Prehospital Emergency Pharmacology 8th Edition Bledsoe Test Bank

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Prehospital Emergency Pharmacology 8th Edition Bledsoe Test Bank Prehospital Emergency Pharmacology, 8e (Bledsoe/Clayden) Chapter 1 General Information

1) The study of natural drug sources that has been expanded to include chemicals developed and

used in laboratory research most correctly describes:

• Pharmacology.
• Pharmacodynamics.
• Pharmacognosy.
• Pharmacokinetics.

Answer: C

Explanation: A) Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions on the body.

• Pharmacodynamics refers to the mechanisms by which medications produce biochemical or

physiological changes in the body.

• Study of natural drug sources that has been expanded to include chemicals developed and

used in lab research.

• The study of how medications enter the body, reach their site of action and eventually

become eliminated.

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2) Atropine is a powerful organic alkaloid that reacts with acid to form a salt that is readily soluble in body fluids. From which of the following sources is atropine derived?

• Plant
• Animal
• Mineral
• Synthetic

Answer: A

Explanation: A) Atropine is developed from the plant Atropa belladonna.

• Animal sources are extracted from the body fluids of animals.
• Mineral sources provide inorganic material not available from plants or animals.
• Synthetic sources are created in the lab using processes such as recombinant DNA. They may

be used in combination with natural sources.

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3) Examples of synthetically produced medications include:

• Diazepam, fentanyl, and adenosine.
• Pepsin, pancreatin, and oxytocin.
• Atropine, morphine, and digitalis.
• Magnesium, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium chloride.

Answer: A

Explanation: A) Diazepam, fentanyl, and adenosine are all produced synthetically.

• Pepsin, pancreatin, and oxytocin are derived from animal sources.
• Atropine, morphine, and digitalis are identified as plant sources.
• Magnesium, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium chloride are identified as mineral sources of

drugs.

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4) In order to obtain the MOST current information related to a medication, it is suggested that

the prehospital provider:

• Use only local protocol as your source.
• Use multiple sources and compare information in conjunction with medical direction.
• Rely on an EMS guide as the sole source of information.
• Utilize the internet as a resource because it is most correct.

Answer: B

Explanation: A) Local protocols may not encompass the many medications currently available.

• Using multiple sources as well as comparing information will provide the provider with the

most current information. Medical direction is also imperative.

• While EMS guides may provide some information, they may not include all relevant

information.

• Internet sources are sometimes difficult to determine validity of information present and

should be verified.

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5) A tool that may be readily available and carried by the prehospital provider for field use when

seeking information regarding an unknown medication is:

• United States Pharmacopeia.
• Physicians' Desk Reference.
• Drug information/hospital formulary.
• Smart phone.

Answer: D

Explanation: A) The United States Pharmacopeia contains all current drugs, but is not readily available.

• The Physicians' Desk Reference, while useful, is not typically readily available or practical at

the scene of an emergency.

• The drug information/hospital formulary is generally not used in the prehospital setting.
• Specific applications are available for most smart phones that contain readily available

information related to both prescribed and non-prescription medications.

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6) The phase of drug testing that includes determining toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and

determining a drug's "therapeutic index" occurs during:

• Postmarketing surveillance.
• New drug application.
• Clinical research and development.
• Preclinical testing, research, and development.

Answer: D

Explanation: A) Postmarketing surveillance occurs during phase four of testing. A new drug's therapeutic index must already be determined.

• An investigational new drug may be applied for once the therapeutic index has been

determined prior to the phase 1 of human drug testing.

• Clinical research and development begins after the therapeutic index has been determined.
• Preclinical testing, research, and development occurs prior to human testing and is concerned

with the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a new drug in order to discover its therapeutic index.

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7) The term "therapeutic index" refers to:

• Ratio of a drug's lethal dose to its effective dose.
• Amount of drug required to cause a side effect.
• Pharmacokinetics of a drug.
• Efficacy of a drug.

Answer: A

Explanation: A) The ratio of a drug's lethal dose to its effective dose determines the therapeutic index.

• Side effects are the undesired effects of a medication.
• Pharmacokinetics refers to the drug's movement from introduction into the system until

system elimination.

• Efficacy refers to how well the drug works in terms of treatment effect.

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8) Which of the following statements regarding the use of abbreviations in pharmacology is TRUE?

• Abbreviations vary depending upon the drug manufacture.
• The abbreviation "mg" always will refer to the mineral, magnesium.
• The USP in the only recognized source for determining abbreviations.
• Abbreviations in pharmacology should be used carefully to avoid confusion and should be

agreed upon in local systems.

Answer: D

Explanation: A) Abbreviations should be used with caution as they can lead to confusion. A standardized system is in place that makes charting and documentation more clear and concise.

• Most sources recognize the abbreviation "mg" to indicate the unit of measure "milligram."

Magnesium is an element with the designation of Mg.

• The USP contains the formulary used in the United States.
• Medical abbreviations should be used carefully to avoid confusion and should be agreed upon

in local systems.

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9) Following the designation of a new drug as an "investigational new drug," there are phases of testing on humans.

• one
• two
• three
• four

Answer: D

Explanation: A) There are three other phases of drug testing.

• There are two other phases of drug testing.
• There is another phase of drug testing.
• There are four phases of drug testing that occur following the designation of a drug as an

"investigational new drug."

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10) The phase of drug testing that determines the pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and safe dose in

humans is:

• Phase one.
• Phase two.
• Phase three.
• Phase four.

Answer: A

Explanation: A) The primary purpose of phase one testing is to determine the pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and safe dose in humans.

• The primary purpose of phase two testing is to find the therapeutic medication level and

watch carefully for toxic and side effects.

• The primary purpose of phase three testing is to refine the usual therapeutic dose and to

collect relevant data on side effects.

• The primary purpose of phase four testing involves postmarketing analysis during conditional

approval.

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11) An example of a drug that may receive expedited medical approval would be:

• A drug used to treat a rare disease that affects less than 200,000 people.
• A placebo that is administered to provide psychological control of responses.
• A drug that may help prevent a public health threat such as HIV.
• A drug that is being evaluated in order to determine the therapeutic index.

Answer: C

Explanation: A) This Answer describes the definition of an orphan drug.

• A placebo is used in testing and does not require expedited medical approval.
• Expedited approval may be granted when a drug may be of use in treating a public health

threat such as HIV.

• The therapeutic index is obtained during preclinical phase of drug testing and does not require

expedited approval.

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