2ND YR. NURSING BATTERY EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
PHARMACOLOGY
1. Which statement best describes the relationship between the efficacy and the potency of a
medication?
a. “The potency of a medication is determined by the dose of medication administered.”
b. “The potency of a medication is determined by the efficacy of the medication.”
c. Answer: The potency of the medication is determined by its affinity and the higher the potency,
the greater the medication’s effect.
d. The lower the affinity of a medication, the lower the minimum dose should be in order to be
potent
2. The student nurse asks the nurse, “What does pharmacodynamics mean?” Which is the best
response by the nurse?
a. Answer: “Pharmacodynamics describes the mechanisms and effects of a medication within the
body.”
b. “Pharmacodynamics refers to the metabolism of the medication in the body.”
c. “Pharmacodynamics refers to how a medication is absorbed by the body.”
d. “Pharmacodynamics is how a medication is distributed throughout the body.”
3. The nurse is reviewing a list of clients scheduled for surgical procedures. Which client(s) is/are at
risk for an adverse pharmacodynamic effect? Select all that apply.
a. Answer: A 42-year-old client is scheduled for gastric bypass surgery.
b. A 34-year-old client scheduled for a cholecystectomy.
c. Answer: A 72-year-old client scheduled for a colonoscopy
d. Answer: A 6-year-old scheduled for a tonsillectomy.
e. Answer: A 26-year-old client at 33 weeks gestation scheduled for a skin tag removal
4. The nurse is preparing to explain the medication-receptor relationship to a nursing student. Which
primary receptor(s) that act as medication-binding site(s), should the nurse include in the
discussion? Select all that apply.
a. Answer: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR)
b. Answer: Intracellular receptors
c. Thermoreceptors
d. Answer: Enzyme-coupled receptors
e. Answer: Ligand-gated ion channels
f. C-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptors
5. The nurse is caring for a client prescribed an oral formulation of a medication. The client asks the
nurse, “What does my body do with this medication once I swallow it?” Which is the best response
by the nurse?
a. “The medication is activated by the stomach acid.”
b. Answer: “The medication is absorbed into your bloodstream.”
c. “The medication is absorbed through pinocytosis.”
d. “The medication is metabolized by the enzymes in the digestive system.”
,6. Which factor(s) can affect the absorption of a medication? Select all that apply.
a. Answer: The pharmaceutical preparation of medication
b. Answer: Presence of foods
c. Answer: Amount of blood supply to the absorption site
d. Answer: The pH of the environment
e. Answer: The route of the administration
7. An adult client is prescribed oral acetaminophen for the treatment of mild pain. To assure the
medication will be absorbed properly, which physiological system should the nurse perform a
focused assessment on?
a. Cardiovascular
b. Answer: Gastrointestinal
c. Musculoskeletal
d. Integumentary
8. The nursing instructor is teaching a group of nursing students about condition(s) that are treated
with the beta-lactam antibiotic, penicillin. Which condition(s) should the instructor include in the
educational session? Select all that apply
a. Answer: Syphilis
b. Influenza
c. Common cold
d. Answer: Tonsilitis
e. Answer: Endocarditis
9. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of oxacillin to a client diagnosed with a wound
infection secondary to staphylococcus aureus. Which client statement requires further assessment by
the nurse prior to administering this medication?
a. “I am already taking gentamycin to treat my infection.”
b. Answer: “I am allergic to cephalexin.”
c. “I just switched to formula for my newborn.”
d. “I take lactobacillus on a daily basis.”
10. The infection control nurse is discussing the mechanism of action of penicillin with a newly graduated
nurse. Which statement by the newly graduated nurse should the infection control nurse question?
a. “Penicillin inhibits the bacterial enzyme needed for cell division.”
b. Answer: “Penicillin suppresses the immune system to prevent symptoms.”
c. “Penicillin kills the bacteria due to cell lysis.”
d. “Penicillin interferes with cell wall synthesis of bacteria.”
