/2027
,1. What is the mechanism of action of angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors? How do they affect blood pressure and renal function?
Answer: ACE inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to
angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that also stimulates aldosterone
secretion. By reducing angiotensin II levels, ACE inhibitors lower blood
pressure and decrease sodium and water retention. They also prevent
the degradation of bradykinin, a vasodilator that enhances renal blood
flow and natriuresis.
2. What are the indications and contraindications for using nonsteroidal
anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)? What are the most common
adverse effects and drug interactions of NSAIDs?
Answer: NSAIDs are indicated for the treatment of pain, inflammation,
fever, dysmenorrhea, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and
other conditions. They are contraindicated in patients with
hypersensitivity, peptic ulcer disease, bleeding disorders, renal
impairment, heart failure, or aspirin- induced asthma. The most
common adverse effects of NSAIDs are gastrointestinal irritation,
ulceration, bleeding, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and increased risk
of cardiovascular events. NSAIDs can interact with anticoagulants,
corticosteroids, lithium, methotrexate, diuretics, antihypertensives, and
other drugs.
3. What are the differences between selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
(SNRIs)? How do they affect mood and cognition?
,Answer: SSRIs and SNRIs are both antidepressants that inhibit the
reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, increasing its availability and
enhancing its neurotransmission. SNRIs also inhibit the reuptake of
norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation.
Both SSRIs and SNRIs can improve mood, anxiety, sleep, appetite, and
energy levels in patients with depression and other psychiatric
disorders. They can also have positive effects on cognition, such as
memory, attention, and executive function.
4. What are the pharmacokinetic properties of warfarin? How is its
dosage determined and monitored? What are the factors that can
alter its efficacy and safety?
, Answer: Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant that inhibits the synthesis of
vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. It has a variable bioavailability, a
long half-life (20 to 60 hours), and a narrow therapeutic index. Its
dosage is determined by the patient's baseline prothrombin time (PT)
and international normalized ratio (INR), which reflect the degree of
anticoagulation. The target INR range depends on the indication for
warfarin therapy, but it is usually between 2 and 3. Warfarin's efficacy
and safety can be affected by many factors, such as genetic variations,
diet, drug interactions, liver function, age, comorbidities, and
compliance.
5. What are the main classes of antibiotics? How do they differ in
their spectrum of activity, mechanism of action, resistance
mechanisms, and adverse effects?
Answer: The main classes of antibiotics are beta-lactams (penicillins,
cephalosporins, carbapenems), macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin),
tetracyclines (doxycycline), aminoglycosides (gentamicin), quinolones
(ciprofloxacin), sulfonamides (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), and
others (vancomycin,
metronidazole). They differ in their spectrum of activity against gram-
positive or gram-negative bacteria,
anaerobes or aerobes,
and specific pathogens. They also differ in their mechanism of
action, such as inhibiting cell wall synthesis,
protein synthesis,
DNA synthesis,
or folate metabolism.
Resistance mechanisms include producing enzymes that degrade or
modify antibiotics,
altering target sites or membrane
permeability, or expressing efflux pumps or
ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FOR
THE ADULT GERONTOLOGY
PRIMARY CARE NURSE
PRACTITIONER
ANSWERED
2026/2027
,1. What is the mechanism of action of angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors? How do they affect blood pressure and renal function?
Answer: ACE inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to
angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that also stimulates aldosterone
secretion. By reducing angiotensin II levels, ACE inhibitors lower blood
pressure and decrease sodium and water retention. They also prevent
the degradation of bradykinin, a vasodilator that enhances renal blood
flow and natriuresis.
2. What are the indications and contraindications for using nonsteroidal
anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)? What are the most common
adverse effects and drug interactions of NSAIDs?
Answer: NSAIDs are indicated for the treatment of pain, inflammation,
fever, dysmenorrhea, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and
other conditions. They are contraindicated in patients with
hypersensitivity, peptic ulcer disease, bleeding disorders, renal
impairment, heart failure, or aspirin- induced asthma. The most
common adverse effects of NSAIDs are gastrointestinal irritation,
ulceration, bleeding, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and increased risk
of cardiovascular events. NSAIDs can interact with anticoagulants,
corticosteroids, lithium, methotrexate, diuretics, antihypertensives, and
other drugs.
3. What are the differences between selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
(SNRIs)? How do they affect mood and cognition?
,Answer: SSRIs and SNRIs are both antidepressants that inhibit the
reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, increasing its availability and
enhancing its neurotransmission. SNRIs also inhibit the reuptake of
norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation.
Both SSRIs and SNRIs can improve mood, anxiety, sleep, appetite, and
energy levels in patients with depression and other psychiatric
disorders. They can also have positive effects on cognition, such as
memory, attention, and executive function.
4. What are the pharmacokinetic properties of warfarin? How is its
dosage determined and monitored? What are the factors that can
alter its efficacy and safety?
, Answer: Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant that inhibits the synthesis of
vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. It has a variable bioavailability, a
long half-life (20 to 60 hours), and a narrow therapeutic index. Its
dosage is determined by the patient's baseline prothrombin time (PT)
and international normalized ratio (INR), which reflect the degree of
anticoagulation. The target INR range depends on the indication for
warfarin therapy, but it is usually between 2 and 3. Warfarin's efficacy
and safety can be affected by many factors, such as genetic variations,
diet, drug interactions, liver function, age, comorbidities, and
compliance.
5. What are the main classes of antibiotics? How do they differ in
their spectrum of activity, mechanism of action, resistance
mechanisms, and adverse effects?
Answer: The main classes of antibiotics are beta-lactams (penicillins,
cephalosporins, carbapenems), macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin),
tetracyclines (doxycycline), aminoglycosides (gentamicin), quinolones
(ciprofloxacin), sulfonamides (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), and
others (vancomycin,
metronidazole). They differ in their spectrum of activity against gram-
positive or gram-negative bacteria,
anaerobes or aerobes,
and specific pathogens. They also differ in their mechanism of
action, such as inhibiting cell wall synthesis,
protein synthesis,
DNA synthesis,
or folate metabolism.
Resistance mechanisms include producing enzymes that degrade or
modify antibiotics,
altering target sites or membrane
permeability, or expressing efflux pumps or
