NUR 378 Exam 1 – Pharmacology – 2025 Actual
Questions and Answers Concordia University St.
Paul
Introduction:
This document contains the complete set of actual questions and
verified answers for NUR 378: Pharmacology Exam 1 (2025) at
Concordia University St. Paul. It provides detailed multiple-choice
questions with correct answers and rationales, covering major
chapters from Lilley’s Pharmacology and the Nursing Process.
Topics include drug administration principles, pharmacokinetics,
pregnancy safety categories, pediatric and geriatric considerations,
medication error prevention, legal and ethical responsibilities,
controlled substance classifications, and fundamentals of genetic and
patient education in pharmacology. This file serves as a full study
guide and exam preparation resource for nursing students.
Exam Questions and Answers
25. (Lilley, Ch. 2) The patient is stating that he has 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 nurse suggest?
a. A capsule
b. A tablet
c. A powder
d. An enteric-coated tablet--- correct answer --- A powder
,Of the types of oral medications listed, the powder form would be
absorbed the fastest, thus having a faster onset. The tablet, the
capsule, and, finally, the enteric-coated tablet would be absorbed
next, in that order.
26. (Lilley, Ch. 2) The nurse will be injecting a drug into the
superficial skin layers immediately underneath the epidermal layer
of skin. Which route does this describe?
a. Intradermal
b. Subcutaneous
c. Intramuscular
d. Transdermal--- correct answer --- Intradermal
27. (Lilley, Ch. 2) Which drugs would be affected by the first-pass
effect when administered? (Select all that apply.)
a. Morphine given by IV push injection
b. Sublingual nitroglycerin tablet
c. Diphenhydramine elixir
d. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablet
e. Transdermal nicotine patches
f. Esomeprazole capsule
g. Penicillin given by IV piggyback infusion--- correct answer ---
ANS--- correct answer --- C, D, F
Diphenhydramine elixir Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablet
Esomeprazole capsule
,Orally administered drugs (elixirs, tablets, and capsules) undergo
the first-pass ettect, because they are metabolized in the liver after
being absorbed into the portal circulation from the small intestine.
28. (Lilley, Ch. 2) A drug dose that delivers 10 mg has a half-life
of 5 hours. Identify how much drug will remain in the body after
one half-life.--- correct answer --- 5 mg
A drug's half-life is the time required for one half of an
administered dose of a drug to be eliminated by the body, or the
time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be reduced by 50%.
Therefore, one half of 10 mg equals 5 mg.
29. (Lilley, Ch. 3) Drug transfer to the fetus is more likely during
the last trimester of pregnancy for which reason?
a. Decreased fetal surface area
b. Increased placental surface area
c. Enhanced blood flow to the fetus
d. Increased amount of protein-bound drug in maternal
circulation--- correct answer --- Enhanced blood
flow to the fetus
Drug transfer to the fetus is more likely during the last trimester of
pregnancy as a result of enhanced blood flow to the fetus.
30. (Lilley, Ch. 3) The nurse is monitoring a patient who is in the
26th week
of pregnancy and has developed gestational diabetes and
pneumonia. She is given medications that pose a possible fetal risk,
but the potential benefits may warrant the use of the medications
, in her situation. The nurse recognizes that these medications are in
which U.S. Food and Drug Administration pregnancy safety
category?
a. Category A
b. Category B
c. Category C
d. Category D--- correct answer --- Category D
31. (Lilley, Ch. 3) When discussing dosage calculation for
pediatric patients with a clinical pharmacist, the nurse notes that
which type of dosage calculation is used most commonly in
pediatric calculations?
a. West nomogram
b. Clark rule
c. Height-to-weight ratio
d. Milligram per kilogram of body weight formula--- correct
answer --- Milligram per kilogram of body weight
formula
32. (Lilley, Ch. 3) The nurse is assessing a newly admitted 83-
year-old patient and determines that the patient is experiencing
polypharmacy. Which statement most accurately illustrates
polypharmacy?
a. The patient is experiencing multiple illnesses.
b. The patient uses one medication for an illness several times
per day.
