HESI & Final Pharmacology Full Test
Bank with complete solution
D. Antagonist
***An antagonist is a drug that prevents receptor activation. A selective drug has only
the desired response but may not activate receptors. An agonist is a molecule that
activates receptors. A potent drug requires a lower dose to achieve its effect. Answer-
The nurse prepares to give a drug that will prevent receptor activation. Which term
would describe this drug?
A. Potent
B. Agonist
C. Selective
D. Antagonist
C. Pharmacodynamics
***Pharmacodynamics is the study of what drugs do to the body. Pharmacokinetics is
the study of drug movement throughout the body. Pharmacotherapeutics is the use of
drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to prevent pregnancy. Pharmacology is
the study of drugs in humans. Answer- What is the term for the study of how drugs
influence the body?
A. Pharmacology
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. The highest dose needed to produce a therapeutic effect is close to the lethal dose.
***A low therapeutic index indicates that the high doses needed to produce therapeutic
effects in some people may be large enough to cause death. A high therapeutic index is
more desirable, because the average lethal dose is higher than the therapeutic dose.
Low variability of responses to a drug is not the definition of a low therapeutic index.
,Answer- Why does the nurse monitor the patient closely after administering a drug with
a low therapeutic index?
A. There is a low variability of responses to this drug.
B. The average lethal dose of the drug is much higher than the therapeutic dose.
C. The dose required to produce a therapeutic response in 50% of patients is low.
D. The highest dose needed to produce a therapeutic effect is close to the lethal dose.
A. Monitor the patient's plasma drug level periodically.
***The therapeutic range of a drug is the range between the minimum effective
concentration of the drug in the plasma to obtain the desired drug action and the
minimum toxic concentration. The nurse must monitor the plasma drug level periodically
to avoid drug toxicity while caring for a patient receiving a drug with a low therapeutic
index, such as digoxin. Some medications, such as diphenhydramine [Benadryl], cause
drowsiness as a side effect. In such cases, the nurse instructs patients not to drive after
taking the medication. Some drugs bind to the protein molecules in the body. The nurse
monitors serum albumin levels in patients receiving those drugs to determine the
possibility of drug toxicity. Patients who are prescribed enteric-coated tablets should not
eat a high-fat meal before taking the drug, as that will decrease the absorption rate of
the drug. Answer- The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving a drug with a low
therapeutic index. Which is the most important nursing intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor the patient's plasma drug level periodically.
B. Monitor the patient's serum albumin levels periodically.
C. Instruct the patient not to drive after taking the medication.
D. Instruct the patient not to take the drug after a high-fat meal.
B. Increased heart rate
***Dobutamine mimics the action of norepinephrine (NE) at receptors on the heart,
thereby causing an increase in the heart's rate and force of contraction. Answer- The
drug dobutamine acts as an agonist of norepinephrine (NE) receptors. Which effect is
the nurse most likely to observe in a patient receiving this medication?
A. Sinus bradycardia
B. Increased heart rate
C. Reduced cardiac output
,D. Atrioventricular heart block
B. Antagonist
***An antagonist drug is one that blocks the histamine receptors to prevent excessive
gastric secretion. Drugs that produce a response are called agonists. For example,
epinephrine [Adrenalin] is an agonist that stimulates beta1 and beta2 receptors.
Nonspecific drugs affect various sites in the body. Bethanechol [Urecholine] is a
nonspecific cholinergic drug that affects cholinergic receptors located in the eye, heart,
blood vessels, stomach, bronchus, and bladder. Nonselective drugs affect various
receptors. Chlorpromazine [Thorazine] acts on the norepinephrine, dopamine,
acetylcholine, and histamine receptors, and a variety of responses result from action at
these receptor sites. Answer- The nurse is caring for a patient who is prescribed a drug
to block the histamine receptors to prevent excessive gastric secretion. Which category
of drugs does this medication belong to?
