CSCE FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
▶ Addiction? Answer:an overwhelming compulsion that drives someone to
repeat drug-taking behavior, despite serious health and social
consequences.
▶ Physical dependence? Answer:Occurs when the body adapts to
repeated use of the substance by altering normal physiology.
▶ Physiological dependence? Answer:Produces no signs of physical
discomfort after the agent is discontinued.
▶ Tolerance? Answer:a biologic condition that occurs when the body
adapts to a substance after repeated administration.
▶ Withdrawal syndrome? Answer:Once a patient becomes physically
dependent and the substance is abruptly discontinued.
▶ Controlled substance? Answer:A drug whose use is restricted by the
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 and later
revisions. Title II of this law, known as the Controlled Substances Act
(CSA), is the legal basis for regulating drugs of abuse. The CSA created
five categories or schedules for drugs of abuse. These scheduled drugs are
classified according to their potential for abuse and toxicity.
▶ Schedule I? Answer:Abuse Potential + Physical Dependence +
Physical/Psychological Dependence=HIGH
Heroin, GHB, LSD, Maijuana, MDMA, mescaline, methaqualone,
methcathinone, peyote, and psilocybin. No prescriptions may be written.
▶ Schedule II? Answer:AP + PD + Psy.P = High Potent opioids (such as
codeine in high doses, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, oxycodone,
meperidine), amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate,
PCP, short-acting barbituates. Used therapeutically with prescription; some
,drugs are no longer used; normally no refills are permitted (but there are a
few exceptions).
▶ Schedule III? Answer:AP: Moderate PD: Moderate PsyP:High. Anabolic
steroids, buprenorphine ketamine, codeine (lower doses compounded with
aspirin or acetaminophen), hydrocodone (lower doses compounded with
aspirin or acetaminophen), and intermediate-acting barbituates. Used
therapeutically with prescription; five refills allowed in a 6 month period.
▶ Schedule IV? Answer:Lower + Lower + Lower. Benzodiazepines (such
as alprazolam, diazepam, midazolam, temazepam), long-acting
barbituates, meprobamate, pentazocine, and zolpidem. Used
therapeutically with prescription; five refills allowed in a 6 month period.
▶ Schedule V? Answer:Lowest + Lowest + Lowest. Over-the-counter
(OTC) cough medicines with codeine, antidiarrheal medicines with small
amounts of opioids. In some cases, these may be dispensed by a
pharmacist in small amounts without prescription.
▶ Nursing process? Answer:• Assessment- Consists of gathering
subjective data, which includes what the patient says or perceives, and
objective data gathered through physical assessment, laboratory values,
diagnostic tests, and other measurable sources.
• Diagnosis- Assessment data are used to develop a list of problems that
address the patients responses to health and life processes. These
problems, or nursing diagnosis, are used to set goals and plan and direct
care.
• Planning- includes developing appropriate goals and outcomes and
determining nursing interventions that will help the patient achieve these.
• Implementing- when the nurse applies the knowledge, skills, and
principles of nursing care to help move the patient toward the desired goal
and optimum wellness. When applied to pharmacology this involves
administering the drug, monitoring effects, carrying out the interventions
developed in the planning phase to maximize therapeutic response and
prevent adverse events, and teaching the patient or family to administer the
medication at home if necessary and about the monitoring required for the
drug used.
• Evaluation- Considers the effectiveness of the plan of care and
interventions in meeting the established goals and outcomes. If patient has
, met goals then the problem is resolved, but if the patient has not met the
goals the nurse reviews and rewrites the care plan.
▶ Pharmacotherapy and the pregnant patient? Answer:o Physiological
changes during pregnancy can alter normal pharmacokinetic responses.
o During pregnancy increased levels of progesterone cause a delay in
gastric emptying and GI motility. This causes the drugs to remain in the GI
tract longer leading to higher drug absorption of oral drugs.
o Distribution of drugs during pregnancy is affected by changes in total
body water, which may increase by over 50%. This creates greater dilution
of plasma proteins causing more free drugs in the plasma due to lack of
binding sites. This then results in more drug molecules being available for
transfer across the placenta or to be secreted in breast milk.
o Metabolism is least affected by pregnancy.
o Excretion can cause doses of medications to be adjusted due to
enhanced renal plasma flow which can increase 50% to 70% during the
first two trimesters.
▶ Risk Category A? Answer:Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant
women have not shown an increased risk of fetal abnormalities to the fetus
in any trimester of pregnancy.Prenatal multivitamins, insulin, thyroxine, folic
acid
▶ Risk Category B? Answer:Animal studies have revealed no evidence of
harm to the fetus; however, there are no adequate and well-controlled
studies in pregnant women. OR Animal studies have shown an adverse
effect, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have
failed to demonstrate risk to the fetus in any trimester. Penicillins,
cephalosporins, azithromycin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen in the first and
second trimesters.
▶ Risk Category C? Answer:Animal studies have shown an adverse effect
and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
OR No animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate
Most prescription medicines; antimicrobials such as clarithromycin,
fluoroquinolones, and Bactrim; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs); corticosteroids; and most antihypertensives
▶ Risk Category D? Answer:Adequate well-controlled or observational
studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus.
