Principles of Pharmacology: Master Drug Basics for Nursing Practice

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of lipophilic drugs?

Accepted Answer

They tend to dissolve in water.

Answer

They readily cross the blood-brain barrier.

Answer

They have a high affinity for plasma proteins.

Answer

They are more likely to be excreted in the feces.

Question 2

What is the main mechanism of action of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis

Answer

Stimulation of opioid receptors

Answer

Blockade of angiotensin-converting enzyme

Answer

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system

Question 3

which route of drug administration delivers the fastest onset of action?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Intramuscular

Answer

Subcutaneous

Answer

Oral

Question 4

which of the following is a common adverse effect of opioids?

Accepted Answer

Constipation

Answer

Insomnia

Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Tachycardia

Question 5

What is the nurse's primary responsibility in medication administration?

Accepted Answer

To ensure patient safety and the effectiveness of the medication.

Answer

To administer the medication as prescribed.

Answer

To provide patient education.

Answer

To monitor the patient for adverse reactions.

Question 6

Which adverse effect is commonly associated with the use of anticoagulants?

Accepted Answer

Bleeding tendency

Answer

Increased heart rate

Answer

Constipation

Answer

Dry mouth

Question 7

What is the primary reason for calculating drug dosages based on body weight?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring accurate and safe drug administration

Answer

Determining the appropriate administration route

Answer

Monitoring drug effectiveness

Answer

Adjusting for the patient's age

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a recognized route of drug administration?

Accepted Answer

Psychic

Answer

Oral

Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Inhalation

Question 9

The therapeutic index of a drug is primarily defined as:

Accepted Answer

The ratio between the effective dose and the toxic dose

Answer

The duration of time a drug exerts its effects

Answer

The minimum dose required to achieve a therapeutic effect

Answer

The maximum dose that can be safely administered

Question 10

Which of the following accurately describes a characteristic of non-polar drugs?

Accepted Answer

Lipophilic (fat-soluble)

Answer

Water-soluble

Answer

Ionized at physiological pH

Answer

Highly protein-bound

Question 11

The half-life of a drug primarily refers to the time it takes for:

Accepted Answer

The drug concentration to decrease by half

Answer

The drug to be completely eliminated from the body

Answer

The drug to reach its peak concentration

Answer

The drug to be metabolized

Question 12

A patient is taking a drug that acts as a competitive antagonist. Which of the following effects would be most likely?

Accepted Answer

The drug will bind to receptors and block the agonist from binding

Answer

The drug will increase the number of receptors available for the agonist to bind to

Answer

The drug will decrease the affinity of the agonist for its receptor

Answer

The drug will have no effect on the agonist's activity

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a reliable source of drug information for nurses?

Accepted Answer

Vendor representatives

Answer

Drug package inserts

Answer

Pharmacology textbooks

Answer

Peer-reviewed medical journals

Question 14

What is the primary objective of medication administration?

Accepted Answer

To manage symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life

Answer

To eliminate the disease process

Answer

To cure the underlying cause of illness

Answer

To prevent future health problems

Question 15

Which of the following is a common adverse effect of opioid analgesics?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory depression

Answer

Increased urine output

Answer

Diarrhea

Answer

Elevated blood pressure

Question 16

What is the mechanism of action of beta-blockers?

Accepted Answer

They inhibit the effects of sympathetic nerve stimulation on the heart

Answer

They accelerate the heart rate

Answer

They decrease the force of heart contractions

Answer

They dilate blood vessels

Question 17

Which of the following conditions is a contraindication to digoxin use?

Accepted Answer

Hyperkalemia

Answer

Heart failure

Answer

Atrial fibrillation

Answer

Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse

Question 18

What is the purpose of using a loading dose of a medication?

Accepted Answer

To rapidly achieve therapeutic drug levels

Answer

To minimize the risk of side effects

Answer

To maintain steady-state drug concentrations

Answer

To test the patient's tolerance to the medication

Question 19

Which route of drug administration typically results in the highest bioavailability?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Oral

Answer

Subcutaneous

Answer

Topical

Question 20

What is the main role of CYP450 enzymes in drug metabolism?

Accepted Answer

To detoxify drugs

Answer

To activate drugs

Answer

To bind to drugs

Answer

To absorb drugs

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a prototype drug?

Accepted Answer

Antagonistic effects

Answer

High affinity for the receptor

Answer

Absence of intrinsic activity

Answer

Selectivity for specific receptors

Question 22

A patient prescribed a medication that inhibits hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes. Which action should you prioritize as a nurse?

Accepted Answer

Informing the prescriber about potential drug interactions

Answer

Increasing patient fluid intake

Answer

Monitoring patient blood pressure

Answer

Educating patient about overdose signs and symptoms

Question 23

Which administration route results in the quickest onset of drug action?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Subcutaneous

Answer

Oral

Answer

Topical

Question 24

A patient is prescribed an antibiotic with a narrow spectrum of activity. This means the drug:

Accepted Answer

Targets specific types of bacteria

Answer

Targets a wide range of bacteria

Answer

Has a high potential for side effects

Answer

Requires prolonged treatment duration

Question 25

A patient with hypertension is prescribed an antihypertensive medication that acts as a vasodilator. Which nursing intervention is most essential?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring blood pressure

Answer

Assessing fluid status

Answer

Educating about hypotension signs and symptoms

Answer

Implementing a low-sodium diet

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a valid route of drug administration?

