CU CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
1 TINU
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
MN 553: Advanced Pharmacology
UNIT 1 EXAMINATION — PRESCRIBING PRINCIPLES, PHARMACOKINETICS &
PHARMACODYNAMICS
INSTITUTION PROGRAM
Chamberlain University MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE
MN 553 Advanced Pharmacology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE
2025–2026 Unit 1 — Prescribing Principles & Pharmacokinetics
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
30 Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best Answer
General Instructions
▸ Read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice item.
▸ This Unit 1 examination covers the nurse practitioner prescribing role and authority, clinical judgment in
prescribing, pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion), pharmacodynamics,
therapeutic drug monitoring, bioavailability, and loading doses.
▸ All questions are weighted equally unless otherwise noted.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 30 Questions
,1. The nurse practitioner's prescriptive authority is regulated by:
A. The federal government and the FDA
B. The state board of nursing for each state
C. The American Nurses Association
D. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. The state board of nursing for each state
RATIONALE:
Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority is regulated at the state level by each state's board of nursing. Scope of
practice, including prescribing privileges, varies by state — some states allow full independent practice while
others require collaborative agreements. The FDA (A) regulates drug approval. The DEA (D) regulates controlled
substances. The ANA (C) is a professional organization, not a regulatory body.
2. The benefits to the patient of having an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescriber include:
A. The APRN focuses only on pharmacological interventions
B. The nurse cares for the patient from a holistic approach and includes the patient in decision making regarding
their care
C. The APRN prescribes more medications than physicians
D. The APRN does not need to consider cost when prescribing
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. The nurse cares for the patient from a holistic approach and includes the patient in decision making
regarding their care
RATIONALE:
A key benefit of APRN care is the holistic nursing approach — considering the whole patient (physical,
psychosocial, environmental factors) and engaging patients as active partners in shared decision-making about
their treatment. Options A, C, and D are incorrect. Cost considerations are an important component of clinical
prescribing judgment.
, 3. Clinical judgment in prescribing includes:
A. Prescribing the newest medication on the market
B. Factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
C. Always choosing brand-name medications over generics
D. Prescribing without considering drug interactions
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
RATIONALE:
Clinical judgment in prescribing requires the provider to consider multiple factors including efficacy, safety,
patient preferences, AND the cost to the patient. Medication non-adherence is often related to cost. Options A
and C are not evidence-based approaches. Option D represents poor clinical judgment.
4. Criteria for choosing an effective drug for a disorder include:
A. Consulting nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
B. Prescribing based solely on pharmaceutical representative recommendations
C. Always using the most expensive medication available
D. Selecting medications without reviewing patient history
CORRECT ANSWER:
A. Consulting nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
RATIONALE:
Evidence-based practice requires consulting nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines (e.g., JNC for
hypertension, ADA for diabetes, ATP for cholesterol) developed through systematic review of research. These
guidelines provide recommendations for first-line therapies. Options B, C, and D represent substandard
prescribing practices.
1 TINU
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
MN 553: Advanced Pharmacology
UNIT 1 EXAMINATION — PRESCRIBING PRINCIPLES, PHARMACOKINETICS &
PHARMACODYNAMICS
INSTITUTION PROGRAM
Chamberlain University MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE
MN 553 Advanced Pharmacology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE
2025–2026 Unit 1 — Prescribing Principles & Pharmacokinetics
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
30 Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best Answer
General Instructions
▸ Read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice item.
▸ This Unit 1 examination covers the nurse practitioner prescribing role and authority, clinical judgment in
prescribing, pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion), pharmacodynamics,
therapeutic drug monitoring, bioavailability, and loading doses.
▸ All questions are weighted equally unless otherwise noted.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 30 Questions
,1. The nurse practitioner's prescriptive authority is regulated by:
A. The federal government and the FDA
B. The state board of nursing for each state
C. The American Nurses Association
D. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. The state board of nursing for each state
RATIONALE:
Nurse practitioner prescriptive authority is regulated at the state level by each state's board of nursing. Scope of
practice, including prescribing privileges, varies by state — some states allow full independent practice while
others require collaborative agreements. The FDA (A) regulates drug approval. The DEA (D) regulates controlled
substances. The ANA (C) is a professional organization, not a regulatory body.
2. The benefits to the patient of having an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescriber include:
A. The APRN focuses only on pharmacological interventions
B. The nurse cares for the patient from a holistic approach and includes the patient in decision making regarding
their care
C. The APRN prescribes more medications than physicians
D. The APRN does not need to consider cost when prescribing
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. The nurse cares for the patient from a holistic approach and includes the patient in decision making
regarding their care
RATIONALE:
A key benefit of APRN care is the holistic nursing approach — considering the whole patient (physical,
psychosocial, environmental factors) and engaging patients as active partners in shared decision-making about
their treatment. Options A, C, and D are incorrect. Cost considerations are an important component of clinical
prescribing judgment.
, 3. Clinical judgment in prescribing includes:
A. Prescribing the newest medication on the market
B. Factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
C. Always choosing brand-name medications over generics
D. Prescribing without considering drug interactions
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Factoring in the cost to the patient of the medication prescribed
RATIONALE:
Clinical judgment in prescribing requires the provider to consider multiple factors including efficacy, safety,
patient preferences, AND the cost to the patient. Medication non-adherence is often related to cost. Options A
and C are not evidence-based approaches. Option D represents poor clinical judgment.
4. Criteria for choosing an effective drug for a disorder include:
A. Consulting nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
B. Prescribing based solely on pharmaceutical representative recommendations
C. Always using the most expensive medication available
D. Selecting medications without reviewing patient history
CORRECT ANSWER:
A. Consulting nationally recognized guidelines for disease management
RATIONALE:
Evidence-based practice requires consulting nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines (e.g., JNC for
hypertension, ADA for diabetes, ATP for cholesterol) developed through systematic review of research. These
guidelines provide recommendations for first-line therapies. Options B, C, and D represent substandard
prescribing practices.
