1
ATI
Pharmacology Proctored exam 2024/2025
Questions and answers With Rationale
(LATEST 2025/2026 UPDATE)
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a 4‑month‑old infant. Which of
the following pharmacokinetic principles should the nurse consider when
administering medications to this client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Infants have a more rapid gastric emptying time.
B. Infants have immature liver function.
C. Infants' blood‑brain barrier is poorly developed.
D. Infants have an increased ability to absorb topical medications.
E. Infants have an increased number of protein‑binding sites. - ANSWERS-
B. Infants have immature liver function.
C. Infants' blood‑brain barrier is poorly developed.
D. Infants have an increased ability to absorb topical medications.
EXP- (B. Infants have immature liver function until 1 year of age. The nurse should
administer medications the liver metabolizes in smaller dosages.
C. Infants have a poorly developed blood‑brain barrier, which places them at risk
for adverse effects from medications that pass through the blood‑brain barrier. The
nurse should administer these medications in smaller dosages.
D. Because infants have more blood flowing to the skin and their skin is thin, their
medication absorption is increased, making them prone to toxicity from topical
medications)
A nurse is assessing a male client who recently began taking Haloperidol. Which of
, 2
the following findings is the highest priority to report to the provider?
, 3
A. Shuffling gait
B. Neck spasms
C. Drowsiness
D. Impotence - ANSWERS-B. Neck spasms
EXP-(Neck spasms are an indication of acute dystonia which is a crisis
situation requiring rapid treatment. This is the greatest risk to the client and is
therefore the priority finding.)
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 - ANSWERS-B. Ask
the client to look up at the ceiling.
D. Drop the medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac.
E. Instruct the client to close her eye gently after instillation
EXP- (B. The client should look upward to keep the drops from falling onto
her cornea.
D. The nurse should drop the medication into the
, 4
center of the conjunctival sac to promote distribution.
E. The client should close her eye gently to promote distribution of the medication)
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. - ANSWERS-C. "I will
apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
EXP- (The client should apply the patch to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of the medication.)
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 hr before obtaining a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
ATI
Pharmacology Proctored exam 2024/2025
Questions and answers With Rationale
(LATEST 2025/2026 UPDATE)
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a 4‑month‑old infant. Which of
the following pharmacokinetic principles should the nurse consider when
administering medications to this client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Infants have a more rapid gastric emptying time.
B. Infants have immature liver function.
C. Infants' blood‑brain barrier is poorly developed.
D. Infants have an increased ability to absorb topical medications.
E. Infants have an increased number of protein‑binding sites. - ANSWERS-
B. Infants have immature liver function.
C. Infants' blood‑brain barrier is poorly developed.
D. Infants have an increased ability to absorb topical medications.
EXP- (B. Infants have immature liver function until 1 year of age. The nurse should
administer medications the liver metabolizes in smaller dosages.
C. Infants have a poorly developed blood‑brain barrier, which places them at risk
for adverse effects from medications that pass through the blood‑brain barrier. The
nurse should administer these medications in smaller dosages.
D. Because infants have more blood flowing to the skin and their skin is thin, their
medication absorption is increased, making them prone to toxicity from topical
medications)
A nurse is assessing a male client who recently began taking Haloperidol. Which of
, 2
the following findings is the highest priority to report to the provider?
, 3
A. Shuffling gait
B. Neck spasms
C. Drowsiness
D. Impotence - ANSWERS-B. Neck spasms
EXP-(Neck spasms are an indication of acute dystonia which is a crisis
situation requiring rapid treatment. This is the greatest risk to the client and is
therefore the priority finding.)
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 - ANSWERS-B. Ask
the client to look up at the ceiling.
D. Drop the medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac.
E. Instruct the client to close her eye gently after instillation
EXP- (B. The client should look upward to keep the drops from falling onto
her cornea.
D. The nurse should drop the medication into the
, 4
center of the conjunctival sac to promote distribution.
E. The client should close her eye gently to promote distribution of the medication)
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. - ANSWERS-C. "I will
apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
EXP- (The client should apply the patch to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of the medication.)
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 hr before obtaining a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
