NU150 | NU150 Pharmacology Midterm v1 |
Questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanation for Each Question | Galen
1. Which phase of pharmacokinetics is primarily affected when a patient has chronic
liver disease?
A. Absorption
B. Metabolism
C. Distribution
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Metabolism occurs primarily in the liver where enzymes
break down medications. In patients with chronic liver disease, this process is
impaired, potentially leading to drug toxicity. Nurses must monitor these patients
closely for adverse effects due to prolonged drug half-life.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication. Which ‘Right’ of medication
administration is the nurse performing by checking the patient’s wristband?
A. Right Documentation
B. Right Patient
C. Right Route
,D. Right Dosage
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The right patient is verified by using at least two unique
identifiers, such as the name and date of birth on a wristband. This step is crucial to
prevent medical errors and ensure patient safety. Failure to perform this check is
one of the leading causes of medication-related incidents.
3. What is the primary purpose of the ‘first-pass effect’ in pharmacology?
A. To increase the speed of drug absorption into the bloodstream.
B. To enhance the binding of drugs to plasma proteins.
C. The process of excreting a drug through the kidneys after one cycle.
D. The inactivation of a drug by liver enzymes before it reaches systemic circulation.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when an oral medication is
absorbed from the GI tract and enters the portal circulation. The liver metabolizes a
significant portion of the drug before it can reach the rest of the body. This is why
oral doses are often much higher than intravenous doses for the same medication.
,4. A patient is prescribed Albuterol, a beta-2 agonist. What is the expected therapeutic
effect?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Bronchodilation
D. Pupillary constriction
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Albuterol targets beta-2 receptors located in the smooth
muscles of the bronchioles. Activation of these receptors leads to relaxation of the
muscles and widening of the airways. It is commonly used as a rescue inhaler for
patients experiencing asthma attacks or COPD exacerbations.
5. Which medication is considered the gold standard antidote for an opioid overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine Sulfate
Correct Answer: B
, Expert Explanation: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that displaces opioids from
their receptor sites. It works quickly to reverse respiratory depression caused by
drugs like heroin or morphine. Due to its short half-life, the nurse may need to
administer multiple doses if the opioid outlasts the antidote.
6. The nurse is educating a patient about taking an enteric-coated medication. Which
instruction is correct?
A. ‘You may crush this medication if it is too large to swallow.’
B. ‘Take this medication with a full glass of orange juice.’
C. ‘Do not crush or chew this tablet.’
D. ‘Dissolve the tablet in water before drinking it.’
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Enteric coating is designed to protect the drug from stomach
acid or to protect the stomach lining from the drug. Crushing the tablet destroys this
protective barrier and causes the medication to be released too early. This can lead
to gastric irritation or decreased effectiveness of the drug.
7. A patient has been taking a medication for a long time and now requires a higher
dose to achieve the same effect. This is known as:
A. Addiction
B. Tolerance
Questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanation for Each Question | Galen
1. Which phase of pharmacokinetics is primarily affected when a patient has chronic
liver disease?
A. Absorption
B. Metabolism
C. Distribution
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Metabolism occurs primarily in the liver where enzymes
break down medications. In patients with chronic liver disease, this process is
impaired, potentially leading to drug toxicity. Nurses must monitor these patients
closely for adverse effects due to prolonged drug half-life.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication. Which ‘Right’ of medication
administration is the nurse performing by checking the patient’s wristband?
A. Right Documentation
B. Right Patient
C. Right Route
,D. Right Dosage
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The right patient is verified by using at least two unique
identifiers, such as the name and date of birth on a wristband. This step is crucial to
prevent medical errors and ensure patient safety. Failure to perform this check is
one of the leading causes of medication-related incidents.
3. What is the primary purpose of the ‘first-pass effect’ in pharmacology?
A. To increase the speed of drug absorption into the bloodstream.
B. To enhance the binding of drugs to plasma proteins.
C. The process of excreting a drug through the kidneys after one cycle.
D. The inactivation of a drug by liver enzymes before it reaches systemic circulation.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when an oral medication is
absorbed from the GI tract and enters the portal circulation. The liver metabolizes a
significant portion of the drug before it can reach the rest of the body. This is why
oral doses are often much higher than intravenous doses for the same medication.
,4. A patient is prescribed Albuterol, a beta-2 agonist. What is the expected therapeutic
effect?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Bronchodilation
D. Pupillary constriction
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Albuterol targets beta-2 receptors located in the smooth
muscles of the bronchioles. Activation of these receptors leads to relaxation of the
muscles and widening of the airways. It is commonly used as a rescue inhaler for
patients experiencing asthma attacks or COPD exacerbations.
5. Which medication is considered the gold standard antidote for an opioid overdose?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine Sulfate
Correct Answer: B
, Expert Explanation: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that displaces opioids from
their receptor sites. It works quickly to reverse respiratory depression caused by
drugs like heroin or morphine. Due to its short half-life, the nurse may need to
administer multiple doses if the opioid outlasts the antidote.
6. The nurse is educating a patient about taking an enteric-coated medication. Which
instruction is correct?
A. ‘You may crush this medication if it is too large to swallow.’
B. ‘Take this medication with a full glass of orange juice.’
C. ‘Do not crush or chew this tablet.’
D. ‘Dissolve the tablet in water before drinking it.’
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Enteric coating is designed to protect the drug from stomach
acid or to protect the stomach lining from the drug. Crushing the tablet destroys this
protective barrier and causes the medication to be released too early. This can lead
to gastric irritation or decreased effectiveness of the drug.
7. A patient has been taking a medication for a long time and now requires a higher
dose to achieve the same effect. This is known as:
A. Addiction
B. Tolerance
