NUR 100/NUR100 Exam 2 V3 |
Pharmacology Q&A with Rationale | Fortis
College
1. A nurse is reviewing the pharmacokinetics of a newly prescribed drug. Which process
describes the movement of the drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Absorption
B. Metabolism
C. Distribution
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Absorption refers to the process by which a drug enters the systemic
circulation from its site of administration. This process is influenced by the route of
administration, drug solubility, and blood flow to the site. Understanding absorption is
critical for the nurse to predict the onset of drug action.
2. When administering an oral medication, the nurse understands that the ‘first-pass effect’
occurs primarily in which organ?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Small Intestine
,D. Kidneys
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect is the rapid uptake and metabolism of an agent
into inactive compounds by the liver immediately after absorption from the gut. This
process can significantly reduce the concentration of a drug before it reaches the systemic
circulation. Consequently, many drugs require much higher oral doses compared to
parenteral doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect.
3. A patient has a serum albumin level of 2.2 g/dL. How might this low protein level affect the
distribution of a highly protein-bound medication?
A. There will be a higher risk of drug toxicity.
B. The drug will be less effective.
C. The drug will be excreted more rapidly.
D. The drug’s half-life will be significantly shortened.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Highly protein-bound drugs require albumin to transport them
through the bloodstream, but only the unbound ‘free’ drug is pharmacologically active.
When albumin levels are low, there are fewer binding sites, leading to an increase in the
free, active drug concentration. This elevation in free drug levels increases the risk for
adverse effects and toxicity in the patient.
, 4. The nurse is calculating the half-life of a medication. If a drug has a half-life of 4 hours and
the current dose is 400 mg, how much of the drug remains in the body after 8 hours?
A. 200 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 50 mg
D. 0 mg
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug in the
body to decrease by 50%. After 4 hours (one half-life), 200 mg remains; after another 4
hours (two half-lives total), 100 mg remains. Nurses use this knowledge to determine the
timing of medication administration and steady-state levels.
5. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and initiates a physiological
response?
A. Antagonist
B. Inhibitor
C. Agonist
D. Synergist
Correct Answer: C
Pharmacology Q&A with Rationale | Fortis
College
1. A nurse is reviewing the pharmacokinetics of a newly prescribed drug. Which process
describes the movement of the drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A. Absorption
B. Metabolism
C. Distribution
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Absorption refers to the process by which a drug enters the systemic
circulation from its site of administration. This process is influenced by the route of
administration, drug solubility, and blood flow to the site. Understanding absorption is
critical for the nurse to predict the onset of drug action.
2. When administering an oral medication, the nurse understands that the ‘first-pass effect’
occurs primarily in which organ?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Small Intestine
,D. Kidneys
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The first-pass effect is the rapid uptake and metabolism of an agent
into inactive compounds by the liver immediately after absorption from the gut. This
process can significantly reduce the concentration of a drug before it reaches the systemic
circulation. Consequently, many drugs require much higher oral doses compared to
parenteral doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect.
3. A patient has a serum albumin level of 2.2 g/dL. How might this low protein level affect the
distribution of a highly protein-bound medication?
A. There will be a higher risk of drug toxicity.
B. The drug will be less effective.
C. The drug will be excreted more rapidly.
D. The drug’s half-life will be significantly shortened.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Highly protein-bound drugs require albumin to transport them
through the bloodstream, but only the unbound ‘free’ drug is pharmacologically active.
When albumin levels are low, there are fewer binding sites, leading to an increase in the
free, active drug concentration. This elevation in free drug levels increases the risk for
adverse effects and toxicity in the patient.
, 4. The nurse is calculating the half-life of a medication. If a drug has a half-life of 4 hours and
the current dose is 400 mg, how much of the drug remains in the body after 8 hours?
A. 200 mg
B. 100 mg
C. 50 mg
D. 0 mg
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Half-life is the time required for the concentration of a drug in the
body to decrease by 50%. After 4 hours (one half-life), 200 mg remains; after another 4
hours (two half-lives total), 100 mg remains. Nurses use this knowledge to determine the
timing of medication administration and steady-state levels.
5. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and initiates a physiological
response?
A. Antagonist
B. Inhibitor
C. Agonist
D. Synergist
Correct Answer: C
