PHARM MSN571 EXAM STUDY GUIDE – COMPLETE
PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW & PRACTICE SUPPORT
1. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a stimulatory response similar to the
endogenous chemical is known as a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist ✓
C. Partial agonist
D. Inverse agonist
2. The study of what the body does to the drug, including absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion, is called:
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics ✓
C. Pharmacogenomics
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
3. The first-pass effect significantly reduces the bioavailability of an orally administered drug
because of metabolism in the:
A. Stomach wall
B. Intestinal wall
C. Lungs
D. Liver ✓
4. A patient with renal impairment is prescribed a medication that is primarily eliminated by
the kidneys. The nurse should anticipate:
A. A need for a decreased drug dosage. ✓
B. A need for an increased drug dosage.
C. No change in the standard drug dosage.
D. A switch to intravenous administration.
5. The time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to be reduced by 50% is its:
A. Therapeutic index
B. Onset of action
C. Duration of action
D. Half-life ✓
6. Two drugs that are administered together compete for protein-binding sites. This can result
in:
,A. Decreased efficacy of both drugs.
B. Increased metabolism of both drugs.
C. Increased levels of free, active drug for one of them. ✓
D. A synergistic therapeutic effect.
7. The therapeutic index (TI) of a drug is a measure of its:
A. Potency
B. Safety ✓
C. Efficacy
D. Bioavailability
8. A drug with a high affinity for a receptor will:
A. Require a high concentration to bind.
B. Bind easily even at low concentrations. ✓
C. Act as a strong antagonist.
D. Have a low potency.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Pharmacology
9. Which class of drugs is used for the treatment of hypertension and acts by blocking alpha-1
adrenergic receptors, leading to vasodilation?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Alpha-blockers ✓
C. Calcium channel blockers
D. ACE inhibitors
10. A patient experiencing an acute asthma attack is most likely to be treated with which drug
that stimulates beta-2 adrenergic receptors?
A. Metoprolol
B. Atropine
C. Albuterol ✓
D. Prazosin
11. Which statement by a patient taking metoprolol (a beta-1 selective blocker) indicates a
need for further teaching?
A. "I will not stop taking this medication abruptly." ✓
B. "This medication may make me feel tired when I first start it."
C. "I should check my heart rate regularly."
D. "I use my albuterol inhaler for my asthma when I feel short of breath."
,12. The primary use of an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist like clonidine is:
A. To treat hypertension. ✓
B. As a mydriatic for eye exams.
C. To increase heart rate in bradycardia.
D. To treat asthma.
13. Atropine, an anticholinergic drug, is used pre-operatively to:
A. Reduce anxiety.
B. Provide analgesia.
C. Reduce oral and respiratory secretions. ✓
D. Prevent nausea and vomiting.
14. Bethanechol, a direct-acting cholinergic agonist, is used to treat:
A. Hypertension
B. Urinary retention ✓
C. Diarrhea
D. Peptic ulcer disease
15. A patient with myasthenia gravis is prescribed pyridostigmine. This drug works by:
A. Blocking muscarinic receptors.
B. Inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. ✓
C. Stimulating nicotinic receptors directly.
D. Blocking adrenergic receptors.
Cardiovascular Pharmacology
16. A patient prescribed furosemide (Lasix) should be monitored for:
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia ✓
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
17. Which medication is an ACE inhibitor commonly used for hypertension and heart failure?
A. Metoprolol
B. Amlodipine
C. Lisinopril ✓
D. Losartan
18. A common, dry, bothersome cough is a side effect associated with which class of
antihypertensives?
A. Calcium channel blockers
, B. Beta-blockers
C. ACE inhibitors ✓
D. Thiazide diuretics
19. Spironolactone (Aldactone) is a potassium-sparing diuretic that acts as an antagonist at:
A. Angiotensin II receptors
B. Aldosterone receptors ✓
C. Sodium channels
D. Alpha-1 receptors
20. The antidote for a toxic overdose of heparin is:
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate ✓
C. Naloxone
D. Flumazenil
21. Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy is monitored using which laboratory test?
A. aPTT
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR) ✓
C. Bleeding time
D. Platelet count
22. Which drug is a direct thrombin inhibitor used for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial
fibrillation?
