Unit 1 Learning Activity Worksheet
Each unit's worksheet has various types of questions for every required reading chapter. These
worksheets are not graded; they are supplemental learning to help you understand concepts covered in
each chapter. This is self-guided, and you can work through whatever questions suit your learning needs
best. Please reach out to your tutor if you have specific questions.
Pathophysiology
Chapter 1
Complete the following Pre-lecture quiz prior to any unit reading. This will help guide you to determine
which areas you need to review the most. Answers are in the appendix.
Pre-Lecture Quiz, Chapter 1, Concepts of Health and Disease
True/False
1. Prevalence is the number of new cases of a disease in a population in a given time.
2. The natural history of a disease can be used to predict outcomes in people who are not able to be
treated.
3. Reliability refers to the extent that a repeated observation will give the same results.
4. Health is defined as the absence of infirmity or disease.
5. Breast cancer screening programs are an example of primary prevention of disease.
Fill in the Blank
1. __________ is the physiology of altered health.
2. __________ is the study of disease occurrence in human populations.
3. __________ refers to the extent to which a measurement tool measures what it is intended to
measure.
4. Incidence is the number of __________ cases arising in a given population during a specified time.
5. __________ prevention of disease is aimed at keeping diseases from occurring by identifying and
removing risk factors.
Written Assignment
1. Describe the meaning of reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value as they
relate to observations and tests used in the diagnosis of disease.
Pharmacology
Read the Critical Thinking Scenario, Drug Interactions case study on R.D found in
chapter 2, pages 31-32. Then complete the multiple-choice scenario questions
below. These questions are similar to the questions found on all testing material.
Answers are found in the Appendix.
1. The nurse is reviewing the results of the client’s laboratory tests. What factor should the nurse most
consider when reviewing these results related to medication administration?
A) the client’s emotional response to the disease process
B) the timing of the last dose of medication relative to when blood was drawn
C) the possibility of a drug–laboratory test interaction
D) a change in the body’s responses or actions related to the drug
2. A client has been diagnosed with gonorrhea and been prescribed oral tetracycline. What should the
nurse include in health education about tetracycline? Select all that apply.
A) Avoid excessive sodium intake for the duration of treatment.
B) Do not take the drug with foods or other drugs that contain calcium.
C) Do not take the drug at the same time as an iron supplements or high-iron foods.
D) Avoid OTC medications that contain aspirin.
E) Avoid salt substitutes and foods that are high in potassium.
3. A nurse is caring for a client taking multiple drugs and is concerned about a possible drug–drug
interaction. How should the nurse best avoid a drug–drug interaction?
A) Consult a drug guide prior to drug administration.
B) Perform a comprehensive health assessment prior to drug administration.
C) Ensure that there is 90 minutes between administration of different drugs.
D) Ask for input from a pharmacist or the prescriber.
4. The nurse should promote optimal drug effectiveness by performing what actions? Select all that
apply.
A) Incorporate basic history and physical assessment factors into the plan of care.
B) Evaluate the effectiveness of drugs after they have been administered.
C) Modify the drug regimen within the nursing scope of practice to modify adverse or intolerable
effects.
D) Minimize the number of medications administered to clients.
E) Examine factors known to influence specific drugs if they are to be effective.
Chapter 2
Written Assignment
1. Calculate the half-life of each drug (acetaminophen, metoprolol, metformin). Determine the
frequency of drug administration based on the half-life. Determine how long it will take for the
drug to be cleared from the body if no further doses were given.
Case Study
A nurse is caring for a patient taking a drug that metabolizes the liver. Additionally, the patient has been
prescribed two drugs that are both excreted by the kidneys.
a. Knowing that the drug is metabolized in the liver, what data should be gathered during the
nurse’s assessment of the patient?
b. When considering the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of a drug, what key points
would the nurse tell the patient?
c. When assessing for potential drug–drug interactions, what questions should the nurse ask this
patient?
d. If the patient is taking 20 mg of drug with a half-life of 4 hours, what amount of medication will
remain 4 hours after medication administration?
Discussion Topic
C.R. is a 50-year-old patient who has just been started on a new medication for an infection. During
morning rounds, C.R. heard the care team mention terms including loading dose, half-life, first-pass
effect, and excretion. C.R. wants to know what these terms mean and what they do with their new
medication.
a. Explains the following terms:
a. Half-life
b. First-pass effect
b. Excretion (including the primary organ involved)
c. Explain the importance of a loading dose. Why do some drugs require loading dosing and others
do not?
Chapter 3
Case Study
A nurse is caring for a patient taking an antibiotic that was shown to be effective for the microorganism
in culture and sensitivity test. The patient information sheet that accompanied the drug tells the patient
to observe for adverse drug effects.
a. What is an adverse drug effect, and what is the clinical significance of such effects?
b. What are the four types of drug allergies that could occur with antibiotic drug administration?
What are their key assessments?
c. A common antibiotic drug–induced problem is superinfection. What assessment data can the
nurse gather from the patient that might indicate a superinfection?
Discussion Topic
The nurse is preparing to administer medications and understands the importance of being able to
recognize an adverse drug effect. When the nurse is preparing to administer medications, the patient
states they are allergic to diphenhydramine (Benadryl). When the nurse questions the patient regarding
their reaction, the patient states that it makes them very sleepy.
a. Explain the reasons an adverse effect can occur.
b. Is this patient allergic to diphenhydramine? Explain.
c. Discuss the four types of allergic reactions.
References
Norris, T., & Tuan, R.L. (2019). Porth’s Essentials of Pathophysiology 5th ed. Wolters Kluwer
Tucker, R. (2023). Karch’s Focus on Nursing Pharmacology 9th ed. Wolters Kluwer
Appendix
Pathophysiology Answers
Pre-Lecture Quiz Answers, Chapter 1, Concepts of Health and Disease
True/False
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
Fill in the Blank
1. Pathophysiology
2. Epidemiology
3. Validity
4. New
5. Primary
Pharmacology Answers
Critical Thinking Scenario, Drug Interactions case study Answers
1 Ans: C
Feedback: The body works through a series of chemical reactions. Because of this, administration of a
particular drug may alter results of tests that are done on various chemical levels or reactions as part of
a diagnostic study. This drug–laboratory test interaction is caused by the drug being given and not
necessarily by a change in the body’s responses or actions. The client’s emotional response or timing of
the last dose is not important in drug–laboratory interactions.
2. Ans: B, C
Feedback: The antibiotic tetracycline is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract if calcium or
calcium products (e.g., milk) are present in the stomach. It cannot be taken with iron products because a
chemical reaction occurs preventing absorption. There is no particular need to avoid sodium, potassium,
or aspirin.
3. Ans: A
Feedback: Whenever two or more drugs are being given together, first consult a drug guide for a listing
of clinically significant drug–drug interactions. There may be a possibility of changing administration
times, but the nurse cannot unilaterally make this decision. Health assessment prior to administration
has no direct effect on the likelihood of a drug–drug interaction. It is prudent to collaborate with the
prescriber and/or the pharmacist, but this does not negate the need to consult reputable published
information.
4. Ans: A, B, C, E
Feedback: Incorporate basic history and physical assessment factors into any plan of care so that
obvious problems can be identified and handled promptly. If a drug simply does not do what it is
expected to do, further examine the factors that are known to influence drug effects. Frequently, the
drug regimen can be modified to deal with that influence. Minimizing the number of medications
administered is usually not an option because each drug is ordered for a reason of necessity for the
client. Minimizing drugs reduce the risk of adverse effects and drug–drug interactions, but it does not
enhance effectiveness of drugs.