NUR 2474 RASMUSSEN PHARM EXAM 2
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026 | PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
REVIEW, MEDICATION SAFETY, DRUG
CLASSIFICATIONS, NURSING
INTERVENTIONS & DOSAGE CALCULATIONS
GUIDE
• This practice guide contains 200 exam-style multiple choice questions designed to
help you master NUR 2474 Pharmacology at Rasmussen University — covering drug
classifications, nursing interventions, medication safety, and dosage calculations.
• Study by attempting each question first before reading the correct answer and
EXPERT RATIONALE — this active recall method will significantly boost your
retention and exam performance.
QUESTION 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the label is
unclear. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A. Administer the medication and document the unclear label
B. Ask a colleague to read the label and proceed
C. Call the pharmacy to clarify before administration
D. Skip the dose and notify the provider later
E. Guess the medication based on the patient's diagnosis
C. Call the pharmacy to clarify before administration
EXPERT RATIONALE: Medication safety requires that any unclear or questionable label
be verified with the pharmacist before administration. The nurse must never administer
a medication that is not clearly identified. This prevents medication errors and upholds
patient safety standards.
,QUESTION 2
Which of the following is the correct definition of pharmacokinetics?
A. The study of how drugs affect body tissues and organs
B. The mechanism by which drugs produce their effects
C. The movement of drugs through the body including absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion
D. The relationship between drug dose and therapeutic response
E. The study of adverse drug reactions in clinical settings
C. The movement of drugs through the body including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion
EXPERT RATIONALE: Pharmacokinetics refers to what the body does to a drug —
encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics, by contrast, is what the drug does to the body.
QUESTION 3
A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value should the nurse
monitor most closely?
A. Complete blood count (CBC)
B. Serum creatinine
C. Liver function tests
D. Prothrombin time/INR
E. Serum potassium
D. Prothrombin time/INR
EXPERT RATIONALE: Warfarin is an anticoagulant whose therapeutic effect is monitored
via PT/INR. The INR goal for most indications is 2.0–3.0. Values outside this range
indicate under- or over-anticoagulation, putting the patient at risk for clot or bleed.
,QUESTION 4
A nurse is teaching a patient about taking oral iron supplements. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
A. Take iron with milk to reduce stomach upset
B. Take iron with antacids to improve absorption
C. Take iron on an empty stomach or with vitamin C to enhance absorption
D. Take iron with calcium supplements for best effect
E. Take iron at bedtime with a full glass of milk
C. Take iron on an empty stomach or with vitamin C to enhance
absorption
EXPERT RATIONALE: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the absorption of non-heme
iron by converting ferric iron to ferrous iron. Milk, antacids, and calcium all inhibit iron
absorption and should be avoided when taking iron supplements.
QUESTION 5
Which of the following drug classifications is most associated with the risk of
nephrotoxicity?
A. Penicillins
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Macrolides
D. Fluoroquinolones
E. Cephalosporins
B. Aminoglycosides
, EXPERT RATIONALE: Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin and tobramycin are well-
known nephrotoxins. The nurse must monitor BUN, creatinine, and urine output closely.
Trough levels should also be monitored to prevent toxicity.
QUESTION 6
A patient taking lithium reports nausea, tremors, and confusion. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Administer an antiemetic and reassure the patient
B. Hold the next dose and notify the provider immediately
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Document findings and continue monitoring
E. Reassure the patient these are expected side effects
B. Hold the next dose and notify the provider immediately
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nausea, tremors, and confusion are signs of lithium toxicity. The
therapeutic range for lithium is narrow (0.6–1.2 mEq/L). Toxicity can be life-threatening.
The priority action is to hold the medication and notify the provider immediately.
QUESTION 7
Which of the following best describes a drug's half-life?
