Nr341 Pharmacology CJE Benchmark,
Questions and Correct Answers with well
elaborated Rationales 14 Chapters Fully
Covered
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and uses the “rights”
of medication administration. Which of the following is not one of
the traditional five rights?
A. Right patient
B. Right medication
C. Right dose
D. Right diagnosis
Rationale: The five traditional rights include the right patient,
medication, dose, route, and time. Although knowing the diagnosis is
useful, it is not one of the official medication administration rights.
The nurse should always verify these rights before giving any drug to
prevent errors.
,2. A physician orders 500 mL IV to infuse over 4 hours. What is the
hourly infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 62.5 mL/hr
Rationale: To find the hourly rate, divide total volume by hours (500
÷ 4 = 125 mL/hr). Calculating infusion rates precisely ensures safe
and consistent delivery of IV fluids and medications.
3. Which of the following is a hallmark nursing action for high-alert
medications such as insulin, heparin, and opioids?
A. Administer alone without double-check
B. Require an independent double-check by another qualified
nurse
C. Always give orally only
D. Substitute if the drug is unavailable
Rationale: High-alert medications have a higher risk of causing
significant harm if used incorrectly. Therefore, an independent
double-check by another nurse verifies accuracy and helps prevent
serious medication errors.
4. A nurse must convert 1 gram (g) of cefazolin to milligrams (mg) for
documentation. The correct conversion is:
A. 10 mg
B. 100 mg
, C. 1000 mg
D. 0.1 mg
Rationale: One gram equals 1000 milligrams. Accurate conversions
are critical since errors in decimal placement can cause dangerous
overdoses or underdoses.
5. A patient is prescribed morphine 0.1 mg/kg IV. The patient weighs
55 kg. What is the correct dose?
A. 2.5 mg
B. 11.0 mg
C. 5.5 mg
D. 0.55 mg
Rationale: Multiply 55 kg × 0.1 mg/kg = 5.5 mg. Weight-based
dosing ensures appropriate medication amounts tailored to the
individual’s size and metabolism, reducing adverse effects.
6. Which of the following statements best describes pharmacokinetics?
A. How a drug feels to the patient
B. The study of a drug’s color and texture
C. The movement of a drug through the body: absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion
D. The rules for prescribing medications
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics explains how the body affects the
drug—how it’s absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted.
Understanding these helps predict onset, duration, and potential
toxicity.
, 7. You have an infusion pump programmed for 1500 mL over 24 hours.
What is the mL/hr setting?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 75 mL/hr
C. 62.5 mL/hr
D. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: 1500 ÷ 24 = 62.5 mL/hr. Setting the correct rate is essential
to avoid under- or overinfusion, particularly with critical medications
like electrolytes or continuous drips.
8. Which adverse effect is most associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Hypertension
B. Bradycardia
C. Persistent dry cough and possible angioedema
D. Increased appetite
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry, persistent cough
due to bradykinin buildup and can rarely lead to life-threatening
angioedema. Monitoring and patient education are essential.
9. A heparin bolus order is 18 units/kg for an 80 kg patient. What is the
bolus amount in units?
A. 800 units
B. 144 units
C. 1440 units
D. 18 units
Rationale: 80 × 18 = 1440 units. Weight-based anticoagulant dosing
Questions and Correct Answers with well
elaborated Rationales 14 Chapters Fully
Covered
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and uses the “rights”
of medication administration. Which of the following is not one of
the traditional five rights?
A. Right patient
B. Right medication
C. Right dose
D. Right diagnosis
Rationale: The five traditional rights include the right patient,
medication, dose, route, and time. Although knowing the diagnosis is
useful, it is not one of the official medication administration rights.
The nurse should always verify these rights before giving any drug to
prevent errors.
,2. A physician orders 500 mL IV to infuse over 4 hours. What is the
hourly infusion rate in mL/hr?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 62.5 mL/hr
Rationale: To find the hourly rate, divide total volume by hours (500
÷ 4 = 125 mL/hr). Calculating infusion rates precisely ensures safe
and consistent delivery of IV fluids and medications.
3. Which of the following is a hallmark nursing action for high-alert
medications such as insulin, heparin, and opioids?
A. Administer alone without double-check
B. Require an independent double-check by another qualified
nurse
C. Always give orally only
D. Substitute if the drug is unavailable
Rationale: High-alert medications have a higher risk of causing
significant harm if used incorrectly. Therefore, an independent
double-check by another nurse verifies accuracy and helps prevent
serious medication errors.
4. A nurse must convert 1 gram (g) of cefazolin to milligrams (mg) for
documentation. The correct conversion is:
A. 10 mg
B. 100 mg
, C. 1000 mg
D. 0.1 mg
Rationale: One gram equals 1000 milligrams. Accurate conversions
are critical since errors in decimal placement can cause dangerous
overdoses or underdoses.
5. A patient is prescribed morphine 0.1 mg/kg IV. The patient weighs
55 kg. What is the correct dose?
A. 2.5 mg
B. 11.0 mg
C. 5.5 mg
D. 0.55 mg
Rationale: Multiply 55 kg × 0.1 mg/kg = 5.5 mg. Weight-based
dosing ensures appropriate medication amounts tailored to the
individual’s size and metabolism, reducing adverse effects.
6. Which of the following statements best describes pharmacokinetics?
A. How a drug feels to the patient
B. The study of a drug’s color and texture
C. The movement of a drug through the body: absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion
D. The rules for prescribing medications
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics explains how the body affects the
drug—how it’s absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted.
Understanding these helps predict onset, duration, and potential
toxicity.
, 7. You have an infusion pump programmed for 1500 mL over 24 hours.
What is the mL/hr setting?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 75 mL/hr
C. 62.5 mL/hr
D. 125 mL/hr
Rationale: 1500 ÷ 24 = 62.5 mL/hr. Setting the correct rate is essential
to avoid under- or overinfusion, particularly with critical medications
like electrolytes or continuous drips.
8. Which adverse effect is most associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Hypertension
B. Bradycardia
C. Persistent dry cough and possible angioedema
D. Increased appetite
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry, persistent cough
due to bradykinin buildup and can rarely lead to life-threatening
angioedema. Monitoring and patient education are essential.
9. A heparin bolus order is 18 units/kg for an 80 kg patient. What is the
bolus amount in units?
A. 800 units
B. 144 units
C. 1440 units
D. 18 units
Rationale: 80 × 18 = 1440 units. Weight-based anticoagulant dosing
