NURS-340: Patho-Pharm 1 (Exam 1 (NCLEX-Style Questions))

A nurse is assessing two patients. Which statement best reflects the WHO definition of health?

A. Health is the absence of physical illness
B. Health is the ability to perform activities of daily living
C. Health is complete physical, mental, and social well-being
D. Health is determined solely by genetic factors

C

A nursing student asks why pathophysiology is important since nurses do not diagnose disease. Which response by the instructor is most accurate?

A. “It allows nurses to independently diagnose disease.”
B. “It explains why diseases occur in certain age groups.”
C. “It helps nurses understand why symptoms, medications, and interventions work.”
D. “It replaces the need for pharmacology knowledge.”

C

Which patient condition best represents a chronic disease?

A. Influenza resolving after 7 days
B. Appendicitis requiring emergency surgery
C. Type 2 diabetes managed with diet and medication
D. Gastroenteritis lasting 48 hours

C

A patient with multiple sclerosis experiences worsening symptoms after a period of stability. How should the nurse document this change?

A. Remission
B. Exacerbation
C. Insidious onset
D. Prognosis

B

Which assessment finding is considered a symptom?

A. Blood pressure of 88/56 mmHg
B. Oxygen saturation of 89%
C. Patient reports nausea
D. Serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L

C

A nurse explains that bacteria caused a urinary tract infection and then describes inflammation of the urethra leading to dysuria. Which term describes the step-by-step development of the disease?

A. Etiology
B. Prognosis
C. Pathogenesis
D. Morbidity

C

Which situation best demonstrates cellular adaptation?

A. Myocardial cell death after prolonged ischemia
B. Increased muscle fiber size in response to weight training
C. Neuronal death following hypoxia
D. Inflammation caused by infection

B

A patient experiences temporary hypoxia during surgery but recovers without tissue damage. Which concept explains this outcome?

A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Reversible cell injury
D. Pathologic adaptation

C

A patient has decreased blood flow to the kidneys due to arterial blockage. How should the nurse document this condition?

A. Hypoxia
B. Ischemia
C. Necrosis
D. Apoptosis

B

Which finding is most consistent with necrosis rather than apoptosis?

A. Cell shrinkage
B. Programmed cell death
C. Cell membrane rupture with inflammation
D. DNA fragmentation without inflammation

C

A patient inherits one dominant allele for Huntington disease. What is the nurse’s best interpretation?

A. The patient is only a carrier
B. The disease will not be expressed
C. The disease will be expressed
D. Expression depends entirely on environment

C

Two siblings have the same hair color, but only one carries a recessive gene for a disorder. Which term explains this difference?

A. Penetrance
B. Genotype
C. Phenotype
D. Expressivity

B

Which assessment finding would the nurse most expect in an infant with Down syndrome?

A. Absence of one X chromosome
B. Tall stature and delayed puberty
C. Hypotonia and congenital heart defect
D. Severe bleeding after minor injury

C

A nurse explains that DNA is used to create mRNA in the nucleus. Which process is being described?

A. Translation
B. Transcription
C. Replication
D. Differentiation

B

A nursing student is asked to explain pharmacokinetics. Which response is most accurate?

A. “It describes the biochemical changes drugs cause in the body.”
B. “It explains how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated.”
C. “It refers to the intended effects of a medication.”
D. “It focuses on drug interactions and contraindications.”

B

Which statement best describes pharmacodynamics?

A. How the body absorbs and eliminates medications
B. The time required for a drug to reach peak concentration
C. Biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs on the body
D. The process of drug excretion through the kidneys

C

The nurse administers acetaminophen instead of Tylenol. Which statement is correct?

A. Brand names are safer than generic names
B. Generic drugs are not FDA regulated
C. Generic drugs are FDA-approved and interchangeable
D. Generic drugs act differently in the body

C

Which route of medication administration results in the fastest onset of action?

A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intramuscular
D. Intravenous

D

A nurse is teaching a patient about enteric-coated tablets. Which instruction is most important?

A. “Take this medication with milk.”
B. “Crush the tablet to improve absorption.”
C. “Do not crush or chew the tablet.”
D. “Take the medication at bedtime only.”

C

A drug has a half-life of 6 hours. What does this mean?

A. The drug reaches peak level in 6 hours
B. Half the drug is eliminated in 6 hours
C. The drug is fully eliminated in 6 hours
D. Toxic effects begin after 6 hours

B

When should the nurse draw a trough level for a medication?

A. Immediately after administration
B. At the drug’s peak concentration
C. Right before the next scheduled dose
D. Halfway between doses

C

Which characteristic is typical of transdermal medications?

A. Rapid onset and short duration
B. Immediate absorption into the bloodstream
C. Constant drug delivery over time
D. High risk of first-pass metabolism

C

Which situation represents an adverse drug reaction?

A. A patient experiences therapeutic pain relief
B. A patient reports mild dry mouth from diphenhydramine
C. A medication produces the intended effect
D. A drug improves sleep quality

B

A patient receiving a new antibiotic suddenly develops wheezing, hypotension, and facial swelling. What is the nurse’s priority action?

A. Document the reaction
B. Stop the medication and administer emergency treatment
C. Notify the provider during rounds
D. Reassure the patient that this is temporary

B

Which patient statement requires immediate follow-up?

A. “I avoid grapefruit juice with my medications.”
B. “I take tetracycline with a glass of milk.”
C. “I check food labels for vitamin K.”
D. “I space my medications throughout the day.”

B

A patient reports needing higher doses of pain medication to achieve the same effect. Which concept explains this?

A. Toxicity
B. Cumulative effect
C. Tolerance
D. Drug interaction

C

Which patient is at greatest risk for cumulative drug effects?

A. A healthy 20-year-old
B. A patient with liver and kidney disease
C. A patient taking medications short-term
D. A patient receiving topical medications

B

Why are older adults more susceptible to adverse drug reactions?

A. Increased metabolism
B. Increased cardiac output
C. Decreased kidney and liver function
D. Faster drug absorption

C

Which teaching is most important for safe medication administration?

A. “Memorize the medication names.”
B. “Take all medications at the same time daily.”
C. “Understand the purpose, dosing, and side effects.”
D. “Avoid asking questions unless problems occur.”

C