PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING CARE –
Exam Review & Practice Questions | 2026/2027
11th Edition | Complete Chapters 1–112 Coverage with
1200+ Verified Questions, Answers & Rationales
Chapter 01: Orientation to Pharmacology
Burchum: Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Edition
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do
this, the nurse will rely on knowledge of which topic?
a) Clinical pharmacology
b) Drug efficacy
c) Pharmacokinetics
d) Pharmacotherapeutics
Rationale: Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and
prevent conditions. Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human
interactions. Drug efficacy measures the extent to which a given drug causes an
intended effect. Pharmacokinetics is the study of the impact of the body on a drug.
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a) It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration
b) It does not interact significantly with other medications
c) It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen
d) It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce
Rationale: A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking
them are more likely to comply with the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may
,have the other attributes listed, but those properties are independent of ease of
administration.
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause
drowsiness and will decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this
understanding of the drug's effects by the patient, the nurse will anticipate which
outcome?
a) Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
b) Decreased motivation to take the drug
c) Improved compliance with the drug regimen
d) Increased likelihood of drug overdose
Rationale: A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces
side effects. Patients who understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication
are more likely to comply with the drug regimen.
4. What are considered the 'Big Three' properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that
apply.)
a) Irreversible action
b) Effectiveness
c) Safety
d) Selectivity
e) A recognizable trade name
Rationale: The 'Big Three' properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and
selectivity.
5. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to
evaluate how individual patient variability might affect the patient's response to
the medication? (Select all that apply.)
,a) Chemical stability of the medication
b) Ease of administration
c) Family medical history
d) Patient's age
e) Patient's diagnosis
Rationale: The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a
patient's response to a medication. Patients of different ages can respond differently to
medications. The patient's illness can affect how drugs are metabolized. The chemical
stability of the medication and the ease of administration are properties of drugs.
Chapter 02: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing
Practice
1. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The
medication label instructs the patient to administer "2 puffs every 4 hours as
needed for coughing or wheezing." The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes
when taking the medication, and doesn't feel that the medication is always
effective. Which action is outside the nurse's scope of practice?
a) Asking the patient to demonstrate the use of the inhaler
b) Assessing the patient's exposure to tobacco smoke
c) Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
d) Suggesting that the patient use 1 puff to reduce side effects
Rationale: It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to change the dose of a
medication without an order from a prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate
inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the patient's ability to administer the medication
properly and is part of the nurse's evaluation. Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps
the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a smoke avoidance, can be used
, as an adjunct to drug therapy. Performing a physical assessment helps the nurse
evaluate the patient's response to the medication.
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with
acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Norco] for pain. The patient asks the nurse about
using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
a) "It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications."
b) "Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity."
c) "There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe."
d) "Tylenol and Norco are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose."
Rationale: Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the
same medication. It is important to teach patients to be aware of the different names for
the same drug to minimize the risk of overdose. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
and prescription medications may be taken together unless significant harmful drug
interactions are possible. Even though no drug interactions are at play in this case, both
drugs contain acetaminophen, which could lead to toxicity.
3. The nurse is preparing to care for a patient who will be taking an
antihypertensive medication. Which action by the nurse is part of the assessment
step of the nursing process?
a) Asking the prescriber for an order to monitor serum drug levels
b) Monitoring the patient for drug interactions after giving the medication
c) Questioning the patient about over-the-counter medications
d) Taking the patient's blood pressure throughout the course of treatment
Rationale: The assessment part of the nursing process involves gathering information
before beginning treatment, and this includes asking about other medications the
patient may be taking. Monitoring serum drug levels, watching for drug interactions,
and checking vital signs after giving the medication are all part of the evaluation phase.
Exam Review & Practice Questions | 2026/2027
11th Edition | Complete Chapters 1–112 Coverage with
1200+ Verified Questions, Answers & Rationales
Chapter 01: Orientation to Pharmacology
Burchum: Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 11th Edition
1. The nurse is teaching a patient how a medication works to treat an illness. To do
this, the nurse will rely on knowledge of which topic?
a) Clinical pharmacology
b) Drug efficacy
c) Pharmacokinetics
d) Pharmacotherapeutics
Rationale: Pharmacotherapeutics is the study of the use of drugs to diagnose, treat, and
prevent conditions. Clinical pharmacology is concerned with all aspects of drug-human
interactions. Drug efficacy measures the extent to which a given drug causes an
intended effect. Pharmacokinetics is the study of the impact of the body on a drug.
