PNC Licensing Examination Pharmacology and Therapeutics Syllabus

Pharmacology and Therapeutics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Pharmacology and Therapeutics in PNC Licensing Examination, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Principles of Pharmacology

   4 topics

   • Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
   • Drug classifications and nomenclature
   • Routes of administration
   • Adverse effects and interactions
2. 2

   Medication Administration and Safety

   3 topics

   • Rights of medication administration
   • Dosage calculation
   • Medication errors and prevention
3. 3

   Drugs Acting on Body Systems

   4 topics

   • Cardiovascular and antihypertensive drugs
   • Respiratory and central nervous system drugs
   • Gastrointestinal and endocrine drugs
   • Analgesics and anesthetics
4. 4

   Anti-Infective and Chemotherapeutic Agents

   3 topics

   • Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance
   • Antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic drugs
   • Antitubercular drugs
5. 5

   Fluids, Electrolytes, and IV Therapy

   3 topics

   • IV fluids and solutions
   • Blood and blood products
   • Electrolyte replacement therapy

Pharmacology and Therapeutics flashcards for PNC Licensing Examination

19 of 52 cards from the Pharmacology and Therapeutics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Define pharmacokinetics and list its four main processes (ADME).

   Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body acts on a drug. Its four processes are Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME).

2. Define pharmacodynamics.

   Pharmacodynamics is the study of how a drug acts on the body — its biochemical and physiological effects and mechanisms of action (e.g., receptor binding, dose-response relationships).

3. What is a drug's half-life (t½), and how many half-lives are needed to reach steady state?

   Half-life is the time required for the plasma drug concentration to fall by 50%. It takes about 4–5 half-lives to reach steady state (and to eliminate most of a drug).

4. What is the first-pass effect?

   First-pass effect is the metabolism of an orally administered drug by the liver (and gut) before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing the amount of active drug available.

5. Define bioavailability. What is the bioavailability of an IV drug?

   Bioavailability is the fraction of an administered dose that reaches systemic circulation in active form. IV drugs have 100% bioavailability.

6. Differentiate between an agonist and an antagonist.

   An agonist binds a receptor and produces a response (activates it). An antagonist binds a receptor and blocks/prevents a response (no activation).

7. What is the difference between a drug's therapeutic index and a narrow therapeutic index?

   Therapeutic index = ratio of toxic dose to effective dose (TD50/ED50); higher is safer. A narrow therapeutic index means a small margin between effective and toxic doses (e.g., digoxin, warfarin, lithium, theophylline), requiring close monitoring.

8. Distinguish a drug's generic name from its trade (brand) name.

   The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name (e.g., paracetamol); the trade/brand name is the manufacturer's proprietary name (e.g., Panadol). One generic drug may have many brand names.

9. Compare enteral and parenteral routes of administration.

   Enteral routes use the GI tract (oral, sublingual, rectal). Parenteral routes bypass the GI tract via injection (IV, IM, SC, intradermal).

10. Order these injection routes by speed of onset (fastest to slowest): IM, IV, SC.

    IV (fastest) > IM > SC (slowest).

11. What is the maximum volume typically given by the subcutaneous and intramuscular routes?

    Subcutaneous: usually up to ~1 mL. Intramuscular: up to ~3 mL in a large muscle (e.g., ventrogluteal); deltoid limited to ~1 mL.

12. Which injection technique prevents medication tracking back into subcutaneous tissue, often used for iron (e.g., iron dextran)?

    The Z-track technique.

13. Define a side effect versus an adverse drug reaction (ADR).

    A side effect is a predictable, often mild secondary effect at normal doses. An ADR is any unintended, harmful response to a drug at normal therapeutic doses.

14. What is an idiosyncratic drug reaction?

    An abnormal, unexpected, genetically determined response to a drug that is unique to an individual (not dose-related or predictable).

15. Differentiate a synergistic from an antagonistic drug interaction.

    Synergistic: combined effect of two drugs is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Antagonistic: one drug reduces or cancels the effect of another.

16. List the classic 'Rights' of medication administration (at least 6).

    Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation — plus right reason, right response, and right to refuse.

17. How many times and when should a nurse check the medication label against the order?

    Three times: (1) when removing the drug from storage, (2) when preparing/pouring it, and (3) before administering it to the patient (at the bedside).

18. State the basic dosage calculation formula (Desired over Have).

    Dose to give = (Desired dose / Stock strength on Hand) × Quantity/Volume. i.e., Amount = (D/H) × Q.

19. Write the formula for calculating IV drip rate in drops per minute (gtt/min).

    Drops/min = (Total volume in mL × Drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ (Time in minutes).

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