NSG 3153 — PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS FOR
NURSING PRACTICE I PRACTICE EXAM —
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2025|2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse teaching a patient about oral absorption explains that which factor
most affects the rate of absorption?
A. Drug metabolism in the liver
B. Surface area of absorption
C. Route of excretion
D. Protein binding
Answer: B. Surface area of absorption.
Rationale: Oral drug absorption rate is strongly influenced by the surface
area of the GI tract (e.g., small intestine large surface area increases
absorption).
2. Which pharmacokinetic process describes the movement of a drug from
the bloodstream into tissues and cells?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: B. Distribution.
Rationale: Distribution is the reversible transfer of a drug between the
bloodstream and tissues/organs.
3. A drug that is highly protein bound will have which effect?
A. Increased free drug concentration
B. Reduced distribution to tissues
C. Faster renal excretion
, D. No change in half-life
Answer: B. Reduced distribution to tissues.
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs remain in plasma and have less free
(active) drug available to cross membranes into tissues.
4. The primary organ responsible for drug metabolism is the:
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Skin
Answer: B. Liver.
Rationale: The liver contains enzymes (mainly CYP450) that metabolize
most drugs into inactive or active metabolites.
5. A drug with a long half-life will require which of the following for steady
state to be reached?
A. Fewer doses
B. Longer time and possibly a loading dose
C. No change—half-life doesn’t affect steady state
D. Immediate steady state after first dose
Answer: B. Longer time and possibly a loading dose.
Rationale: Longer half-life delays steady-state attainment; a loading dose
may be used to rapidly achieve therapeutic levels.
6. An antagonist drug does which of the following at a receptor?
A. Activates the receptor producing a response
B. Blocks the receptor preventing an effect
C. Increases receptor sensitivity
D. Irreversibly damages the receptor
Answer: B. Blocks the receptor preventing an effect.
Rationale: Antagonists bind receptors but do not activate them and prevent
agonists from producing effects.
7. A nurse should recognize that an example of an intrinsic (first-pass) effect
that reduces oral bioavailability is:
A. Gastric emptying time
B. Hepatic metabolism before reaching systemic circulation
, C. Drug carried by albumin
D. Distribution into adipose tissue
Answer: B. Hepatic metabolism before reaching systemic circulation.
Rationale: First-pass metabolism (hepatic) reduces the amount of active
drug entering systemic circulation after oral administration.
8. Which route of administration bypasses first-pass metabolism?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Enteric-coated oral tablet
D. Rectal (always)
Answer: B. Sublingual.
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows absorption directly into
systemic circulation via oral mucosa, avoiding first-pass hepatic
metabolism.
9. A nurse gives a medication and expects the peak plasma concentration to
be reached in 30 minutes. Which parameter is being described?
A. Onset of action
B. Peak effect
C. Time to peak (Tmax)
D. Half-life
Answer: C. Time to peak (Tmax).
Rationale: Tmax is the time after administration when a drug reaches its
maximum plasma concentration.
10.Which lab value would the nurse monitor closely for a patient receiving an
aminoglycoside antibiotic?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Creatinine
C. Serum glucose
D. Serum potassium
Answer: B. Creatinine.
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are nephrotoxic; creatinine (and BUN)
monitoring assesses renal function and risk of accumulation.
NURSING PRACTICE I PRACTICE EXAM —
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2025|2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse teaching a patient about oral absorption explains that which factor
most affects the rate of absorption?
A. Drug metabolism in the liver
B. Surface area of absorption
C. Route of excretion
D. Protein binding
Answer: B. Surface area of absorption.
Rationale: Oral drug absorption rate is strongly influenced by the surface
area of the GI tract (e.g., small intestine large surface area increases
absorption).
2. Which pharmacokinetic process describes the movement of a drug from
the bloodstream into tissues and cells?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: B. Distribution.
Rationale: Distribution is the reversible transfer of a drug between the
bloodstream and tissues/organs.
3. A drug that is highly protein bound will have which effect?
A. Increased free drug concentration
B. Reduced distribution to tissues
C. Faster renal excretion
, D. No change in half-life
Answer: B. Reduced distribution to tissues.
Rationale: Highly protein-bound drugs remain in plasma and have less free
(active) drug available to cross membranes into tissues.
4. The primary organ responsible for drug metabolism is the:
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Skin
Answer: B. Liver.
Rationale: The liver contains enzymes (mainly CYP450) that metabolize
most drugs into inactive or active metabolites.
5. A drug with a long half-life will require which of the following for steady
state to be reached?
A. Fewer doses
B. Longer time and possibly a loading dose
C. No change—half-life doesn’t affect steady state
D. Immediate steady state after first dose
Answer: B. Longer time and possibly a loading dose.
Rationale: Longer half-life delays steady-state attainment; a loading dose
may be used to rapidly achieve therapeutic levels.
6. An antagonist drug does which of the following at a receptor?
A. Activates the receptor producing a response
B. Blocks the receptor preventing an effect
C. Increases receptor sensitivity
D. Irreversibly damages the receptor
Answer: B. Blocks the receptor preventing an effect.
Rationale: Antagonists bind receptors but do not activate them and prevent
agonists from producing effects.
7. A nurse should recognize that an example of an intrinsic (first-pass) effect
that reduces oral bioavailability is:
A. Gastric emptying time
B. Hepatic metabolism before reaching systemic circulation
, C. Drug carried by albumin
D. Distribution into adipose tissue
Answer: B. Hepatic metabolism before reaching systemic circulation.
Rationale: First-pass metabolism (hepatic) reduces the amount of active
drug entering systemic circulation after oral administration.
8. Which route of administration bypasses first-pass metabolism?
A. Oral
B. Sublingual
C. Enteric-coated oral tablet
D. Rectal (always)
Answer: B. Sublingual.
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows absorption directly into
systemic circulation via oral mucosa, avoiding first-pass hepatic
metabolism.
9. A nurse gives a medication and expects the peak plasma concentration to
be reached in 30 minutes. Which parameter is being described?
A. Onset of action
B. Peak effect
C. Time to peak (Tmax)
D. Half-life
Answer: C. Time to peak (Tmax).
Rationale: Tmax is the time after administration when a drug reaches its
maximum plasma concentration.
10.Which lab value would the nurse monitor closely for a patient receiving an
aminoglycoside antibiotic?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Creatinine
C. Serum glucose
D. Serum potassium
Answer: B. Creatinine.
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are nephrotoxic; creatinine (and BUN)
monitoring assesses renal function and risk of accumulation.
