ECPI NUR 138 Pharmacology Exam 1
with verified answers already passed
The pat i ent i s to re ce i v e ora l gua i f ene s i n (Muc i ne x) twic e a day. Today, the nur se was
busy and gave the med i ca t io n 2 hour s a f ter the schedu l ed dose was due. What type of
prob l em doe s th i s repre sent?
A. "Right route"
B. "Right medication"
C. "Right dose"
D. "Right time" - correct answer ✔✔D. "Right time"
Ra t ion al e : " Righ t time" is co rre c t be caus e the medica t io n wa s gi v en mo re than 3 0 mi nute s
after the scheduled dose was due. "Dose" is incorrect because the dose is not related to the
t ime the med ica t io n admi n i s tr at io n i s schedu l ed. "Route" i s i n corre ct be caus e the route
i s not aff e c ted. "Med i ca t io n" i s i n corre ct be cause the med i cat io n ordered wi l l not
change.
The nur se i s admi n i s ter i n g parentera l drugs. Which s t atement i s true regard i n g parentera l
drugs?
A. Parenteral drugs bypass the first-pass effect.
B. Absorption of parenteral drugs is affected by reduced blood flow to the stomach.
C. Absorption of parenteral drugs is faster when the stomach is empty.
D. Parenteral drugs exert their effects while circulating in the bloodstream. - correct answer
✔✔A. Parenteral drugs bypass the first-pass effect.
,Rationale: Drugs given by the parenteral route bypass the first-pass effect. Reduced blood flow
to the stomach and the presence of food in the stomach apply to enteral drugs (taken orally),
not to parentera l drugs. Parentera l drugs must be absorbed i nto c e l l s and t i s su e s f r om
the ci r cula t ion be fo re the y ca n e x ert the ir eff e c t s: the y d o n ot e x ert the ir eff e c t s whil e
c i r cu la t i n g i n the b lood s tream.
The nur se i s admi n i s ter i n g med icat io n s to the pat i ent who i s i n rena l f a i l u re re su l t i n g f r om end-
stage renal disease. The nurse is aware that patients with kidney failure would most likely have
problems with which pharmacokinetic phase?
A. Excretion
B. Absorption
C. Metabolism
D. Distribution - correct answer ✔✔A. Excretion
Rationale: The kidneys are the organs that are most responsible for drug excretion. Renal
fu n c t io n doe s not aff e c t the absorpt io n and d i s tr ibut io n of a drug. Rena l fu n c t io n may
aff e c t metabo l i sm of drugs to a sma l l extent.
The patient is complaining of a headache and asks the nurse which over-the-counter
medication form would work the fastest to help reduce the pain. Which medication form will
the nur se sugge s t?
A. A tablet
B. A capsule
C. A powder
D. An enteric-coated tablet - correct answer ✔✔C. A powder
, R a t io n al e : Of t h e t yp e s of o r al m ed ic a t io n s lis ted, t h e pow der fo r m wo ul d b e
absorbed the f a s te s t, thus hav i n g a f a s ter on set. The tab l et, the capsu l e, and, fi n a l l y,
the enter i c-coated tab l et wou l d be absorbed ne xt, i n that order.
Which drugs would be affected by the first-pass effect? (Select all that apply.)
A. Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets
B. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablets
C. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) elixir
D. Penicillin given by IV piggyback infusion
E. Morphine given by IV push injection
F. Esomeprazole (Nexium) capsules
G. Transdermal nicotine patches - correct answer ✔✔B. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablets
C. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) elixir
F. Esomeprazole (Nexium) capsules
For accurate medication administration to pediatric patients, the nurse must take into account
which c r i ter ia?
A. Renal output
B. Height
C. Body temperature
D. Organ maturity - correct answer ✔✔D. Organ maturity
Rationale: To administer medications to pediatric patients accurately, one must take into
account organ matur i t y, body su r fac e area, age, and we ight. The other opt io n s are
i n co rre c t : ren al out put a nd bod y temper at ure are not co n si der at ion s, and he igh t alone is
not suffi c i ent.
with verified answers already passed
The pat i ent i s to re ce i v e ora l gua i f ene s i n (Muc i ne x) twic e a day. Today, the nur se was
busy and gave the med i ca t io n 2 hour s a f ter the schedu l ed dose was due. What type of
prob l em doe s th i s repre sent?
