NR341 Pharmacology Test Bank
Comprehensive Exam Practice
Questions with Rationales
Section 1: Foundational Pharmacology Principles
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of Drug X to treat a patient's high blood
pressure. After giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces blood
pressure without serious harmful effects, but it also causes the patient to have
nausea and headache. Based on this information, which property of an ideal drug
is this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration
Answer: C
Rationale: The drug is effective in lowering blood pressure and safe in that it does
not cause harmful effects. However, as with most drugs, it causes other effects
besides the one response desired; therefore, it lacks selectivity. The oral form
provides ease of administration .
Question 2
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of
the drug is the most compelling indication that it should NOT be given?
,A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect
B. The drug is difficult to administer
C. The drug's effects are reversible
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose
Answer: D
Rationale: If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some
drugs may be given even though they produce unwanted side effects or are
difficult to administer. Reversible action is a desired property for most drugs .
Question 3
When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics can be thought of as the impact of drugs on the
body. Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body.
Selectivity is the ability of a drug to elicit only the response for which it is given.
Predictability is the degree of certainty about how a patient will respond .
Question 4
When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
D. Effectiveness
,Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
Therapeutics (pharmacotherapeutics) is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or
treat disease. Effectiveness indicates that the drug elicits the intended response .
Question 5
Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have.
B. There is no such thing as a safe drug.
C. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
D. There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects.
Answer: C
Rationale: A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes. The other
statements are correct: Effectiveness is most important, no drug is completely safe
(only safer), and no drug is truly selective—all medications cause side effects .
Question 6
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's
response to a drug? (Select all that apply.)
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Mood
E. Genetics
Answer: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Sources of individual variation include drug interactions, physiologic
, variables (age, gender, weight), pathologic variables (especially kidney/liver
function), and genetic variables. Mood is not a primary determinant .
Question 7
A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering the
medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of drug
therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN (as needed) decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk patients
Answer: D
Rationale: Patients receiving penicillin are at high risk for dangerous allergic
reactions. This intervention represents the nurse's role in identifying high-risk
patients .
Question 8
A nurse is managing the care of a group of patients with cancer who will be
receiving chemotherapy. The nurse defines goals, sets priorities, identifies
interventions, and establishes criteria for evaluating success. Which phase of the
nursing process does this represent?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: These activities are carried out in the planning phase. Assessment is
Comprehensive Exam Practice
Questions with Rationales
Section 1: Foundational Pharmacology Principles
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to give an oral dose of Drug X to treat a patient's high blood
pressure. After giving the drug, the nurse finds that it not only reduces blood
pressure without serious harmful effects, but it also causes the patient to have
nausea and headache. Based on this information, which property of an ideal drug
is this drug lacking?
A. Effectiveness
B. Safety
C. Selectivity
D. Ease of administration
Answer: C
Rationale: The drug is effective in lowering blood pressure and safe in that it does
not cause harmful effects. However, as with most drugs, it causes other effects
besides the one response desired; therefore, it lacks selectivity. The oral form
provides ease of administration .
Question 2
The nurse is preparing to give a drug with certain properties. Which property of
the drug is the most compelling indication that it should NOT be given?
,A. The drug produces an unwanted side effect
B. The drug is difficult to administer
C. The drug's effects are reversible
D. The drug is not effective for its intended purpose
Answer: D
Rationale: If a drug is not effective, there is no justification for giving it. Some
drugs may be given even though they produce unwanted side effects or are
difficult to administer. Reversible action is a desired property for most drugs .
Question 3
When studying the impact a drug has on the body, the nurse is reviewing what?
A. The drug's pharmacokinetics
B. The drug's selectivity
C. The drug's pharmacodynamics
D. The drug's predictability
Answer: C
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics can be thought of as the impact of drugs on the
body. Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body.
Selectivity is the ability of a drug to elicit only the response for which it is given.
Predictability is the degree of certainty about how a patient will respond .
Question 4
When studying the effects of drugs in humans, the nurse is learning about what?
A. Pharmacology
B. Clinical pharmacology
C. Therapeutics
D. Effectiveness
,Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical pharmacology is the study of the effects of drugs in humans.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
Therapeutics (pharmacotherapeutics) is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or
treat disease. Effectiveness indicates that the drug elicits the intended response .
Question 5
Which statement by a new nurse indicates that further study is indicated?
A. Effectiveness is the most important property a drug can have.
B. There is no such thing as a safe drug.
C. Drugs are defined as illegal substances.
D. There is no such thing as a selective drug; all medications cause side effects.
Answer: C
Rationale: A drug is any chemical that can affect living processes. The other
statements are correct: Effectiveness is most important, no drug is completely safe
(only safer), and no drug is truly selective—all medications cause side effects .
Question 6
Characteristics unique to each patient can influence pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes. What characteristics may determine the patient's
response to a drug? (Select all that apply.)
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Weight
D. Mood
E. Genetics
Answer: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Sources of individual variation include drug interactions, physiologic
, variables (age, gender, weight), pathologic variables (especially kidney/liver
function), and genetic variables. Mood is not a primary determinant .
Question 7
A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of penicillin. Before administering the
medication, the nurse assesses the patient's allergy history. Which aspect of drug
therapy does this represent?
A. Making PRN (as needed) decisions
B. Evaluating therapeutic effects
C. Ensuring proper dosage
D. Identifying high-risk patients
Answer: D
Rationale: Patients receiving penicillin are at high risk for dangerous allergic
reactions. This intervention represents the nurse's role in identifying high-risk
patients .
Question 8
A nurse is managing the care of a group of patients with cancer who will be
receiving chemotherapy. The nurse defines goals, sets priorities, identifies
interventions, and establishes criteria for evaluating success. Which phase of the
nursing process does this represent?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: These activities are carried out in the planning phase. Assessment is
