ATI RN Pharmacology Proctored Exam with NGN Questions
,SECTION I: PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client who has a history of renal failure.
Which pharmacokinetic process should the nurse expect to be most affected?
,A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for the excretion of drugs and their
metabolites. Impaired renal function leads to decreased drug clearance and a high risk for
toxicity .
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer phenobarbital to a client. Which pharmacokinetic concept
explains why this drug has a long duration of action?
A. First-pass effect
B. High lipid solubility
C. Protein binding
D. Half-life
Answer: D
Rationale: Half-life is the time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to reduce by
50%. Phenobarbital has a long half-life, meaning it stays in the system longer and requires less
frequent dosing .
Question 3
A nurse is teaching a client about the "First-pass effect." Which route of administration is most
affected by this process?
A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Answer: C
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed in the GI tract and travel to the liver via the portal
vein. The liver may metabolize a large portion of the drug before it ever reaches systemic
circulation .
, Question 4
A nurse is reviewing a prescription for a medication to be given "AC." When should the nurse
administer this drug?
A. After meals
B. Before meals
C. At bedtime
D. As needed
Answer: B
Rationale: "AC" stands for ante cibum, meaning "before meals." "PC" stands for post cibum,
meaning "after meals" .
Question 5
A drug with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., warfarin, digoxin, phenytoin) requires:
A. Less frequent monitoring
B. More frequent therapeutic drug monitoring
C. No special precautions
D. Higher initial doses
Answer: B
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index have a small margin between therapeutic and
toxic doses. These medications require careful monitoring of serum levels to maintain safety
and efficacy .
Question 6
Pharmacokinetics is the study of:
A. What the drug does to the body
B. What the body does to the drug
C. The drug's mechanism of action
D. The drug's adverse effects
Answer: B
,SECTION I: PHARMACOKINETICS & PHARMACODYNAMICS (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client who has a history of renal failure.
Which pharmacokinetic process should the nurse expect to be most affected?
,A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for the excretion of drugs and their
metabolites. Impaired renal function leads to decreased drug clearance and a high risk for
toxicity .
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer phenobarbital to a client. Which pharmacokinetic concept
explains why this drug has a long duration of action?
A. First-pass effect
B. High lipid solubility
C. Protein binding
D. Half-life
Answer: D
Rationale: Half-life is the time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to reduce by
50%. Phenobarbital has a long half-life, meaning it stays in the system longer and requires less
frequent dosing .
Question 3
A nurse is teaching a client about the "First-pass effect." Which route of administration is most
affected by this process?
A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Answer: C
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed in the GI tract and travel to the liver via the portal
vein. The liver may metabolize a large portion of the drug before it ever reaches systemic
circulation .
, Question 4
A nurse is reviewing a prescription for a medication to be given "AC." When should the nurse
administer this drug?
A. After meals
B. Before meals
C. At bedtime
D. As needed
Answer: B
Rationale: "AC" stands for ante cibum, meaning "before meals." "PC" stands for post cibum,
meaning "after meals" .
Question 5
A drug with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., warfarin, digoxin, phenytoin) requires:
A. Less frequent monitoring
B. More frequent therapeutic drug monitoring
C. No special precautions
D. Higher initial doses
Answer: B
Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index have a small margin between therapeutic and
toxic doses. These medications require careful monitoring of serum levels to maintain safety
and efficacy .
Question 6
Pharmacokinetics is the study of:
A. What the drug does to the body
B. What the body does to the drug
C. The drug's mechanism of action
D. The drug's adverse effects
Answer: B
