RN Pharmacology ATI-Style Retake
Prep: 70 Original NGN Practice
Questions with Answers &
Rationales
Pharmacological Principles & Calculations
Q1. 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 .
Q2. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.5 g of a medication. The
available dose is 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse
administer?
A. 0.5 tablets
B. 1 tablet
,C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: First, convert grams to milligrams: 0.5 g = 500 mg. Divide
the ordered dose (500 mg) by the available dose (250 mg) to get 2
tablets .
Q3. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication record and notes a
prescription for a "trough level." When should the nurse schedule the
blood draw?
A. 30 minutes after the dose is administered
B. Exactly midway between doses
C. 15 minutes before the next dose
D. 2 hours after the start of the infusion
Answer: C
Rationale: The trough level represents the lowest concentration of the
drug in the bloodstream. It is measured immediately (usually 15–30
minutes) before the next scheduled dose .
Q4. A nurse is calculating the IV flow rate for a client who is to receive
1,000 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15
gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole
number).
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
Answer: B
Rationale: Total volume (1,000 mL) × Drop factor (15) ÷ Total time in
, minutes (480 min) = 31.25. Rounded to the nearest whole number is 31
gtt/min .
Q5. 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 .
Medication Safety & High-Alert Medications
Q6. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which
actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Position the client supine with the head tilted back.
B. Ask the client to look up at the ceiling.
C. Instill the medication into the center of the conjunctival sac.
D. Instruct the client to blink vigorously once the drop enters the eye.
E. Apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus (lacrimal duct) for 1
minute after instillation.
Answer: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Eye drops should be placed in the conjunctival sac to ensure
proper absorption and avoid corneal damage. The client should close the
eye gently to distribute the medication and prevent systemic absorption.
Blinking vigorously should be avoided as it can cause the medication to
spill out .
Prep: 70 Original NGN Practice
Questions with Answers &
Rationales
Pharmacological Principles & Calculations
Q1. 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 .
Q2. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.5 g of a medication. The
available dose is 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse
administer?
A. 0.5 tablets
B. 1 tablet
,C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: First, convert grams to milligrams: 0.5 g = 500 mg. Divide
the ordered dose (500 mg) by the available dose (250 mg) to get 2
tablets .
Q3. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication record and notes a
prescription for a "trough level." When should the nurse schedule the
blood draw?
A. 30 minutes after the dose is administered
B. Exactly midway between doses
C. 15 minutes before the next dose
D. 2 hours after the start of the infusion
Answer: C
Rationale: The trough level represents the lowest concentration of the
drug in the bloodstream. It is measured immediately (usually 15–30
minutes) before the next scheduled dose .
Q4. A nurse is calculating the IV flow rate for a client who is to receive
1,000 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15
gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole
number).
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
Answer: B
Rationale: Total volume (1,000 mL) × Drop factor (15) ÷ Total time in
, minutes (480 min) = 31.25. Rounded to the nearest whole number is 31
gtt/min .
Q5. 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 .
Medication Safety & High-Alert Medications
Q6. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which
actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Position the client supine with the head tilted back.
B. Ask the client to look up at the ceiling.
C. Instill the medication into the center of the conjunctival sac.
D. Instruct the client to blink vigorously once the drop enters the eye.
E. Apply gentle pressure to the inner canthus (lacrimal duct) for 1
minute after instillation.
Answer: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Eye drops should be placed in the conjunctival sac to ensure
proper absorption and avoid corneal damage. The client should close the
eye gently to distribute the medication and prevent systemic absorption.
Blinking vigorously should be avoided as it can cause the medication to
spill out .