Accepted Answer

Intrathecal

Answer

Oral

Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Topical

Question 27

What is the primary mechanism of action of penicillins?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting cell wall synthesis

Answer

Interfering with DNA replication

Answer

Disrupting protein synthesis

Answer

Blocking hormone receptors

Question 28

What is the difference between drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacokinetics studies drug movement and disposition in the body, while pharmacodynamics studies drug effects.

Answer

Pharmacodynamics studies drug movement and disposition in the body, while pharmacokinetics studies drug effects.

Answer

They are the same thing.

Answer

Pharmacokinetics studies drug interactions, while pharmacodynamics studies drug metabolism.

Question 29

What is the primary goal of clinical pharmacology?

Accepted Answer

To optimize drug therapy

Answer

To develop new drugs

Answer

To study drug mechanisms

Answer

To prevent adverse effects

Question 30

Which type of drug action involves binding to a receptor site on a cell membrane, causing a change in cellular activity?

Accepted Answer

Agonism

Answer

Antagonism

Answer

Competitive inhibition

Answer

Non-competitive inhibition

Question 31

An adverse drug reaction that is predictable, dose-dependent, and usually reversible is called a:

Accepted Answer

Side effect

Answer

Idiosyncratic reaction

Answer

Allergic reaction

Answer

Toxic reaction

Question 32

The therapeutic index is:

Accepted Answer

The ratio of the effective dose to the toxic dose

Answer

The ratio of the toxic dose to the effective dose

Answer

The difference between the effective dose and the toxic dose

Answer

The dose that produces a desired therapeutic effect

Question 33

How do a drug's affinity and efficacy affect its therapeutic impact?

Accepted Answer

Affinity determines the drug's binding capacity to a receptor, while efficacy determines the strength of the drug's response.

Answer

Affinity determines the strength of the drug's response, while efficacy determines the drug's binding capacity to a receptor.

Answer

Both affinity and efficacy determine the drug's binding capacity to a receptor.

Answer

Both affinity and efficacy determine the strength of the drug's response.

Question 34

Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2)

Answer

Blockade of histamine receptors

Answer

Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors

Answer

Activation of opioid receptors

Question 35

Identify the drug class that is used to treat hypertension by blocking calcium channels in the heart and blood vessel cells.

Accepted Answer

Calcium channel blockers

Answer

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Answer

Beta-blockers

Answer

Diuretics

Question 36

Select the potential adverse effect of opioids listed below:

Accepted Answer

Respiratory depression

Answer

Diarrhea

Answer

Insomnia

Answer

Hypertension

Question 37

Which route of drug administration provides the most rapid onset and highest bioavailability?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous (IV) injection

Answer

Subcutaneous

Answer

Intramuscular injection

Answer

Oral

Question 38

Identify a potential drug interaction that can occur when combining medications:

Accepted Answer

Altered therapeutic effect (increased or decreased)

Answer

Reduced side effects

Answer

No interaction

Answer

Improved absorption

Question 39

When calculating the correct medication dosage, which factor is of utmost importance for the nurse to consider?

Accepted Answer

Patient's body weight

Answer

Patient's age

Answer

Route of administration

Answer

Time of day

Question 40

The term 'pharmacokinetics' refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Study of drug movement and its effects throughout the body

Answer

Study of drug mechanisms of action

Answer

Study of drug interactions

Answer

Study of drug synthesis

Question 41

Which of the following factors does NOT impact drug distribution within the body?

Accepted Answer

Eye color

Answer

Body weight and composition

Answer

Protein binding

Answer

Age

Question 42

What is the predominant mechanism of action for antibacterial drugs?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis

Answer

Stimulation of the immune response

Answer

Interference with viral replication

Answer

Reduction of inflammation

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a frequently encountered side effect of opioids?

Accepted Answer

Hyperglycemia

Answer

Nausea and vomiting

Answer

Respiratory depression

Answer

Constipation

Question 44

For drugs with high protein binding, the recommended route of administration is:

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Intramuscular

Answer

Subcutaneous

Answer

Oral

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a determinant of drug metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Altitude

Answer

Liver function

Answer

Genetic factors

Answer

Age

Question 46

What is the primary function of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system?

Accepted Answer

Drug metabolism

Answer

Drug distribution

Answer

Drug excretion

Answer

Drug absorption

Question 47

Which term describes the time required for a drug concentration to decrease by half of its peak value?

Accepted Answer

Half-life

Answer

Peak plasma concentration

Answer

Clearance

Answer

Absorption rate constant

Question 48

The primary reason for variations in drug dosage among individuals is:

Accepted Answer

Interindividual variability

Answer

Formulation of the drug

Answer

Drug potency

Answer

Route of administration

Question 49

A defining characteristic of a competitive antagonist is that it:

Accepted Answer

Can be overcome by increasing agonist concentration

Answer

Has no effect on receptor-agonist binding

Answer

Binds irreversibly to the receptor

Question 50

In clinical trials, the primary purpose of a placebo is to:

Accepted Answer

Control for the psychological effects of treatment

Answer

Increase the effectiveness of the experimental treatment

Answer

Eliminate bias from the researchers

Answer

Reduce the cost of the study