Which of the following statements best describes generic names of medications?

A. They are the nonproprietary names of drugs: Generic names are standardized names assigned by an official body such as the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council. They are not owned by any drug company and are used universally across brands, making them the nonproprietary identifiers of medications. B. They are unique to each pharmaceutical company: This describes brand or trade names, not generic names. Brand names vary between manufacturers, but the generic name remains the same regardless of who produces the medication. C. They are not used on the NCLEX: Generic names are primarily used on the NCLEX to test nursing knowledge. Nurses are expected to recognize generic names, as they are the standard reference in clinical practice and reduce confusion associated with multiple brand names. D. They are always capitalized and trademarked: Generic names are written in lowercase and are not trademarked. In contrast, brand names are capitalized and legally protected as trademarks by pharmaceutical companies.