ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam
2025/2026 (Actual Exam) Questions
with Correct Answers & Rationales
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving moderate sedation with Diazepam
IV. The client is oversedated. Which of the following medications should the
nurse anticipate administering to this client?
A. Ketamine
B. Naltrexone
C. Flumazenil
D. Fluvoxamine - C (Flumazenil is a competitive benzodiazepine antagonist
used to reverse the sedation and other effects of benzodiazepines)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Ramelteon. The
nurse should instruct the client to avoid which of the following foods while
taking this medication?
A. Baked potato
B. Fried chicken
C. Whole-grain bread
D. Citrus fruits - B (high-fat foods, such as fried chicken prolong
the absorption of ramelteon and should be avoided)
A nurse is caring for a client who is admitted to undergo a surgical procedure.
Which of the following preexisting conditions can be a contraindication for the
use of Ketamine as an intravenous anesthetic?
A. Peptic ulcer disease
B. Breast cancer
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Schizophrenia - D (Ketamine can produce psychological effects, such as
hallucinations. Therefore, schizophrenia can be a contraindication for the use of
Ketamine)
A nurse is providing instructions to a female client who has a new prescription
for Zolpidem. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
,A. "Notify the provider if you plan to become pregnant."
B. "Take the medication 1 hr before you plan to go to sleep."
C. "Allow at least 6 hr for sleep when taking zolpidem."
D. "To increase the effectiveness of zolpidem, take it with a bedtime snack. - A
(Zolpidem is Pregnancy Risk Category C. The client should notify the provider
if she plans to become pregnant)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Beclomethasone.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Rinse your mouth after each use of this medication."
B. "Limit fluid intake while taking this medication."
C. "Increase your intake of vitamin B12 while taking this medication."
D. "You can take the medication as needed. - A (The client should rinse her
mouth after each use to reduce the risk of oral fungal infection)
A nurse is providing instructions to a client who has a new prescription for
Albuterol and Beclomethasone inhalers for the control of asthma. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Take the albuterol at the same time each day.
B. Administer the albuterol inhaler prior to using the beclomethasone inhaler.
C. Use beclomethasone if experiencing an acute episode.
D. Avoid shaking the beclomethasone before us - B (When a client is prescribed
an inhaled beta2-agonist (such as albuterol) and an inhaled glucocorticoid (such
as beclomethasone), the client should take the beta2-agonist first. The
beta2-agonist promotes bronchodilation and enhances absorption of the
glucocorticoid.)
A nurse is providing instructions to the parent of an adolescent client who has a
new prescription for Albuterol, PO. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
A. "You can take this medication to abort an acute asthma attack."
B. "Tremors are an adverse effect of this medication."
C. "Prolonged use of this medication can cause hyperglycemia."
D. "This medication can slow skeletal growth rate." - B (Tremors can occur due
to excessive stimulation of beta2 receptors of skeletal muscles)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a prescription for long-term use of oral
prednisone for treatment of chronic asthma. The nurse should instruct the client
to monitor for which of the following adverse effects of this medication?
,A.Weight gain
B.Nervousness
C.Bradycardia
D.Constipation - A (Weight gain and fluid retention are adverse effects of oral
prednisone due to the effect of sodium and water retention)
A nurse is caring for a client who states she has been taking Phenylephrine nasal
drops for the past 10 days for Sinusitis. The nurse should assess the client for
which of the following adverse effects of this medication?
A. Sedation
B. Nasal congestion
C. Productive cough
D. Constipation - B (When used for over 5 days, rebound nasal congestion can
occur when taking nasal sympathomimetic medications, such as phenylephrine)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Dextromethorphan
to suppress a cough. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which of
the following adverse effects of this medication?
A. Diarrhea
B. Anxiety
C. Sedation
D. Palpitations - C (Dextromethorphan can cause sedation. Advise the client to
avoid activities that require alertness)
A nurse is teaching the family of a child who has Cystic Fibrosis and a new
prescription for Acetylcysteine. Which of the following information should the
nurse include in the instructions?
