NUR 2820 EXAM 1 2025 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS!!
absorption- definition - (ANSWER)the transmission of medications from the location of administration
(GI tract, muscle, skin, mucous membranes, or subcutaneous tissue) to the blood stream
What does the rate of absorption determine? - (ANSWER)a. How soon the medication will take effect
What does the amount of absorption determine? - (ANSWER)The intensity of its effects
What does the route of medication administration affect? - (ANSWER)The rate and amount of
absorption
distribution definition - (ANSWER)The transportation of medications to sites of action by bodily fluids
Factors influencing distribution - (ANSWER)circulation, permeability of cell membrane, plasma protein
binding
metabolism definition - (ANSWER)Metabolism (biotransformation) changes medications into less active
or inactive forms by the action of enzymes. This occurs primarily in the liver, but also takes place in the
kidneys, lungs, intestines, and blood
How does age influence medication metabolism? - (ANSWER)Infants have a limited medication-
metabolizing capacity. The aging process also can influence medication metabolism but varies per
individual. In general, hepatic medication metabolism tends to decline with age. Older adults require
smaller doses of medications due to the possibility of accumulation in the body
Why do older adults often need lower doses of medications? - (ANSWER)Older adults require smaller
doses of medications due to the possibility of accumulation in the body
Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes - (ANSWER)This can metabolize a particular medication
sooner, requiring an increase in dosage of that medication to maintain a therapeutic level. It can also
cause an increase in the metabolism of other concurrent-use medications
first-pass effect - (ANSWER)The liver inactivates from medications on their first pass through the liver,
and thus require a non-enteral route (sublingual, IV) because of their high first-pass effect
,NUR 2820 EXAM 1 2025 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS!!
What would the first-pass effect require for meds affected by it? - (ANSWER)a non-enteral route
(sublingual, IV) because of their high first-pass effect
Describe what occurs when the same pathway metabolizes two medications - (ANSWER)When the same
pathway metabolizes two medications, it can alter the metabolism of one or both of them. In this way,
the rate of metabolism can decrease for one or both medications, leading to medication accumulation;
the rate of metabolism can decrease for one or both medications, leading to medication accumulation
How does nutritional status affect medication metabolism? - (ANSWER)Clients who are malnourished
can be deficient in the factors that are necessary to produce specific medication-metabolizing enzymes,
thus impairing medication metabolism
What is the primary route of medication excretion? - (ANSWER)kidneys
Other routes of medication excretion? - (ANSWER)liver, lungs, intestines, and exocrine glands
impact of kidney dysfunction on medication excretion - (ANSWER)Can lead to an increase in the
duration and intensity of a medication's response, so it is important to monitor BUN and creatinine
levels
therapeutic index definition - (ANSWER)Safety margin of medication indicating the level of monitoring
needed
difference between medications with a high therapeutic index and those with a low therapeutic index -
(ANSWER)Medications with a high therapeutic index (TI) have a wide safety margin. Therefore, there is
no need for routine blood medication-level monitoring. Medications with a low TI require close
monitoring of medication levels
Half-life - (ANSWER)Refers to the time for the medication in the body to drop by 50%; affected by liver
and kidney function
Short half-life - (ANSWER)medications leave the body quickly (4-8 hours); short-dosing interval or MEC
drops between doses
, NUR 2820 EXAM 1 2025 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS!!
Long half-life - (ANSWER)medications leave the body more slowly (over 24 hours, with a greater risk for
medication accumulation and toxicity); medications can be given at longer intervals without loss of
therapeutic effects; medications take longer to reach a steady state
Pharmacodynamics definition - (ANSWER)interactions between medications and target cells, body
systems, and organs to produce effects. These interactions result in functional changes that are the
mechanism of action of the medication
agonists - (ANSWER)medications that bind to or mimic the receptor activity that endogenous
compounds regulate (ex: morphine is an agonist because it activates the receptors that produce
analgesia, sedation, constipation, and other effects)
antagonists - (ANSWER)medications that can block the usual receptor activity that endogenous
compounds regulate or the receptor activity of other medications (ex: losartan, an angiotensin II
receptor blocker, is an antagonist. It works by blocking angiotensin II receptors on blood vessels, which
prevents vasoconstriction)
Partial agonists - (ANSWER)Act as agonists and antagonists, with limited affinity to receptor sites (ex:
nalbuphine acts as an antagonist at mu receptors and an agonist at kappa receptors, causing analgesia
with minimal respiratory depression at low doses)
Pharmacotherapeutics definition - (ANSWER)the study of the therapeutic uses and effects of drugs
What do nurses need to know about medication administration? - (ANSWER)the knowledge of federal,
state (nurse practice act), and local laws, and facilities' policies that govern prescribing and dispensing
medications; preparing and administering medications; and evaluating client's responses to medications
What should nurses include in their knowledge base of medications? - (ANSWER)an up-to-date
knowledge base of the medications they administer, including uses, mechanisms of action, routes of
administration, safe dosage ranges, adverse effects, precautions, contraindications, and interactions
Steps to reduce med errors - (ANSWER)a. Determining the accuracy of medication prescriptions
