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10 Nursing Pharmacology Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales

Written by Jon Haws, BS, BSN, RN, Alumnus CCRN | 6-Jun

The #1 Thing Stressing Out Nursing Students

 The #1 thing nursing students say stresses them out . . . the hardest subject is “Nursing Pharmacology”.  

I hate that. 

Nursing students should stress about becoming amazing nurses, not about if they will be able to learn the meds they will be giving patients . . .   

Welcome to my comprehensive guide on nursing pharmacology practice questions!

As a nursing student mastering pharmacology is essential for safe and effective patient care.

On that note, before we go any further, I want to invite you to grab a free copy of my book "140 Must Know Meds" (just pay to ship).  Just click below  👇👇👇

In this blog post, I've curated a collection of practice questions that cover a wide range of pharmacological concepts and drug classes.  Each question is accompanied by detailed answers and rationales to help you deepen your understanding and sharpen your medication management skills.

Whether you're preparing for the NCLEX exam or seeking to enhance your pharmacology knowledge, these practice questions will serve as a valuable resource.

Get ready to test your pharmacological expertise and gain insights into the reasoning behind each answer. Let's dive into the world of nursing pharmacology and strengthen our abilities to administer medications with confidence and precision.

**All of the pharmacology nursing practice questions come from the NURSING.com pharmacology course.  View course HERE**

Common Medication Prefixes and Suffixes

Learning a “handful” of prefixes and suffixes will save you headaches, time, and pain when it comes to nursing pharmacology.

We all know that -pril belongs to ACE inhibitors, but MOST drug classes have common prefixes and suffixes, and once you learn the most important ones you will be able to quickly identify a medication by class.



It is important to learn nursing considerations and side effects by class . . . then learn the most common prefixes and suffixes. With this knowledge in hand, you can easily save yourself HOURS and HOURS of lost study time.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question 1:

Which of the following drugs is an example of an antitumor antibiotic that may be given to a client with cancer?

  1. Gentamicin
  2. Tetracycline
  3. Bleomycin
  4. Ampicillin

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 1:

  1. Gentamicin
  2. Tetracycline
  3. Bleomycin
  4. Ampicillin

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 1:

  1. Gentamicin
    1. This is an aminoglycoside and is not an anti-tumor antibiotic, but is a standard antibiotic that does not affect the spread of cancer cells in the body.
  2. Tetracycline
    1. This is a standard antibiotic that does not affect the spread of cancer cells in the body.
  3. Bleomycin
    1. Bleomycin is a medication known as an anti-tumor antibiotic given to clients with cancer as a form of treatment. It is a chemotherapy agent that differs from standard antibiotics in that it interferes with the DNA of the cancer cells, which stops the cancer from growing and spreading in the body. Bleomycin is given as an IM injection or intravenously, once or twice a week.
  4. Ampicillin
    1. This is a penicillin and is a standard antibiotic that does not affect the spread of cancer cells in the body.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question 2:

Which of the following medications is an example of a drug that a client might receive as a muscle relaxant during surgery?

  1. Suxamethonium
  2. Propofol
  3. Codeine
  4. Lidocaine

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 2:

  1. Suxamethonium
  2. Propofol
  3. Codeine
  4. Lidocaine

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 2:

  1. Suxamethonium
    1. Suxamethonium is a depolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant medication. It is often given just before intubation to make it easier to place the endotracheal tube because the client's body is relaxed.
  2. Propofol
    1. Propofol is a sedative/hypnotic, not a muscle relaxant.
  3. Codeine
    1. Codeine is a medication used for pain, not a muscle relaxant.
  4. Lidocaine
    1. Lidocaine is a medication for pain, not a muscle relaxant.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question 3:

A nurse is caring for a client with allergies to penicillins, NSAIDs, and sulfa drugs. The nurse withholds which medication for clarification from the provider?

  1. Acetaminophen
  2. Advil
  3. Ciprofloxacin
  4. Azithromycin

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 3:

  1. Acetaminophen
  2. Advil
  3. Ciprofloxacin
  4. Azithromycin

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 3:

  1. Acetaminophen
    1. Acetaminophen is safe to give this client, as it is not an NSAID.
  2. Advil
    1. This drug is an NSAID. The nurse should hold the medication and ask the client about the severity of the allergy, as well as ask the provider if they would like to change the medication to something else.
  3. Ciprofloxacin
    1. This is a quinolone antibiotic, not a penicillin or a sulfa drug.
  4. Azithromycin
    1. This is a macrolide antibiotic, not a penicillin or a sulfa drug.