A. "Expect this medication to suppress your cough."
B. "Expect this medication to smell like rotten eggs."
C. "Expect this medication to cause euphoria."
D. "Expect this medication to turn your urine orange." - B (Acetylcysteine has a
sulfur content that causes a rotten-egg odor)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Diphenhydramine
for allergic Rhinitis. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which of
the following adverse reactions of this medication? (Select all that apply.)
A. Dry mouth
B. Nonproductive cough
C. Skin rash
, D. Drowsiness
E. Urinary hesitation - a, d, e
(A. Dry mouth is an anticholinergic manifestation that can occur when a client
takes diphenhydramine
D. Drowsiness is an adverse reaction of this medication. Diphenhydramine is
administered to treat insomnia.
E. Urinary retention is an anticholinergic manifestation that can occur when a
client takes diphenhydramine.)
A nurse is teaching a client about the use of Fluticasone to treat Perennial
Rhinitis. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should use the spray every 4 hours while I am awake."
B. "It can take as long as 3 weeks before the medication takes a maximum
effect."
C. "This medication can also be used to treat motion sickness."
D. "I can use this medication when my nasal passages are blocked. - B (The
client can see some benefits of the medication within a few hours, but the
maximum benefits can take up to 3 weeks.)
A nursing is planning care for a client who is receiving Furosemide IV for
peripheral edema. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
A. Assess for tinnitus.
B. Report urine output 50 mL/hr.
C. Monitor serum potassium levels.
D. Elevate the head of bed slowly before ambulation.
E. Recommend eating a banana daily - a, c, d, e
(A. An adverse effect of furosemide is ototoxicity.
manifestations of tinnitus should be reported to the provider
C. A decrease in serum potassium levels is an adverse effect of furosemide, and
the nurse should notify the provider.
D. Slowly elevating the head of the bed will prevent the client from developing
orthostatic
hypotension, which is a manifestation of hypovolemia.
E. A banana is high in potassium. The
2025/2026 (Actual Exam) Questions
with Correct Answers & Rationales
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving moderate sedation with Diazepam
IV. The client is oversedated. Which of the following medications should the
nurse anticipate administering to this client?
A. Ketamine
B. Naltrexone
C. Flumazenil
D. Fluvoxamine - C (Flumazenil is a competitive benzodiazepine antagonist
used to reverse the sedation and other effects of benzodiazepines)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Ramelteon. The
nurse should instruct the client to avoid which of the following foods while
taking this medication?
A. Baked potato
B. Fried chicken
C. Whole-grain bread
D. Citrus fruits - B (high-fat foods, such as fried chicken prolong
the absorption of ramelteon and should be avoided)
A nurse is caring for a client who is admitted to undergo a surgical procedure.
Which of the following preexisting conditions can be a contraindication for the
use of Ketamine as an intravenous anesthetic?
A. Peptic ulcer disease
B. Breast cancer
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Schizophrenia - D (Ketamine can produce psychological effects, such as
hallucinations. Therefore, schizophrenia can be a contraindication for the use of
Ketamine)
A nurse is providing instructions to a female client who has a new prescription
for Zolpidem. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
,A. "Notify the provider if you plan to become pregnant."
B. "Take the medication 1 hr before you plan to go to sleep."
C. "Allow at least 6 hr for sleep when taking zolpidem."
D. "To increase the effectiveness of zolpidem, take it with a bedtime snack. - A
(Zolpidem is Pregnancy Risk Category C. The client should notify the provider
if she plans to become pregnant)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Beclomethasone.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Rinse your mouth after each use of this medication."
B. "Limit fluid intake while taking this medication."
C. "Increase your intake of vitamin B12 while taking this medication."
D. "You can take the medication as needed. - A (The client should rinse her
mouth after each use to reduce the risk of oral fungal infection)
A nurse is providing instructions to a client who has a new prescription for
Albuterol and Beclomethasone inhalers for the control of asthma. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Take the albuterol at the same time each day.
