PHARMACOLOGY IN NURSING

RN JULY 2023 INTAKE

DATE: 19TH/06/2024

DURATION: 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Answer all questions in SECTION A, B and C in the spaces provided. (each question
carries one (1) mark)
2. SECTION D- Answer TWO questions from tis section, question one is compulsory and
each question should be answered on a separate answer sheet provided.
3. Ensure that all page numbers inside the booklet are correct
4. Write your ID number on the top right hand corner of each page and on the cover of the
booklet.
5. Do not use a pencil EXCEPT FOR DIAGRAMS.
6. MOBILE PHONES or ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES EXCEPT A
CALCULATOR are NOT allowed in the examination room.
7. Copying or any form of malpractice calls for NULLIFICATION of your test paper.
SECTION A
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS ( MCQ ). ENCIRCLE THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
ONE(1) MARK EACH
1. Pharmacokinetics is:
a) The study of biological and therapeutic effects of drugs
b) The study of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs
c) The study of mechanisms of drug action
d) The study of methods of new drug development
2. What does “pharmacokinetics” include?
a) Pharmacological effects of drugs
b) Unwanted effects of drugs
c) Chemical structure of a medicinal agent
d) Distribution of drugs in the organism
3. The main mechanism of most drugs absorption in GI tract is:
a) Active transport (carrier-mediated diffusion)
b) Filtration (aqueous diffusion)
c) Endocytosis and exocytosis
d) Passive diffusion (lipid diffusion)
4. What does the term “bioavailability” mean?
a) Plasma protein binding degree of substance
b) Permeability through the brain-blood barrier
c) Fraction of an uncharged drug reaching the systemic circulation following any route
administration
d) Amount of a substance in urine relative to the initial doze
5. The reasons determing bioavailability are:
a) Rheological parameters of blood
b) Amount of a substance obtained orally and quantity of intakes
c) Extent of absorption and hepatic first-pass effect
d) Glomerular filtration rate
6. laxatives can be given to a patient with;
a. Diarrhoea
b. Constipation
c. Intestinal obstruction
d. intestinal worms
7. Which route of drug administration is most likely to lead to the first-pass effect?
a) Sublingual
b) Oral
c) Intravenous
d) Intramuscular
8. What is characteristic of the oral route?
a) Fast onset of effect
b) Absorption depends on GI tract secretion and motor function
c) A drug reaches the blood passing the liver
d) The sterilization of medicinal forms is obligatory
9. Tick the feature of the sublingual route:
a) Pretty fast absorption
b) A drug is exposed to gastric secretion
c) A drug is exposed more prominent liver metabolism
d) A drug can be administrated in a variety of doses
10. Pick out the parenteral route of medicinal agent administration:
a) Rectal
b) Oral
c) Sublingual
d) Inhalation
11. Parenteral administration:
a) Cannot be used with unconsciousness patients
 b) Generally results in a less accurate dosage than oral administration
c) Usually produces a more rapid response than oral administration
d) Is too slow for emergency use
12. Correct statements listing characteristics of a particular route of drug administration include
all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Intravenous administration provides a rapid response
b) Intramuscular administration requires a sterile technique
c) Inhalation provides slow access to the general circulation
d) Subcutaneous administration may cause local irritation
13. The volume of distribution (Vd) relates:
a) Single to a daily dose of an administrated drug
b) An administrated dose to a body weight
c) An uncharged drug reaching the systemic circulation
d) The amount of a drug in the body to the concentration of a drug in plasma
14. For the calculation of the volume of distribution (Vd) one must take into account:
a) Concentration of a substance in plasma
b) Concentration of substance in urine
c) Therapeutical width of drug action
d) A daily dose of drug
15. Half life (t ½) is the time required to:
a) Change the amount of a drug in plasma by half during elimination
b) Metabolize a half of an introduced drug into the active metabolite
c) Absorb a half of an introduced drug
d) Bind a half of an introduced drug to plasma proteins
16. Half life (t ½) doesn’t depend on:
a) Biotransformation
b) Time of drug absorption
 c) Concentration of a drug in plasma
d) Rate of drug elimination
17. Pharmacodynamics involves the study of following EXCEPT:
a) Biological and therapeutic effects of drugs
b) Absorption and distribution of drugs
c) Mechanisms of drug action
d) Drug interactions
18. Pharmacodynamics involves the study of following?
a) Mechanisms of drug action
b) Biotransformation of drugs in the organism
c) Distribution of drugs in the organism
d) Excretion of drug from the organism
19. Pharmacodynamics involves the following?
a) Information about main mechanisms of drug absorption
b) Information about unwanted effects
c) Information about biological barriers
d) Information about excretion of a drug from the organism
20. Give the definition for a therapeutical dose:
a) The amount of a substance to produce the minimal biological effect
b) The amount of a substance to produce effects hazardous for an organism
c) The amount of a substance to produce the required effect in most patients
d) The amount of a substance to accelerate an increase of concentration of medicine in
an organism
21. Which effect may lead to toxic reactions when a drug is taken continuously or repeatedly?
a) Refractoriness
b) Cumulative effect
c) Tolerance
 d) Tachyphylaxis
22. What term is used to describe a more gradual decrease in responsiveness to a drug, taking
days or weeks to develop?
a) Refractoriness
b) Cumulative effect
c) Tolerance
d) Tachyphylaxis
23. Tolerance develops because of:
a) Diminished absorption
b) Rapid excretion of a drug
c) Both of the above
d) None of the above
24. Dependence is often associated with tolerance to a drug, a physical abstinence syndrome,
and psychological dependence (craving). This consideration is:
a) True
b) False
25. What is the type of drug-to-drug interaction which is connected with processes of
absorption, biotransformation, distribution and excretion?
a) Pharmacodynamic interaction
b) Physical and chemical interaction
c) Pharmaceutical interaction
d) Pharmacokinetic interaction
SECTION B
MATCHING QUESTIONS (10 MARKS)
Match the drugs in column I with the nursing implication in column II. Write your response in
the spaces provided
Match the conditions in column I with their drug of choice in column II
COLUMN I COLUMN II
26…..……Severe post operative pain A. Mebendazole
27…..….. Simple Diarrhoea B. Co-trimoxazole
28…..…..Worm infestation C. Pethidine
29…..…..Infective diarrhea D. Oral Rehydration Salt
30…..…..Indigestion and heartburn E. Loperamide
F. Magnesium Trisilicate
G. Penicillin G
Match the drugs in column I with classes they belong to in column II
COLUMN I COLUMN II
31…..….Paracetamol A. Antibiotic
32…..….Pethidine B. Antihelminth
33…..….Magnesium Trislicate C. Anti-diarrhoea
34…..….Benzyl Penicillin D. Opiod analgesic
35…..….Albendazole E. Antacids
F. Anti-emetic
G. Non-opiod analgesic
SECTION C
FILLING IN THE BLANK SPACES. EACH WORD CARRIES ONE (1) MARK

