ATI Pharmacology Retake 2019 Exam
Questions and Answers With rationales
2026 update
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Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified rationales
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A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription
for ferrous sulfate. The nurse should instruct the client to take the
medication with which of the following to enhance absorption?
A) Milk
B) Antacids
C) Orange juice
D) Coffee
Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the absorption of iron.
Orange juice is a good source of vitamin C. Milk, antacids, and
coffee decrease the absorption of iron.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking acetazolamide for
glaucoma. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the
following adverse effects?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hypernatremia
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It
increases the excretion of bicarbonate and sodium, which causes
water to follow, leading to diuresis. This process also causes
potassium to be excreted, leading to hypokalemia. It causes
metabolic acidosis, not alkalosis or respiratory acidosis.
,A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is taking
digoxin. Which of the following values should the nurse report to
the provider immediately?
A) Potassium 3.2 mEq/L
B) Sodium 140 mEq/L
C) Calcium 9.5 mg/dL
D) Magnesium 2.0 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L) increases
the risk of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should report this finding
immediately for potassium replacement.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for
enalapril. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the
following adverse effects?
A) Tachycardia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors block the
conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which decreases
aldosterone secretion. This leads to sodium and water excretion but
potassium retention, causing hyperkalemia.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription
for phenytoin. Which of the following statements by the client
indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A) "I should expect my gums to swell and bleed."
B) "I can stop taking this medication once my seizures stop."
C) "I should brush my teeth gently to prevent gum overgrowth."
, D) "I will take the medication with antacids to prevent stomach
upset."
Answer: C
Rationale: Phenytoin causes gingival hyperplasia. The client should
maintain good oral hygiene and brush gently to minimize this
adverse effect. Swelling and bleeding are not expected; the client
should report them. Antacids decrease the absorption of phenytoin.
The client should never abruptly stop an anticonvulsant.
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin subcutaneously to a
client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Aspirate the syringe before injecting the medication.
B) Inject the medication into the deltoid muscle.
C) Massage the site after administration.
D) Use a 25-gauge needle for the injection.
Answer: D
Rationale: Subcutaneous heparin should be administered using a
small-gauge needle (25 to 27 gauge) to minimize tissue trauma. The
nurse should never aspirate (risk of hematoma), should not massage
the site (can cause bruising and alter absorption), and should
administer it into the abdomen, not the deltoid muscle.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine via a patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as the priority to report to the provider?
A) Drowsiness
B) Urinary retention
C) Respiratory rate 8/min
D) Nausea and vomiting
Answer: C
Rationale: Using the ABC approach, a respiratory rate of 8/min is the
priority finding. Morphine can cause respiratory depression, which is
Questions and Answers With rationales
2026 update
This Exam contains:
Guarantee passing score
Questions and Ansẉers
format set of multiple-choice
Expert-Verified rationales
Verified ẉith trusted textbooks
,───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
─
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription
for ferrous sulfate. The nurse should instruct the client to take the
medication with which of the following to enhance absorption?
A) Milk
B) Antacids
C) Orange juice
D) Coffee
Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the absorption of iron.
Orange juice is a good source of vitamin C. Milk, antacids, and
coffee decrease the absorption of iron.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking acetazolamide for
glaucoma. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the
following adverse effects?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hypernatremia
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It
increases the excretion of bicarbonate and sodium, which causes
water to follow, leading to diuresis. This process also causes
potassium to be excreted, leading to hypokalemia. It causes
metabolic acidosis, not alkalosis or respiratory acidosis.
,A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is taking
digoxin. Which of the following values should the nurse report to
the provider immediately?
A) Potassium 3.2 mEq/L
B) Sodium 140 mEq/L
C) Calcium 9.5 mg/dL
D) Magnesium 2.0 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L) increases
the risk of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should report this finding
immediately for potassium replacement.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for
enalapril. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the
following adverse effects?
A) Tachycardia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors block the
conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which decreases
aldosterone secretion. This leads to sodium and water excretion but
potassium retention, causing hyperkalemia.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription
for phenytoin. Which of the following statements by the client
indicates an understanding of the teaching?
A) "I should expect my gums to swell and bleed."
B) "I can stop taking this medication once my seizures stop."
C) "I should brush my teeth gently to prevent gum overgrowth."
, D) "I will take the medication with antacids to prevent stomach
upset."
Answer: C
Rationale: Phenytoin causes gingival hyperplasia. The client should
maintain good oral hygiene and brush gently to minimize this
adverse effect. Swelling and bleeding are not expected; the client
should report them. Antacids decrease the absorption of phenytoin.
The client should never abruptly stop an anticonvulsant.
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin subcutaneously to a
client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Aspirate the syringe before injecting the medication.
B) Inject the medication into the deltoid muscle.
C) Massage the site after administration.
D) Use a 25-gauge needle for the injection.
Answer: D
Rationale: Subcutaneous heparin should be administered using a
small-gauge needle (25 to 27 gauge) to minimize tissue trauma. The
nurse should never aspirate (risk of hematoma), should not massage
the site (can cause bruising and alter absorption), and should
administer it into the abdomen, not the deltoid muscle.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine via a patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as the priority to report to the provider?
A) Drowsiness
B) Urinary retention
C) Respiratory rate 8/min
D) Nausea and vomiting
Answer: C
Rationale: Using the ABC approach, a respiratory rate of 8/min is the
priority finding. Morphine can cause respiratory depression, which is
