Font size
WorksheetsUnit A One: History of Pharmacology & Its Role in Nursing
Total questions: 85
Worksheet time: 1hrs 17mins
The Hippocratic Corpus is significant because it:
Described the first use of anesthesia.
Is one of the oldest preserved documents of early medical ethics.
Introduced the concept of the "four humors."
Detailed the structure of aspirin.
The individual known for discovering penicillin is:
Marie Curie
Louis Pasteur
Alexander Fleming
Robert Koch
In contemporary pharmacology, intricate medications such as monoclonal antibodies sourced from living organisms are referred to as:
Artificial drugs
Herbal treatments
Biologics/Biomolecules
Brand-name drugs
Who is mainly accountable for administering a medication and ensuring its suitability for a patient?
Pharmacist
Nurse
Healthcare Provider
Social Worker
The nurse's responsibilities in the medication administration process are best described as:
Diagnosing and prescribing.
Verifying and dispensing.
Monitoring, administering, and assessing.
Managing cost and access issues.
In the context of Nursing Practice, which of the following is NOT included in the "Seven Rights" of medication administration?
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Expense
Right Record
The "Teach-Back Technique" is utilized by healthcare providers to:
Record medication distribution.
Assess complicated drug calculations.
Verify patient comprehension of information.
Prescribe new treatments.
For a patient newly prescribed amiodarone, a critical nursing assessment prior to the first dose includes checking:
Blood glucose and urine output.
Apical pulse and thyroid function tests.
Temperature and respiratory rate.
Blood pressure and oxygen saturation.
The examination of "how the body interacts with a medication," encompassing processes like absorption and elimination, is referred to as:
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacotherapeutics
Pharmacokinetics
Toxicology
The intended, positive outcome of a medication is referred to as its:
Side effect
Therapeutic effect
Adverse effect
Toxic effect
A condition or factor that serves as a reason to deny a specific medical procedure due to potential harm it may cause is a:
Indication
Contraindication
Synergism
Potency
The abbreviation "TID" on a prescription means:
Once daily
Twice daily
Three times daily
Four times daily
Which abbreviation is considered ambiguous and should be written out as "twice daily"?
BID
QD
PRN
AC
The abbreviation "mg" stands for:
Milligram
Millimole
Milliliter
Microdrip
To avoid misinterpretation, a dose of 10 milligrams should be written as:
10.0 mg
10 mg
mg 10
10.00 mg
The primary reason for medication errors associated with terminology is frequently:
Utilizing brand names exclusively.
Misunderstanding of abbreviations.
Grasping pharmacokinetics.
Determining drug clearance.
When instructing a patient, a nurse should:
Utilize numerous medical abbreviations for brevity.
Employ everyday language and explain all medical terms.
Only give written materials.
Presume the patient is familiar with common phrases like "PO."
The branch of pharmacology that studies the adverse effects of medications is:
Pharmacotherapeutics
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacodynamics
Toxicology
The process of a medication entering the circulatory system after being administered is:
Distribution
Metabolism
Absorption
Excretion
A medication given through an intravenous route avoids which pharmacokinetic process?
Distribution
Metabolism
Absorption
Excretion
Which factor does NOT significantly influence medication distribution?
Circulation rate
Binding to proteins
Age of the patient
Urinary acidity
First-pass metabolism primarily occurs when a drug is administered:
Intravenously
Subcutaneously
Orally
Rectally
The main organ responsible for the metabolism of drugs is the:
Kidney
Lung
Liver
Intestine
The main pathway for eliminating most medications is through the:
Lungs
Skin
Kidneys
Bile
A substance that attaches to a receptor and stimulates it, resulting in a reaction, is referred to as an:
Agonist
Antagonist
Inhibitor
Inducer
Naloxone (Narcan) functions as an opioid antagonist by:
Binding to opioid receptors without activating them, preventing the effects of other opioids.
Activating opioid receptors more effectively than fentanyl.
