ATI PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM
2026/2027 || ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
100% VERIFIED AND CORRECT ANSWERS ||
BRAND NEW UPDATE! ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
A provider prescribes phenobarbital for a client who has a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. How many times per day should the nurse
expect to administer this medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Medications with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels
between doses for long periods of time. The nurse should expect to administer this
medication once a day.
Question 2
A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication
metabolism with a group of nurses at an in-service presentation. Which of the
following factors should the educator include as a reason to administer lower
medication dosages? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal secretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication the same pathway metabolizes
Correct Answer: C, E
Explanation: Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increases the concentration
of a medication, requiring decreasing the dosage. When the same pathway metabolizes
two medications, they compete for metabolism, thereby increasing the concentration
of one or both medications, requiring decreasing the dosage of one or both.
,Question 3
A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Have the client lie on her side.
B. Ask the client to look up at the ceiling.
C. Tell the client to blink when the drops enter her eye.
D. Drop the medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac.
E. Instruct the client to close her eye gently after instillation.
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Explanation: The nurse should ask the client to look up at the ceiling to expose the
lower conjunctival sac. The medication should be dropped into the center of the
conjunctival sac. The client should close the eye gently after instillation to promote
distribution of the medication.
Question 4
A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription for
transdermal patches. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an
indication that the client understands the instructions?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab before I apply the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application sites weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The client should apply the patch to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of the medication.
,Question 5
A nurse reviewing a client's medical record notes a new prescription for verifying the
trough level of the client's medication. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Obtain a blood specimen immediately prior to administering the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been taking the medication for 24 hours before obtaining a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Administer the medication, and obtain a blood specimen 30 minutes later.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: To verify trough levels of a medication, the nurse should obtain a blood
specimen immediately before administering the next dose of medication.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing a client's medications. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take in following legal practice guidelines? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintain skill competency.
B. Determine the dosage.
C. Monitor for adverse effects.
D. Safeguard medications.
E. Identify the client's diagnosis.
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Explanation: Maintaining skill competency and using appropriate administration
techniques are legal responsibilities of the nurse. A nurse is legally responsible for
monitoring for side and adverse effects of medication. Safeguarding of medications,
such as controlled substances, is a legal responsibility of the nurse.
, Question 7
A nurse reviewing a client's health record notes a new prescription for Lisinopril 10
mg PO once every day. The nurse should identify this as which of the following types
of prescription?
A. Single
B. Stat
C. Routine
D. Standing
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A routine or standard prescription identifies medications to give on a
regular schedule with or without a termination date or a specific number of doses. The
nurse will administer this medication every day until the provider discontinues it.
Question 8
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for Ondansetron 4 mg PO PRN for nausea and
vomiting for a client who has Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The nurse should clarify
which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Frequency
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: This prescription does not include the time or frequency of medication
administration. The nurse must clarify this with the prescribing provider.
Question 9
A nurse is admitting a client and completing a preassessment before administering
medications. Which of the following data should the nurse include in the
preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
2026/2027 || ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
100% VERIFIED AND CORRECT ANSWERS ||
BRAND NEW UPDATE! ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
A provider prescribes phenobarbital for a client who has a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. How many times per day should the nurse
expect to administer this medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Medications with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels
between doses for long periods of time. The nurse should expect to administer this
medication once a day.
Question 2
A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication
metabolism with a group of nurses at an in-service presentation. Which of the
following factors should the educator include as a reason to administer lower
medication dosages? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal secretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication the same pathway metabolizes
Correct Answer: C, E
Explanation: Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increases the concentration
of a medication, requiring decreasing the dosage. When the same pathway metabolizes
two medications, they compete for metabolism, thereby increasing the concentration
of one or both medications, requiring decreasing the dosage of one or both.
,Question 3
A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Have the client lie on her side.
B. Ask the client to look up at the ceiling.
C. Tell the client to blink when the drops enter her eye.
D. Drop the medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac.
E. Instruct the client to close her eye gently after instillation.
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Explanation: The nurse should ask the client to look up at the ceiling to expose the
lower conjunctival sac. The medication should be dropped into the center of the
conjunctival sac. The client should close the eye gently after instillation to promote
distribution of the medication.
Question 4
A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription for
transdermal patches. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an
indication that the client understands the instructions?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab before I apply the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application sites weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The client should apply the patch to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of the medication.
,Question 5
A nurse reviewing a client's medical record notes a new prescription for verifying the
trough level of the client's medication. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Obtain a blood specimen immediately prior to administering the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been taking the medication for 24 hours before obtaining a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Administer the medication, and obtain a blood specimen 30 minutes later.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: To verify trough levels of a medication, the nurse should obtain a blood
specimen immediately before administering the next dose of medication.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing a client's medications. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take in following legal practice guidelines? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintain skill competency.
B. Determine the dosage.
C. Monitor for adverse effects.
D. Safeguard medications.
E. Identify the client's diagnosis.
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Explanation: Maintaining skill competency and using appropriate administration
techniques are legal responsibilities of the nurse. A nurse is legally responsible for
monitoring for side and adverse effects of medication. Safeguarding of medications,
such as controlled substances, is a legal responsibility of the nurse.
, Question 7
A nurse reviewing a client's health record notes a new prescription for Lisinopril 10
mg PO once every day. The nurse should identify this as which of the following types
of prescription?
A. Single
B. Stat
C. Routine
D. Standing
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A routine or standard prescription identifies medications to give on a
regular schedule with or without a termination date or a specific number of doses. The
nurse will administer this medication every day until the provider discontinues it.
Question 8
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for Ondansetron 4 mg PO PRN for nausea and
vomiting for a client who has Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The nurse should clarify
which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Frequency
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: This prescription does not include the time or frequency of medication
administration. The nurse must clarify this with the prescribing provider.
Question 9
A nurse is admitting a client and completing a preassessment before administering
medications. Which of the following data should the nurse include in the
preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