2. What is a desired outcome when a drug is described as easy to administer?
a) It can be stored indefinitely without need for refrigeration
b) It does not interact significantly with other medications
c) It enhances patient adherence to the drug regimen
d) It is usually relatively inexpensive to produce
Rationale: A major benefit of drugs that are easy to administer is that patients taking
them are more likely to comply with the drug regimen. Drugs that are easy to give may
,have the other attributes listed, but those properties are independent of ease of
administration.
3. A patient tells the nurse that an analgesic he will begin taking may cause
drowsiness and will decrease pain up to 4 hours at a time. Based on this
understanding of the drug's effects by the patient, the nurse will anticipate which
outcome?
a) Decreased chance of having a placebo effect
b) Decreased motivation to take the drug
c) Improved compliance with the drug regimen
d) Increased likelihood of drug overdose
Rationale: A drug is effective if it produces the intended effects, even if it also produces
side effects. Patients who understand both the risks and benefits of taking a medication
are more likely to comply with the drug regimen.
4. What are considered the 'Big Three' properties of an ideal drug? (Select all that
apply.)
a) Irreversible action
b) Effectiveness
c) Safety
d) Selectivity
e) A recognizable trade name
Rationale: The 'Big Three' properties of the ideal drug are effectiveness, safety, and
selectivity.
5. Before administering a medication, what does the nurse need to know to
evaluate how individual patient variability might affect the patient's response to
the medication? (Select all that apply.)
,a) Chemical stability of the medication
b) Ease of administration
c) Family medical history
d) Patient's age
e) Patient's diagnosis
Rationale: The family medical history can indicate genetic factors that may affect a
patient's response to a medication. Patients of different ages can respond differently to
medications. The patient's illness can affect how drugs are metabolized. The chemical
stability of the medication and the ease of administration are properties of drugs.
Chapter 02: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing
Practice
1. A patient is using a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol for asthma. The
medication label instructs the patient to administer "2 puffs every 4 hours as
needed for coughing or wheezing." The patient reports feeling jittery sometimes
when taking the medication, and doesn't feel that the medication is always
effective. Which action is outside the nurse's scope of practice?
a) Asking the patient to demonstrate the use of the inhaler
b) Assessing the patient's exposure to tobacco smoke
c) Auscultating lung sounds and obtaining vital signs
d) Suggesting that the patient use 1 puff to reduce side effects
Rationale: It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to change the dose of a
medication without an order from a prescriber. Asking the patient to demonstrate
inhaler use helps the nurse to evaluate the patient's ability to administer the medication
properly and is part of the nurse's evaluation. Assessing tobacco smoke exposure helps
the nurse determine whether nondrug therapies, such a smoke avoidance, can be used
, as an adjunct to drug therapy. Performing a physical assessment helps the nurse
evaluate the patient's response to the medication.
2. A postoperative patient is being discharged home with
acetaminophen/hydrocodone [Norco] for pain. The patient asks the nurse about
using Tylenol for fever. Which statement by the nurse is correct?
a) "It is not safe to take over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications."
b) "Taking the two medications together poses a risk of drug toxicity."
c) "There are no known drug interactions, so this will be safe."
d) "Tylenol and Norco are different drugs, so there is no risk of overdose."
Rationale: Tylenol is the trade name and acetaminophen is the generic name for the
same medication. It is important to teach patients to be aware of the different names for
the same drug to minimize the risk of overdose. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
and prescription medications may be taken together unless significant harmful drug
interactions are possible. Even though no drug interactions are at play in this case, both
drugs contain acetaminophen, which could lead to toxicity.
3. The nurse is preparing to care for a patient who will be taking an
antihypertensive medication. Which action by the nurse is part of the assessment
step of the nursing process?
a) Asking the prescriber for an order to monitor serum drug levels
b) Monitoring the patient for drug interactions after giving the medication
c) Questioning the patient about over-the-counter medications
d) Taking the patient's blood pressure throughout the course of treatment
Rationale: The assessment part of the nursing process involves gathering information
before beginning treatment, and this includes asking about other medications the
patient may be taking. Monitoring serum drug levels, watching for drug interactions,
and checking vital signs after giving the medication are all part of the evaluation phase.