1. Before pharmacology started ……………………….. remedies were widely used.

2. Antihelminths are drugs that kill…………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Mode of action of antacids is to………………………………hydrochloric acid in the stomach

4. Antibiotics that kill bacteria are known as…………………… whilst those that stop growth of

bacteria are called………….

5. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective against both ………………………and…………………………

bacteria.

6. Anti microbials should only be given when ………………………………………………………………………….

7. Aspirin is contra indicated in children because it causes ……………………………………………………..

8. Benzyl penicillin is in the group of ……………………………………………………………………………………..

9. Diarrhoea is the most common side effect the antacid

called…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

10. Bone marrow depression is a common side effect of which antifungal drug

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
SECTION D
ESSAY QUESTIONS
ESSAY QUESTION NUMBER ONE IS COMPULSORY.
WRITE ESSAY QUESTION NUMBER AND CHOOSE ANY OTHER FROM THE OTHER TWO.
QUESTION ONE- COMPULSORY QUESTION
Mr Nyeleti male aged 30 years, comes to OPD where you are working as a nurse who just
graduated from Silver Maple Collage of Education and Health Sciences. He presents with 50%
total burnt surface area and weighs 55kg body weight, the doctor orders 1g of paracetamol
where the available stock is 250mg/tablet and cloxacillin 500mg where the available dose is
250mg.
I. Calculate the number of tablets/capsule to be given for both paracetamol and
cloxacillin. (10 marks)
II. List five (5) side effects of paracetamol and five (5) side effects of cloxacillin.
(10marks)
III. Discuss the mechanism of action for paracetamol. (10marks)
IV. State five (5) nursing considerations you are going to take during administration of
paracetamol. (10marks)
V. Calculate the amount of fluids you are going to give in the first 24hrs and how u are
going to give the calculated amount. (10marks)
QUESTION TWO
Mr Mwanza male aged 57 years weighing 75kg who has been on ARV drugs for the last five
years, he has been admitted to male medical ward with a diagnosis of fungal meningitis. The
doctor orders Amphotericin B 18mg to run within 6 hours and flucytosine 100mg/kg, the
available dose in stock is 50mg/tablet.
I. Calculate the specific dose ordered for flucytosine. (5marks)
II. Calculate the dose to be given to Mr Mwanza. (5marks)
III. List five indications of;
1. Flucytosine. (5marks)
2. Amphotericin B. (5marks)
IV. Discuss the mode of action of Amphotericin B. (10marks)
V. Outline 5 side effects of Amphotericin B. (5marks)
VI. State 5 nursing application of Amphotericin B. (10marks)
VII. List 5 side effects of Flucytosine. (5marks)
QUESTION THREE
Mrs Mwila female aged 25 years presents with complaints of abdominal pain, presence of
blood in the vomitus and stool for the past five days, a diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease has
been made and the doctor has ordered 1gram of magnesium triplicate and the available dose is
250mg as well as omeprazole to be given for 14 days.
I. Apart from the drugs mentioned above, list two drugs which can be used to treat
peptic ulcer disease. (5marks)
II. Outline five indications of omeprazole. (5marks)
III. Discuss the mode of action for omeprazole.
(10marks)
IV. list five side effects of omeprazole. (5marks)
V. Mention five nursing application for omeprazole.
(10marks)
VI. Calculate the number of magnesium trisilicate to be given. (5marks)
VII. Discuss the advise you will give to Mrs Mwila in order to prevent the reoccurrence of
peptic ulcer disease.
(10marks)