Understanding Pharmacology Essentials for Medication Safety 2nd Editi
Workman Test Bank
Chapter 01: Drug Regulation, Actions, and Responses
Workman & LaCharity: Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication Safety, 2nd
MULTIPLE CHOICE
BASIC CONCEPTS
1. Which health care professional has the major responsibility for dispensing prescribed drugs under the d
a. Physician
b. Nurse practitioner
c. Licensed nurse
d. Pharmacy technician
ANS: D
The physician and nurse practitioner have the major responsibility for prescribing drugs, not dispensing
has the primary responsibility for administering drugs, although under some circumstances a licensed n
prescribed drugs but this is not his or her major responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technicia
responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
2. Which term describes the effect of a drug that improves body function?
a. Side effect
b. Intended action
c. Adverse reaction
d. Idiosyncratic response
ANS: B
The purpose of drug therapy is to take a drug to prevent, reduce, or correct a health problem. This resp
action also known as a therapeutic response.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
3. Which type of drug name is “owned” by the company that manufactures it?
a. Generic name
b. Chemical name
c. Category name
d. Trade name
ANS: D
The chemical name is a drug’s exact chemical composition. The generic name is the name assigned to
Names Council and is not owned by anyone. The category name refers to the type of drug (what it doe
not an actual drug name. The trade name (brand name) is the name provided and owned by a specific d
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
4. Which drug or drug class is a “high alert” drug?
a. Penicillin
b. Insulin
c. NSAIDs
d. Calcium
ANS: B
A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong dose, to the wrong patie
patient. Drugs classified as high alert drugs include potassium, narcotics (opioids), insulin, cancer chem
(or any drug that strongly affects blood clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered h
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
, 6. Which term describes how the body affects drug activity?
a. Drug potency
b. Pharmacodynamics
c. Therapeutic effect
d. Pharmacokinetics
ANS: D
The term pharmacokinetics refers to drug metabolism and how the body changes a drug. Pharmacodyn
works to change body function. Drug potency refers to how strongly or to what degree a drug exerts its
effect is closer to pharmacodynamics, meaning how a drug works to change body function.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 10
7. In the United States, which group is responsible for enforcing established standards for drug manufactu
a. U.S. Pharmacopeia
b. National Institutes of Health
c. Food and Drug Administration
d. Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
ANS: C
The standards for drug manufacture are established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia. These standards are enf
Administration. Neither the National Institutes of Health nor the Association of Pharmaceutical Manuf
enforce drug standards.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 5
8. Which factor is a major disadvantage of the transdermal drug delivery route?
a. Only a prescriber can administer drugs by the transdermal route.
b. Transdermal drugs must be sterile rather than clean.
c. First pass drug loss by this route is the most extensive.
d. Drug absorption is dependent on adequate circulation.
ANS: D
Once a transdermal drug moves through the skin, it must enter the bloodstream to reach its target tissue
area where the transdermal drug is applied, very little, if any, of the drug will reach its target tissue.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 12
9. How are intrinsic drugs different from extrinsic drugs?
a. Intrinsic drugs are made by the body, whereas extrinsic drugs are made outside
the body.
b. Intrinsic drugs are administered by the parenteral route, whereas extrinsic drugs
are administered by the oral route.
c. Extrinsic drugs can only be applied to the skin or mucous membranes, whereas
intrinsic drugs are taken internally.
d. Extrinsic drugs require a prescription for administration, whereas intrinsic drugs
are available over-the-counter.
ANS: A
Intrinsic drugs are the hormones, enzymes, and other chemicals made by the body that change cell a
manufactured from chemical, animal, or plant sources and must have a means of entering the body in o
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p. 3
10. A patient asks why his drug to control high blood pressure has only one generic name and two differen
best response?
a. “Most drugs have different trade names that indicate different dosages.”
b. “The two different trade names indicate that one is a more pure and safer drug
than the other.”
c. “The generic name is the actual official drug name and the trade name is a brand
,12. The prescriber tells a patient with allergies to use oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl) over-the-counter (O
symptoms. She tells you that she would rather have a prescription for the “real” Benadryl because she
work better than the nonprescription form. What is your best response?
a. “If you receive a prescription for this drug your name will be added to a
controlled substances list.”
b. “It is better to use the OTC Benadryl rather than the prescribed form because it
has fewer side effects.”
c. “The OTC form of Benadryl is the same strength as the one that was available by
prescription only.”
d. “You are correct. I will ask the health care provider to write a prescription so that
you can get the most effective drug.”