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
▶ Addiction? Answer:an overwhelming compulsion that drives someone to
repeat drug-taking behavior, despite serious health and social
consequences.
▶ Physical dependence? Answer:Occurs when the body adapts to
repeated use of the substance by altering normal physiology.
▶ Physiological dependence? Answer:Produces no signs of physical
discomfort after the agent is discontinued.
▶ Tolerance? Answer:a biologic condition that occurs when the body
adapts to a substance after repeated administration.
▶ Withdrawal syndrome? Answer:Once a patient becomes physically
dependent and the substance is abruptly discontinued.
▶ Controlled substance? Answer:A drug whose use is restricted by the
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 and later
revisions. Title II of this law, known as the Controlled Substances Act
(CSA), is the legal basis for regulating drugs of abuse. The CSA created
five categories or schedules for drugs of abuse. These scheduled drugs are
classified according to their potential for abuse and toxicity.
▶ Schedule I? Answer:Abuse Potential + Physical Dependence +
Physical/Psychological Dependence=HIGH
Heroin, GHB, LSD, Maijuana, MDMA, mescaline, methaqualone,
methcathinone, peyote, and psilocybin. No prescriptions may be written.
▶ Schedule II? Answer:AP + PD + Psy.P = High Potent opioids (such as
codeine in high doses, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, oxycodone,
meperidine), amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate,
PCP, short-acting barbituates. Used therapeutically with prescription; some
,drugs are no longer used; normally no refills are permitted (but there are a
few exceptions).
▶ Schedule III? Answer:AP: Moderate PD: Moderate PsyP:High. Anabolic
steroids, buprenorphine ketamine, codeine (lower doses compounded with
aspirin or acetaminophen), hydrocodone (lower doses compounded with
aspirin or acetaminophen), and intermediate-acting barbituates. Used
therapeutically with prescription; five refills allowed in a 6 month period.
▶ Schedule IV? Answer:Lower + Lower + Lower. Benzodiazepines (such
as alprazolam, diazepam, midazolam, temazepam), long-acting
barbituates, meprobamate, pentazocine, and zolpidem. Used
therapeutically with prescription; five refills allowed in a 6 month period.
▶ Schedule V? Answer:Lowest + Lowest + Lowest. Over-the-counter
(OTC) cough medicines with codeine, antidiarrheal medicines with small
amounts of opioids. In some cases, these may be dispensed by a
pharmacist in small amounts without prescription.
▶ Nursing process? Answer:• Assessment- Consists of gathering
subjective data, which includes what the patient says or perceives, and
objective data gathered through physical assessment, laboratory values,
diagnostic tests, and other measurable sources.
• Diagnosis- Assessment data are used to develop a list of problems that
address the patients responses to health and life processes. These
problems, or nursing diagnosis, are used to set goals and plan and direct
care.
• Planning- includes developing appropriate goals and outcomes and
determining nursing interventions that will help the patient achieve these.
• Implementing- when the nurse applies the knowledge, skills, and
principles of nursing care to help move the patient toward the desired goal
and optimum wellness. When applied to pharmacology this involves
administering the drug, monitoring effects, carrying out the interventions
developed in the planning phase to maximize therapeutic response and
prevent adverse events, and teaching the patient or family to administer the
medication at home if necessary and about the monitoring required for the
drug used.
• Evaluation- Considers the effectiveness of the plan of care and
interventions in meeting the established goals and outcomes. If patient has
, met goals then the problem is resolved, but if the patient has not met the
goals the nurse reviews and rewrites the care plan.
▶ Pharmacotherapy and the pregnant patient? Answer:o Physiological
changes during pregnancy can alter normal pharmacokinetic responses.
o During pregnancy increased levels of progesterone cause a delay in
gastric emptying and GI motility. This causes the drugs to remain in the GI
tract longer leading to higher drug absorption of oral drugs.
o Distribution of drugs during pregnancy is affected by changes in total
body water, which may increase by over 50%. This creates greater dilution
of plasma proteins causing more free drugs in the plasma due to lack of
binding sites. This then results in more drug molecules being available for
transfer across the placenta or to be secreted in breast milk.
o Metabolism is least affected by pregnancy.
o Excretion can cause doses of medications to be adjusted due to
enhanced renal plasma flow which can increase 50% to 70% during the
first two trimesters.
▶ Risk Category A? Answer:Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant
women have not shown an increased risk of fetal abnormalities to the fetus
in any trimester of pregnancy.Prenatal multivitamins, insulin, thyroxine, folic
acid
▶ Risk Category B? Answer:Animal studies have revealed no evidence of
harm to the fetus; however, there are no adequate and well-controlled
studies in pregnant women. OR Animal studies have shown an adverse
effect, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have
failed to demonstrate risk to the fetus in any trimester. Penicillins,
cephalosporins, azithromycin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen in the first and
second trimesters.
▶ Risk Category C? Answer:Animal studies have shown an adverse effect
and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
OR No animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate
Most prescription medicines; antimicrobials such as clarithromycin,
fluoroquinolones, and Bactrim; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs); corticosteroids; and most antihypertensives
▶ Risk Category D? Answer:Adequate well-controlled or observational
studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus.
