PHARMACOLOGY EXAM #1 (REVISED)
EXAM WITH CORRECT QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025
Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?
a. Intramuscular cephalosporins
b. Intravenous vasopressors
c. Oral analgesics
d. Subcutaneous antiglycemics - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: C
When drugs are administered parenterally, there is no pharmaceutic phase, which occurs
when a drug becomes a solution that can cross the biologic membrane.
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid drug
action. Which form of the medication will the nurse administer?
a. Capsule
b. Enteric-coated pill
c. Liquid suspension
d. Tablet - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: C
,Liquid drugs are already in solution, which is the form necessary for absorption in the GI
tract. The other forms must disintegrate into small particles and then dissolve before being
absorbed.
The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an
enteric-coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
a. "I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption."
b. "I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication."
c. "I should expect a delay in onset of the drug's effects after taking the tablet."
d. "I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action." - CORRECT-
ANSWERSANS: C
Enteric-coated tablets resist disintegration in the acidic environment of the stomach and
disintegrate when they reach the small intestine. There is usually some delay in onset of
actions after taking these medications. Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed or
chewed, which would alter the time and location of absorption. Acidic foods will not enhance
the absorption of the medication. The patient should not eat high-fat food before ingesting an
enteric-coated tablet, because high-fat foods decrease the absorption rate.
,A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be
given by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is
because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects. - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS:
C
Insulin, growth hormones, and other protein-based drugs are destroyed in the small intestine
by digestive enzymes and must be given parenterally. Because insulin is destroyed by
digestive enzymes, it would not make it to the liver for metabolism with a first-pass effect.
Subcutaneous tissue has fewer blood vessels, so absorption is slower in such tissue. Insulin is
given subcutaneously because it is desirable to have it absorb slowly.
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse
understands that this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
, c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract. - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: B
Water-soluble drugs require a carrier enzyme or protein to pass through the GI membrane.
A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic
environment. How will the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: C
Food can stimulate the production of gastric acid so medications requiring an acidic
environment should be given with a meal. High-fat foods are useful for drugs that are lipid
soluble.
The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption.
How will the nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
EXAM WITH CORRECT QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025
Which drugs will go through a pharmaceutic phase after it is administered?
a. Intramuscular cephalosporins
b. Intravenous vasopressors
c. Oral analgesics
d. Subcutaneous antiglycemics - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: C
When drugs are administered parenterally, there is no pharmaceutic phase, which occurs
when a drug becomes a solution that can cross the biologic membrane.
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication and wants to ensure a rapid drug
action. Which form of the medication will the nurse administer?
a. Capsule
b. Enteric-coated pill
c. Liquid suspension
d. Tablet - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: C
,Liquid drugs are already in solution, which is the form necessary for absorption in the GI
tract. The other forms must disintegrate into small particles and then dissolve before being
absorbed.
The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an
enteric-coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
a. "I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption."
b. "I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication."
c. "I should expect a delay in onset of the drug's effects after taking the tablet."
d. "I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action." - CORRECT-
ANSWERSANS: C
Enteric-coated tablets resist disintegration in the acidic environment of the stomach and
disintegrate when they reach the small intestine. There is usually some delay in onset of
actions after taking these medications. Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed or
chewed, which would alter the time and location of absorption. Acidic foods will not enhance
the absorption of the medication. The patient should not eat high-fat food before ingesting an
enteric-coated tablet, because high-fat foods decrease the absorption rate.
,A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be
given by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is
because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects. - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS:
C
Insulin, growth hormones, and other protein-based drugs are destroyed in the small intestine
by digestive enzymes and must be given parenterally. Because insulin is destroyed by
digestive enzymes, it would not make it to the liver for metabolism with a first-pass effect.
Subcutaneous tissue has fewer blood vessels, so absorption is slower in such tissue. Insulin is
given subcutaneously because it is desirable to have it absorb slowly.
The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse
understands that this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
, c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract. - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: B
Water-soluble drugs require a carrier enzyme or protein to pass through the GI membrane.
A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic
environment. How will the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food - CORRECT-ANSWERSANS: C
Food can stimulate the production of gastric acid so medications requiring an acidic
environment should be given with a meal. High-fat foods are useful for drugs that are lipid
soluble.
The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption.
How will the nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