Basics of Med Math Calculations

Med math does NOT have to be your arch nemesis! I know it’s something that a lot of people struggle with and I promise I am here to help! I’m not going to lie, I’m a big nerd and I actually love this stuff!

There are only THREE main formulas you need to know. There are some rare times you may need something different but 95% of the time it will be one of these three.

  •  Dosages
    Dose = Want/Have x In
  • Infusions
    Rate = Volume/Time
  • Drip Rate
    Drip Rate = Volume/Time x Drip Factor

Let's take a few nursing practice questions!

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 4:

A pediatric nurse is performing an admission assessment. The mother of the client tells the nurse that she gave the child 2 teaspoons of acetaminophen. The nurse knows this is how many mL?

  1. 7 mL
  2. 5 mL
  3. 10 mL
  4. 2 mL

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 4:

  1. 7 mL
  2. 5 mL
  3. 10 mL
  4. 2 mL

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 4:

  1. 7 mL
    1. 2 teaspoons equals 10 mL.
  2. 5 mL
    1. This only equals 1 teaspoon.
  3. 10 mL
    1. A single teaspoon = 5 mL, so 2 teaspoons is 10 mLs.
  4. 2 mL
    1. This is only 2/5 of 1 teaspoon.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 5:

A nurse is preparing levothyroxine for a client. The ordered dose is 62.5 mcg. The medication comes in the following preparations: 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg, and 100 mcg. The pills are scored and able to be cut in half. Which configuration would require the least amount of pills for the client to ingest?

  1. One 75mcg and half a 25mcg
  2. One 100mcg and half 25 mcg
  3. One 25 mcg and half 50 mcg
  4. One 50mcg and half 25mcg

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 5:

  1. One 75mcg and half a 25mcg
  2. One 100mcg and half 25 mcg
  3. One 25 mcg and half 50 mcg
  4. One 50mcg and half 25mcg

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 5:

  1. One 75mcg and half a 25mcg
    1. This equals 87.5 mcg, which is an incorrect dose.
  2. One 100mcg and half 25 mcg
    1. This equals 112.5 mcg, which is not the correct dose.
  3. One 25 mcg and half 50 mcg
    1. This equals 50 mcg, which is not the correct dose.
  4. One 50mcg and half 25mcg
    1. Half of 25 is 12.5. 12.5 mcg + 50 mcg equals 62.5 mcg.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 6:

The nurse is preparing the medications for a client. The client has ordered 3.75 mg of prednisone. The medication comes in 2.5 mg tabs. How many tabs will the nurse administer?

  1. 0.5 tab
  2. 1 tab
  3. 1.5 tabs
  4. 2 tabs

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 6:

  1. 0.5 tab
  2. 1 tab
  3. 1.5 tabs
  4. 2 tabs

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 6:

  1. 0.5 tab
    1. The client would take 1.5 tabs of prednisone.
  2. 1 tab
    1. The client would take 1.5 tabs of prednisone.
  3. 1.5 tabs
    1. 3.75/2.5=1.5 tabs of prednisone.
  4. 2 tabs
    1. The client would take 1.5 tabs of prednisone.

Essential NCLEX Meds by Class

As a nursing student preparing for the NCLEX exam, understanding the essential medications organized by class is crucial. Medication administration and knowledge of drug classes play a significant role in safe and effective patient care.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 7:

A client is taking Parnate, which is classified as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Which of the following foods should the nurse counsel the client to avoid?

  1. Sauerkraut
  2. Cottage cheese
  3. Chicken
  4. Green beans

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 7:

  1. Sauerkraut
  2. Cottage cheese
  3. Chicken
  4. Green beans

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 7:

  1. Sauerkraut
    1. A monoamine oxidase inhibitor is a type of medication used for the treatment of depression. This type of medicine can react with foods that contain tyramine, causing hypertensive crisis. The client should be counseled to avoid tyramine-containing foods such as sauerkraut, aged cheeses, and fermented or smoked meats.
  2. Cottage cheese
    1. This food does not contain tyramine.
  3. Chicken
    1. This food does not contain tyramine.
  4. Green beans
    1. This food does not contain tyramine.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 8:

A nurse is reviewing appropriate pain medications for a client with heart failure. The nurse reminds the client not to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with symptomatic heart failure. Which of the following best describes the rationale for this?

