NU150 | NU150 Pharmacology Exam 2 v1 |
Questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanation for Each Question | Galen
1. Which ‘right’ of medication administration is being practiced when a nurse checks a
patient’s wristband and asks for their name and date of birth?
A. Right Patient
B. Right Route
C. Right Documentation
D. Right Dosage
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Identifying the patient using two unique identifiers is essential
for the ‘Right Patient’ protocol. This practice helps prevent administration errors
involving the wrong individual. It is a fundamental step in the nursing process
before any medication is delivered.
2. A patient is prescribed a medication with a very narrow therapeutic index. What
does this indicate to the nurse?
A. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
B. The drug is only effective at very high doses.
C. The drug will take a long time to reach steady state.
,D. The drug has a high risk of toxicity and requires close monitoring.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means that the difference
between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is very small. The nurse must monitor
blood levels frequently to ensure the patient remains within the safe range. Any
small variation in dosage or metabolism could lead to serious adverse effects.
3. Which pharmacokinetic process is primarily affected in a patient with end-stage
liver disease?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolism
of drugs through various enzyme systems. In patients with liver disease, the body’s
ability to break down medications is significantly impaired. This often necessitates
lower doses to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity.
,4. A patient is experiencing severe respiratory depression after receiving an IV opioid.
Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Naloxone is a rapid-acting opioid antagonist used to reverse
the effects of opioid overdose. It works by competing for the same receptor sites as
the opioid molecules. The nurse should monitor the patient closely because the
duration of the opioid may exceed the duration of naloxone.
5. When teaching a patient about a new prescription for enteric-coated aspirin, which
instruction is most important?
A. Crush the tablet if it is too hard to swallow.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach for faster absorption.
C. Do not crush or chew the tablet.
D. Dissolve the tablet in water before taking it.
Correct Answer: C
, Expert Explanation: Enteric-coated medications are designed to dissolve in the
small intestine rather than the stomach to protect the gastric mucosa. Crushing or
chewing the tablet destroys this coating and increases the risk of gastric irritation. It
also alters the intended absorption rate of the medication.
6. Which of the following describes the first-pass effect?
A. The metabolism of an oral drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation.
B. The initial dose given to reach therapeutic levels quickly.
C. The rapid excretion of a drug through the kidneys.
D. The binding of a drug to plasma proteins in the blood.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when drugs absorbed from the GI
tract travel via the portal vein to the liver. A portion of the drug is metabolized
before it can reach the rest of the body. This process significantly reduces the
bioavailability of many oral medications compared to IV forms.
7. A nurse is administering a loop diuretic like Furosemide. Which electrolyte
imbalance should the nurse monitor for most closely?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
Questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanation for Each Question | Galen
1. Which ‘right’ of medication administration is being practiced when a nurse checks a
patient’s wristband and asks for their name and date of birth?
A. Right Patient
B. Right Route
C. Right Documentation
D. Right Dosage
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Identifying the patient using two unique identifiers is essential
for the ‘Right Patient’ protocol. This practice helps prevent administration errors
involving the wrong individual. It is a fundamental step in the nursing process
before any medication is delivered.
2. A patient is prescribed a medication with a very narrow therapeutic index. What
does this indicate to the nurse?
A. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
B. The drug is only effective at very high doses.
C. The drug will take a long time to reach steady state.
,D. The drug has a high risk of toxicity and requires close monitoring.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index means that the difference
between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is very small. The nurse must monitor
blood levels frequently to ensure the patient remains within the safe range. Any
small variation in dosage or metabolism could lead to serious adverse effects.
3. Which pharmacokinetic process is primarily affected in a patient with end-stage
liver disease?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolism
of drugs through various enzyme systems. In patients with liver disease, the body’s
ability to break down medications is significantly impaired. This often necessitates
lower doses to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity.
,4. A patient is experiencing severe respiratory depression after receiving an IV opioid.
Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Naloxone is a rapid-acting opioid antagonist used to reverse
the effects of opioid overdose. It works by competing for the same receptor sites as
the opioid molecules. The nurse should monitor the patient closely because the
duration of the opioid may exceed the duration of naloxone.
5. When teaching a patient about a new prescription for enteric-coated aspirin, which
instruction is most important?
A. Crush the tablet if it is too hard to swallow.
B. Take the medication on an empty stomach for faster absorption.
C. Do not crush or chew the tablet.
D. Dissolve the tablet in water before taking it.
Correct Answer: C
, Expert Explanation: Enteric-coated medications are designed to dissolve in the
small intestine rather than the stomach to protect the gastric mucosa. Crushing or
chewing the tablet destroys this coating and increases the risk of gastric irritation. It
also alters the intended absorption rate of the medication.
6. Which of the following describes the first-pass effect?
A. The metabolism of an oral drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation.
B. The initial dose given to reach therapeutic levels quickly.
C. The rapid excretion of a drug through the kidneys.
D. The binding of a drug to plasma proteins in the blood.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when drugs absorbed from the GI
tract travel via the portal vein to the liver. A portion of the drug is metabolized
before it can reach the rest of the body. This process significantly reduces the
bioavailability of many oral medications compared to IV forms.
7. A nurse is administering a loop diuretic like Furosemide. Which electrolyte
imbalance should the nurse monitor for most closely?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
