Actual ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam
2026/2027: 100 NGN-Style Questions with
Verified Answers & Rationales | Instant Pdf
Download
Question 1 of 100
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
Rationale: Looking up prevents drops from falling onto the cornea. Dropping into the
conjunctival sac promotes even distribution. Gentle eye closure also promotes distribution
without forcing medication out.
Question 2 of 100
A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication
metabolism. Which factors should the educator include as reasons 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
Rationale: Liver failure decreases metabolism, increasing medication concentration,
requiring lower dosage. When two medications use the same metabolic pathway, they
compete, increasing concentration of one or both, requiring lower dosage.
Question 3 of 100
A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription for
transdermal patches. Which of the following statements indicates 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."
Rationale: The client should apply the patch to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of the medication. Hair can prevent full contact with the skin.
Question 4 of 100
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
Rationale: To verify trough levels, the nurse should obtain a blood specimen immediately
before administering the next dose of medication. Trough is the lowest concentration.
, Question 5 of 100
A nurse is administering clonidine for hypertension. Which of the following adverse effects
requires immediate intervention?
A) Dry mouth
B) Drowsiness
C) Rebound hypertension
D) Constipation
Rationale: Abrupt withdrawal of clonidine can cause severe rebound hypertension, which
may lead to hypertensive crisis. Dry mouth and drowsiness are common but not emergent.
Question 6 of 100
A client is prescribed verapamil. The nurse should monitor for which potential complication?
A) Hyperglycemia
B) Constipation
C) Tachycardia
D) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Verapamil (a calcium channel blocker) commonly causes constipation,
especially in older adults. Verapamil causes bradycardia, not tachycardia.
Question 7 of 100
A client taking amiodarone reports cough and shortness of breath. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Assess lung sounds and oxygen saturation
, C) Reassure the client this is normal
D) Hold the next dose of amiodarone
Rationale: Amiodarone can cause pulmonary toxicity (fibrosis). These symptoms require
immediate assessment and provider notification.
Question 8 of 100
A nurse is teaching a client about enoxaparin (Lovenox). Which of the following statements
indicates understanding?
A) "I will need weekly blood tests to check my levels."
B) "I will inject this medication into my abdomen."
C) "I will massage the injection site to prevent bruising."
D) "I can take aspirin for headaches while on this medication."
Rationale: Enoxaparin is a low-molecular-weight heparin given subcutaneously in the
abdomen. Routine monitoring is not required. Do not massage injection site.
Question 9 of 100
A client with heart failure is prescribed carvedilol. The nurse should withhold the dose if
which of the following findings is present?
A) Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg
B) Heart rate 52 beats per minute
C) Weight gain of 1 lb in 24 hours
D) Mild fatigue
*Rationale: Carvedilol is a beta-blocker. Withhold if heart rate is below 60 bpm (or per
facility protocol).*
2026/2027: 100 NGN-Style Questions with
Verified Answers & Rationales | Instant Pdf
Download
Question 1 of 100
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
Rationale: Looking up prevents drops from falling onto the cornea. Dropping into the
conjunctival sac promotes even distribution. Gentle eye closure also promotes distribution
without forcing medication out.
Question 2 of 100
A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication
metabolism. Which factors should the educator include as reasons 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
Rationale: Liver failure decreases metabolism, increasing medication concentration,
requiring lower dosage. When two medications use the same metabolic pathway, they
compete, increasing concentration of one or both, requiring lower dosage.
Question 3 of 100
A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription for
transdermal patches. Which of the following statements indicates 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."
Rationale: The client should apply the patch to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of the medication. Hair can prevent full contact with the skin.
Question 4 of 100
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
Rationale: To verify trough levels, the nurse should obtain a blood specimen immediately
before administering the next dose of medication. Trough is the lowest concentration.
, Question 5 of 100
A nurse is administering clonidine for hypertension. Which of the following adverse effects
requires immediate intervention?
A) Dry mouth
B) Drowsiness
C) Rebound hypertension
D) Constipation
Rationale: Abrupt withdrawal of clonidine can cause severe rebound hypertension, which
may lead to hypertensive crisis. Dry mouth and drowsiness are common but not emergent.
Question 6 of 100
A client is prescribed verapamil. The nurse should monitor for which potential complication?
A) Hyperglycemia
B) Constipation
C) Tachycardia
D) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Verapamil (a calcium channel blocker) commonly causes constipation,
especially in older adults. Verapamil causes bradycardia, not tachycardia.
Question 7 of 100
A client taking amiodarone reports cough and shortness of breath. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A) Administer a bronchodilator
B) Assess lung sounds and oxygen saturation
, C) Reassure the client this is normal
D) Hold the next dose of amiodarone
Rationale: Amiodarone can cause pulmonary toxicity (fibrosis). These symptoms require
immediate assessment and provider notification.
Question 8 of 100
A nurse is teaching a client about enoxaparin (Lovenox). Which of the following statements
indicates understanding?
A) "I will need weekly blood tests to check my levels."
B) "I will inject this medication into my abdomen."
C) "I will massage the injection site to prevent bruising."
D) "I can take aspirin for headaches while on this medication."
Rationale: Enoxaparin is a low-molecular-weight heparin given subcutaneously in the
abdomen. Routine monitoring is not required. Do not massage injection site.
Question 9 of 100
A client with heart failure is prescribed carvedilol. The nurse should withhold the dose if
which of the following findings is present?
A) Blood pressure 110/70 mmHg
B) Heart rate 52 beats per minute
C) Weight gain of 1 lb in 24 hours
D) Mild fatigue
*Rationale: Carvedilol is a beta-blocker. Withhold if heart rate is below 60 bpm (or per
facility protocol).*