A. Agonist
B. Antagonist
C. Nonspecific
D. Nonselective
A. Antacids
***Antacids do not act through receptors. Antacids neutralize gastric activity by direct
chemical interaction with stomach acid. Answer- The nursing student learns that not all
drugs produce effects by binding to a receptor. Which drugs do not act through
receptors?
A. Antacids
B. Analgesics
C. Antihistamines
D. Steroid hormones
A. Bronchial dilation
B. Increased heart rate
F. Increased force of heart contraction
, ***Activation of beta1 and beta2 receptors results in dilation of the bronchi, increased
cardiac output (by increasing the heart rate and force of contraction); and elevation of
the blood glucose level. Answer- The nurse is administering isoproterenol, a beta1 and
beta2 agonist. The nurse understands activation of these two receptors will result in
which expected drug effects? Select all that apply.
A. Bronchial dilation
B. Increased heart rate
C. Excessive drowsiness
D. Decreased cardiac output
E. Decreased glucose levels
F. Increased force of heart contraction
D. An effect that mimics the natural neurotransmitter for that receptor
***Receptor activation is an effect on receptor function equivalent to that produced by
the natural neurotransmitter at a particular synapse. Activation of a receptor may slow
down or speed up the process, depending on the function of that particular receptor.
Activation does not have to do with improving receptor function or sensitivity. Answer-
Which phrase best describes activation of a receptor?
A. An effect that improves the function of the receptor
B. An effect that causes the receptor to be more sensitive
C. An effect that causes the physiologic process to speed up
D. An effect that mimics the natural neurotransmitter for that receptor
B. Reuptake of the transmitter
***5a is an image for reuptake of the transmitter into the nerve terminal; 2 is storage of
the transmitter; 1 is synthesis of the transmitter; and 5b is enzymatic degradation of the
transmitter. Answer- A nurse is teaching the staff about the effects of drugs on receptor
activity. The nurse is using the image in the teaching session. Which concept will the
nurse teach about for 5a in the image?
A. Storage of the transmitter
B. Reuptake of the transmitter
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D. Antagonist
***An antagonist is a drug that prevents receptor activation. A selective drug has only
the desired response but may not activate receptors. An agonist is a molecule that
activates receptors. A potent drug requires a lower dose to achieve its effect. Answer-
The nurse prepares to give a drug that will prevent receptor activation. Which term
would describe this drug?
A. Potent
B. Agonist
C. Selective
D. Antagonist
C. Pharmacodynamics
***Pharmacodynamics is the study of what drugs do to the body. Pharmacokinetics is
the study of drug movement throughout the body. Pharmacotherapeutics is the use of
drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to prevent pregnancy. Pharmacology is
the study of drugs in humans. Answer- What is the term for the study of how drugs
influence the body?
A. Pharmacology
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. The highest dose needed to produce a therapeutic effect is close to the lethal dose.
***A low therapeutic index indicates that the high doses needed to produce therapeutic
effects in some people may be large enough to cause death. A high therapeutic index is
more desirable, because the average lethal dose is higher than the therapeutic dose.
Low variability of responses to a drug is not the definition of a low therapeutic index.
,Answer- Why does the nurse monitor the patient closely after administering a drug with
a low therapeutic index?
A. There is a low variability of responses to this drug.
B. The average lethal dose of the drug is much higher than the therapeutic dose.
C. The dose required to produce a therapeutic response in 50% of patients is low.
D. The highest dose needed to produce a therapeutic effect is close to the lethal dose.
A. Monitor the patient's plasma drug level periodically.
***The therapeutic range of a drug is the range between the minimum effective
concentration of the drug in the plasma to obtain the desired drug action and the
minimum toxic concentration. The nurse must monitor the plasma drug level periodically
to avoid drug toxicity while caring for a patient receiving a drug with a low therapeutic
index, such as digoxin. Some medications, such as diphenhydramine [Benadryl], cause
drowsiness as a side effect. In such cases, the nurse instructs patients not to drive after
taking the medication. Some drugs bind to the protein molecules in the body. The nurse
monitors serum albumin levels in patients receiving those drugs to determine the
possibility of drug toxicity. Patients who are prescribed enteric-coated tablets should not
eat a high-fat meal before taking the drug, as that will decrease the absorption rate of
the drug. Answer- The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving a drug with a low
therapeutic index. Which is the most important nursing intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor the patient's plasma drug level periodically.