Accelerating the breakdown of opioids in the body.
Promoting the elimination of opioids from the system.
Oxycodone is described as a partial agonist because it:
Fully activates receptors and has no ceiling effect.
Blocks receptors completely with no activation.
Activates receptors but produces a submaximal response with a ceiling effect.
Works only on enzymes, not receptors.
Ibuprofen works by which non-receptor mechanism?
Opening ion channels
Chemical neutralization
Enzyme inhibition
Protein binding competition
The highest therapeutic effect a medication can achieve, irrespective of the dosage, is referred to as its:
Potency
Efficacy
Affinity
Bioavailability
A medication with a narrow Therapeutic Index (TI) necessitates:
Infrequent administration.
No specific monitoring.
Frequent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM).
Only administration through the oral route.
A common, unintended consequence of a medication at normal doses is a:
Adverse effect
Side effect
Hypersensitivity reaction
Unusual reaction
The nursing responsibility of verifying a questionable or potentially harmful medication order is an example of:
Administration
Documentation
Advocacy
Evaluation
The primary objective of medication administration is to provide the appropriate medication to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome while:
Enhancing cost-efficiency.
Reducing nursing workload.
Reducing side effects.
Employing the most effective delivery method.
When verifying the "Correct Patient," a healthcare provider should utilize:
The patient's bed number.
One identifier, such as their full name.
Two identifiers, such as name and birthdate.
The patient's medical condition.
The "Five Rights" of medication administration are checked at which stages?
Prescribing, dispensing, administering
Retrieving, preparing, at bedside
Ordering, storing, documenting
Assessing, planning, evaluating
In accordance with Nursing Regulations, narcotics and controlled substances in Zambia must be kept in a:
Secured cabinet.
Freezer.
Dedicated, double-locked storage (e.g., DDA box).
Accessible shelf for quick retrieval during emergencies.
The principle "Last Expiry, First Out" (LEFO) is used to:
Calculate medication quantities.
Avoid the use of outdated medications.
Decide which patient receives treatment first.
Request additional supplies.
If a drug label states "250 mg/10 mL," it means:
The patient should take 250 mg five times a day.
The bottle contains a total of 250 mg of drug.
Every 10 milliliters of liquid contains 250 mg of the drug.
The concentration is 10 mg per 250 mL.
A doctor prescribes 450 mg of a liquid medication. The available suspension is 300 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
5 mL
7.5 mL
10 mL
15 mL
Which of the following is a PARENTERAL route of administration?
Intramuscular (IM)
Oral (PO)
Intravenous (IV)
Rectal (PR)
For a subcutaneous injection, the nurse should typically use a needle at what angle?
10-degree angle
30-degree angle
60-degree angle
90-degree angle
The purpose of IV fluid therapy includes all EXCEPT:
Achieving a quick therapeutic response.
Maintaining fluid and electrolyte homeostasis.
Delivering medications that may irritate other tissues.
Delaying the absorption of a medication.
An isotonic IV solution, like 0.9% Normal Saline, has an osmolality:
Lower than plasma, shifting fluid into cells.
Similar to plasma, expanding intravascular volume.
Higher than plasma, pulling fluid from cells.
Variable, depending on the patient's condition.
A crucial nursing duty during IV bolus administration is to:
Infuse it as slowly as possible.
Administer it gradually, monitoring for adverse reactions.
Combine it with the primary IV fluid bag.
Only administer it through a peripheral line.
When utilizing a digital infusion device for a steady IV infusion, the nurse must still:
Manually monitor the drops per minute.
Independently determine the flow rate.
Consistently check the infusion site and rate.
Prepare the medication in a 50 mL minibag.
The drop factor for standard macrodrip tubing is typically:
15, 20, or 25 gtt/mL
80 gtt/mL
2 gtt/mL
120 gtt/mL
Order: Infuse 600 mL of D5W over 5 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min? (Calculate)
30 gtt/min
40 gtt/min
45 gtt/min
75 gtt/min
The first critical step a nurse should take if a medication mistake happens is to:
Fill out an incident report.