ANS: C
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is no longer available by prescription only. The OTC form has the same
effects that the prescription only drug had.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: p. 4
13. Why is it important to always ask a patient about his or her use of any herbal supplements or botanicals
a. Many states do not have regulations about herbal supplements or botanicals.
b. These substances are illegal and their use by patients must be reported.
c. Patients who use botanicals seldom take their prescribed drugs.
d. These substances can interact with a prescribed drug.
ANS: D
Many herbal supplements and botanicals have effects on cell activity. Sometimes these agents can mak
can reduce the effectiveness of a prescribed drug. Others can actually cause health problems.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 5
14. How are the effects of naturally occurring testosterone changed when a patient is taking a drug that is a
a. Effects are increased.
b. Effects are decreased.
c. Effects are eliminated.
d. Effects are unchanged.
ANS: A
An agonist drug has the same effects of the naturally occurring drug. So, taking a testosterone agonist a
patient’s naturally occurring testosterone.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: pp. 6-7
15. Which feature of a drug agonist increases its potency?
a. It is water soluble.
b. It binds tighter and longer to its receptors than do other drugs.
c. It is excreted through the intestinal tract rather than through the kidneys.
d. It is administered intramuscularly rather than by the intravenous route.
ANS: B
A drug agonist binds to its receptors to cause a change in the cells and tissues. The longer a drug remai
the more tightly it binds increases its duration of response, making it more potent than a drug that bind
shorter time.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p. 7
16. Which statement about agonist and antagonist drugs is true?
a. The target tissues for these types of drugs are invading bacteria and viruses.
b. Both agonist and antagonist drugs must interact with receptors to produce their
intended responses.
c. Antagonist drugs produce only intended responses and agonist drugs produce
, 17. A patient asks why he must take a “loading dose” for the first dose of his prescribed drug and then take
is your best response?
a. “The loading dose allows the first dose of this drug to get into your bloodstream
faster and because it stays in the bloodstream a long time, you can take lower
doses after that.”
b. “The first dose of a drug has to be higher to reach the bloodstream because the
liver destroys it before it has a chance to start its action and work for you.”
c. “By taking the highest dose first and just once, you are reducing the likelihood of
having a bad reaction or other side effects to this drug.”
d. “This schedule helps by ensuring that the drug is having an effect even if you
forget to take the rest of the doses.”
ANS: A
A loading dose is most often used with drugs that have a long half-life. Giving a higher dose for the fir
bloodstream rapidly and stay there. Smaller doses follow it to keep the blood drug level at a steady stat
for a drug over dose.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: p. 16
18. Which action could make a drug more potent?
a. Slow drug absorption
b. Slow drug elimination
c. Normal drug elimination
d. Fast drug elimination
ANS: B
Any condition that keeps a drug active inside the body longer can increase its potency. Slow drug elim
remain longer in the body. Normal or fast elimination does not. Slow drug absorption does not contribu
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p. 15
19. When teaching a patient about adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which precaution is most important to i
a. “Take your medications right before you go to bed so that you can sleep through
an ADR.”
b. “Keep a written record of the date and time an ADR occurs.”
c. “Stop taking the drug and flush it down the toilet.”
d. “Immediately seek medical help.”
ANS: D
An adverse drug reaction can cause tissue damage and death. Any patient experiencing an ADR needs
immediately to reduce the chances of serious problems.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: pp. 8-9
20. A patient tells you that she is allergic to the drug her health care provider just prescribed. What is your
a. Ask her to describe the allergic response she had previously to this drug.
b. Ask her whether she received the drug she was allergic to by mouth or by
injection.
c. Thank her for the information and ask the health care provider to prescribe
something else.
d. Tell her that the health care provider will also prescribe an antidote that will
prevent an allergic response to the prescribed drug.
