1. A nursing instructor is preparing a teaching plan for a group of nursing students about
pharmacology. When describing this topic, the instructor would
... [Show More] focus the discussion on
which of the following as an essential aspect?
A) Drug name
B) Drug class
C) Drug action
D) Drug source
Ans: C
Feedback:
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their action on living organisms. Thus, an
essential aspect of pharmacology is drug action. An understanding of the drug name,
drug class, and drug source is important, but the most critical aspect related to
pharmacology is how the drug acts in the body.
2. A nursing student is preparing to administer a prescribed drug to a patient. The student
reviews information about the drug and its actions. Which of the following would be the
best choice for obtaining this information? Select all that apply.
A) Nursing instructor
B) Nurse assigned to the patient
C) Clinical drug reference
D) Prescribing health care provider
E) Clinical pharmacist
Ans: C, E
Feedback:
Although the nursing student can ask the nursing instructor, the nurse assigned to the
patient, and the prescribing health care provider for information about the drug, the best
choices for drug information would include an appropriate drug reference and the
clinical pharmacist.
3. When describing the various types of medications to a group of nursing students, a
nursing instructor would identify which of the following as a source for deriving
medications? Select all that apply.
A) Plants
B) Synthetic sources
C) Mold
D) Minerals
E) Animals
Ans: A, B, C, D, E
Feedback:
Medications are derived from natural sources, for example, plants, molds, minerals, and
animals, as well as created synthetically in a laboratory.Page 2
4. Which of the following names may be assigned to a drug during the process of
development? Select all that apply.
A) Chemical name
B) Official name
C) Pharmacologic name
D) Trade name
E) Nonproprietary name
Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
Throughout the process of development, drugs may have several names assigned to
them including a chemical name, a generic (nonproprietary) name, an official name, and
a trade or brand name.
5. A drug may be classified by which of the following? Select all that apply.
A) The chemical type of the drug's active ingredient
B) The way the drug is used to treat a specific condition
C) The generic name of the drug
D) The trade name of the drug
E) The nonproprietary name of the drug
Ans: A, B
Feedback:
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is
used to treat a particular condition. Generic, trade, and nonproprietary refer to how a
drug is named.
6. A group of nursing students are reviewing information about the process of drug
development in the United States. The students demonstrate understanding of this
process when they identify that which of the following categories are assigned by the
Food and Drug Administration to newly approved drugs? Select all that apply.
A) Metabolite
B) Noncontrolled substance
C) Prescription
D) Nonprescription
E) Controlled substance
Ans: C, D, E
Feedback:
Once drugs are approved for use, the FDA assigns the drug to one of the following
categories: prescription, nonprescription, or controlled substance. Metabolite refers to
the inactive form of the drug. Noncontrolled substance is a term that is not used.Page 3
7. Which of the following would be most important for the nurse to do to ensure the safe
use of prescription drugs in the institutional setting? Select all that apply.
A) Administering drugs
B) Monitoring clients for drug effects
C) Prescribing drugs
D) Evaluating clients for toxic effects
E) Educating clients/caregivers about drugs
Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
In the institutional setting, the nurse's role to ensure safe use of prescription drugs
includes administering drugs, monitoring drug effects, evaluating for toxic effects, and
educating clients and caregivers about drugs.
8. The nurse is helping a client review a prescription from the health care provider. When
examining the prescription, which of the following would the nurse expect to find
documented? Select all that apply.
A) Name of the drug
B) Dosage of the drug
C) Route of drug administration
D) Times of drug administration
E) Licensed prescriber's signature
Ans: A, B, C, D, E
Feedback:
The prescription must contain the client's name, the name of the drug, the dosage, the
method and times of administration, and the signature of the licensed health care
provider prescribing the drug.
9. After teaching a group of nursing students about nonprescription drugs, the nursing
instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which
of the following? Select all that apply.
A) They require a licensed health care provider's signature.
B) They are referred to as over-the-counter drugs.
C) They can be taken without risk to the client.
D) They have certain labeling requirements.
E) They should be taken only as directed on the label.
Ans: B, D, E
Feedback:
Nonprescription drugs are often referred to as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. They do
not require a prescription (a licensed health care provider's signature) but do not come
without risk to the client. The federal government has imposed labeling requirements of
OTC drugs and they should only be taken as directed on the label unless under the
supervision of a health care provider.Page 4
10. A nursing student is reviewing information about the Controlled Substances Act of
1970. The student would expect to find which of the following as being regulated for
drugs classified as controlled substances? Select all that apply.
