ATI PHARMACOLOGY CMS PROCTORED/FORM A,B,C CMS
PHARMACOLOGY Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026/2027 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with
heart failure. Which of the following findings should prompt the nurse
to withhold the medication and notify the provider?
• A) Heart rate of 54/min
• B) Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
• C) Serum potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L
• D) Client report of mild fatigue
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Digoxin slows the heart rate via negative chronotropic
effects. A pulse below 60/min in an adult client indicates potential
toxicity or excessive dosing, requiring the nurse to withhold the drug
and notify the provider.
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed lithium
carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which of the following laboratory values
should the nurse monitor closely?
• A) Serum sodium
• B) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) alone
• C) Serum calcium
• D) Platelet count
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Lithium is excreted by the kidneys similarly to sodium. Low
serum sodium levels (hyponatremia) cause the kidneys to reabsorb
more lithium, leading to lithium toxicity. Maintaining adequate sodium
and fluid intake is critical.
Question 3: A nurse is monitoring a client receiving IV heparin infusion
for deep-vein thrombosis. Which of the following laboratory tests
should the nurse use to evaluate the effectiveness of the heparin
therapy?
• A) Prothrombin time (PT)
• B) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
• C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
• D) Bleeding time
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Heparin therapy is monitored using the activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT), typically aiming for a therapeutic range of
1.5 to 2 times the baseline value. PT and INR are used for warfarin.
Question 4: A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for
warfarin. Which of the following dietary instructions should the nurse
include?
• A) "Eliminate all dark green leafy vegetables from your diet
completely."
• B) "Maintain a consistent daily intake of foods containing vitamin
K."
, • C) "Increase your intake of vitamin K-rich foods to enhance the
drug's effect."
• D) "Avoid all citrus fruits while taking this medication."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin. Clients do not need to
eliminate vitamin K, but they must maintain a consistent daily intake to
prevent sudden fluctuations in INR levels.
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed regular
insulin and NPH insulin subcutaneously. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take when mixing these insulins in one syringe?
• A) Draw up the NPH insulin first, then the regular insulin.
• B) Draw up the regular insulin first, then the NPH insulin.
• C) Inject air into the NPH vial first, then air into the regular vial,
and draw up NPH first.
• D) Mix the insulins in a separate container before drawing them
up.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To prevent contaminating the short-acting (regular) insulin
with the intermediate-acting (NPH) insulin, the nurse must draw up
regular insulin first ("clear before cloudy"). When injecting air, inject
into NPH (cloudy) then regular (clear).
Question 6: A nurse is administering gentamicin IV to a client with a
severe infection. Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse monitor to prevent ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity?
, • A) Peak and trough serum levels
• B) Liver function tests (AST and ALT)
• C) Serum amylase and lipase
• D) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aminoglycosides like gentamicin have a narrow therapeutic
index. Monitoring peak and trough levels ensures therapeutic efficacy
while preventing toxic accumulation that causes nephrotoxicity and
irreversible ototoxicity.
Question 7: A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client
prescribed levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
• A) "I should take this medication right after eating a heavy
breakfast."
• B) "I will take this medication on an empty stomach with a full
glass of water every morning."
• C) "I can stop taking this medication once my weight returns to
normal."
• D) "I should take this medication at bedtime to help me sleep."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach,
typically 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast, with a full glass of water to
maximize absorption.
PHARMACOLOGY Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026/2027 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with
heart failure. Which of the following findings should prompt the nurse
to withhold the medication and notify the provider?
• A) Heart rate of 54/min
• B) Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
• C) Serum potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L
• D) Client report of mild fatigue
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Digoxin slows the heart rate via negative chronotropic
effects. A pulse below 60/min in an adult client indicates potential
toxicity or excessive dosing, requiring the nurse to withhold the drug
and notify the provider.
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed lithium
carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which of the following laboratory values
should the nurse monitor closely?
• A) Serum sodium
• B) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) alone
• C) Serum calcium
• D) Platelet count
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Lithium is excreted by the kidneys similarly to sodium. Low
serum sodium levels (hyponatremia) cause the kidneys to reabsorb
more lithium, leading to lithium toxicity. Maintaining adequate sodium
and fluid intake is critical.
Question 3: A nurse is monitoring a client receiving IV heparin infusion
for deep-vein thrombosis. Which of the following laboratory tests
should the nurse use to evaluate the effectiveness of the heparin
therapy?
• A) Prothrombin time (PT)
• B) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
• C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
• D) Bleeding time
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Heparin therapy is monitored using the activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT), typically aiming for a therapeutic range of
1.5 to 2 times the baseline value. PT and INR are used for warfarin.
Question 4: A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for
warfarin. Which of the following dietary instructions should the nurse
include?
• A) "Eliminate all dark green leafy vegetables from your diet
completely."
• B) "Maintain a consistent daily intake of foods containing vitamin
K."
, • C) "Increase your intake of vitamin K-rich foods to enhance the
drug's effect."
• D) "Avoid all citrus fruits while taking this medication."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin. Clients do not need to
eliminate vitamin K, but they must maintain a consistent daily intake to
prevent sudden fluctuations in INR levels.
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed regular
insulin and NPH insulin subcutaneously. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take when mixing these insulins in one syringe?
• A) Draw up the NPH insulin first, then the regular insulin.
• B) Draw up the regular insulin first, then the NPH insulin.
• C) Inject air into the NPH vial first, then air into the regular vial,
and draw up NPH first.
• D) Mix the insulins in a separate container before drawing them
up.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To prevent contaminating the short-acting (regular) insulin
with the intermediate-acting (NPH) insulin, the nurse must draw up
regular insulin first ("clear before cloudy"). When injecting air, inject
into NPH (cloudy) then regular (clear).
Question 6: A nurse is administering gentamicin IV to a client with a
severe infection. Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse monitor to prevent ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity?
, • A) Peak and trough serum levels
• B) Liver function tests (AST and ALT)
• C) Serum amylase and lipase
• D) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aminoglycosides like gentamicin have a narrow therapeutic
index. Monitoring peak and trough levels ensures therapeutic efficacy
while preventing toxic accumulation that causes nephrotoxicity and
irreversible ototoxicity.
Question 7: A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client
prescribed levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
• A) "I should take this medication right after eating a heavy
breakfast."
• B) "I will take this medication on an empty stomach with a full
glass of water every morning."
• C) "I can stop taking this medication once my weight returns to
normal."
• D) "I should take this medication at bedtime to help me sleep."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach,
typically 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast, with a full glass of water to
maximize absorption.