ANS: A
Many patients do not understand the difference between a side effect, an allergy, and an adverse effect.
allergic reaction or perhaps just experienced a side effect that would not preclude her receiving this dru
find out just what the reaction involved in order to determine whether she should receive this drug.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: p. 9
Workman Test Bank
Chapter 01: Drug Regulation, Actions, and Responses
Workman & LaCharity: Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication Safety, 2nd
MULTIPLE CHOICE
BASIC CONCEPTS
1. Which health care professional has the major responsibility for dispensing prescribed drugs under the d
a. Physician
b. Nurse practitioner
c. Licensed nurse
d. Pharmacy technician
ANS: D
The physician and nurse practitioner have the major responsibility for prescribing drugs, not dispensing
has the primary responsibility for administering drugs, although under some circumstances a licensed n
prescribed drugs but this is not his or her major responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technicia
responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
2. Which term describes the effect of a drug that improves body function?
a. Side effect
b. Intended action
c. Adverse reaction
d. Idiosyncratic response
ANS: B
The purpose of drug therapy is to take a drug to prevent, reduce, or correct a health problem. This resp
action also known as a therapeutic response.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
3. Which type of drug name is “owned” by the company that manufactures it?
a. Generic name
b. Chemical name
c. Category name
d. Trade name
ANS: D
The chemical name is a drug’s exact chemical composition. The generic name is the name assigned to
Names Council and is not owned by anyone. The category name refers to the type of drug (what it doe
not an actual drug name. The trade name (brand name) is the name provided and owned by a specific d
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
4. Which drug or drug class is a “high alert” drug?
a. Penicillin
b. Insulin
c. NSAIDs
d. Calcium
ANS: B
A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong dose, to the wrong patie
patient. Drugs classified as high alert drugs include potassium, narcotics (opioids), insulin, cancer chem
(or any drug that strongly affects blood clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered h
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
, 6. Which term describes how the body affects drug activity?
a. Drug potency
b. Pharmacodynamics
c. Therapeutic effect
d. Pharmacokinetics
ANS: D
The term pharmacokinetics refers to drug metabolism and how the body changes a drug. Pharmacodyn
works to change body function. Drug potency refers to how strongly or to what degree a drug exerts its
effect is closer to pharmacodynamics, meaning how a drug works to change body function.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 10
7. In the United States, which group is responsible for enforcing established standards for drug manufactu
a. U.S. Pharmacopeia
b. National Institutes of Health
c. Food and Drug Administration
d. Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
ANS: C
The standards for drug manufacture are established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia. These standards are enf
Administration. Neither the National Institutes of Health nor the Association of Pharmaceutical Manuf
enforce drug standards.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 5
8. Which factor is a major disadvantage of the transdermal drug delivery route?
a. Only a prescriber can administer drugs by the transdermal route.
b. Transdermal drugs must be sterile rather than clean.
c. First pass drug loss by this route is the most extensive.
d. Drug absorption is dependent on adequate circulation.
ANS: D
Once a transdermal drug moves through the skin, it must enter the bloodstream to reach its target tissue
area where the transdermal drug is applied, very little, if any, of the drug will reach its target tissue.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 12
9. How are intrinsic drugs different from extrinsic drugs?
a. Intrinsic drugs are made by the body, whereas extrinsic drugs are made outside
the body.
b. Intrinsic drugs are administered by the parenteral route, whereas extrinsic drugs
are administered by the oral route.
c. Extrinsic drugs can only be applied to the skin or mucous membranes, whereas
intrinsic drugs are taken internally.
d. Extrinsic drugs require a prescription for administration, whereas intrinsic drugs
are available over-the-counter.
ANS: A
Intrinsic drugs are the hormones, enzymes, and other chemicals made by the body that change cell a
manufactured from chemical, animal, or plant sources and must have a means of entering the body in o
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p. 3
10. A patient asks why his drug to control high blood pressure has only one generic name and two differen
best response?
a. “Most drugs have different trade names that indicate different dosages.”
b. “The two different trade names indicate that one is a more pure and safer drug
than the other.”
c. “The generic name is the actual official drug name and the trade name is a brand
,12. The prescriber tells a patient with allergies to use oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl) over-the-counter (O
symptoms. She tells you that she would rather have a prescription for the “real” Benadryl because she
work better than the nonprescription form. What is your best response?
a. “If you receive a prescription for this drug your name will be added to a
controlled substances list.”
b. “It is better to use the OTC Benadryl rather than the prescribed form because it
has fewer side effects.”
c. “The OTC form of Benadryl is the same strength as the one that was available by
prescription only.”
d. “You are correct. I will ask the health care provider to write a prescription so that
you can get the most effective drug.”