Questions and Answers Concordia University St.
Paul
Introduction:
This document contains the complete set of actual questions and
verified answers for NUR 378: Pharmacology Exam 1 (2025) at
Concordia University St. Paul. It provides detailed multiple-choice
questions with correct answers and rationales, covering major
chapters from Lilley’s Pharmacology and the Nursing Process.
Topics include drug administration principles, pharmacokinetics,
pregnancy safety categories, pediatric and geriatric considerations,
medication error prevention, legal and ethical responsibilities,
controlled substance classifications, and fundamentals of genetic and
patient education in pharmacology. This file serves as a full study
guide and exam preparation resource for nursing students.
Exam Questions and Answers
25. (Lilley, Ch. 2) The patient is stating that he has 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 nurse suggest?
a. A capsule
b. A tablet
c. A powder
d. An enteric-coated tablet--- correct answer --- A powder
,Of the types of oral medications listed, the powder form would be
absorbed the fastest, thus having a faster onset. The tablet, the
capsule, and, finally, the enteric-coated tablet would be absorbed
next, in that order.
26. (Lilley, Ch. 2) The nurse will be injecting a drug into the
superficial skin layers immediately underneath the epidermal layer
of skin. Which route does this describe?
a. Intradermal
b. Subcutaneous
c. Intramuscular
d. Transdermal--- correct answer --- Intradermal
27. (Lilley, Ch. 2) Which drugs would be affected by the first-pass
effect when administered? (Select all that apply.)
a. Morphine given by IV push injection
b. Sublingual nitroglycerin tablet
c. Diphenhydramine elixir
d. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablet
e. Transdermal nicotine patches
f. Esomeprazole capsule
g. Penicillin given by IV piggyback infusion--- correct answer ---
ANS--- correct answer --- C, D, F
Diphenhydramine elixir Levothyroxine (Synthroid) tablet
Esomeprazole capsule
,Orally administered drugs (elixirs, tablets, and capsules) undergo
the first-pass ettect, because they are metabolized in the liver after
being absorbed into the portal circulation from the small intestine.
28. (Lilley, Ch. 2) A drug dose that delivers 10 mg has a half-life
of 5 hours. Identify how much drug will remain in the body after
one half-life.--- correct answer --- 5 mg
A drug's half-life is the time required for one half of an
administered dose of a drug to be eliminated by the body, or the
time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be reduced by 50%.
Therefore, one half of 10 mg equals 5 mg.
29. (Lilley, Ch. 3) Drug transfer to the fetus is more likely during
the last trimester of pregnancy for which reason?
a. Decreased fetal surface area
b. Increased placental surface area
c. Enhanced blood flow to the fetus
d. Increased amount of protein-bound drug in maternal
circulation--- correct answer --- Enhanced blood
flow to the fetus
Drug transfer to the fetus is more likely during the last trimester of
pregnancy as a result of enhanced blood flow to the fetus.
30. (Lilley, Ch. 3) The nurse is monitoring a patient who is in the
26th week
of pregnancy and has developed gestational diabetes and
pneumonia. She is given medications that pose a possible fetal risk,
but the potential benefits may warrant the use of the medications
, in her situation. The nurse recognizes that these medications are in
which U.S. Food and Drug Administration pregnancy safety
category?
a. Category A
b. Category B
c. Category C
d. Category D--- correct answer --- Category D
31. (Lilley, Ch. 3) When discussing dosage calculation for
pediatric patients with a clinical pharmacist, the nurse notes that
which type of dosage calculation is used most commonly in
pediatric calculations?
a. West nomogram
b. Clark rule
c. Height-to-weight ratio
d. Milligram per kilogram of body weight formula--- correct
answer --- Milligram per kilogram of body weight
formula
32. (Lilley, Ch. 3) The nurse is assessing a newly admitted 83-
year-old patient and determines that the patient is experiencing
polypharmacy. Which statement most accurately illustrates
polypharmacy?
a. The patient is experiencing multiple illnesses.
b. The patient uses one medication for an illness several times
per day.
