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P A R T 1
Introduction to nursing pharmacology
C H E C K Y O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G
Answers to the questions in this chapter can be found in
Appendix A at the back of this book.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Select the best answer to the following.
1.
Chemotherapeutic agents are drugs that:
a.
are used only to treat cancers.
b.
replace normal body chemicals that are missing
because of disease.
c.
interfere with foreign cell functioning, such as
invading microorganisms or neoplasms.
d.
stimulate the normal functioning of a cell.
2.
Receptor sites:
a.
are a normal part of enzyme substrates.
b.
are protein areas on cell membranes that react
with specific chemicals.
c.
can usually be stimulated by many different
chemicals.
d.
are responsible for all drug effects in the body.
3.
Selective toxicity is:
a.
the ability of a drug to seek out a specific
bacterial species or microorganism.
b.
the ability of a drug to cause only specific adverse
effects.
c.
the ability of a drug to cause fetal damage.
d.
the ability of a drug to attack only those systems
found in foreign or abnormal cells.
4.
When trying to determine why the desired
therapeutic effect is not being seen with an oral
drug, the nurse or midwife should consider:
a.
the blood flow to muscle beds.
b.
food altering the makeup of gastric juices.
c.
the weight of the person.
d.
the temperature of the peripheral environment.
5.
Much of the biotransformation that occurs when a
drug is taken occurs as part of:
a.
the protein-binding effect of the drug.
b.
the functioning of the renal system.
c.
the first-pass effect through the liver.
d.
the distribution of the drug to the reactive tissues.
6.
The half-life of a drug:
a.
is determined by a balance of all pharmacokinetic
processes.
b.
is a constant factor for all drugs taken by a
person.
c.
is influenced by the fat distribution of the person.
d.
can be calculated with the use of a body surface
nomogram.
7.
Jack B. has Parkinson’s disease that has been
controlled for several years with levodopa. After he
begins a health food regimen with lots of vitamin B
6
,
his tremors return, and he develops a rapid
heart rate, hypertension and anxiety. The nurse
investigating the problem discovers that vitamin B
6
can speed the conversion of levodopa to dopamine in
the periphery, leading to these problems. The nurse
would consider this problem:
a.
a drug–laboratory test interaction.
b.
a drug–drug interaction.
c.
a cumulation effect.
d.
a sensitivity reaction.
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
Select all that apply.
1.
When reviewing a drug to be given, the nurse or
midwife notes that the drug is excreted in the urine.
What points should be included in the nurse’s
assessment of the person?
a.
the person’s liver function tests.
b.
the person’s bladder tone.
c.
the person’s renal function tests.
d.
the person’s fluid intake.
e.
other drugs being taken that could affect the
kidney.
f.
the person’s intake and output for the day.
2.
When considering the pharmacokinetics of a drug,
what points would the healthcare professional need
to consider?
a.
how the drug will be absorbed.
b.
the way the drug affects the body.
c.
receptor-site activation and suppression.
d.
how the drug will be excreted.
e.
how the drug will be metabolised.
f.
the half-life of the drug.
3.
Drug–drug interactions are important considerations
in clinical practice. When evaluating a person for
potential drug–drug interactions, what would the
nurse or midwife expect to address?
a.
bizarre drug effects on the body.
b.
the need to adjust drug dose or timing of
administration.
c.
the need for more drugs to balance the effects of
the drugs being given.
d.
a new therapeutic effect not encountered with
either drug alone.
e.
increased adverse effects.
f.
the use of herbal or alternative therapies.
