NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology Midterm Exam
Questions and Answers | Latest Update 2026/27
UNIVERSITY: Walden University
SUBJECT: NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology
PROFESSOR: Dr. Patricia R. Williams, PhD, RN, FNP‑BC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Exam Overview & Instructions
2. Multiple Choice (Questions 1-100)
3. True / False (Questions 101-120)
4. Fill in the Blank (Questions 121-140)
5. Matching (Questions 141-150)
6. Clinical Case Studies (Questions 151-155)
7. Complete Answer Key & Rationales
1. EXAM OVERVIEW & INSTRUCTIONS
- Total questions: 155
- Suggested time: 2.5 hours (practice mode)
- Question types: multiple choice, true/false, fill‑in‑the‑blank, matching, case studies.
- Instructions: Select the single best answer. Correct answers are bolded.
- Formatting: No color or highlighting – prevents preview cheating.
- Content basis: Walden University NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology course.
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE (Questions 1-100)
PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS
Q1. The time required for a drug's plasma concentration to decrease by 50% is called:
A) Steady state
B) Half‑life
C) Volume of distribution
D) Clearance
Answer: B
Q2. Bioavailability refers to:
A) The amount of drug that reaches systemic circulation unchanged
B) The speed of absorption
,C) The volume of distribution
D) The fraction bound to plasma proteins
Answer: A
Q3. A drug with extensive first‑pass metabolism will have:
A) High oral bioavailability
B) Low oral bioavailability
C) High intravenous bioavailability
D) No effect on bioavailability
Answer: B
Q4. Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4. Concurrent use with simvastatin can lead to:
A) Decreased simvastatin levels
B) Increased simvastatin levels and risk of myopathy
C) No interaction
D) Reduced cholesterol‑lowering effect
Answer: B
Q5. A patient with a VKORC1 polymorphism may require:
A) Higher doses of warfarin
B) Lower doses of warfarin
C) No change in warfarin dose
D) Alternative anticoagulation
Answer: B
Q6. The loading dose of a drug is designed to:
A) Maintain steady state
B) Rapidly achieve therapeutic levels
C) Reduce side effects
D) Prolong half‑life
Answer: B
Q7. Steady state is typically achieved after how many half‑lives?
A) 1‑2
B) 3‑5
C) 6‑8
D) 10‑12
Answer: B
, Q8. The volume of distribution (Vd) is defined as:
A) Amount of drug in body divided by plasma concentration
B) Dose divided by clearance
C) Time to reach peak concentration
D) Fraction bound to plasma proteins
Answer: A
Q9. A drug with a large Vd is likely to:
A) Remain primarily in the vascular space
B) Accumulate in tissues such as fat or muscle
C) Be excreted unchanged in urine
D) Have a short half‑life
Answer: B
Q10. Highly protein‑bound drugs (e.g., warfarin) when displaced by another drug may result in:
A) Decreased free drug concentration
B) Increased free drug concentration and potential toxicity
C) No change
D) Decreased drug half‑life
Answer: B
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Q11. Rifampin is a potent CYP450 inducer. When given with oral contraceptives, it may cause:
A) Increased contraceptive efficacy
B) Decreased contraceptive efficacy and unintended pregnancy
C) No interaction
D) Increased thromboembolic risk
Answer: B
Q12. Which of the following is a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor?
A) Rifampin
B) Ketoconazole
C) Carbamazepine
D) Phenytoin
Answer: B
Q13. A patient taking warfarin is prescribed amiodarone. The INR is expected to:
Questions and Answers | Latest Update 2026/27
UNIVERSITY: Walden University
SUBJECT: NURS 6521 – Advanced Pharmacology
PROFESSOR: Dr. Patricia R. Williams, PhD, RN, FNP‑BC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Exam Overview & Instructions
2. Multiple Choice (Questions 1-100)
3. True / False (Questions 101-120)
4. Fill in the Blank (Questions 121-140)
5. Matching (Questions 141-150)
6. Clinical Case Studies (Questions 151-155)
7. Complete Answer Key & Rationales
1. EXAM OVERVIEW & INSTRUCTIONS
- Total questions: 155
- Suggested time: 2.5 hours (practice mode)
- Question types: multiple choice, true/false, fill‑in‑the‑blank, matching, case studies.
- Instructions: Select the single best answer. Correct answers are bolded.
- Formatting: No color or highlighting – prevents preview cheating.
- Content basis: Walden University NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology course.
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE (Questions 1-100)
PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS
Q1. The time required for a drug's plasma concentration to decrease by 50% is called:
A) Steady state
B) Half‑life
C) Volume of distribution
D) Clearance
Answer: B
Q2. Bioavailability refers to:
A) The amount of drug that reaches systemic circulation unchanged
B) The speed of absorption
,C) The volume of distribution
D) The fraction bound to plasma proteins
Answer: A
Q3. A drug with extensive first‑pass metabolism will have:
A) High oral bioavailability
B) Low oral bioavailability
C) High intravenous bioavailability
D) No effect on bioavailability
Answer: B
Q4. Grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4. Concurrent use with simvastatin can lead to:
A) Decreased simvastatin levels
B) Increased simvastatin levels and risk of myopathy
C) No interaction
D) Reduced cholesterol‑lowering effect
Answer: B
Q5. A patient with a VKORC1 polymorphism may require:
A) Higher doses of warfarin
B) Lower doses of warfarin
C) No change in warfarin dose
D) Alternative anticoagulation
Answer: B
Q6. The loading dose of a drug is designed to:
A) Maintain steady state
B) Rapidly achieve therapeutic levels
C) Reduce side effects
D) Prolong half‑life
Answer: B
Q7. Steady state is typically achieved after how many half‑lives?
A) 1‑2
B) 3‑5
C) 6‑8
D) 10‑12
Answer: B
, Q8. The volume of distribution (Vd) is defined as:
A) Amount of drug in body divided by plasma concentration
B) Dose divided by clearance
C) Time to reach peak concentration
D) Fraction bound to plasma proteins
Answer: A
Q9. A drug with a large Vd is likely to:
A) Remain primarily in the vascular space
B) Accumulate in tissues such as fat or muscle
C) Be excreted unchanged in urine
D) Have a short half‑life
Answer: B
Q10. Highly protein‑bound drugs (e.g., warfarin) when displaced by another drug may result in:
A) Decreased free drug concentration
B) Increased free drug concentration and potential toxicity
C) No change
D) Decreased drug half‑life
Answer: B
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Q11. Rifampin is a potent CYP450 inducer. When given with oral contraceptives, it may cause:
A) Increased contraceptive efficacy
B) Decreased contraceptive efficacy and unintended pregnancy
C) No interaction
D) Increased thromboembolic risk
Answer: B
Q12. Which of the following is a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor?
A) Rifampin
B) Ketoconazole
C) Carbamazepine
D) Phenytoin
Answer: B
Q13. A patient taking warfarin is prescribed amiodarone. The INR is expected to:
