Testbank forPharmacology for Nurses A Pathophysiologic Approach 7th Edition
By Michael Adams, Norman Holland, Shanti Chang (All Chapters,A+ Grade).
,Practice Questions (Set 1 of 4)
Question 1: A nurse is reviewing key events in the history of pharmacology. Which
comment by a student indicates an understanding of this history?
A. "A primary goal of early pharmacology was to prevent disease."
B. "Early researchers often used themselves as test subjects."
C. "Penicillin was one of the first drugs isolated from a natural source."
D. "Pharmacologists began synthesizing drugs in the laboratory in the 17th
century."
Answer: B
Rationale: Some early researchers, such as Friedrich Serturner, used themselves
as test subjects to study drug effects. The initial goal was to relieve human
suffering, not primarily prevent disease. Penicillin was not among the initial
isolated drugs (morphine, colchicine, and cocaine were). Drug synthesis in
laboratories began in the 19th and 20th centuries, not the 17th.
Question 2: A student nurse asks why anatomy, physiology, and microbiology are
required before taking pharmacology. What is the best response?
,A. "These subjects are part of the nursing curriculum sequence."
B. "Pharmacology is an outgrowth of those specific sciences."
C. "An understanding of these subjects is essential for understanding
pharmacology."
D. "Knowledge of those subjects prepares you to administer medications safely."
Answer: C
Rationale: A broad knowledge base is essential. The nurse must understand
anatomy, physiology, and microbiology to grasp how drugs affect the body. While
pharmacology is related to these sciences and they prepare you for care, the core
reason is that they provide the necessary foundation for learning pharmacology.
Question 3: A nurse explains the difference between pharmacology and
therapeutics. Which statements indicate learning has occurred? (Select all that
apply)
A. "Pharmacology is the study of medicines."
B. "Therapeutics is the study of drug interactions."
C. "Therapeutics relates to the use of drugs to treat suffering."
D. "Pharmacology is the study of drugs to prevent disease."
E. "Pharmacology is the development of new synthetic medicines."
, Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: Pharmacology is the broad study of medicines and their effects,
including the use of drugs to relieve suffering and prevent disease
(pharmacotherapy). Therapeutics is the use of drugs to treat suffering and
manage disease. The study of drug interactions is part of pharmacology, not the
definition of therapeutics.
Question 4: A patient with hypertension asks why the provider prescribed an ACE
inhibitor, which the patient knows is an antihypertensive, for their new diagnosis
of heart failure. What is the best explanation?
A. "The provider is treating both conditions with one drug to save you money."
B. "ACE inhibitors have a pharmacologic action that is beneficial for the
pathophysiology of heart failure."
C. "This is an off-label use of the medication, so you will need frequent blood
work."
D. "Your blood pressure was likely too high, which caused the heart failure."
Answer: B
Rationale: Drugs are classified therapeutically (by clinical use, e.g.,
antihypertensive) and pharmacologically (by mechanism of action, e.g., ACE
inhibition). The mechanism of ACE inhibitors (blocking the renin-angiotensin-
By Michael Adams, Norman Holland, Shanti Chang (All Chapters,A+ Grade).
,Practice Questions (Set 1 of 4)
Question 1: A nurse is reviewing key events in the history of pharmacology. Which
comment by a student indicates an understanding of this history?
A. "A primary goal of early pharmacology was to prevent disease."
B. "Early researchers often used themselves as test subjects."
C. "Penicillin was one of the first drugs isolated from a natural source."
D. "Pharmacologists began synthesizing drugs in the laboratory in the 17th
century."
Answer: B
Rationale: Some early researchers, such as Friedrich Serturner, used themselves
as test subjects to study drug effects. The initial goal was to relieve human
suffering, not primarily prevent disease. Penicillin was not among the initial
isolated drugs (morphine, colchicine, and cocaine were). Drug synthesis in
laboratories began in the 19th and 20th centuries, not the 17th.
Question 2: A student nurse asks why anatomy, physiology, and microbiology are
required before taking pharmacology. What is the best response?
,A. "These subjects are part of the nursing curriculum sequence."
B. "Pharmacology is an outgrowth of those specific sciences."
C. "An understanding of these subjects is essential for understanding
pharmacology."
D. "Knowledge of those subjects prepares you to administer medications safely."
Answer: C
Rationale: A broad knowledge base is essential. The nurse must understand
anatomy, physiology, and microbiology to grasp how drugs affect the body. While
pharmacology is related to these sciences and they prepare you for care, the core
reason is that they provide the necessary foundation for learning pharmacology.
Question 3: A nurse explains the difference between pharmacology and
therapeutics. Which statements indicate learning has occurred? (Select all that
apply)
A. "Pharmacology is the study of medicines."
B. "Therapeutics is the study of drug interactions."
C. "Therapeutics relates to the use of drugs to treat suffering."
D. "Pharmacology is the study of drugs to prevent disease."
E. "Pharmacology is the development of new synthetic medicines."
, Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: Pharmacology is the broad study of medicines and their effects,
including the use of drugs to relieve suffering and prevent disease
(pharmacotherapy). Therapeutics is the use of drugs to treat suffering and
manage disease. The study of drug interactions is part of pharmacology, not the
definition of therapeutics.
Question 4: A patient with hypertension asks why the provider prescribed an ACE
inhibitor, which the patient knows is an antihypertensive, for their new diagnosis
of heart failure. What is the best explanation?
A. "The provider is treating both conditions with one drug to save you money."
B. "ACE inhibitors have a pharmacologic action that is beneficial for the
pathophysiology of heart failure."
C. "This is an off-label use of the medication, so you will need frequent blood
work."
D. "Your blood pressure was likely too high, which caused the heart failure."
Answer: B
Rationale: Drugs are classified therapeutically (by clinical use, e.g.,
antihypertensive) and pharmacologically (by mechanism of action, e.g., ACE
inhibition). The mechanism of ACE inhibitors (blocking the renin-angiotensin-
