Pharmacology for nurses by Adams (5th ed) Unit 1 for Exam
1. The nurse is teaching a pharmacology class to student nurses. What does
the nurse include as key events in the history of pharmacology? Select all
that apply.
1. Initial drugs included morphine, cocaine, and penicillin.
2. Early researchers used themselves as test subjects.
3. The initial intention of pharmacology was to relieve human suffering.
4. Modern pharmacology began in the early 1600s.
5. Pharmacologists synthesized drugs in the laboratory in the twentieth
century.: Correct Answer: 2, 3, 5
The early roots of pharmacology included the application of products to relieve
human suffering, and early researchers used themselves as test subjects. Initial
drugs included morphine, colchicines, curare, and cocaine, but not penicillin.
Modern pharmacology began in the early 1800s, not the 1600s. By the twentieth
century, pharmacologists could synthesize drugs in the laboratory.
2. The student nurse asks the nursing instructor why he needs to take
anatomy and physiology, as well as microbiology, when he only wants to
learn about pharmacology. What is the best response by the instructor?
1. "Because pharmacology is an outgrowth of those subjects."
2. "You must learn all, since those subjects, as well as pharmacology, are
part of the curriculum."
3. "Knowledge of all those subjects will prepare you to provide the best
patient care, including the administration of medications."
4. "Because an understanding of those subjects is essential to
understanding pharmacology.": Correct Answer: 4
It is essential for the nurse to have a broad knowledge base of many sciences in
order to learn pharmacology. The nurse must learn anatomy, physiology, and
microbiology to understand pharmacology, not because they are part of the
curriculum. Pharmacology is an outgrowth of anatomy, physiology, and
microbiology, but this is not the reason for the nurse to learn them. Knowledge of
anatomy, physiology, and microbiology prepares the nurse to understand
pharmacology, not to provide care such as administration of medications.
3. The nursing instructor is teaching a pharmacology class to student
nurses. The current focus is pharmacology and therapeutics. The nursing
, Pharmacology for nurses by Adams (5th ed) Unit 1 for Exam
instructor determines that learning has occurred when the students make
which comments? Select all that apply.
1. "Pharmacology is the use of drugs to relieve suffering."
2. "Pharmacology is the study of medicines."
3. "Therapeutics is the study of the therapeutic use of drugs."
4. "Therapeutics is the study of drug interactions."
5. "Pharmacology is the study of drugs to prevent disease.": Correct Answer:
1, 2
Pharmacology is the study of medicines and the use of drugs to relieve suffering.
Therapeutics is the study of disease prevention and treatment of suffering.
Pharmacotherapy is the application of drugs for the purpose of disease
prevention.
4. The nurse administers a vaccine to a child. What is the best
understanding of the nurse as it relates to the manufacture of this vaccine?
1. The vaccine is produced by natural plant extracts in the laboratory.
2. The vaccine is naturally produced in animal cells or microorganisms.
3. The vaccine is produced by a combination of animal and plant products.
4. The vaccine is most commonly synthesized in a laboratory.: Correct
Answer: 2.
Vaccines are naturally produced in animal cells, microorganisms, or by the body
itself. Vaccines are not synthesized in a laboratory. Vaccines are not produced by
natural plant extracts. Vaccines are not produced by a combination of animal and
plant products.
5. The elderly client has gastrointestinal bleeding. The client says to the
nurse "I don't understand this. All I did was take ibuprofen (Advil) for my
arthritis." Which plan would be best as it relates to the nurse's education
of this client?
1. A plan to teach the client to use drugs that bypass the gastrointestinal
system, like topical drugs
2. A plan to teach the client to substitute safer drugs like acetaminophen
(Tylenol)
, Pharmacology for nurses by Adams (5th ed) Unit 1 for Exam
3. A plan to teach the client to obtain physician approval prior to the use
of over-the-counter (OTC) medications
4. A plan to teach the advantages and disadvantages of ibuprofen (Advil):
Correct Answer: 4.
Since elderly clients account for the use of about 40% of all over-the-counter
(OTC) medications, it is essential for the nurse to teach clients about the
advantages,
and the disadvantages, of these medications. Substitution of other drugs may be
beneficial, but this cannot be done in all situations. The use of topical drugs may
be an option, but the drug a client needs may not be available in this form. It is
not a realistic plan to expect clients to contact their physician prior to taking any
over-the-counter (OTC) medication.
6. The pharmaceutical representative comes to the physician's office and
says his company's pharmaceutical laboratory is marketing a drug that does
not need approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). What is the
best response by the nurse?
1. "Any pharmaceutical laboratory in America must have approval from the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before marketing a drug."
2. "Is this an over-the-counter (OTC) drug? They do not need approval by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."
3. "Is your pharmaceutical laboratory private? Only public pharmaceutical
laboratories need approval from the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA)." 4. "Your pharmaceutical laboratory must be involved in academic
research because they are exempt from approval by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).": Correct Answer: 1
Any pharmaceutical laboratory, whether private, public, or academic, must obtain
approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before marketing a drug.
Private pharmaceutical laboratories must obtain approval from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) before marketing a drug. Pharmaceutical laboratories
involved in academic research must obtain approval from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) before marketing a drug. Pharmaceutical laboratories that
manufacture over-the-counter (OTC) drugs must obtain approval from the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) before marketing these drugs.
, Pharmacology for nurses by Adams (5th ed) Unit 1 for Exam
7. The nurse is employed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is
involved in clinical investigation. What is the primary role of the nurse in this
phase of the review and approval process by the FDA?
1. To perform tests on the population-at-large
2. To perform tests on various species of animals
3. To perform tests on human cells cultured in the laboratory
4. To perform tests on human clients: Correct Answer: 4
Clinical investigation includes performing tests on healthy volunteers, and later,
on selected clients with a particular disease. Performing tests on human cells
cultured in the laboratory is the preclinical investigation stage. Performing tests on
the population-at-large is the stage of post-marketing surveillance. Performing
tests on various species of animals is the preclinical investigation stage.
8. The student nurse is taking a pharmacology course and studying about
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). What has the student learned
about how the FDA has decreased the amount of time involved in bringing a
new drug to the market?
1. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not as strict as it once was
with regard to drug approval.
2. Since consumers have demanded more drugs, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has streamlined the review/approval process.
3. Drug manufacturers are required to pay yearly user fees, which allow
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hire more employees to increase
its efficiency.
4. Drug manufacturers are required by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) to test more drugs on an annual basis.: Correct Answer: 3
In 1992, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act was passed. This required drug
manufacturers to provide yearly product user fees so the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) could restructure, hire more employees, and operate more
efficiently. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is just as strict now as it
always was with regard to drug approval. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has not streamlined the review/approval process. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) does not require drug manufacturers to test more drugs on
an annual basis.