b. Reporting all medication errors
absorption- definition - (ANSWER)the transmission of medications from the location of administration
(GI tract, muscle, skin, mucous membranes, or subcutaneous tissue) to the blood stream
What does the rate of absorption determine? - (ANSWER)a. How soon the medication will take effect
What does the amount of absorption determine? - (ANSWER)The intensity of its effects
What does the route of medication administration affect? - (ANSWER)The rate and amount of
absorption
distribution definition - (ANSWER)The transportation of medications to sites of action by bodily fluids
Factors influencing distribution - (ANSWER)circulation, permeability of cell membrane, plasma protein
binding
metabolism definition - (ANSWER)Metabolism (biotransformation) changes medications into less active
or inactive forms by the action of enzymes. This occurs primarily in the liver, but also takes place in the
kidneys, lungs, intestines, and blood
How does age influence medication metabolism? - (ANSWER)Infants have a limited medication-
metabolizing capacity. The aging process also can influence medication metabolism but varies per
individual. In general, hepatic medication metabolism tends to decline with age. Older adults require
smaller doses of medications due to the possibility of accumulation in the body
Why do older adults often need lower doses of medications? - (ANSWER)Older adults require smaller
doses of medications due to the possibility of accumulation in the body
Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes - (ANSWER)This can metabolize a particular medication
sooner, requiring an increase in dosage of that medication to maintain a therapeutic level. It can also
cause an increase in the metabolism of other concurrent-use medications
first-pass effect - (ANSWER)The liver inactivates from medications on their first pass through the liver,
and thus require a non-enteral route (sublingual, IV) because of their high first-pass effect
,NUR 2820 EXAM 1 2025 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS!!
What would the first-pass effect require for meds affected by it? - (ANSWER)a non-enteral route
(sublingual, IV) because of their high first-pass effect
Describe what occurs when the same pathway metabolizes two medications - (ANSWER)When the same
pathway metabolizes two medications, it can alter the metabolism of one or both of them. In this way,
the rate of metabolism can decrease for one or both medications, leading to medication accumulation;
the rate of metabolism can decrease for one or both medications, leading to medication accumulation
How does nutritional status affect medication metabolism? - (ANSWER)Clients who are malnourished
can be deficient in the factors that are necessary to produce specific medication-metabolizing enzymes,
thus impairing medication metabolism
What is the primary route of medication excretion? - (ANSWER)kidneys
Other routes of medication excretion? - (ANSWER)liver, lungs, intestines, and exocrine glands
impact of kidney dysfunction on medication excretion - (ANSWER)Can lead to an increase in the
duration and intensity of a medication's response, so it is important to monitor BUN and creatinine
levels
therapeutic index definition - (ANSWER)Safety margin of medication indicating the level of monitoring
needed
difference between medications with a high therapeutic index and those with a low therapeutic index -
(ANSWER)Medications with a high therapeutic index (TI) have a wide safety margin. Therefore, there is
no need for routine blood medication-level monitoring. Medications with a low TI require close
monitoring of medication levels
Half-life - (ANSWER)Refers to the time for the medication in the body to drop by 50%; affected by liver
and kidney function
Short half-life - (ANSWER)medications leave the body quickly (4-8 hours); short-dosing interval or MEC
drops between doses
, NUR 2820 EXAM 1 2025 QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS!!
Long half-life - (ANSWER)medications leave the body more slowly (over 24 hours, with a greater risk for
medication accumulation and toxicity); medications can be given at longer intervals without loss of
therapeutic effects; medications take longer to reach a steady state
Pharmacodynamics definition - (ANSWER)interactions between medications and target cells, body
systems, and organs to produce effects. These interactions result in functional changes that are the
mechanism of action of the medication
agonists - (ANSWER)medications that bind to or mimic the receptor activity that endogenous
compounds regulate (ex: morphine is an agonist because it activates the receptors that produce
analgesia, sedation, constipation, and other effects)
antagonists - (ANSWER)medications that can block the usual receptor activity that endogenous
compounds regulate or the receptor activity of other medications (ex: losartan, an angiotensin II
receptor blocker, is an antagonist. It works by blocking angiotensin II receptors on blood vessels, which
prevents vasoconstriction)
Partial agonists - (ANSWER)Act as agonists and antagonists, with limited affinity to receptor sites (ex:
nalbuphine acts as an antagonist at mu receptors and an agonist at kappa receptors, causing analgesia
with minimal respiratory depression at low doses)
Pharmacotherapeutics definition - (ANSWER)the study of the therapeutic uses and effects of drugs
What do nurses need to know about medication administration? - (ANSWER)the knowledge of federal,
state (nurse practice act), and local laws, and facilities' policies that govern prescribing and dispensing
medications; preparing and administering medications; and evaluating client's responses to medications
What should nurses include in their knowledge base of medications? - (ANSWER)an up-to-date
knowledge base of the medications they administer, including uses, mechanisms of action, routes of
administration, safe dosage ranges, adverse effects, precautions, contraindications, and interactions
Steps to reduce med errors - (ANSWER)a. Determining the accuracy of medication prescriptions
b. Reporting all medication errors
