ATI CMS PHARMACOLOGY RETAKE FINAL
PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
⩥ 45.) A client has a prescription to take guaifenesin (Humibid) every 4
hours, as needed. The nurse determines that the client understands the
most effective use of this medication if the client states that he or she
will:
1. Watch for irritability as a side effect.
2. Take the tablet with a full glass of water.
3. Take an extra dose if the cough is accompanied by fever.
4. Crush the sustained-release tablet if immediate relief is needed.
Answer: 2. Take the tablet with a full glass of water.
Rationale:
Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It should be taken with a full glass of
water to decrease viscosity of secretions. Sustained-release preparations
should not be broken open, crushed, or chewed. The medication may
occasionally cause dizziness, headache, or drowsiness as side effects.
The client should contact the health care provider if the cough lasts
longer than 1 week or is accompanied by fever, rash, sore throat, or
persistent headache.
⩥ 46.) A postoperative client has received a dose of naloxone
hydrochloride for respiratory depression shortly after transfer to the
,nursing unit from the postanesthesia care unit. After administration of
the medication, the nurse checks the client for:
1. Pupillary changes
2. Scattered lung wheezes
3. Sudden increase in pain
4. Sudden episodes of diarrhea Answer: 3. Sudden increase in pain
Rationale:
Naloxone hydrochloride is an antidote to opioids and may also be given
to the postoperative client to treat respiratory depression. When given to
the postoperative client for respiratory depression, it may also reverse
the effects of analgesics. Therefore, the nurse must check the client for a
sudden increase in the level of pain experienced. Options 1, 2, and 4 are
not associated with this medication.
⩥ 47.) A client has been taking isoniazid (INH) for 2 months. The client
complains to a nurse about numbness, paresthesias, and tingling in the
extremities. The nurse interprets that the client is experiencing:
1. Hypercalcemia
2. Peripheral neuritis
3. Small blood vessel spasm
4. Impaired peripheral circulation Answer: 2. Peripheral neuritis
Rationale:
A common side effect of the TB drug INH is peripheral neuritis. This is
manifested by numbness, tingling, and paresthesias in the extremities.
,This side effect can be minimized by pyridoxine (vitamin B6) intake.
Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect.
⩥ 48.) A client is to begin a 6-month course of therapy with isoniazid
(INH). A nurse plans to teach the client to:
1. Drink alcohol in small amounts only.
2. Report yellow eyes or skin immediately.
3. Increase intake of Swiss or aged cheeses.
4. Avoid vitamin supplements during therapy. Answer: 2. Report yellow
eyes or skin immediately.
Rationale:
INH is hepatotoxic, and therefore the client is taught to report signs and
symptoms of hepatitis immediately (which include yellow skin and
sclera). For the same reason, alcohol should be avoided during therapy.
The client should avoid intake of Swiss cheese, fish such as tuna, and
foods containing tyramine because they may cause a reaction
characterized by redness and itching of the skin, flushing, sweating,
tachycardia, headache, or lightheadedness. The client can avoid
developing peripheral neuritis by increasing the intake of pyridoxine
(vitamin B6) during the course of INH therapy for TB.
⩥ 49.) A client has been started on long-term therapy with rifampin
(Rifadin). A nurse teaches the client that the medication:
1. Should always be taken with food or antacids
2. Should be double-dosed if one dose is forgotten
, 3. Causes orange discoloration of sweat, tears, urine, and feces
4. May be discontinued independently if symptoms are gone in 3
months Answer: 3. Causes orange discoloration of sweat, tears, urine,
and feces
Rationale:
Rifampin should be taken exactly as directed as part of TB therapy.
Doses should not be doubled or skipped. The client should not stop
therapy until directed to do so by a health care provider. The medication
should be administered on an empty stomach unless it causes
gastrointestinal upset, and then it may be taken with food. Antacids, if
prescribed, should be taken at least 1 hour before the medication.
Rifampin causes orange-red discoloration of body secretions and will
permanently stain soft contact lenses.
