NU 150 PHARMACOLOGY — COMPLETE 250-
QUESTION MASTER EXAM Galen College of
Nursing | Exams 1, 2, 3 & Final |
2026/2027 Questions with Answers &
Rationales
PART 1: EXAM 1 CONTENT (Questions 1-60)
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Drug Administration, Diuretics, Fluid &
Electrolytes
Section 1.1: Core Principles & Drug Administration (1-20)
1. What are the "6 Rights" of medication administration?
A. Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, Right
Documentation
B. Right Assessment, Right Diagnosis, Right Planning, Right Implementation,
Right Evaluation
C. Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Prescriber, Right Pharmacy
D. Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Time, Right Route, Right Cost
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The "6 Rights" are fundamental to safe medication administration: Right
Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, and Right
Documentation.
2. The nurse should perform checks of the 6 Rights at which three specific times?
A. When reviewing the chart, when calling the pharmacy, and at shift change
B. When removing the drug from storage, when preparing the medication, and
right before administering it
C. At the start of the shift, before lunch, and at the end of the shift
,D. When the patient is admitted, when the medication is ordered, and after it is
given
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To prevent errors, the nurse must check the 6 Rights against the
medication order at three critical junctures: when pulling the drug, during
preparation, and immediately before administration.
3. If a patient questions the appearance of a medication, what is the nurse's most
appropriate first action?
A. Explain that the pharmacy must have sent a different generic brand
B. Reassure the patient and administer the drug to maintain the dosing schedule
C. Investigate the patient's concern and re-verify the medication against the order
D. Tell the patient to take it and you will check on it later
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A questioning patient is a critical safety check. The nurse should always
investigate the patient's concern before proceeding. If an error is found, it can be
prevented.
4. Which patient identifier is most appropriate to use before medication
administration?
A. The patient's first name
B. The patient's room and bed number
C. Scanning the patient's wristband and asking their name and date of birth
D. Asking the patient "Are you Mrs. Smith?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using at least two unique identifiers (e.g., name, date of birth, or
medical record number) is a national patient safety goal. Room number is not a
reliable identifier.
5. What is the priority nursing action after administering a new oral medication?
A. Document the administration immediately, including site/route and any pre-
assessment vitals
B. Check on the patient at the end of the shift to see if the drug worked
C. Leave the medication wrapper at the bedside for the patient to review
D. Wait 24 hours to document in case the patient has a delayed reaction
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Documentation should be completed promptly after administration. The
nurse should also evaluate the patient's response within a typical timeframe (e.g.,
60 minutes for oral meds).
6. What does the term "pharmacokinetics" describe?
A. The study of a drug's mechanism of action and receptor binding
B. What the body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
C. The desired therapeutic effect of a drug
D. The potential for drug abuse and dependency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics refers to the movement of a drug through the body
over time, often remembered by the acronym ADME (Absorption, Distribution,
Metabolism, Excretion).
7. Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of most drugs?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Small intestine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism (biotransformation),
where enzymes break down drugs into inactive metabolites.
8. The "first-pass effect" significantly reduces the bioavailability of which route of
administration?
A. Intravenous (IV)
B. Intramuscular (IM)
C. Oral (PO)
D. Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed through the GI tract and travel via the
portal vein directly to the liver, where a large percentage of the drug may be
metabolized and inactivated before reaching systemic circulation.
, 9. A patient with severe renal impairment is at the highest risk for which drug-
related complication?
A. Poor drug absorption from the GI tract
B. A lack of therapeutic effect from all medications
C. Drug toxicity due to decreased excretion
D. An immediate hypersensitivity reaction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The kidneys are the major route for drug excretion. When kidney
function is impaired, drugs and their metabolites can accumulate in the body,
leading to toxic levels.
10. What does the term "pharmacodynamics" describe?
A. How the body eliminates waste products
B. What the drug does to the body (e.g., mechanism of action, therapeutic effect)
C. The relationship between a drug's dose and its absorption rate
D. The time it takes for half the drug to be eliminated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological
effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action at the cellular level.
11. Which route of drug administration provides the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral (PO)
B. Subcutaneous (SubQ)
C. Intramuscular (IM)
D. Intravenous (IV)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption barriers entirely, delivering the
drug directly into the bloodstream. This results in 100% bioavailability and
immediate onset.