Inform the nursing supervisor.
Evaluate and treat the patient right away.
Record the mistake in the patient's medical record.
Establishing a "culture of accountability" regarding medication management highlights:
Punishing individuals for errors.
Concealing mistakes to safeguard the department's image.
Enhancing systems and encouraging open reporting.
Only documenting incidents that result in injury.
Classifying a medication as a "diuretic" is an example of ______ classification.
Pharmacologic
Chemical
Therapeutic
Classifying a medication as a "calcium channel blocker" is an example of ______ classification.
Pharmacologic
Therapeutic
Prototype
Body System
The pharmacologic class of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is:
Beta-Blocker
Thiazide Diuretic
ACE Inhibitor
Opioid Agonist
A crucial nursing consideration when administering Spironolactone is to monitor for:
Hypoglycemia
Electrolyte imbalances (like hyperkalemia)
Hypotension
Diarrhea
Fentanyl's primary mechanism of action is:
Inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Blocking beta-adrenergic receptors.
Binding to opioid receptors in the CNS.
Inhibiting the proton pump in the stomach.
The most critical assessment prior to and after administering an opioid like fentanyl is the patient's:
Blood pressure
Respiratory rate and sedation level
Urine output
Skin integrity
Cefalosporins, such as cephalexin, are bactericidal because they:
Inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria.
Disrupt bacterial DNA replication.
Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Increase bacterial membrane permeability.
Before administering any amoxicillin, the nurse's priority action is to:
Check the patient's liver function tests.
Assess for an amoxicillin allergy.
Administer on an empty stomach.
Obtain a blood culture.
Rapid insulin's main function is to:
Encourage the pancreas to generate additional insulin.
Reduce glucose synthesis in the liver.
Enhance glucose absorption into cells.
Delay gastric emptying.
The "20-20 Rule" is used to treat:
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Hyperglycemia
Hypoglycemia
Insulin resistance
Esomeprazole (a PPI) works by:
Neutralizing existing stomach acid.
Blocking histamine receptors on parietal cells.
Irreversibly blocking the gastric proton pump.
Coating the stomach lining.
A patient undergoing chronic PPI treatment should be assessed for a heightened risk of:
Cardiovascular disease
C. difficile infection and bone fractures
Hypoglycemia
Urinary incontinence
In various regions, Schedule II controlled substances (e.g., oxycodone) generally:
Have no recognized therapeutic use.
Require a written prescription with no refills allowed.
Can be obtained without a prescription.
Have the highest potential for abuse.
A medication used to regulate heart rhythm, such as sotalol, is classified therapeutically as an:
Antihypertensive
Antidysrhythmic
Antianginal
Anticoagulant
Formoterol, a bronchodilator, works by acting as an agonist at:
Alpha receptors
Beta-1 receptors
Beta-2 receptors
Muscarinic receptors
The therapeutic use of Metformin is to:
Lower blood pressure.
Manage blood glucose levels.
Reduce cholesterol.
Enhance insulin sensitivity.
Metoclopramide is classified as a:
Antacid
Antiemetic
Antidiarrheal
Laxative
Acetaminophen is a member of which pharmacologic class?
Opioid
NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug)
Corticosteroid
Analgesic
The nursing priority for a patient starting on Heparin (an anticoagulant with a low TI) is:
Monitoring blood pressure.
Checking the radial pulse.
Assessing for signs of bleeding and ensuring regular aPTT checks.
Listening for bowel sounds.
The practice of using several medications, often seen in individuals with long-term health issues, is referred to as:
Polymedicine
Polypharmacy
Pharmacogenomics
Synergism
A patient with a history of atrial fibrillation is prescribed Digoxin. The nurse understands that this medication has a narrow therapeutic index. Which action is most critical?
Administering it with food to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.
