BSc Nursing - Pharmacology Previous Year Question Papers (5 Years)

Pharmacology typically appears in 2nd Year / 3rd-4th Semester of BSc Nursing as "Pharmacology, Pathology & Genetics" (combined paper). Below are actual questions sourced from university exam papers (2018-2024).

SECTION A - PHARMACOLOGY

LONG ESSAY QUESTIONS (LAQ) - 15 Marks

1. Classify anti-anginal drugs. Write the treatment of Myocardial Infarction (MI). What are the nursing responsibilities in management of MI?
2. Classify drugs used for treatment of diabetes. Write mechanism of action, uses, and adverse effects of any one. What are the nursing responsibilities during insulin administration?
3. Classify antitubercular drugs. Describe therapeutic uses and adverse effects. Write the standard DOTS regimen.
4. Classify penicillins. Write therapeutic uses and adverse effects of penicillin G. What are nursing implications while administering penicillin?
5. Discuss hormonal contraceptives. Write adverse effects and contraindications of oral combined pills. What are the nursing implications?
6. Classify antihypertensive drugs. Describe the mechanism of action and uses of ACE inhibitors. Add a note on nursing implications.
7. Classify antipsychotic drugs. Write therapeutic uses and adverse effects. What are the nursing implications?
8. Classify anticancer drugs. Describe the mechanism of action and adverse effects of any one group.

SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS (SAQ) - 5 Marks each

• Routes of drug administration - merits and demerits of intravenous (IV) route
• Advantages and disadvantages of parenteral route of drug administration
• Define pharmacokinetics. Explain absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
• Drug interactions - definition, types with examples
• Factors affecting drug action
• Define drug - sources of drugs (enumerate 5 classes with examples)
• Routes and principles of drug administration (nursing implications)
• Define antiseptics and disinfectants with examples

• Antiplatelet drugs - classification and uses
• Note on anticoagulants (heparin and warfarin)
• Note on pharmacological management of Myocardial Infarction
• Parenteral iron preparations - indications
• Antihyperlipidemic drugs

• Classify opioids. Describe mechanism of action and therapeutic uses of morphine
• Name four benzodiazepines. Write therapeutic uses and adverse effects
• Classify antiepileptic drugs. Uses and adverse effects of phenytoin
• Anti-Parkinson drugs - classification and uses
• General anaesthesia - stages and agents used

• Therapeutic uses of insulin
• Classify oral hypoglycemic drugs. Describe therapeutic uses of metformin
• Thyroid inhibitors - classify. Mechanism of action and adverse effects of carbimazole
• Uterine stimulants (oxytocics) - classification and uses
• Health benefits of oral hormonal contraceptives other than contraception

• Enumerate 5 antimalarial drugs. Write treatment of uncomplicated vivax malaria
• Therapeutic uses of ciprofloxacin
• Classify antifungal drugs with examples
• Antiretroviral drugs - classification and nursing implications
• Classify cephalosporins with examples and uses

• Therapeutic uses and adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs
• Classify adrenergic drugs. Uses of adrenaline (epinephrine)
• Discuss treatment options of myasthenia gravis

• Uses of purgatives/laxatives
• Antiemetic drugs - classification and nursing implications
• Drugs used in peptic ulcer
• Diuretics - classification and uses

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (SAQ) - 2-3 Marks each

• Define pharmacology
• What is half-life of a drug?
• What is bioavailability?
• Define tolerance and dependence
• What is placebo?
• What is loading dose?
• What is therapeutic index?
• Name two drugs used in congestive cardiac failure
• What is antidote? Give two examples
• Define synergism and antagonism
• Write full form of DOTS
• Name two drugs contraindicated in pregnancy
• What is ORS? Composition
• Define vaccine. Give 2 examples

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ) - Common Topics

• Mechanism of action of aspirin
• Drug of choice in status epilepticus
• Which drug is used as antidote for organophosphate poisoning?
• Which of the following is a loop diuretic?
• Antidote for morphine overdose
• First line drug for tuberculosis
• Drug contraindicated in G6PD deficiency
• Standard first line regimen of ATT
• Which beta blocker is cardioselective?
• Drug of choice for anaphylactic shock

Year-wise Paper Pattern Summary

Most Repeated / High-Priority Topics (5-Year Analysis)

1. Insulin & oral hypoglycemics (asked almost every year)
2. Antitubercular drugs / DOTS regimen (very frequently asked)
3. Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers)
4. Opioids / Morphine (LAQ in multiple years)
5. Penicillin / Antibiotics
6. Hormonal contraceptives
7. Routes of drug administration + nursing implications
8. Anti-anginal drugs / MI treatment
9. Antiepileptics (phenytoin)
10. Benzodiazepines

Resources for Full PDFs

• RGUHS Previous Papers on Scribd - 2024 RGUHS paper
• MUHS 2nd Year Paper (2018-2022) - VIMS - Direct PDF download
• BSc Nursing Pharmacology Question Bank - Scribd - Unit-wise question bank