12. The nurse understands that an elderly patient is at increased risk for drug
toxicity primarily due to:
A. Increased gastric acid production
B. Decreased liver and kidney function
QUESTION MASTER EXAM Galen College of
Nursing | Exams 1, 2, 3 & Final |
2026/2027 Questions with Answers &
Rationales
PART 1: EXAM 1 CONTENT (Questions 1-60)
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Drug Administration, Diuretics, Fluid &
Electrolytes
Section 1.1: Core Principles & Drug Administration (1-20)
1. What are the "6 Rights" of medication administration?
A. Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, Right
Documentation
B. Right Assessment, Right Diagnosis, Right Planning, Right Implementation,
Right Evaluation
C. Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Prescriber, Right Pharmacy
D. Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Time, Right Route, Right Cost
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The "6 Rights" are fundamental to safe medication administration: Right
Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, and Right
Documentation.
2. The nurse should perform checks of the 6 Rights at which three specific times?
A. When reviewing the chart, when calling the pharmacy, and at shift change
B. When removing the drug from storage, when preparing the medication, and
right before administering it
C. At the start of the shift, before lunch, and at the end of the shift
,D. When the patient is admitted, when the medication is ordered, and after it is
given
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To prevent errors, the nurse must check the 6 Rights against the
medication order at three critical junctures: when pulling the drug, during
preparation, and immediately before administration.
3. If a patient questions the appearance of a medication, what is the nurse's most
appropriate first action?
A. Explain that the pharmacy must have sent a different generic brand
B. Reassure the patient and administer the drug to maintain the dosing schedule
C. Investigate the patient's concern and re-verify the medication against the order
D. Tell the patient to take it and you will check on it later
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A questioning patient is a critical safety check. The nurse should always
investigate the patient's concern before proceeding. If an error is found, it can be
prevented.
4. Which patient identifier is most appropriate to use before medication
administration?
A. The patient's first name
B. The patient's room and bed number
C. Scanning the patient's wristband and asking their name and date of birth
D. Asking the patient "Are you Mrs. Smith?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using at least two unique identifiers (e.g., name, date of birth, or
medical record number) is a national patient safety goal. Room number is not a
reliable identifier.
5. What is the priority nursing action after administering a new oral medication?
A. Document the administration immediately, including site/route and any pre-
assessment vitals
B. Check on the patient at the end of the shift to see if the drug worked
C. Leave the medication wrapper at the bedside for the patient to review
D. Wait 24 hours to document in case the patient has a delayed reaction
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Documentation should be completed promptly after administration. The
nurse should also evaluate the patient's response within a typical timeframe (e.g.,
60 minutes for oral meds).
6. What does the term "pharmacokinetics" describe?
A. The study of a drug's mechanism of action and receptor binding
B. What the body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
C. The desired therapeutic effect of a drug
D. The potential for drug abuse and dependency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics refers to the movement of a drug through the body
over time, often remembered by the acronym ADME (Absorption, Distribution,
Metabolism, Excretion).
7. Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of most drugs?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Small intestine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism (biotransformation),
where enzymes break down drugs into inactive metabolites.
8. The "first-pass effect" significantly reduces the bioavailability of which route of
administration?
A. Intravenous (IV)
B. Intramuscular (IM)
C. Oral (PO)
D. Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed through the GI tract and travel via the
portal vein directly to the liver, where a large percentage of the drug may be
metabolized and inactivated before reaching systemic circulation.
, 9. A patient with severe renal impairment is at the highest risk for which drug-
related complication?
A. Poor drug absorption from the GI tract
B. A lack of therapeutic effect from all medications
C. Drug toxicity due to decreased excretion
D. An immediate hypersensitivity reaction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The kidneys are the major route for drug excretion. When kidney
function is impaired, drugs and their metabolites can accumulate in the body,
leading to toxic levels.
10. What does the term "pharmacodynamics" describe?
A. How the body eliminates waste products
B. What the drug does to the body (e.g., mechanism of action, therapeutic effect)
C. The relationship between a drug's dose and its absorption rate
D. The time it takes for half the drug to be eliminated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological
effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action at the cellular level.
11. Which route of drug administration provides the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral (PO)
B. Subcutaneous (SubQ)
C. Intramuscular (IM)
D. Intravenous (IV)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption barriers entirely, delivering the
drug directly into the bloodstream. This results in 100% bioavailability and
immediate onset.
12. The nurse understands that an elderly patient is at increased risk for drug
toxicity primarily due to:
A. Increased gastric acid production
B. Decreased liver and kidney function
