Chapter 01: Drug Regulation, Actions, and Responses
Workman & LaCharity: Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication
Safety, 2nd Edition
MULTIPLE
CHOICE BASIC
CONCEPTS
Which health care professional has the major responsibility for
dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a pharmacist?
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 them. The licensed nurse has the primary
responsibility for administering drugs, although under some circumstances a
licensed nurse may dispense prescribed drugs but this is not his or her major
responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technician has the major
responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed
pharmacist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
, Which drug or drug class is a “high alert” drug?
a. Penicilli
n
b Insulin
.
c. NSAID
s
d Calciu
. m
ANS: B
A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong
dose, to the wrong patient, or not given to the correct patient. Drugs classified
as high alert drugs include potassium, narcotics (opioids), insulin, cancer
chemotherapy drugs, and heparin (or any drug that strongly affects blood
clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered high alert drugs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
What is the term for a drug that has the same action as a
naturally occurring body hormone or enzyme?
a. Agonist
b Blocking
. agent
c. Chemical
d Duplicator
,.
ANS: A
A drug agonist is an extrinsic drug that activates the receptor sites of a
cell and mimics the actions of naturally occurring body substances
(intrinsic drugs). A blocking agent is a drug
, antagonist. A chemical would not necessarily be a drug at all. A duplicator is
not a pharmacologic term.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: pp. 6-7
Which term describes how the body affects drug activity?
a. Drug potency
b Pharmacodyna
. mics
c. Therapeutic
effect
d Pharmacokineti
. cs
ANS: D
The term pharmacokinetics refers to drug metabolism and how the body
changes a drug. Pharmacodynamics refers to how a drug works to change body
function. Drug potency refers to how strongly or to what degree a drug exerts
its effects. The therapeutic effect is closer to pharmacodynamics, meaning how
a drug works to change body function.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 10
In the United States, which group is responsible for enforcing
established standards for drug manufacturing?
a. U.S. Pharmacopeia
b National Institutes of Health
Workman & LaCharity: Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication
Safety, 2nd Edition
MULTIPLE
CHOICE BASIC
CONCEPTS
Which health care professional has the major responsibility for
dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a pharmacist?
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 them. The licensed nurse has the primary
responsibility for administering drugs, although under some circumstances a
licensed nurse may dispense prescribed drugs but this is not his or her major
responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technician has the major
responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed
pharmacist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
, Which drug or drug class is a “high alert” drug?
a. Penicilli
n
b Insulin
.
c. NSAID
s
d Calciu
. m
ANS: B
A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong
dose, to the wrong patient, or not given to the correct patient. Drugs classified
as high alert drugs include potassium, narcotics (opioids), insulin, cancer
chemotherapy drugs, and heparin (or any drug that strongly affects blood
clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered high alert drugs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
What is the term for a drug that has the same action as a
naturally occurring body hormone or enzyme?
a. Agonist
b Blocking
. agent
c. Chemical
d Duplicator
,.
ANS: A
A drug agonist is an extrinsic drug that activates the receptor sites of a
cell and mimics the actions of naturally occurring body substances
(intrinsic drugs). A blocking agent is a drug
, antagonist. A chemical would not necessarily be a drug at all. A duplicator is
not a pharmacologic term.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: pp. 6-7
Which term describes how the body affects drug activity?
a. Drug potency
b Pharmacodyna
. mics
c. Therapeutic
effect
d Pharmacokineti
. cs
ANS: D
The term pharmacokinetics refers to drug metabolism and how the body
changes a drug. Pharmacodynamics refers to how a drug works to change body
function. Drug potency refers to how strongly or to what degree a drug exerts
its effects. The therapeutic effect is closer to pharmacodynamics, meaning how
a drug works to change body function.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 10
In the United States, which group is responsible for enforcing
established standards for drug manufacturing?
a. U.S. Pharmacopeia
b National Institutes of Health