⩥ 50.) A nurse has given a client taking ethambutol (Myambutol)
information about the medication. The nurse determines that the client
understands the instructions if the client states that he or she will
immediately report:
1. Impaired sense of hearing
2. Problems with visual acuity
3. Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects
4. Orange-red discoloration of body secretions Answer: 2. Problems
with visual acuity
Rationale:
Ethambutol causes optic neuritis, which decreases visual acuity and the
ability to discriminate between the colors red and green. This poses a
PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
⩥ 45.) A client has a prescription to take guaifenesin (Humibid) every 4
hours, as needed. The nurse determines that the client understands the
most effective use of this medication if the client states that he or she
will:
1. Watch for irritability as a side effect.
2. Take the tablet with a full glass of water.
3. Take an extra dose if the cough is accompanied by fever.
4. Crush the sustained-release tablet if immediate relief is needed.
Answer: 2. Take the tablet with a full glass of water.
Rationale:
Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It should be taken with a full glass of
water to decrease viscosity of secretions. Sustained-release preparations
should not be broken open, crushed, or chewed. The medication may
occasionally cause dizziness, headache, or drowsiness as side effects.
The client should contact the health care provider if the cough lasts
longer than 1 week or is accompanied by fever, rash, sore throat, or
persistent headache.
⩥ 46.) A postoperative client has received a dose of naloxone
hydrochloride for respiratory depression shortly after transfer to the
,nursing unit from the postanesthesia care unit. After administration of
the medication, the nurse checks the client for:
1. Pupillary changes
2. Scattered lung wheezes
3. Sudden increase in pain
4. Sudden episodes of diarrhea Answer: 3. Sudden increase in pain
Rationale:
Naloxone hydrochloride is an antidote to opioids and may also be given
to the postoperative client to treat respiratory depression. When given to
the postoperative client for respiratory depression, it may also reverse
the effects of analgesics. Therefore, the nurse must check the client for a
sudden increase in the level of pain experienced. Options 1, 2, and 4 are
not associated with this medication.
⩥ 47.) A client has been taking isoniazid (INH) for 2 months. The client
complains to a nurse about numbness, paresthesias, and tingling in the
extremities. The nurse interprets that the client is experiencing:
1. Hypercalcemia
2. Peripheral neuritis
3. Small blood vessel spasm
4. Impaired peripheral circulation Answer: 2. Peripheral neuritis
Rationale:
A common side effect of the TB drug INH is peripheral neuritis. This is
manifested by numbness, tingling, and paresthesias in the extremities.
,This side effect can be minimized by pyridoxine (vitamin B6) intake.
Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect.
⩥ 48.) A client is to begin a 6-month course of therapy with isoniazid
(INH). A nurse plans to teach the client to:
1. Drink alcohol in small amounts only.
2. Report yellow eyes or skin immediately.
3. Increase intake of Swiss or aged cheeses.
4. Avoid vitamin supplements during therapy. Answer: 2. Report yellow
eyes or skin immediately.
Rationale:
INH is hepatotoxic, and therefore the client is taught to report signs and
symptoms of hepatitis immediately (which include yellow skin and
sclera). For the same reason, alcohol should be avoided during therapy.
The client should avoid intake of Swiss cheese, fish such as tuna, and
foods containing tyramine because they may cause a reaction
characterized by redness and itching of the skin, flushing, sweating,
tachycardia, headache, or lightheadedness. The client can avoid
developing peripheral neuritis by increasing the intake of pyridoxine
(vitamin B6) during the course of INH therapy for TB.
⩥ 49.) A client has been started on long-term therapy with rifampin
(Rifadin). A nurse teaches the client that the medication:
1. Should always be taken with food or antacids
2. Should be double-dosed if one dose is forgotten
, 3. Causes orange discoloration of sweat, tears, urine, and feces
4. May be discontinued independently if symptoms are gone in 3
months Answer: 3. Causes orange discoloration of sweat, tears, urine,
and feces
Rationale:
Rifampin should be taken exactly as directed as part of TB therapy.
Doses should not be doubled or skipped. The client should not stop
therapy until directed to do so by a health care provider. The medication
should be administered on an empty stomach unless it causes
gastrointestinal upset, and then it may be taken with food. Antacids, if
prescribed, should be taken at least 1 hour before the medication.
Rifampin causes orange-red discoloration of body secretions and will
permanently stain soft contact lenses.
⩥ 50.) A nurse has given a client taking ethambutol (Myambutol)
information about the medication. The nurse determines that the client
understands the instructions if the client states that he or she will
immediately report:
1. Impaired sense of hearing
2. Problems with visual acuity
3. Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects
4. Orange-red discoloration of body secretions Answer: 2. Problems
with visual acuity
Rationale:
Ethambutol causes optic neuritis, which decreases visual acuity and the
ability to discriminate between the colors red and green. This poses a
