NUR2474 | NUR2474 Pharmacology for
Professional Nursing Midterm v2 | Questions with
Correct Answers and Expert Explanation for Each
Question | Rasmussen
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication. Which pharmacokinetic
process is primarily affected by the presence of food in the stomach?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the
bloodstream from its site of administration. The presence of food can delay gastric
emptying or bind with drugs, thereby altering the rate or extent of absorption.
Nurses must check specific medication instructions regarding whether to give the
drug with or without food to ensure optimal efficacy.
2. When a drug has a narrow therapeutic index, the nurse understands that:
A. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
B. The drug has a high potential for addiction.
,C. There is a small margin of safety between the effective and toxic dose.
D. The drug is only administered in emergency situations.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index indicates that the difference
between a dose that produces a therapeutic effect and one that produces toxicity is
very small. For these drugs, serum drug levels must be monitored frequently to
prevent adverse outcomes. The nurse must be vigilant for signs of toxicity even
within the recommended dosage range.
3. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a drug that is extensively metabolized by
the liver. The nurse should expect:
A. A risk of drug accumulation and toxicity.
B. The need for a higher dosage.
C. A reduced risk of drug toxicity.
D. A decrease in the drug’s half-life.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism, and impaired
liver function can lead to a slower breakdown of medications. When metabolism is
delayed, drugs remain in the body longer, increasing the risk of accumulation. The
,nurse should anticipate lower doses or longer intervals between doses for this
patient population.
4. The nurse is reviewing the ‘first-pass effect.’ Which route of administration is most
affected by this process?
A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Transdermal
D. Oral
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the
liver after being absorbed from the GI tract but before reaching systemic circulation.
Medications given orally travel through the portal vein directly to the liver, where a
large portion may be inactivated. Routes like IV or sublingual bypass this initial
hepatic metabolism, allowing more active drug to reach the target site.
5. Which lab value is most important for the nurse to monitor to assess a patient’s
renal excretion of drugs?
A. Serum albumin
B. Serum creatinine
, C. Liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
D. White blood cell count
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Serum creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism that is
excreted solely by the kidneys, making it a reliable indicator of renal function. If
renal function is impaired, drugs that are primarily excreted by the kidneys will stay
in the body longer. Monitoring creatinine and calculating creatinine clearance helps
prevent toxicity in patients with kidney disease.
6. An agonist drug is defined as one that:
A. Blocks a receptor and prevents activation.
B. Binds to a receptor and produces a response.
C. Neutralizes the effect of another drug.
D. Speeds up the excretion of other medications.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Agonists are drugs that mimic the action of endogenous
substances by binding to receptors and activating them. This interaction triggers a
specific physiological response within the cell. In contrast, antagonists bind to
receptors to block responses from occurring.
Professional Nursing Midterm v2 | Questions with
Correct Answers and Expert Explanation for Each
Question | Rasmussen
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication. Which pharmacokinetic
process is primarily affected by the presence of food in the stomach?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the
bloodstream from its site of administration. The presence of food can delay gastric
emptying or bind with drugs, thereby altering the rate or extent of absorption.
Nurses must check specific medication instructions regarding whether to give the
drug with or without food to ensure optimal efficacy.
2. When a drug has a narrow therapeutic index, the nurse understands that:
A. The drug is very safe and requires little monitoring.
B. The drug has a high potential for addiction.
,C. There is a small margin of safety between the effective and toxic dose.
D. The drug is only administered in emergency situations.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: A narrow therapeutic index indicates that the difference
between a dose that produces a therapeutic effect and one that produces toxicity is
very small. For these drugs, serum drug levels must be monitored frequently to
prevent adverse outcomes. The nurse must be vigilant for signs of toxicity even
within the recommended dosage range.
3. A patient with liver cirrhosis is prescribed a drug that is extensively metabolized by
the liver. The nurse should expect:
A. A risk of drug accumulation and toxicity.
B. The need for a higher dosage.
C. A reduced risk of drug toxicity.
D. A decrease in the drug’s half-life.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism, and impaired
liver function can lead to a slower breakdown of medications. When metabolism is
delayed, drugs remain in the body longer, increasing the risk of accumulation. The
,nurse should anticipate lower doses or longer intervals between doses for this
patient population.
4. The nurse is reviewing the ‘first-pass effect.’ Which route of administration is most
affected by this process?
A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Transdermal
D. Oral
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the
liver after being absorbed from the GI tract but before reaching systemic circulation.
Medications given orally travel through the portal vein directly to the liver, where a
large portion may be inactivated. Routes like IV or sublingual bypass this initial
hepatic metabolism, allowing more active drug to reach the target site.
5. Which lab value is most important for the nurse to monitor to assess a patient’s
renal excretion of drugs?
A. Serum albumin
B. Serum creatinine
, C. Liver enzymes (ALT/AST)
D. White blood cell count
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Serum creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism that is
excreted solely by the kidneys, making it a reliable indicator of renal function. If
renal function is impaired, drugs that are primarily excreted by the kidneys will stay
in the body longer. Monitoring creatinine and calculating creatinine clearance helps
prevent toxicity in patients with kidney disease.
6. An agonist drug is defined as one that:
A. Blocks a receptor and prevents activation.
B. Binds to a receptor and produces a response.
C. Neutralizes the effect of another drug.
D. Speeds up the excretion of other medications.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Agonists are drugs that mimic the action of endogenous
substances by binding to receptors and activating them. This interaction triggers a
specific physiological response within the cell. In contrast, antagonists bind to
receptors to block responses from occurring.