A) Manufacturing
B) Elimination
C) Distribution
D) Formulation
E) Dispensing
Ans: A, C, E
Feedback:
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 regulates the manufacture, distribution, and
dispensing of drugs classified as controlled substances. Elimination refers to the
excretion of drugs from the body, a pharmacokinetic activity. The act does not address
formulation of the drug.
11. When reviewing information about the Orphan Drug Program, which of the following
would the nurse expect to find? Select all that apply.
A) The program encourages the development and marketing of products to treat rare
diseases.
B) The program grants provisional approval with a written commitment from the
drug company to formally demonstrate client benefits.
C) The program provides for incentives, such as research grants, protocol assistance,
and special tax credits, to develop products to treat rare diseases.
D) The program grants 7 years of exclusive marketing rights to the manufacturer if
approved.
E) The program accelerates approval of drugs based on preliminary evidence before
formal demonstration of client benefits.
Ans: A, C, D
Feedback:
The Orphan Drug Program encourages the development and marketing of products used
to treat rare diseases. The program provides incentives to encourage manufacturers to
develop orphan drugs, and if approved, the manufacturer has 7 years of exclusive
marketing rights. Accelerated programs involve provisional approval and approval
based on preliminary evidence.Page 5
12. After teaching a group of nursing students about pharmacokinetics, the instructor
determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which of the
following as a phase? Select all that apply.
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Administration
D) Metabolism
E) Excretion
Ans: A, B, D, E
Feedback:
The pharmacokinetic phases are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
The acronym ADME is a helpful way to remember the pharmacokinetic phases.
13. A nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a client who is prescribed an oral medication.
As part of the plan, the nurse expects to describe the importance of absorption. The
nurse would integrate knowledge of which of the following as a mechanism for
absorption in the gastrointestinal tract? Select all that apply.
A) Active transport
B) Transposition
C) Passive transport
D) Endocytosis
E) Pinocytosis
Ans: A, C, E
Feedback:
During absorption, the drug particles in the GI tract are moved into the body fluids via
active transport, passive transport, and pinocytosis.
14. After teaching a group of nursing students about the half-life of a drug, the instructor
determines the need for additional teaching when the students identify which of the
following as true? Select all that apply:
A) Half-life can be decreased in clients with renal disease.
B) Half-life can help determine dosing frequency.
C) Half-life does not change throughout a client's life.
D) Liver disease can increase half-life.
E) Half-life is the measure of the rate at which drugs are removed from the body.
Ans: A, C
Feedback:
Half-life is the measure of the rate at which drugs are removed from the body, and any
difficulty in excreting a drug increases half-life, including liver or kidney disease or
advanced age.Page 6
15. A nurse is assessing a client after administering a prescribed medication. Which of the
following would alert the nurse to suspect that the client is developing anaphylactic
shock? Select all that apply.
A) Bradycardia
B) Hypertension
C) Dyspnea
D) Urticaria
E) Angioedema
Ans: C, D, E
Feedback:
The symptoms of anaphylactic shock are dyspnea, feeling of fullness in the throat,
cough, wheezing, extremely low blood pressure, tachycardia (heart rate >100 bpm),
palpitations, syncope, cardiac arrest, urticaria, angioedema, pruritus, sweating, nausea,
vomiting, and abdominal pain.
16. Which of the following would the nurse identify as a factor that alters drug response in
children and infants? Select all that apply.
A) Slower gastric emptying
B) Greater surface area
C) Less protein binding
D) Decreased body water content
E) Less cutaneous fat
Ans: A, B, C, E
Feedback:
Children and infants are not small adults; therefore, they have altered pharmacokinetics.
Factors that alter pharmacokinetics in children include slower gastric emptying, less
cutaneous fat, greater surface area, increased body water content, less protein binding,
and immature hepatic and renal function.
17. The FDA established a safety information and adverse events reporting program called
MedWatch. Which individuals can access the MedWatch website to obtain safety alerts
on drugs, devices, or dietary supplements? Select all that apply.
A) Physicians
B) Nurses
C) Patients
D) Pharmacists
E) Caregivers
Ans: A, B, C, D, E
Feedback:
Anyone can access the MedWatch website to obtain safety alerts on drugs, devices, or
dietary supplements.Page 7
18. A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a client. The nurse
integrates knowledge of which of the following as a possible factor that could influence
the drug response? Select all that apply.
A) Age
B) Polypharmacy
C) Weight
D) Sex
E) Disease
Ans: A, B, C, D, E
Feedback:
Drug response can be influenced by the following factors: age, polypharmacy, weight,
sex, disease, and genetics.
