Test Bank 2025 Latest
Course
Introductory Clinical Pharmacology . (NUR100)
1. A nurse is administering a medication that has a high first-pass effect. Which
route will likely require a lower dose?
A. Oral
B. Intravenous
C. Rectal
D. Subcutaneous
✅ Answer: B. Intravenous
Rationale: Medications with a high first-pass effect are extensively metabolized in the liver
when taken orally, reducing their bioavailability. Administering the drug intravenously bypasses
the liver initially, increasing its effectiveness at a lower dose.
2. What is the primary function of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system in drug
metabolism?
A. Enhance drug excretion
B. Convert lipid-soluble drugs into water-soluble forms
C. Increase drug absorption
D. Slow down drug metabolism
✅ Answer: B. Convert lipid-soluble drugs into water-soluble forms
Rationale: The cytochrome P450 enzyme system, primarily found in the liver, helps metabolize
drugs by making them more water-soluble for easier elimination through the kidneys.
3. A patient is prescribed a drug with a narrow therapeutic index. What is the
most important nursing consideration?
A. Monitoring liver function tests
B. Assessing for drug toxicity signs
C. Administering the drug on an empty stomach
D. Checking for food-drug interactions
,✅ Answer: B. Assessing for drug toxicity signs
Rationale: A narrow therapeutic index means the difference between the effective and toxic
dose is small, requiring careful monitoring for signs of toxicity.
4. Which factor most significantly affects drug absorption in older adults?
A. Increased gastric acid secretion
B. Decreased liver enzyme activity
C. Slower gastric emptying
D. Increased renal excretion
✅ Answer: C. Slower gastric emptying
Rationale: Aging slows gastric motility, delaying drug absorption and onset of action. This may
require dose adjustments.
5. A patient on warfarin (Coumadin) asks about taking herbal supplements.
Which herb should the nurse caution against?
A. Ginseng
B. St. John’s Wort
C. Echinacea
D. Garlic
✅ Answer: D. Garlic
Rationale: Garlic can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulants like warfarin.
Patients should be advised to avoid excessive consumption.
6. What is the best nursing intervention to ensure peak and trough levels of a
medication are measured correctly?
A. Administer the drug at bedtime
B. Draw the peak level before the next dose
C. Draw the trough level just before the next scheduled dose
D. Give a lower dose if the previous level was high
✅ Answer: C. Draw the trough level just before the next scheduled dose
,Rationale: Trough levels measure the lowest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream, taken
immediately before the next dose to assess drug accumulation.
7. Which statement by a patient taking a new prescription for a beta-blocker
indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I should monitor my blood pressure daily."
B. "I will stop taking this medication if I feel better."
C. "I may feel dizzy when standing up too fast."
D. "I should not suddenly stop taking this drug."
✅ Answer: B. "I will stop taking this medication if I feel better."
Rationale: Beta-blockers should not be stopped abruptly, as this can cause rebound hypertension
or angina. Patients should be instructed to consult their healthcare provider before discontinuing.
8. A patient receiving digoxin has a serum level of 2.5 ng/mL. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Encourage potassium-rich foods
C. Assess the patient for toxicity symptoms
D. Increase fluid intake
✅ Answer: C. Assess the patient for toxicity symptoms
Rationale: The normal therapeutic range for digoxin is 0.5–2.0 ng/mL. A level of 2.5 suggests
toxicity, requiring assessment for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, and visual
disturbances.
9. What is the primary action of opioid antagonists like naloxone (Narcan)?
A. Reduce pain perception
B. Compete with opioids at receptor sites
C. Increase endorphin production
D. Enhance opioid effects
✅ Answer: B. Compete with opioids at receptor sites
, Rationale: Naloxone works by displacing opioids from receptors, reversing their effects,
especially in opioid overdose cases.
10. A patient taking furosemide (Lasix) reports muscle cramps. What is the likely
cause?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypernatremia
✅ Answer: C. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion, potentially leading
to hypokalemia, which can cause muscle cramps.
11. A nurse should instruct a patient on tetracycline to avoid which beverage?
A. Orange juice
B. Water
C. Milk
D. Black coffee
✅ Answer: C. Milk
Rationale: Dairy products contain calcium, which can bind to tetracycline and reduce its
absorption.
12. What is the priority nursing assessment for a patient receiving morphine?
A. Blood pressure
B. Urine output
C. Respiratory rate
D. Heart rate
✅ Answer: C. Respiratory rate
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression, making respiratory rate the most
critical assessment.