,Chapter 01: Drug Regulation, Actions, and Responses
Workman & LaCharity: Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication Safety, 2nd
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
BASIC CONCEPTS
1. Which health care professional has the major responsibility for dispensing prescribed
drugs under the direction of a pharmacist?
a. Physician
b Nurse practitioner
.
c. Licensed nurse
d Pharmacy technician
.
ANS: D
The physician and nurse practitioner have the major responsibility for prescribing drugs, not
dispensing them. The licensed nurse has the primary responsibility for administering drugs,
although under some circumstances a licensed nurse may dispense prescribed drugs but this is
not his or her major responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technician has the major
responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
2. Which term describes the effect of a drug that improves body function?
a. Side effect
b Intended action
.
c. Adverse reaction
d Idiosyncratic response
.
,ANS: B
The purpose of drug therapy is to take a drug to prevent, reduce, or correct a health problem.
This response is any drug’s intended action also known as a therapeutic response.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
3. Which type of drug name is ―owned‖ by the company that manufactures it?
a. Generic name
b Chemical name
, .
c. Category name
d Trade name
.
ANS: D
The chemical name is a drug’s exact chemical composition. The generic name is the name
assigned to the drug by the U.S. Adopted Names Council and is not owned by anyone. The
category name refers to the type of drug (what it does or what it is used for) and is not an actual
drug name. The trade name (brand name) is the name provided and owned by a specific drug’s
manufacturer.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
4. Which drug or drug class is a ―high alert‖ drug?
a. Penicillin
b Insulin
.
c. NSAIDs
d Calcium
.
ANS: B
A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong dose, to the wrong
patient, or not given to the correct patient. Drugs classified as high alert drugs include potassium,
narcotics (opioids), insulin, cancer chemotherapy drugs, and heparin (or any drug that strongly
affects blood clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered high alert drugs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
5. What is the term for a drug that has the same action as a naturally occurring body
hormone or enzyme?
a. Agonist
b Blocking agent
.
c. Chemical
d Duplicator
.
ANS: A
A drug agonist is an extrinsic drug that activates the receptor sites of a cell and mimics the
actions of naturally occurring body substances (intrinsic drugs). A blocking agent is a drug
Workman & LaCharity: Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication Safety, 2nd
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
BASIC CONCEPTS
1. Which health care professional has the major responsibility for dispensing prescribed
drugs under the direction of a pharmacist?
a. Physician
b Nurse practitioner
.
c. Licensed nurse
d Pharmacy technician
.
ANS: D
The physician and nurse practitioner have the major responsibility for prescribing drugs, not
dispensing them. The licensed nurse has the primary responsibility for administering drugs,
although under some circumstances a licensed nurse may dispense prescribed drugs but this is
not his or her major responsibility in drug therapy. The pharmacy technician has the major
responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
2. Which term describes the effect of a drug that improves body function?
a. Side effect
b Intended action
.
c. Adverse reaction
d Idiosyncratic response
.
,ANS: B
The purpose of drug therapy is to take a drug to prevent, reduce, or correct a health problem.
This response is any drug’s intended action also known as a therapeutic response.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 3
3. Which type of drug name is ―owned‖ by the company that manufactures it?
a. Generic name
b Chemical name
, .
c. Category name
d Trade name
.
ANS: D
The chemical name is a drug’s exact chemical composition. The generic name is the name
assigned to the drug by the U.S. Adopted Names Council and is not owned by anyone. The
category name refers to the type of drug (what it does or what it is used for) and is not an actual
drug name. The trade name (brand name) is the name provided and owned by a specific drug’s
manufacturer.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
4. Which drug or drug class is a ―high alert‖ drug?
a. Penicillin
b Insulin
.
c. NSAIDs
d Calcium
.
ANS: B
A high alert drug is one in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong dose, to the wrong
patient, or not given to the correct patient. Drugs classified as high alert drugs include potassium,
narcotics (opioids), insulin, cancer chemotherapy drugs, and heparin (or any drug that strongly
affects blood clotting). Penicillin, NSAIDs, and calcium are not considered high alert drugs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 4
5. What is the term for a drug that has the same action as a naturally occurring body
hormone or enzyme?
a. Agonist
b Blocking agent
.
c. Chemical
d Duplicator
.
ANS: A
A drug agonist is an extrinsic drug that activates the receptor sites of a cell and mimics the
actions of naturally occurring body substances (intrinsic drugs). A blocking agent is a drug
