C HAPTER 02: B ASIC P RINCIPLES OF D RUG
A CTION AND D RUG I NTERACTIONS
Willihnganz: Clayton’s Basic Pharmacology for Nurses, 19th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which blood level is assessed to determine the amount of circulating
medication in a patient?
a. Peak
b. Trough
c. Drug
d. Therapeutic
ANS: C
When a drug is circulating in the blood, a blood sample may be drawn and
assayed to determine the amount of drug present; this is known as the drug
blood level. Peak levels are onl y those drug blood levels that are at th eir
maximum before metabolism starts to decrease the amount of circulating
drug. Trough levels are onl y those drug blood levels that are at their
minimum when metabolism has decreased the amount of circulating drug and
before an increase caused by a subseq uent dose of the medication.
Therapeutic levels are onl y those within a prescribed range of blood levels
determined to bring about effective action of the medication.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 17 OBJ: 3
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: P hysiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation CON: Patient Education |
Clinical Judgment | Safet y
, 2. The nurse administers 50 mg of a drug at 6:00 AM that has a half -life of 8
hours. What time will it be when 25 mg of the drug has been el iminated
from the body?
a. 8:00 AM
b. 11:00 AM
c. 2:00 PM
d. 6:00 PM
ANS: C
Fift y percent of the medication, or 25 mg, will be eliminated in 8 hours, or at
2:00 PM. 8:00 AM is 2 hours after administration; the half -life is 8 hours.
11:00 AM is 4 hours after administration; the half -life is 8 hours. 6:00 PM is
12 hours after admini stration; the half-life is 8 hours.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 16 OBJ: 2
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation
CON: Clinical Judgment | Safet y | Elimination | Health Promotion
3. What will the nurse need to determine first in order to mix two drugs in the
same s yringe?
a. Absorption rate of the drugs
b. Compatibilit y of the drugs
c. Drug blood level of each drug
d. Medication adverse effects
ANS: B
Knowledge of absorption is important but not in order to mix drugs. In order
to mix two drugs, compatibilit y is determined so there is no deterioration
A CTION AND D RUG I NTERACTIONS
Willihnganz: Clayton’s Basic Pharmacology for Nurses, 19th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which blood level is assessed to determine the amount of circulating
medication in a patient?
a. Peak
b. Trough
c. Drug
d. Therapeutic
ANS: C
When a drug is circulating in the blood, a blood sample may be drawn and
assayed to determine the amount of drug present; this is known as the drug
blood level. Peak levels are onl y those drug blood levels that are at th eir
maximum before metabolism starts to decrease the amount of circulating
drug. Trough levels are onl y those drug blood levels that are at their
minimum when metabolism has decreased the amount of circulating drug and
before an increase caused by a subseq uent dose of the medication.
Therapeutic levels are onl y those within a prescribed range of blood levels
determined to bring about effective action of the medication.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 17 OBJ: 3
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: P hysiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation CON: Patient Education |
Clinical Judgment | Safet y
, 2. The nurse administers 50 mg of a drug at 6:00 AM that has a half -life of 8
hours. What time will it be when 25 mg of the drug has been el iminated
from the body?
a. 8:00 AM
b. 11:00 AM
c. 2:00 PM
d. 6:00 PM
ANS: C
Fift y percent of the medication, or 25 mg, will be eliminated in 8 hours, or at
2:00 PM. 8:00 AM is 2 hours after administration; the half -life is 8 hours.
11:00 AM is 4 hours after administration; the half -life is 8 hours. 6:00 PM is
12 hours after admini stration; the half-life is 8 hours.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 16 OBJ: 2
NAT: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrit y
TOP: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation
CON: Clinical Judgment | Safet y | Elimination | Health Promotion
3. What will the nurse need to determine first in order to mix two drugs in the
same s yringe?
a. Absorption rate of the drugs
b. Compatibilit y of the drugs
c. Drug blood level of each drug
d. Medication adverse effects
ANS: B
Knowledge of absorption is important but not in order to mix drugs. In order
to mix two drugs, compatibilit y is determined so there is no deterioration
