1. Pharmacology Basics
100: What is pharmacology?
A: The study of drugs and their effects on body functioning.
100: What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics?
A: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
100: What is the most serious type of allergic drug reaction?
A: Anaphylaxis.
100: What are the four common types of medication orders?
A: Standing, PRN, Single, Stat.
100: What are the “rights” of medication administration? (Name at least 3)
A: Right patient, drug, dose, route, time, documentation, education, assessment, evaluation, right to refuse (any three).
200: What are the four types of drug names?
A: Chemical, Generic, Official, Trade/Brand.
200: Which organ is the primary site for drug metabolism?
A: Liver.
200: What is drug tolerance?
A: The need for larger doses to achieve the same effect over time.
200: What are the three checks of medication administration?
A: Compare to MAR when removing, preparing, and before giving to patient.
200: What is the onset time for IV medications?
A: 3–5 minutes.
300: Give an example of a drug preparation given orally.
A: Capsule, tablet, elixir, syrup (any one acceptable).
300: Which organ is the primary site for drug excretion?
A: Kidneys.
300: Toxicity to the liver is called what?
A: Hepatotoxicity.
300: Name two identifiers required for correct patient identification.
A: Name and DOB/ID number (two required).
300: In mixing insulins, which one do you draw up first?
A: Regular insulin (clear before cloudy).
400: Which drug preparation is applied to skin or mucous membranes?
A: Topical (lotions, ointments, patches).
400: Define half-life of a drug.
A: Time required for 50% of the drug to be eliminated from the body.
400: When two drugs together produce a greater effect than alone, this is called?
A: Synergistic effect.
400: Which system uses barcodes to prevent medication errors?
A: Bar-code-enabled medication administration (BCMA).
400: What should nurses teach patients about taking medications at home?
A: Take as prescribed, don’t share, don’t stop without provider, know side effects.
500: Which drug classification groups medications by effect on the body system or therapeutic action?
A: Drug class.
500: What is pharmacodynamics?
A: How drugs affect the body (drug-receptor or drug-enzyme interactions).
500: An unusual or opposite drug reaction due to genetics is called?
A: Idiosyncratic (paradoxical) effect.
500: What is medication reconciliation?
A: Comparing a patient's current meds with new orders at admission, transfers, or discharge.
500: What is the nurse’s first priority when a medication error occurs?
A: Patient safety – check condition and monitor for adverse effects.