1
Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic
Page | 1
Approach – Canadian 3rd Edition by Michael Adams
ISBN: 9780135493199
Covers: Chapters 1–64 | Questions 1–100 | NCLEX-
RN Format | Updated 2025–2026
1. A nursing student is reviewing pharmacologic concepts. Which of the following best
describes pharmacokinetics?
1. The study of how drugs interact with receptor sites
2. The use of drugs to treat illness
✔ 3. The process of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
3. The body’s response to drug therapy
ANS: 3
Rationale:
Pharmacokinetics refers to the study of what the body does to a drug, encompassing
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). It helps clinicians understand
, 2
how medications travel through the body, the onset and duration of their action, and their
elimination. For example, liver metabolism and renal excretion influence how frequently and
safely a drug can be administered.
Page | 2
Test-Taking Strategy:
Focus on key terminology. Eliminate options that focus on what drugs do to the body
(pharmacodynamics) or their clinical use (pharmacotherapeutics). Look for the answer that
includes all four pharmacokinetic phases.
PTS: 1
DIF: Understanding
REF: Adams et al., 2020, Ch. 1
OBJ: Explain basic pharmacologic principles
2. Which of the following best describes the term "therapeutic classification" of a
medication?
1. The chemical structure of the drug
2. The pharmacologic action of the drug
✔ 3. What condition the drug is used to treat
3. How the drug is metabolized
ANS: 3
Rationale:
A drug’s therapeutic classification refers to its clinical usefulness or the disease it treats. For
instance, an antihypertensive is a drug that lowers blood pressure. This differs from
, 3
pharmacologic classification, which focuses on how the drug works (e.g., calcium channel
blocker).
Page | 3 Test-Taking Strategy:
Therapeutic = Treatment. Recall that “therapeutic” classifications align with patient
conditions (e.g., antidepressant, antipyretic). The pharmacologic class addresses mechanisms
of action.
PTS: 1
DIF: Knowledge
REF: Adams et al., 2020, Ch. 2
OBJ: Differentiate between therapeutic and pharmacologic classification
3. The nurse is administering a drug that is a strong agonist. What should the nurse
expect this drug to do?
1. Block a receptor and prevent action
2. Inhibit enzyme activity
✔ 3. Mimic the body’s natural chemicals to produce a response
3. Enhance drug excretion
ANS: 3
Rationale:
Agonists are drugs that bind to receptors and activate them, mimicking endogenous
substances like hormones or neurotransmitters. This leads to a physiologic response, such as
insulin binding to its receptor to lower blood glucose. Agonists have intrinsic activity.
, 4
Test-Taking Strategy:
Eliminate choices that suggest inhibition or blocking. An agonist stimulates a response—
think of the word “activate” as a clue.
Page | 4
PTS: 1
DIF: Comprehension
REF: Adams et al., 2020, Ch. 3
OBJ: Explain drug-receptor interactions
4. A patient taking a drug with a narrow therapeutic index needs careful monitoring
because:
1. The drug is not very effective
✔ 2. There is a small margin between therapeutic and toxic doses
2. It is metabolized slowly
3. The drug has no antidote
ANS: 2
Rationale:
A narrow therapeutic index means the effective dose is close to the toxic dose. Small
fluctuations in drug levels can lead to toxicity (e.g., digoxin, warfarin). Nurses must monitor
lab levels and assess for side effects regularly.
Test-Taking Strategy:
Associate "narrow index" with narrow safety margin. Choose answers that emphasize risk
and monitoring.
Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic
Page | 1
Approach – Canadian 3rd Edition by Michael Adams
ISBN: 9780135493199
Covers: Chapters 1–64 | Questions 1–100 | NCLEX-
RN Format | Updated 2025–2026
1. A nursing student is reviewing pharmacologic concepts. Which of the following best
describes pharmacokinetics?
1. The study of how drugs interact with receptor sites
2. The use of drugs to treat illness
✔ 3. The process of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
3. The body’s response to drug therapy
ANS: 3
Rationale:
Pharmacokinetics refers to the study of what the body does to a drug, encompassing
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). It helps clinicians understand
, 2
how medications travel through the body, the onset and duration of their action, and their
elimination. For example, liver metabolism and renal excretion influence how frequently and
safely a drug can be administered.
Page | 2
Test-Taking Strategy:
Focus on key terminology. Eliminate options that focus on what drugs do to the body
(pharmacodynamics) or their clinical use (pharmacotherapeutics). Look for the answer that
includes all four pharmacokinetic phases.
PTS: 1
DIF: Understanding
REF: Adams et al., 2020, Ch. 1
OBJ: Explain basic pharmacologic principles
2. Which of the following best describes the term "therapeutic classification" of a
medication?
1. The chemical structure of the drug
2. The pharmacologic action of the drug
✔ 3. What condition the drug is used to treat
3. How the drug is metabolized
ANS: 3
Rationale:
A drug’s therapeutic classification refers to its clinical usefulness or the disease it treats. For
instance, an antihypertensive is a drug that lowers blood pressure. This differs from
, 3
pharmacologic classification, which focuses on how the drug works (e.g., calcium channel
blocker).
Page | 3 Test-Taking Strategy:
Therapeutic = Treatment. Recall that “therapeutic” classifications align with patient
conditions (e.g., antidepressant, antipyretic). The pharmacologic class addresses mechanisms
of action.
PTS: 1
DIF: Knowledge
REF: Adams et al., 2020, Ch. 2
OBJ: Differentiate between therapeutic and pharmacologic classification
3. The nurse is administering a drug that is a strong agonist. What should the nurse
expect this drug to do?
1. Block a receptor and prevent action
2. Inhibit enzyme activity
✔ 3. Mimic the body’s natural chemicals to produce a response
3. Enhance drug excretion
ANS: 3
Rationale:
Agonists are drugs that bind to receptors and activate them, mimicking endogenous
substances like hormones or neurotransmitters. This leads to a physiologic response, such as
insulin binding to its receptor to lower blood glucose. Agonists have intrinsic activity.
, 4
Test-Taking Strategy:
Eliminate choices that suggest inhibition or blocking. An agonist stimulates a response—
think of the word “activate” as a clue.
Page | 4
PTS: 1
DIF: Comprehension
REF: Adams et al., 2020, Ch. 3
OBJ: Explain drug-receptor interactions
4. A patient taking a drug with a narrow therapeutic index needs careful monitoring
because:
1. The drug is not very effective
✔ 2. There is a small margin between therapeutic and toxic doses
2. It is metabolized slowly
3. The drug has no antidote
ANS: 2
Rationale:
A narrow therapeutic index means the effective dose is close to the toxic dose. Small
fluctuations in drug levels can lead to toxicity (e.g., digoxin, warfarin). Nurses must monitor
lab levels and assess for side effects regularly.
Test-Taking Strategy:
Associate "narrow index" with narrow safety margin. Choose answers that emphasize risk
and monitoring.