A. "Right route"
B. "Right medication"
C. "Right dose"
D. "Right time" - correct answer ✔✔D. "Right time"
Ra t ion al e : " Righ t time" is co rre c t be caus e the medica t io n wa s gi v en mo re than 3 0 mi nute s
after the scheduled dose was due. "Dose" is incorrect because the dose is not related to the
t ime the med ica t io n admi n i s tr at io n i s schedu l ed. "Route" i s i n corre ct be caus e the route
i s not aff e c ted. "Med i ca t io n" i s i n corre ct be cause the med i cat io n ordered wi l l not
change.
The nur se i s admi n i s ter i n g parentera l drugs. Which s t atement i s true regard i n g parentera l
drugs?
A. Parenteral drugs bypass the first-pass effect.
B. Absorption of parenteral drugs is affected by reduced blood flow to the stomach.
C. Absorption of parenteral drugs is faster when the stomach is empty.
D. Parenteral drugs exert their effects while circulating in the bloodstream. - correct answer
✔✔A. Parenteral drugs bypass the first-pass effect.
,Rationale: Drugs given by the parenteral route bypass the first-pass effect. Reduced blood flow
to the stomach and the presence of food in the stomach apply to enteral drugs (taken orally),
not to parentera l drugs. Parentera l drugs must be absorbed i nto c e l l s and t i s su e s f r om
the ci r cula t ion be fo re the y ca n e x ert the ir eff e c t s: the y d o n ot e x ert the ir eff e c t s whil e
c i r cu la t i n g i n the b lood s tream.
The nur se i s admi n i s ter i n g med icat io n s to the pat i ent who i s i n rena l f a i l u re re su l t i n g f r om end-
stage renal disease. The nurse is aware that patients with kidney failure would most likely have
problems with which pharmacokinetic phase?
A. Excretion
B. Absorption
C. Metabolism
D. Distribution - correct answer ✔✔A. Excretion
Rationale: The kidneys are the organs that are most responsible for drug excretion. Renal
fu n c t io n doe s not aff e c t the absorpt io n and d i s tr ibut io n of a drug. Rena l fu n c t io n may
aff e c t metabo l i sm of drugs to a sma l l extent.
The patient is complaining of a headache and asks the nurse which over-the-counter
medication form would work the fastest to help reduce the pain. Which medication form will
the nur se sugge s t?
A. A tablet
B. A capsule
C. A powder
D. An enteric-coated tablet - correct answer ✔✔C. A powder
, R a t io n al e : Of t h e t yp e s of o r al m ed ic a t io n s lis ted, t h e pow der fo r m wo ul d b e
absorbed the f a s te s t, thus hav i n g a f a s ter on set. The tab l et, the capsu l e, and, fi n a l l y,
the enter i c-coated tab l et wou l d be absorbed ne xt, i n that order.
Which drugs would be affected by the first-pass effect? (Select all that apply.)
A. Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets
B. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablets
C. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) elixir
D. Penicillin given by IV piggyback infusion
E. Morphine given by IV push injection
F. Esomeprazole (Nexium) capsules
G. Transdermal nicotine patches - correct answer ✔✔B. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablets
C. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) elixir
F. Esomeprazole (Nexium) capsules
For accurate medication administration to pediatric patients, the nurse must take into account
which c r i ter ia?
A. Renal output
B. Height
C. Body temperature
D. Organ maturity - correct answer ✔✔D. Organ maturity
Rationale: To administer medications to pediatric patients accurately, one must take into
account organ matur i t y, body su r fac e area, age, and we ight. The other opt io n s are
i n co rre c t : ren al out put a nd bod y temper at ure are not co n si der at ion s, and he igh t alone is
not suffi c i ent.