Monitoring the patient's apical pulse and serum magnesium levels.
Ensuring the patient takes it at the same time each day.
Instructing the patient to avoid operating machinery after taking the dose.
A middle-aged patient with compromised liver function is prescribed a medication that is primarily metabolized by the liver. The nurse should anticipate:
A need for a lower dose to avoid adverse effects.
That the drug will be excreted more quickly by the kidneys.
A potential risk of drug accumulation and toxicity.
No change in the standard dosing regimen.
A post-operative patient is receiving IV fentanyl via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The nurse finds the patient drowsy with a respiratory rate of 6 breaths/min. The nurse's first action should be to:
Encourage the patient to take deep breaths.
Administer the reversal agent, naloxone, as per protocol.
Increase the rate of the normal saline IV fluid.
Discontinue the PCA pump and notify the doctor in 1 hour.
While preparing to give an IV medication, the nurse observes that the solution appears discolored with sediment. The appropriate action is to:
Administer it slowly as the sediment will dissolve.
Shake the bag vigorously to mix the sediment.
Discard it and prepare a new dose, as it indicates incompatibility or contamination.
Consult the pharmacist to see if discoloration is typical for this medication.
A patient with diabetes is instructed to vary the locations of insulin injections to avoid:
Hypoglycemia.
Allergic reactions to insulin.
Lipohypertrophy (thickened tissue under the skin).
Accelerated absorption of the medication.
The physician prescribes "Furosemide 40 mg IV NOW." Prior to administration, the nurse remembers that Furosemide is a loop diuretic. What assessment data is most critical to gather before giving the medication?
The patient's most recent bowel movement.
The patient's baseline blood pressure, weight, and potassium level.
The patient's food preferences.
The patient's history of sulfa drug allergies.
A patient on Warfarin mentions they started taking a herbal supplement for muscle pain. The nurse should be most concerned about which supplement due to its interaction risk?
Echinacea
Ginkgo Biloba
St. John's Wort
Garlic or Ginkgo (which can increase bleeding risk)
A pediatric dose is calculated based on the child's body surface area (BSA). The Mosteller formula is BSA (m2)=3600Height in cm×Weight in kg . For a child who is 120 cm tall and weighs 25 kg, what is the BSA?
0.60 m^2
0.85 m^2
1.15 m^2
1.50 m^2
The five principles of medication administration are essential for safety, but they are not infallible. What is an important additional duty of the nurse to guarantee safety?
Trusting the pharmacy to provide the correct medication.
Applying clinical judgment and critical thinking throughout the procedure.
Assigning medication preparation to a nursing student.
Believing that the prescriber's instructions are always accurate.
A post-operative patient has an order for "Intermittent IV infusion: Cefazolin 2 g in 100 mL NS, infuse over 60 minutes, Q6H." The nurse will use a secondary (piggyback) line. A key action is to:
Check the compatibility of cefazolin with the primary IV fluid.
Infuse the antibiotic as a rapid IV push.
Mix the antibiotic in a 1000 mL bag of fluid.
Disconnect the primary IV while the antibiotic infuses.
When administering Warfarin, it is essential for the nurse to monitor:
Blood glucose levels
Respiratory rate
Heart rate
International Normalized Ratio (INR)
The primary action of Metoprolol, a beta-blocker, is to:
Reduce heart rate and decrease blood pressure
Increase heart rate
Enhance cardiac output
Promote vasodilation
Which of the following medications is classified as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)?
Omeprazole
Ranitidine
Simvastatin
Metformin
Which of the following is a common side effect of opioid medications?
Hypertension
Constipation
Increased appetite
Insomnia
What is the primary purpose of a medication reconciliation process?
To ensure accurate medication administration.
To increase the number of prescriptions.
To reduce the cost of medications.
To promote over-the-counter drug use.
Which of the following medications is classified as a beta-blocker?
Simvastatin
Metformin
Furosemide
Atenolol