B. Administer the albuterol inhaler prior to using the beclomethasone inhaler.
C. Use beclomethasone if experiencing an acute episode.
D. Avoid shaking the beclomethasone before us - B (When a client is prescribed
an inhaled beta2-agonist (such as albuterol) and an inhaled glucocorticoid (such
as beclomethasone), the client should take the beta2-agonist first. The
beta2-agonist promotes bronchodilation and enhances absorption of the
glucocorticoid.)
A nurse is providing instructions to the parent of an adolescent client who has a
new prescription for Albuterol, PO. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
A. "You can take this medication to abort an acute asthma attack."
B. "Tremors are an adverse effect of this medication."
C. "Prolonged use of this medication can cause hyperglycemia."
D. "This medication can slow skeletal growth rate." - B (Tremors can occur due
to excessive stimulation of beta2 receptors of skeletal muscles)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a prescription for long-term use of oral
prednisone for treatment of chronic asthma. The nurse should instruct the client
to monitor for which of the following adverse effects of this medication?
,A.Weight gain
B.Nervousness
C.Bradycardia
D.Constipation - A (Weight gain and fluid retention are adverse effects of oral
prednisone due to the effect of sodium and water retention)
A nurse is caring for a client who states she has been taking Phenylephrine nasal
drops for the past 10 days for Sinusitis. The nurse should assess the client for
which of the following adverse effects of this medication?
A. Sedation
B. Nasal congestion
C. Productive cough
D. Constipation - B (When used for over 5 days, rebound nasal congestion can
occur when taking nasal sympathomimetic medications, such as phenylephrine)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Dextromethorphan
to suppress a cough. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which of
the following adverse effects of this medication?
A. Diarrhea
B. Anxiety
C. Sedation
D. Palpitations - C (Dextromethorphan can cause sedation. Advise the client to
avoid activities that require alertness)
A nurse is teaching the family of a child who has Cystic Fibrosis and a new
prescription for Acetylcysteine. Which of the following information should the
nurse include in the instructions?
A. "Expect this medication to suppress your cough."
B. "Expect this medication to smell like rotten eggs."
C. "Expect this medication to cause euphoria."
D. "Expect this medication to turn your urine orange." - B (Acetylcysteine has a
sulfur content that causes a rotten-egg odor)
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for Diphenhydramine
for allergic Rhinitis. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which of
the following adverse reactions of this medication? (Select all that apply.)
A. Dry mouth
B. Nonproductive cough
C. Skin rash
, D. Drowsiness
E. Urinary hesitation - a, d, e
(A. Dry mouth is an anticholinergic manifestation that can occur when a client
takes diphenhydramine
D. Drowsiness is an adverse reaction of this medication. Diphenhydramine is
administered to treat insomnia.
E. Urinary retention is an anticholinergic manifestation that can occur when a
client takes diphenhydramine.)
A nurse is teaching a client about the use of Fluticasone to treat Perennial
Rhinitis. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should use the spray every 4 hours while I am awake."
B. "It can take as long as 3 weeks before the medication takes a maximum
effect."
C. "This medication can also be used to treat motion sickness."
D. "I can use this medication when my nasal passages are blocked. - B (The
client can see some benefits of the medication within a few hours, but the
maximum benefits can take up to 3 weeks.)
A nursing is planning care for a client who is receiving Furosemide IV for
peripheral edema. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
include in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
A. Assess for tinnitus.
B. Report urine output 50 mL/hr.
C. Monitor serum potassium levels.
D. Elevate the head of bed slowly before ambulation.
E. Recommend eating a banana daily - a, c, d, e
(A. An adverse effect of furosemide is ototoxicity.
manifestations of tinnitus should be reported to the provider
C. A decrease in serum potassium levels is an adverse effect of furosemide, and
the nurse should notify the provider.
D. Slowly elevating the head of the bed will prevent the client from developing
orthostatic
hypotension, which is a manifestation of hypovolemia.
E. A banana is high in potassium. The