11. Which of the following clients is at greatest risk for digitalis toxicity?
a. A 25-year-old client with congenital heart disease.
b. A 50-year-old client with CHF.
c. A 60-year-old client after myocardial infarction.
d. Answer: An 80-year-old client with CHF.
rationale: EXTREMELY OLD clients are at greatest risk for digitalis toxicity
, 12. Which of the following is a contraindication for digoxin administration?
a. Blood pressure of 140/90.
b. Heart rate above 80.
c. Answer: Heart rate below 60.
d. Respiratory rate above 20.
rationale: Digoxin lowers the heart rate; therefore, the choice that reflects a low heart rate is the
best selection.
13. The action of medication is inotropic when it:
a. Decreased afterload.
b. Increases heart rate.
c. Answer: Increases the force of contraction.
d. Is used to treat CHF.
14. Which is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take before administering digoxin?
a. Answer: Monitor potassium level.
b. Assess blood pressure.
c. Evaluate urinary output.
d. Avoid giving with thiazide diuretic.
15. Blurred vision or halos are signs of:
a. Subtherapeutic digoxin levels.
b. Answer: Digoxin toxicity.
c. Nothing related to digoxin.
d. Corneal side effects of digoxin.
rationale: Halos is a hallmark sign of digoxin toxicity.
16. The pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein carries:
a. waste products of digestion
b. oxygenated and deoxygenated blood respectively
c. Answer: deoxygenated and oxygenated blood respectively
d. testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone hormones
17. The Cardiac Output Formula is:
a. C0 = SV /HR
b. Answer: C0 = HR * SV
c. CO = SV – .8
d. C0 = HR + 32 /HR
18. What are the 3 primary processes of the kidneys?
a. secretion of bile, storage of glycogen, removal of toxins from the body
b. controlling thirst and hunger, maintaining body temperature, regulating mood and cognitive
function
c. Answer: filtration, reabsorption, active secretion
PHARMACOLOGY
1. Which statement best describes the relationship between the efficacy and the potency of a
medication?
a. “The potency of a medication is determined by the dose of medication administered.”
b. “The potency of a medication is determined by the efficacy of the medication.”
c. Answer: The potency of the medication is determined by its affinity and the higher the potency,
the greater the medication’s effect.
d. The lower the affinity of a medication, the lower the minimum dose should be in order to be
potent
2. The student nurse asks the nurse, “What does pharmacodynamics mean?” Which is the best
response by the nurse?
a. Answer: “Pharmacodynamics describes the mechanisms and effects of a medication within the
body.”
b. “Pharmacodynamics refers to the metabolism of the medication in the body.”
c. “Pharmacodynamics refers to how a medication is absorbed by the body.”
d. “Pharmacodynamics is how a medication is distributed throughout the body.”
3. The nurse is reviewing a list of clients scheduled for surgical procedures. Which client(s) is/are at
risk for an adverse pharmacodynamic effect? Select all that apply.
a. Answer: A 42-year-old client is scheduled for gastric bypass surgery.
b. A 34-year-old client scheduled for a cholecystectomy.
c. Answer: A 72-year-old client scheduled for a colonoscopy
d. Answer: A 6-year-old scheduled for a tonsillectomy.
e. Answer: A 26-year-old client at 33 weeks gestation scheduled for a skin tag removal
4. The nurse is preparing to explain the medication-receptor relationship to a nursing student. Which
primary receptor(s) that act as medication-binding site(s), should the nurse include in the
discussion? Select all that apply.
a. Answer: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR)
b. Answer: Intracellular receptors
c. Thermoreceptors
d. Answer: Enzyme-coupled receptors
e. Answer: Ligand-gated ion channels
f. C-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptors
5. The nurse is caring for a client prescribed an oral formulation of a medication. The client asks the
nurse, “What does my body do with this medication once I swallow it?” Which is the best response
by the nurse?
a. “The medication is activated by the stomach acid.”
b. Answer: “The medication is absorbed into your bloodstream.”
c. “The medication is absorbed through pinocytosis.”
d. “The medication is metabolized by the enzymes in the digestive system.”
