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NUR 210 Exam 1 (Pharmacokinetics & Foundational Concepts) —
Q 1-50
Q1. What is the definition of Pharmacokinetics?
A) The study of drug interactions with food
B) The process in which medications move through the body
C) The study of genetic factors affecting drug response
D) The mechanism of drug action at receptor sites
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B) The process in which medications move
through the body
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug movement through the
body. It involves four processes: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism,
and Excretion (ADME). Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the
body .
Q2. What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics in correct order?
A) Metabolism, Absorption, Distribution, Excretion
B) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
,C) Distribution, Absorption, Metabolism, Excretion
D) Absorption, Metabolism, Distribution, Excretion
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism,
Excretion
Rationale: The correct order is ADME: Absorption (drug enters
bloodstream), Distribution (drug travels to tissues), Metabolism (liver
breaks down drug), Excretion (kidneys eliminate drug). This sequence
determines drug concentration at the site of action .
Q3. Where does the majority of drug absorption occur in the body?
A) Stomach
B) Large intestine
C) Small intestine
D) Mouth
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C) Small intestine
Rationale: The small intestine has a large surface area (villi and
microvilli) and rich blood supply, making it the primary site for
absorption of most oral medications. The stomach absorbs only select
drugs like alcohol and aspirin .
Q4. A medication has a high "first-pass effect." What does this
mean for the patient?
A) The medication is absorbed faster in the mouth
B) A significant portion of the drug is metabolized by the liver before
reaching systemic circulation
C) The medication is excreted immediately by the kidneys
D) The medication requires no metabolism
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B) A significant portion of the drug is
metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed from the GI tract and travel
via the portal vein to the liver, where a portion is metabolized before
reaching systemic circulation. Drugs with high first-pass effect (e.g.,
morphine, propranolol) require higher oral doses or alternative routes
(IV) to bypass this effect .
Q5. Changing a drug route from oral to intravenous (IV) for a drug
with high first-pass effect will result in:
A) Slower onset of action
B) Lower bioavailability
C) Higher bioavailability and faster onset
D) No change in drug effect
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C) Higher bioavailability and faster onset
Rationale: IV administration bypasses the GI tract and the initial
hepatic metabolism (first-pass effect). This allows 100% of the drug to
reach systemic circulation immediately, resulting in higher
bioavailability and faster onset of action .
Q6. What is the half-life of a medication?
A) The time it takes for the drug to be absorbed completely
B) The time it takes for the drug concentration in the body to decrease
by 50%
C) The time it takes for the drug to reach peak effect
D) The time it takes for the drug to be excreted entirely
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B) The time it takes for the drug concentration
in the body to decrease by 50%
, Rationale: Half-life (t½) is the time required for the plasma
concentration of a drug to be reduced by 50%. It determines dosing
frequency. Drugs with short half-lives require frequent dosing; drugs
with long half-lives require less frequent dosing .
Q7. A medication has a half-life of 4 hours. Approximately how long
will it take to reach steady state?
A) 8 hours
B) 12 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 40 hours
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C) 20 hours
Rationale: Steady state (where drug administration equals drug
elimination) is reached after approximately 4-5 half-lives. 4 hours × 5
half-lives = 20 hours. This is why loading doses are sometimes given to
achieve therapeutic levels faster .
Q8. What does a "narrow therapeutic index" indicate about a
medication?
A) The medication is very safe and requires no monitoring
B) There is a small margin of safety between effective and toxic doses
C) The medication has a high risk of allergic reactions
D) The medication is only available over the counter
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B) There is a small margin of safety between
effective and toxic doses
Rationale: The therapeutic index is the ratio between toxic dose and
therapeutic dose. A narrow therapeutic index means the drug has a
small safety window. Drugs like digoxin, warfarin, lithium, and
phenytoin require close monitoring of serum levels to avoid toxicity .