19. A nurse is assessing a client and notes that the client has developed swelling of the
eyelids and lips after administration of a prescribed medication. The nurse interprets this
finding as specifically indicating which of the following?
A) Mild allergic reaction
B) Anaphylactic shock
C) Angioedema
D) Drug idiosyncrasy
Ans: C
Feedback:
Angioedema is a type of allergic drug reaction manifested by the collection of fluid in
the subcutaneous tissues, most commonly affecting the eyelids, lips, mouth, and throat.
Allergic reactions can be manifested by a wide range of signs and symptoms such as
itching, rashes, and hives. Anaphylactic shock is a serious allergic reaction that requires
immediate medical attention. Drug idiosyncrasy describes any unusual or abnormal
reaction to a drug, one that is different from the one normally expected.
20. Which of the following is true regarding the Dietary Supplement Health and Education
Act (DSHEA)? Select all that apply.
A) The act allows for DEA enforcement of the act.
B) The act gives the FDA power to enforce the laws governed by the act.
C) The act permits general health claims.
D) The act permits curative health claims.
E) The act defines specific substances as “dietary supplements.”
Ans: B, C, E
Feedback:
The DSHEA defines substances such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and
other natural substances as “dietary supplements” and permits general health claims as
long as the label also has a disclaimer stating that the supplements are not approved by
the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The act
gives the FDA the power to enforce the laws governed by the act.Page 8
21. When reviewing the phases of drug development, the nurse finds a discussion about the
postmarketing surveillance phase. Which one of the following activities would the nurse
expect to find as being carried out during this phase?
A) Health care providers report adverse effects to FDA.
B) Healthy volunteers are involved in the test.
C) In vitro tests are performed using human cells.
D) The drug is given to patients with the disease.
Ans: A
Feedback:
The postmarketing surveillance phase of drug development encourages health care
professionals to report adverse effects of drugs to the FDA using MedWatch. Phase 1 of
clinical testing involves 20 to 100 healthy volunteers. In vitro testing of the drug on
human or animal cells is done in the pre-FDA phase. In Phase 2 of clinical testing, the
drug is given to patients with the disease for which the drug is manufactured.
22. A nurse is assessing a pregnant client and learns that the client is addicted to cocaine.
The nurse informs the client about the risks of cocaine addiction for her fetus. Which of
the following would the nurse include?
A) The child may be born with diabetes.
B) The child may be born with hypertension.
C) The child may be born with an addiction to drugs.
D) The child may be born with CNS defects.
Ans: C
Feedback:
The nurse informs the client that children born to mothers using addictive drugs are
often born with an addiction to the drug. Children born to mothers who are addicted to
cocaine are not known to be born with diabetes, CNS defects, or hypertension.
23. A patient arrives at the health care clinic and informs the nurse that he has consumed
several aspirin tablets for a severe headache over the past 24 hours. The nurse would be
alert for which of the following as a harmful effect?
A) Gastrointestinal bleeding
B) Breathing difficulties
C) Visual disturbances
D) Loss of balance
Ans: A
Feedback:
Aspirin is potentially harmful and can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and salicylism.
Breathing difficulties, visual disturbances, and loss of balance could be due to an illness
or the effects of some other drug.Page 9
24. The nurse observes that after administration of a drug the patient has developed itching
and a skin rash. The nurse interprets these findings as which of the following?
A) Toxicity
B) Allergic reaction
C) Angioedema
D) Crystalluria
Ans: B
Feedback:
Allergic reactions are manifested by a variety of signs and symptoms including itching,
skin rashes, and hives. Swollen eyelids, lips, and mouth are some of the symptoms of
angioedema, an allergic drug reaction that may block the airway, causing asphyxia.
Toxicity or toxic reactions are caused when blood concentration levels exceed the
therapeutic level of drugs. Reduced blood pressure is called hypotension. Crystals in the
urine are symptoms of crystalluria.
25. A patient is receiving digoxin as treatment for heart failure. Which of the following
would be most important for the nurse to monitor to reduce the risk for toxicity?
A) Seizure activity
B) Drug blood level
C) Urinary output
D) Blood pressure
Ans: B
Feedback:
The nurse should monitor the patient's blood level of the drug to ensure that the level
remains within the therapeutic range. Monitoring seizure activity, urination frequency,
and blood pressure will not prevent toxicity. Seizure activity is unrelated to digoxin or
heart failure. [Show Less]