A. The time it takes for a drug to reach peak plasma concentration
B. The time required for the body to eliminate half of the administered drug
C. The duration of the drug's therapeutic effect
D. The time between drug administration and onset of action
E. The rate at which a drug is absorbed from the GI tract
B. The time required for the body to eliminate half of the administered
drug
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026 | PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
REVIEW, MEDICATION SAFETY, DRUG
CLASSIFICATIONS, NURSING
INTERVENTIONS & DOSAGE CALCULATIONS
GUIDE
• This practice guide contains 200 exam-style multiple choice questions designed to
help you master NUR 2474 Pharmacology at Rasmussen University — covering drug
classifications, nursing interventions, medication safety, and dosage calculations.
• Study by attempting each question first before reading the correct answer and
EXPERT RATIONALE — this active recall method will significantly boost your
retention and exam performance.
QUESTION 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the label is
unclear. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A. Administer the medication and document the unclear label
B. Ask a colleague to read the label and proceed
C. Call the pharmacy to clarify before administration
D. Skip the dose and notify the provider later
E. Guess the medication based on the patient's diagnosis
C. Call the pharmacy to clarify before administration
EXPERT RATIONALE: Medication safety requires that any unclear or questionable label
be verified with the pharmacist before administration. The nurse must never administer
a medication that is not clearly identified. This prevents medication errors and upholds
patient safety standards.
,QUESTION 2
Which of the following is the correct definition of pharmacokinetics?
A. The study of how drugs affect body tissues and organs
B. The mechanism by which drugs produce their effects
C. The movement of drugs through the body including absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion
D. The relationship between drug dose and therapeutic response
E. The study of adverse drug reactions in clinical settings
C. The movement of drugs through the body including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion
EXPERT RATIONALE: Pharmacokinetics refers to what the body does to a drug —
encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics, by contrast, is what the drug does to the body.
QUESTION 3
A patient is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value should the nurse
monitor most closely?
A. Complete blood count (CBC)
B. Serum creatinine
C. Liver function tests
D. Prothrombin time/INR
E. Serum potassium
D. Prothrombin time/INR
EXPERT RATIONALE: Warfarin is an anticoagulant whose therapeutic effect is monitored
via PT/INR. The INR goal for most indications is 2.0–3.0. Values outside this range
indicate under- or over-anticoagulation, putting the patient at risk for clot or bleed.
,QUESTION 4
A nurse is teaching a patient about taking oral iron supplements. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
A. Take iron with milk to reduce stomach upset
B. Take iron with antacids to improve absorption
C. Take iron on an empty stomach or with vitamin C to enhance absorption
D. Take iron with calcium supplements for best effect
E. Take iron at bedtime with a full glass of milk
C. Take iron on an empty stomach or with vitamin C to enhance
absorption
EXPERT RATIONALE: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the absorption of non-heme
iron by converting ferric iron to ferrous iron. Milk, antacids, and calcium all inhibit iron
absorption and should be avoided when taking iron supplements.
QUESTION 5
Which of the following drug classifications is most associated with the risk of
nephrotoxicity?
A. Penicillins
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Macrolides
D. Fluoroquinolones
E. Cephalosporins
B. Aminoglycosides
, EXPERT RATIONALE: Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin and tobramycin are well-
known nephrotoxins. The nurse must monitor BUN, creatinine, and urine output closely.
Trough levels should also be monitored to prevent toxicity.
QUESTION 6
A patient taking lithium reports nausea, tremors, and confusion. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Administer an antiemetic and reassure the patient
B. Hold the next dose and notify the provider immediately
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Document findings and continue monitoring
E. Reassure the patient these are expected side effects
B. Hold the next dose and notify the provider immediately
EXPERT RATIONALE: Nausea, tremors, and confusion are signs of lithium toxicity. The
therapeutic range for lithium is narrow (0.6–1.2 mEq/L). Toxicity can be life-threatening.
The priority action is to hold the medication and notify the provider immediately.
QUESTION 7
Which of the following best describes a drug's half-life?
A. The time it takes for a drug to reach peak plasma concentration
B. The time required for the body to eliminate half of the administered drug
C. The duration of the drug's therapeutic effect
D. The time between drug administration and onset of action
E. The rate at which a drug is absorbed from the GI tract
B. The time required for the body to eliminate half of the administered
drug
