NUR 100/NUR100 Exam 4 V1 |
Pharmacology Q&A with Rationale | Fortis
College
1. When preparing to administer a medication, which of the following actions by the nurse
correctly identifies the ‘Right Patient’?
A. Asking the patient to state their room number.
B. Calling the patient by the name written on the door.
C. Checking the patient’s identification band against the MAR.
D. Asking a family member to confirm the patient’s identity.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The nurse must use at least two patient identifiers to ensure the
‘Right Patient’ before drug administration. Checking the identification band against the
Medication Administration Record (MAR) is the standard safety protocol in clinical
settings. This process prevents medication errors and ensures that the right individual
receives the prescribed therapy.
2. A nurse is educating a patient about a drug with a high ‘first-pass effect.’ Which route of
administration would be most affected by this phenomenon?
A. Subcutaneous
B. Intravenous
,C. Oral
D. Sublingual
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver
before it reaches systemic circulation. Drugs administered via the oral route travel through
the portal vein to the liver, significantly reducing their bioavailability. Other routes like
intravenous or sublingual bypass the liver initially, allowing more of the drug to reach the
bloodstream.
3. The nurse knows that the half-life of a medication refers to which of the following?
A. The time it takes for the drug to reach peak plasma levels.
B. The duration of time the drug is effective in the body.
C. The interval between the administration of the first and second doses.
D. The time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Half-life is a pharmacokinetic parameter that determines how quickly
a drug is eliminated from the body. It specifically measures the time required for the
plasma concentration of the drug to be reduced by exactly one half. Understanding half-life
is critical for determining dosing intervals and predicting how long a drug will stay in the
patient’s system.
, 4. A pregnant patient is prescribed a medication classified as ‘Category X.’ What is the
primary implication of this classification?
A. The drug is safe to use during the third trimester only.
B. The drug is contraindicated because it poses a high risk of fetal abnormalities.
C. The drug has shown no risk in human clinical trials.
D. The drug may be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Category X medications have demonstrated clear evidence of fetal
abnormalities and risks in both animal and human studies. The risks of using these drugs
during pregnancy clearly outweigh any possible diagnostic or therapeutic benefits.
Therefore, these medications are strictly contraindicated for women who are or may
become pregnant.
5. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximum biological
response?
A. Antagonist
B. Partial Agonist
C. Inhibitor
D. Agonist
Correct Answer: D
Pharmacology Q&A with Rationale | Fortis
College
1. When preparing to administer a medication, which of the following actions by the nurse
correctly identifies the ‘Right Patient’?
A. Asking the patient to state their room number.
B. Calling the patient by the name written on the door.
C. Checking the patient’s identification band against the MAR.
D. Asking a family member to confirm the patient’s identity.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The nurse must use at least two patient identifiers to ensure the
‘Right Patient’ before drug administration. Checking the identification band against the
Medication Administration Record (MAR) is the standard safety protocol in clinical
settings. This process prevents medication errors and ensures that the right individual
receives the prescribed therapy.
2. A nurse is educating a patient about a drug with a high ‘first-pass effect.’ Which route of
administration would be most affected by this phenomenon?
A. Subcutaneous
B. Intravenous
,C. Oral
D. Sublingual
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver
before it reaches systemic circulation. Drugs administered via the oral route travel through
the portal vein to the liver, significantly reducing their bioavailability. Other routes like
intravenous or sublingual bypass the liver initially, allowing more of the drug to reach the
bloodstream.
3. The nurse knows that the half-life of a medication refers to which of the following?
A. The time it takes for the drug to reach peak plasma levels.
B. The duration of time the drug is effective in the body.
C. The interval between the administration of the first and second doses.
D. The time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Half-life is a pharmacokinetic parameter that determines how quickly
a drug is eliminated from the body. It specifically measures the time required for the
plasma concentration of the drug to be reduced by exactly one half. Understanding half-life
is critical for determining dosing intervals and predicting how long a drug will stay in the
patient’s system.
, 4. A pregnant patient is prescribed a medication classified as ‘Category X.’ What is the
primary implication of this classification?
A. The drug is safe to use during the third trimester only.
B. The drug is contraindicated because it poses a high risk of fetal abnormalities.
C. The drug has shown no risk in human clinical trials.
D. The drug may be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Category X medications have demonstrated clear evidence of fetal
abnormalities and risks in both animal and human studies. The risks of using these drugs
during pregnancy clearly outweigh any possible diagnostic or therapeutic benefits.
Therefore, these medications are strictly contraindicated for women who are or may
become pregnant.
5. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximum biological
response?
A. Antagonist
B. Partial Agonist
C. Inhibitor
D. Agonist
Correct Answer: D