B. Monitor the patient's serum albumin levels periodically.
C. Instruct the patient not to drive after taking the medication.
D. Instruct the patient not to take the drug after a high-fat meal.
B. Increased heart rate
***Dobutamine mimics the action of norepinephrine (NE) at receptors on the heart,
thereby causing an increase in the heart's rate and force of contraction. Answer- The
drug dobutamine acts as an agonist of norepinephrine (NE) receptors. Which effect is
the nurse most likely to observe in a patient receiving this medication?
A. Sinus bradycardia
B. Increased heart rate
C. Reduced cardiac output
,D. Atrioventricular heart block
B. Antagonist
***An antagonist drug is one that blocks the histamine receptors to prevent excessive
gastric secretion. Drugs that produce a response are called agonists. For example,
epinephrine [Adrenalin] is an agonist that stimulates beta1 and beta2 receptors.
Nonspecific drugs affect various sites in the body. Bethanechol [Urecholine] is a
nonspecific cholinergic drug that affects cholinergic receptors located in the eye, heart,
blood vessels, stomach, bronchus, and bladder. Nonselective drugs affect various
receptors. Chlorpromazine [Thorazine] acts on the norepinephrine, dopamine,
acetylcholine, and histamine receptors, and a variety of responses result from action at
these receptor sites. Answer- The nurse is caring for a patient who is prescribed a drug
to block the histamine receptors to prevent excessive gastric secretion. Which category
of drugs does this medication belong to?
A. Agonist
B. Antagonist
C. Nonspecific
D. Nonselective
A. Antacids
***Antacids do not act through receptors. Antacids neutralize gastric activity by direct
chemical interaction with stomach acid. Answer- The nursing student learns that not all
drugs produce effects by binding to a receptor. Which drugs do not act through
receptors?
A. Antacids
B. Analgesics
C. Antihistamines
D. Steroid hormones
A. Bronchial dilation
B. Increased heart rate
F. Increased force of heart contraction
, ***Activation of beta1 and beta2 receptors results in dilation of the bronchi, increased
cardiac output (by increasing the heart rate and force of contraction); and elevation of
the blood glucose level. Answer- The nurse is administering isoproterenol, a beta1 and
beta2 agonist. The nurse understands activation of these two receptors will result in
which expected drug effects? Select all that apply.
A. Bronchial dilation
B. Increased heart rate
C. Excessive drowsiness
D. Decreased cardiac output
E. Decreased glucose levels
F. Increased force of heart contraction
D. An effect that mimics the natural neurotransmitter for that receptor
***Receptor activation is an effect on receptor function equivalent to that produced by
the natural neurotransmitter at a particular synapse. Activation of a receptor may slow
down or speed up the process, depending on the function of that particular receptor.
Activation does not have to do with improving receptor function or sensitivity. Answer-
Which phrase best describes activation of a receptor?
A. An effect that improves the function of the receptor
B. An effect that causes the receptor to be more sensitive
C. An effect that causes the physiologic process to speed up
D. An effect that mimics the natural neurotransmitter for that receptor
B. Reuptake of the transmitter
***5a is an image for reuptake of the transmitter into the nerve terminal; 2 is storage of
the transmitter; 1 is synthesis of the transmitter; and 5b is enzymatic degradation of the
transmitter. Answer- A nurse is teaching the staff about the effects of drugs on receptor
activity. The nurse is using the image in the teaching session. Which concept will the
nurse teach about for 5a in the image?
A. Storage of the transmitter
B. Reuptake of the transmitter