ANS: C
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is no longer available by prescription only. The OTC form has the same
effects that the prescription only drug had.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: p. 4
13. Why is it important to always ask a patient about his or her use of any herbal supplements or botanicals
a. Many states do not have regulations about herbal supplements or botanicals.
b. These substances are illegal and their use by patients must be reported.
c. Patients who use botanicals seldom take their prescribed drugs.
d. These substances can interact with a prescribed drug.
ANS: D
Many herbal supplements and botanicals have effects on cell activity. Sometimes these agents can mak
can reduce the effectiveness of a prescribed drug. Others can actually cause health problems.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 5
14. How are the effects of naturally occurring testosterone changed when a patient is taking a drug that is a
a. Effects are increased.
b. Effects are decreased.
c. Effects are eliminated.
d. Effects are unchanged.
ANS: A
An agonist drug has the same effects of the naturally occurring drug. So, taking a testosterone agonist a
patient’s naturally occurring testosterone.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: pp. 6-7
15. Which feature of a drug agonist increases its potency?
a. It is water soluble.
b. It binds tighter and longer to its receptors than do other drugs.
c. It is excreted through the intestinal tract rather than through the kidneys.
d. It is administered intramuscularly rather than by the intravenous route.
ANS: B
A drug agonist binds to its receptors to cause a change in the cells and tissues. The longer a drug remai
the more tightly it binds increases its duration of response, making it more potent than a drug that bind
shorter time.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p. 7
16. Which statement about agonist and antagonist drugs is true?
a. The target tissues for these types of drugs are invading bacteria and viruses.
b. Both agonist and antagonist drugs must interact with receptors to produce their
intended responses.
c. Antagonist drugs produce only intended responses and agonist drugs produce
, 17. A patient asks why he must take a “loading dose” for the first dose of his prescribed drug and then take
is your best response?
a. “The loading dose allows the first dose of this drug to get into your bloodstream
faster and because it stays in the bloodstream a long time, you can take lower
doses after that.”
b. “The first dose of a drug has to be higher to reach the bloodstream because the
liver destroys it before it has a chance to start its action and work for you.”
c. “By taking the highest dose first and just once, you are reducing the likelihood of
having a bad reaction or other side effects to this drug.”
d. “This schedule helps by ensuring that the drug is having an effect even if you
forget to take the rest of the doses.”
ANS: A
A loading dose is most often used with drugs that have a long half-life. Giving a higher dose for the fir
bloodstream rapidly and stay there. Smaller doses follow it to keep the blood drug level at a steady stat
for a drug over dose.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: p. 16
18. Which action could make a drug more potent?
a. Slow drug absorption
b. Slow drug elimination
c. Normal drug elimination
d. Fast drug elimination
ANS: B
Any condition that keeps a drug active inside the body longer can increase its potency. Slow drug elim
remain longer in the body. Normal or fast elimination does not. Slow drug absorption does not contribu
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding REF: p. 15
19. When teaching a patient about adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which precaution is most important to i
a. “Take your medications right before you go to bed so that you can sleep through
an ADR.”
b. “Keep a written record of the date and time an ADR occurs.”
c. “Stop taking the drug and flush it down the toilet.”
d. “Immediately seek medical help.”
ANS: D
An adverse drug reaction can cause tissue damage and death. Any patient experiencing an ADR needs
immediately to reduce the chances of serious problems.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: pp. 8-9
20. A patient tells you that she is allergic to the drug her health care provider just prescribed. What is your
a. Ask her to describe the allergic response she had previously to this drug.
b. Ask her whether she received the drug she was allergic to by mouth or by
injection.
c. Thank her for the information and ask the health care provider to prescribe
something else.
d. Tell her that the health care provider will also prescribe an antidote that will
prevent an allergic response to the prescribed drug.
ANS: A
Many patients do not understand the difference between a side effect, an allergy, and an adverse effect.
allergic reaction or perhaps just experienced a side effect that would not preclude her receiving this dru
find out just what the reaction involved in order to determine whether she should receive this drug.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying or Higher REF: p. 9
