# VATI PHARM PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE TEST
2026 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
---
**1.** A nurse is teaching a client about the use of sublingual nitroglycerin. Which instruction should
the nurse include?
A) "Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water."
B) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
C) "Store the tablets in the refrigerator."
D) "Use the tablet only at bedtime for prevention."
💡 RATIONALE -- Sublingual nitroglycerin is taken at the onset of chest pain: one tablet every 5 minutes
for up to 3 doses. Call 911 if pain not relieved after first dose.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
---
**2.** A client is prescribed hydrochlorothiazide. Which finding should the nurse instruct the client to
report?
A) Muscle weakness and leg cramps
B) Increased urination
C) Dry mouth
D) Headache
💡 RATIONALE -- Hydrochlorothiazide can cause hypokalemia, which presents with muscle weakness, leg
cramps, and fatigue. These should be reported for possible potassium supplementation.
,✔️ ANSWER -- A) Muscle weakness and leg cramps
---
**3.** A client is taking warfarin and has an INR of 3.8. The client has no signs of bleeding. Which action
should the nurse anticipate?
A) Administer vitamin K
B) Hold the next dose and monitor INR
C) Increase the warfarin dose
D) Give fresh frozen plasma
💡 RATIONALE -- An INR of 3.8 is above the therapeutic range (2-3) but not critically high without
bleeding. Holding the next dose and rechecking INR is typical.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Hold the next dose and monitor INR
---
**4.** A client is prescribed albuterol via nebulizer. Which adverse effect indicates the need to notify
the provider?
A) Palpitations and tremors
B) Dry mouth
C) Headache
D) Cough
💡 RATIONALE -- Palpitations and tremors are common but should be reported if severe or persistent.
However, all are expected side effects. The question asks which to report - severe palpitations may
indicate excessive beta stimulation.
,✔️ ANSWER -- A) Palpitations and tremors
---
**5.** A client with hypothyroidism is prescribed levothyroxine. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A) "I will take this medication with my morning coffee."
B) "I will take this medication on an empty stomach before breakfast."
C) "I can stop taking this medication when my thyroid level is normal."
D) "I will take this medication with a high‑fiber meal."
💡 RATIONALE -- Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach, at least 30-60 minutes before
breakfast. Lifelong therapy is required.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) "I will take this medication on an empty stomach before breakfast."
---
**6.** A nurse is monitoring a client receiving IV heparin. Which finding indicates a therapeutic effect?
A) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
B) INR 2.5
C) Platelet count 150,000/mm³
D) Bleeding time 8 minutes
💡 RATIONALE -- Therapeutic heparin is monitored by aPTT, typically 1.5-2.5 times the control value (45-
75 seconds for a 30-second control).
✔️ ANSWER -- A) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
, ---
**7.** A client is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely?
A) Serum potassium
B) Serum sodium
C) Serum calcium
D) Serum magnesium
💡 RATIONALE -- Furosemide (loop diuretic) causes hypokalemia, which can increase risk of digoxin
toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) Serum potassium
---
**8.** A client is prescribed metformin. The nurse should instruct the client to temporarily stop the
medication for which condition?
A) Mild diarrhea
B) Scheduled surgery with contrast dye
C) Upper respiratory infection
D) Headache
💡 RATIONALE -- Metformin should be held before procedures involving iodinated contrast dye to
reduce risk of lactic acidosis, especially in renal impairment.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Scheduled surgery with contrast dye
---
**9.** A client is prescribed digoxin. Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
2026 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
---
**1.** A nurse is teaching a client about the use of sublingual nitroglycerin. Which instruction should
the nurse include?
A) "Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water."
B) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
C) "Store the tablets in the refrigerator."
D) "Use the tablet only at bedtime for prevention."
💡 RATIONALE -- Sublingual nitroglycerin is taken at the onset of chest pain: one tablet every 5 minutes
for up to 3 doses. Call 911 if pain not relieved after first dose.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) "Take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to 3 doses if chest pain persists."
---
**2.** A client is prescribed hydrochlorothiazide. Which finding should the nurse instruct the client to
report?
A) Muscle weakness and leg cramps
B) Increased urination
C) Dry mouth
D) Headache
💡 RATIONALE -- Hydrochlorothiazide can cause hypokalemia, which presents with muscle weakness, leg
cramps, and fatigue. These should be reported for possible potassium supplementation.
,✔️ ANSWER -- A) Muscle weakness and leg cramps
---
**3.** A client is taking warfarin and has an INR of 3.8. The client has no signs of bleeding. Which action
should the nurse anticipate?
A) Administer vitamin K
B) Hold the next dose and monitor INR
C) Increase the warfarin dose
D) Give fresh frozen plasma
💡 RATIONALE -- An INR of 3.8 is above the therapeutic range (2-3) but not critically high without
bleeding. Holding the next dose and rechecking INR is typical.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Hold the next dose and monitor INR
---
**4.** A client is prescribed albuterol via nebulizer. Which adverse effect indicates the need to notify
the provider?
A) Palpitations and tremors
B) Dry mouth
C) Headache
D) Cough
💡 RATIONALE -- Palpitations and tremors are common but should be reported if severe or persistent.
However, all are expected side effects. The question asks which to report - severe palpitations may
indicate excessive beta stimulation.
,✔️ ANSWER -- A) Palpitations and tremors
---
**5.** A client with hypothyroidism is prescribed levothyroxine. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A) "I will take this medication with my morning coffee."
B) "I will take this medication on an empty stomach before breakfast."
C) "I can stop taking this medication when my thyroid level is normal."
D) "I will take this medication with a high‑fiber meal."
💡 RATIONALE -- Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach, at least 30-60 minutes before
breakfast. Lifelong therapy is required.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) "I will take this medication on an empty stomach before breakfast."
---
**6.** A nurse is monitoring a client receiving IV heparin. Which finding indicates a therapeutic effect?
A) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
B) INR 2.5
C) Platelet count 150,000/mm³
D) Bleeding time 8 minutes
💡 RATIONALE -- Therapeutic heparin is monitored by aPTT, typically 1.5-2.5 times the control value (45-
75 seconds for a 30-second control).
✔️ ANSWER -- A) aPTT 60 seconds (control 30 seconds)
, ---
**7.** A client is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely?
A) Serum potassium
B) Serum sodium
C) Serum calcium
D) Serum magnesium
💡 RATIONALE -- Furosemide (loop diuretic) causes hypokalemia, which can increase risk of digoxin
toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) Serum potassium
---
**8.** A client is prescribed metformin. The nurse should instruct the client to temporarily stop the
medication for which condition?
A) Mild diarrhea
B) Scheduled surgery with contrast dye
C) Upper respiratory infection
D) Headache
💡 RATIONALE -- Metformin should be held before procedures involving iodinated contrast dye to
reduce risk of lactic acidosis, especially in renal impairment.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Scheduled surgery with contrast dye
---
**9.** A client is prescribed digoxin. Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
