RN ATI Pharmacology 2026 Latest Exam
Section 1 — Pharmacologic Principles & Medication Safety
1.
,A nurse is teaching a client about pharmacokinetics. Which process
describes the movement of a medication from the gastrointestinal
tract into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
Absorption is the movement of a medication from its administration
site into systemic circulation.
2.
Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of most
medications?
A. Kidneys
B. Lungs
C. Liver
D. Pancreas
The liver is the major site of drug metabolism, particularly through
hepatic enzyme systems.
3.
A nurse is administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic
index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor serum drug levels as prescribed
C. Give the medication at bedtime
D. Encourage increased fluid intake
Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small difference
between therapeutic and toxic concentrations, so serum levels may
require close monitoring.
4.
,Which medication route generally provides the fastest systemic
effect?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intramuscular
D. Intravenous
IV administration delivers medication directly into the bloodstream,
producing rapid systemic effects.
5.
A nurse should identify which client as having an increased risk for
medication toxicity?
A. A healthy 25-year-old
B. A 30-year-old with normal renal function
C. An older adult with decreased renal function
D. A 22-year-old who exercises daily
Reduced renal function can decrease medication clearance and
increase the risk of accumulation and toxicity.
6.
Which laboratory value is especially important when administering
medications primarily eliminated by the kidneys?
A. ALT
B. Hemoglobin
C. Serum creatinine
D. Bilirubin
Serum creatinine provides information about renal function and can
help identify impaired medication clearance.
7.
, A nurse discovers that the wrong medication was administered to a
client. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the pharmacy
C. Document the error in the incident report
D. Assess the client
The client's immediate safety takes priority after a medication error.
8.
Which statement about an adverse drug reaction is correct?
A. It is always caused by a medication overdose.
B. It is always predictable.
C. It can occur despite administration of a therapeutic dose.
D. It occurs only with IV medications.
Adverse reactions can occur at therapeutic doses and vary according
to the medication and client.
9.
A medication that binds to a receptor and produces a physiologic
response is known as which type?
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Inhibitor
D. Enzyme
An agonist activates a receptor and produces a response.
10.
A medication that blocks the action of another medication at a
receptor is called a:
A. Partial agonist
B. Prodrug
Section 1 — Pharmacologic Principles & Medication Safety
1.
,A nurse is teaching a client about pharmacokinetics. Which process
describes the movement of a medication from the gastrointestinal
tract into the bloodstream?
A. Distribution
B. Metabolism
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
Absorption is the movement of a medication from its administration
site into systemic circulation.
2.
Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of most
medications?
A. Kidneys
B. Lungs
C. Liver
D. Pancreas
The liver is the major site of drug metabolism, particularly through
hepatic enzyme systems.
3.
A nurse is administering a medication with a narrow therapeutic
index. Which action is most important?
A. Administer the medication with food
B. Monitor serum drug levels as prescribed
C. Give the medication at bedtime
D. Encourage increased fluid intake
Medications with a narrow therapeutic index have a small difference
between therapeutic and toxic concentrations, so serum levels may
require close monitoring.
4.
,Which medication route generally provides the fastest systemic
effect?
A. Oral
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intramuscular
D. Intravenous
IV administration delivers medication directly into the bloodstream,
producing rapid systemic effects.
5.
A nurse should identify which client as having an increased risk for
medication toxicity?
A. A healthy 25-year-old
B. A 30-year-old with normal renal function
C. An older adult with decreased renal function
D. A 22-year-old who exercises daily
Reduced renal function can decrease medication clearance and
increase the risk of accumulation and toxicity.
6.
Which laboratory value is especially important when administering
medications primarily eliminated by the kidneys?
A. ALT
B. Hemoglobin
C. Serum creatinine
D. Bilirubin
Serum creatinine provides information about renal function and can
help identify impaired medication clearance.
7.
, A nurse discovers that the wrong medication was administered to a
client. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the pharmacy
C. Document the error in the incident report
D. Assess the client
The client's immediate safety takes priority after a medication error.
8.
Which statement about an adverse drug reaction is correct?
A. It is always caused by a medication overdose.
B. It is always predictable.
C. It can occur despite administration of a therapeutic dose.
D. It occurs only with IV medications.
Adverse reactions can occur at therapeutic doses and vary according
to the medication and client.
9.
A medication that binds to a receptor and produces a physiologic
response is known as which type?
A. Antagonist
B. Agonist
C. Inhibitor
D. Enzyme
An agonist activates a receptor and produces a response.
10.
A medication that blocks the action of another medication at a
receptor is called a:
A. Partial agonist
B. Prodrug