  1. NSAIDs cause the breakdown of the stomach lining more readily among heart failure clients when compared to the general population
  2. NSAIDs cause increased pulmonary congestion in the heart failure client, which can worsen breathing
  3. NSAIDs are ineffective in treating the pain of heart failure
  4. NSAIDs can cause a decrease in renal function and subsequent fluid overload in the heart failure client

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 8:

  1. NSAIDs cause the breakdown of the stomach lining more readily among heart failure clients when compared to the general population
  2. NSAIDs cause increased pulmonary congestion in the heart failure client, which can worsen breathing
  3. NSAIDs are ineffective in treating the pain of heart failure
  4. NSAIDs can cause a decrease in renal function and subsequent fluid overload in the heart failure client

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 8:

  1. NSAIDs cause the breakdown of the stomach lining more readily among heart failure clients when compared to the general population
    1. A client with heart failure does not have breakdown of stomach lining more readily than the general population.
  2. NSAIDs cause increased pulmonary congestion in the heart failure client, which can worsen breathing
    1. The danger from NSAIDS is due to the stress the drugs put on the renal system, not the pulmonary system.
  3. NSAIDs are ineffective in treating the pain of heart failure
    1. Heart failure itself does not cause pain. In this scenario, NSAIDs are taken for pain that is not due to HF.
  4. NSAIDs can cause a decrease in renal function and subsequent fluid overload in the heart failure client
    1. Some pain medications, such as NSAIDs, can worsen symptoms of heart failure and should be avoided. NSAIDs require the kidneys to work harder and can cause a decrease in renal function. When this occurs, the kidneys may be unable to filter blood properly or to create appropriate amounts of urine. Fluid can therefore back up into circulation, causing a worsening of heart failure symptoms.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 9:

If a client is taking an antifungal medication and thiazide diuretics, which of the following electrolyte disturbances would the nurse expect to find?

  1. Hypocalcemia
  2. Hyperkalemia
  3. Hypermagnesemia
  4. Hypercalcemia

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 9:

  1. Hypocalcemia
  2. Hyperkalemia
  3. Hypermagnesemia
  4. Hypercalcemia

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 9:

  1. Hypocalcemia
    1. Antifungal and thiazide diuretic use causes high calcium levels, not low calcium levels. 
  2. Hyperkalemia
    1. Antifungal and thiazide diuretic use causes low potassium levels. This would be hypokalemia.
  3. Hypermagnesemia
    1. Antifungal and thiazide diuretic use cause low potassium and high calcium levels.
  4. Hypercalcemia
    1. Both antifungals and thiazide diuretics cause hypercalcemia, so when used concurrently, the nurse must monitor calcium levels closely.

Pharmacology Nursing Practice

Question 10:

Which of the following drugs is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance?

  1. Methylphenidate
  2. Tylenol with codeine
  3. Oxycodone
  4. Heroin

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Answer 10:

  1. Methylphenidate
  2. Tylenol with codeine
  3. Oxycodone
  4. Heroin

Pharmacology Nursing Practice Question Rationale 10:

  1. Methylphenidate
    1. This is a Schedule II drug.
  2. Tylenol with codeine
    1. This is a Schedule III drug.
  3. Oxycodone
    1. This is a Schedule II drug.
  4. Heroin
    1. Controlled substances are substances that have the potential for harm or abuse, and whose possession and manufacturing are controlled by the government.  A Schedule I controlled substance has the highest rate of abuse, is not used medically and possession of these substances is prohibited.  Examples of Schedule I controlled substances include heroin, LSD and ecstasy.

Boost Your Confidence in Administering Medications


In conclusion, I hope these nursing pharmacology practice questions provided you with a valuable resource to enhance your medication management skills and prepare for success in pharmacology-related exams, such as the NCLEX.

By engaging with these practice questions and reviewing the comprehensive answers and rationales, you can deepen your understanding of key drug classes, improve critical thinking abilities, and boost your confidence in administering medications.

Don't forget to grab your free copy of our "140 Must Know Meds" book (just pay to ship) Click below 👇👇👇

You CAN Do This!

Happy Nursing!
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