,6. Which factor(s) can affect the absorption of a medication? Select all that apply.
a. Answer: The pharmaceutical preparation of medication
b. Answer: Presence of foods
c. Answer: Amount of blood supply to the absorption site
d. Answer: The pH of the environment
e. Answer: The route of the administration
7. An adult client is prescribed oral acetaminophen for the treatment of mild pain. To assure the
medication will be absorbed properly, which physiological system should the nurse perform a
focused assessment on?
a. Cardiovascular
b. Answer: Gastrointestinal
c. Musculoskeletal
d. Integumentary
8. The nursing instructor is teaching a group of nursing students about condition(s) that are treated
with the beta-lactam antibiotic, penicillin. Which condition(s) should the instructor include in the
educational session? Select all that apply
a. Answer: Syphilis
b. Influenza
c. Common cold
d. Answer: Tonsilitis
e. Answer: Endocarditis
9. The nurse is preparing to administer the first dose of oxacillin to a client diagnosed with a wound
infection secondary to staphylococcus aureus. Which client statement requires further assessment by
the nurse prior to administering this medication?
a. “I am already taking gentamycin to treat my infection.”
b. Answer: “I am allergic to cephalexin.”
c. “I just switched to formula for my newborn.”
d. “I take lactobacillus on a daily basis.”
10. The infection control nurse is discussing the mechanism of action of penicillin with a newly graduated
nurse. Which statement by the newly graduated nurse should the infection control nurse question?
a. “Penicillin inhibits the bacterial enzyme needed for cell division.”
b. Answer: “Penicillin suppresses the immune system to prevent symptoms.”
c. “Penicillin kills the bacteria due to cell lysis.”
d. “Penicillin interferes with cell wall synthesis of bacteria.”
11. Which of the following clients is at greatest risk for digitalis toxicity?
a. A 25-year-old client with congenital heart disease.
b. A 50-year-old client with CHF.
c. A 60-year-old client after myocardial infarction.
d. Answer: An 80-year-old client with CHF.
rationale: EXTREMELY OLD clients are at greatest risk for digitalis toxicity
, 12. Which of the following is a contraindication for digoxin administration?
a. Blood pressure of 140/90.
b. Heart rate above 80.
c. Answer: Heart rate below 60.
d. Respiratory rate above 20.
rationale: Digoxin lowers the heart rate; therefore, the choice that reflects a low heart rate is the
best selection.
13. The action of medication is inotropic when it:
a. Decreased afterload.
b. Increases heart rate.
c. Answer: Increases the force of contraction.
d. Is used to treat CHF.
14. Which is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take before administering digoxin?
a. Answer: Monitor potassium level.
b. Assess blood pressure.
c. Evaluate urinary output.
d. Avoid giving with thiazide diuretic.
15. Blurred vision or halos are signs of:
a. Subtherapeutic digoxin levels.
b. Answer: Digoxin toxicity.
c. Nothing related to digoxin.
d. Corneal side effects of digoxin.
rationale: Halos is a hallmark sign of digoxin toxicity.
16. The pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein carries:
a. waste products of digestion
b. oxygenated and deoxygenated blood respectively
c. Answer: deoxygenated and oxygenated blood respectively
d. testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone hormones
17. The Cardiac Output Formula is:
a. C0 = SV /HR
b. Answer: C0 = HR * SV
c. CO = SV – .8
d. C0 = HR + 32 /HR
18. What are the 3 primary processes of the kidneys?
a. secretion of bile, storage of glycogen, removal of toxins from the body
b. controlling thirst and hunger, maintaining body temperature, regulating mood and cognitive
function
c. Answer: filtration, reabsorption, active secretion
