RASMUSSEN UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
NUR2407 - Pharmacology
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Exam 1 Comprehensive Question Bank - Verified Answers
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a patient about how the body processes a medication. The nurse
explains that absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion refer to which
pharmacologic concept?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. First-pass effect
D. Bioavailability
CORRECT ANSWER B. Pharmacokinetics
RATIONALE
Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug, encompassing the four processes:
absorption (how drug enters bloodstream), distribution (movement to tissues), metabolism
(biotransformation, primarily liver), and excretion (elimination, primarily kidneys).
, Question 2
Which laboratory tests are primarily used to assess renal function?
A. ALT and AST
B. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
C. BUN, creatinine, and GFR
D. Albumin and total protein
CORRECT ANSWER C. BUN, creatinine, and GFR
RATIONALE
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine are waste products filtered by the kidneys.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best overall indicator of kidney function. Elevated
BUN/creatinine and decreased GFR indicate renal impairment.
Question 3
A patient asks why a medication is given in a lower dose when taken orally compared to
intravenously. The nurse explains that this is due to the:
A. Blood-brain barrier
B. Therapeutic index
C. First-pass effect
D. Half-life
CORRECT ANSWER C. First-pass effect
RATIONALE
The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of an oral drug by the liver before it reaches
systemic circulation, reducing its bioavailability. Higher oral doses are often required to achieve
the same effect as an IV dose, which bypasses this metabolism.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
NUR2407 - Pharmacology
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Exam 1 Comprehensive Question Bank - Verified Answers
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a patient about how the body processes a medication. The nurse
explains that absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion refer to which
pharmacologic concept?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. First-pass effect
D. Bioavailability
CORRECT ANSWER B. Pharmacokinetics
RATIONALE
Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug, encompassing the four processes:
absorption (how drug enters bloodstream), distribution (movement to tissues), metabolism
(biotransformation, primarily liver), and excretion (elimination, primarily kidneys).
, Question 2
Which laboratory tests are primarily used to assess renal function?
A. ALT and AST
B. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
C. BUN, creatinine, and GFR
D. Albumin and total protein
CORRECT ANSWER C. BUN, creatinine, and GFR
RATIONALE
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine are waste products filtered by the kidneys.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best overall indicator of kidney function. Elevated
BUN/creatinine and decreased GFR indicate renal impairment.
Question 3
A patient asks why a medication is given in a lower dose when taken orally compared to
intravenously. The nurse explains that this is due to the:
A. Blood-brain barrier
B. Therapeutic index
C. First-pass effect
D. Half-life
CORRECT ANSWER C. First-pass effect
RATIONALE
The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of an oral drug by the liver before it reaches
systemic circulation, reducing its bioavailability. Higher oral doses are often required to achieve
the same effect as an IV dose, which bypasses this metabolism.