A. Clopidogrel
B. Dabigatran ✓
C. Enoxaparin
D. Aspirin
23. Nitroglycerin, used for acute angina attacks, works primarily by:
A. Blocking calcium channels.
B. Causing venous and arterial dilation, reducing preload and afterload. ✓
C. Increasing heart rate and contractility.
D. Diuresis.
24. Statins (e.g., atorvastatin) lower cholesterol primarily by inhibiting:
A. HMG-CoA reductase ✓
B. Cholesterol absorption in the gut
C. Lipoprotein lipase
D. Bile acid reabsorption
PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW & PRACTICE SUPPORT
1. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a stimulatory response similar to the
endogenous chemical is known as a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist ✓
C. Partial agonist
D. Inverse agonist
2. The study of what the body does to the drug, including absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion, is called:
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics ✓
C. Pharmacogenomics
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
3. The first-pass effect significantly reduces the bioavailability of an orally administered drug
because of metabolism in the:
A. Stomach wall
B. Intestinal wall
C. Lungs
D. Liver ✓
4. A patient with renal impairment is prescribed a medication that is primarily eliminated by
the kidneys. The nurse should anticipate:
A. A need for a decreased drug dosage. ✓
B. A need for an increased drug dosage.
C. No change in the standard drug dosage.
D. A switch to intravenous administration.
5. The time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to be reduced by 50% is its:
A. Therapeutic index
B. Onset of action
C. Duration of action
D. Half-life ✓
6. Two drugs that are administered together compete for protein-binding sites. This can result
in:
,A. Decreased efficacy of both drugs.
B. Increased metabolism of both drugs.
C. Increased levels of free, active drug for one of them. ✓
D. A synergistic therapeutic effect.
7. The therapeutic index (TI) of a drug is a measure of its:
A. Potency
B. Safety ✓
C. Efficacy
D. Bioavailability
8. A drug with a high affinity for a receptor will:
A. Require a high concentration to bind.
B. Bind easily even at low concentrations. ✓
C. Act as a strong antagonist.
D. Have a low potency.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Pharmacology
9. Which class of drugs is used for the treatment of hypertension and acts by blocking alpha-1
adrenergic receptors, leading to vasodilation?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Alpha-blockers ✓
C. Calcium channel blockers
D. ACE inhibitors
10. A patient experiencing an acute asthma attack is most likely to be treated with which drug
that stimulates beta-2 adrenergic receptors?
A. Metoprolol
B. Atropine
C. Albuterol ✓
D. Prazosin
11. Which statement by a patient taking metoprolol (a beta-1 selective blocker) indicates a
need for further teaching?
A. "I will not stop taking this medication abruptly." ✓
B. "This medication may make me feel tired when I first start it."
C. "I should check my heart rate regularly."
D. "I use my albuterol inhaler for my asthma when I feel short of breath."
,12. The primary use of an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist like clonidine is:
A. To treat hypertension. ✓
B. As a mydriatic for eye exams.
C. To increase heart rate in bradycardia.
D. To treat asthma.
13. Atropine, an anticholinergic drug, is used pre-operatively to:
A. Reduce anxiety.
B. Provide analgesia.
C. Reduce oral and respiratory secretions. ✓
D. Prevent nausea and vomiting.
14. Bethanechol, a direct-acting cholinergic agonist, is used to treat:
A. Hypertension
B. Urinary retention ✓
C. Diarrhea
D. Peptic ulcer disease
15. A patient with myasthenia gravis is prescribed pyridostigmine. This drug works by:
A. Blocking muscarinic receptors.
B. Inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. ✓
C. Stimulating nicotinic receptors directly.
D. Blocking adrenergic receptors.
Cardiovascular Pharmacology
16. A patient prescribed furosemide (Lasix) should be monitored for:
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia ✓
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
17. Which medication is an ACE inhibitor commonly used for hypertension and heart failure?
A. Metoprolol
B. Amlodipine
C. Lisinopril ✓
D. Losartan
18. A common, dry, bothersome cough is a side effect associated with which class of
antihypertensives?
A. Calcium channel blockers
, B. Beta-blockers
C. ACE inhibitors ✓
D. Thiazide diuretics
19. Spironolactone (Aldactone) is a potassium-sparing diuretic that acts as an antagonist at:
A. Angiotensin II receptors
B. Aldosterone receptors ✓
C. Sodium channels
D. Alpha-1 receptors
20. The antidote for a toxic overdose of heparin is:
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate ✓
C. Naloxone
D. Flumazenil
21. Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy is monitored using which laboratory test?
A. aPTT
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR) ✓
C. Bleeding time
D. Platelet count
22. Which drug is a direct thrombin inhibitor used for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial
fibrillation?
A. Clopidogrel
B. Dabigatran ✓
C. Enoxaparin
D. Aspirin
23. Nitroglycerin, used for acute angina attacks, works primarily by:
A. Blocking calcium channels.
B. Causing venous and arterial dilation, reducing preload and afterload. ✓
C. Increasing heart rate and contractility.
D. Diuresis.
24. Statins (e.g., atorvastatin) lower cholesterol primarily by inhibiting:
A. HMG-CoA reductase ✓
B. Cholesterol absorption in the gut
C. Lipoprotein lipase
D. Bile acid reabsorption
