ATI Pharmacology NGN-Style
Practice Exam 2025
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an opioid analgesic to a client who
is post-surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to
minimize the risk of opioid-induced respiratory depression?
A. Administer the opioid medication with food.
B. Administer the medication at regular intervals to prevent pain.
C. Monitor the client’s respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels.
D. Encourage the client to increase physical activity after receiving the
medication.
Correct Answer: C. Monitor the client’s respiratory rate and oxygen
saturation levels.
Rationale:
Opioids can depress the respiratory center in the brain, leading to
slowed or irregular breathing. Monitoring the client’s respiratory rate
and oxygen saturation is crucial to detect early signs of respiratory
depression, a common side effect of opioids. The nurse should
intervene promptly if the client’s respiratory rate drops below the
normal range (12-20 breaths per minute) or if oxygen saturation falls
below the safe threshold (usually < 90%).
,2. A client is prescribed warfarin for anticoagulation therapy. The nurse
should teach the client to avoid which of the following foods due to the
risk of decreasing the therapeutic effect of warfarin?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Citrus fruits
C. Dairy products
D. Whole grains
Correct Answer: A. Leafy green vegetables.
Rationale:
Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and broccoli, are high in
vitamin K, which plays a key role in blood clotting. Vitamin K can reduce
the effectiveness of warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist, by promoting clot
formation. The nurse should educate the client to maintain a consistent
intake of vitamin K and avoid large fluctuations in intake.
3. A nurse is caring for a client with type 2 diabetes who is receiving
metformin. The nurse should monitor for which of the following
adverse effects associated with metformin?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Renal failure
C. Lactic acidosis
,D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: C. Lactic acidosis.
Rationale:
Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious adverse effect of metformin,
especially in clients with impaired renal function. Metformin should be
used cautiously in clients with kidney disease because it can
accumulate in the body and lead to lactic acidosis, a condition that can
be life-threatening. The nurse should monitor kidney function and be
alert for signs of lactic acidosis, such as muscle pain, weakness, and
difficulty breathing.
4. A client is prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
for depression. Which of the following side effects should the nurse
instruct the client to report immediately?
A. Nausea and vomiting
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Suicidal thoughts
D. Insomnia
Correct Answer: C. Suicidal thoughts.
Rationale:
, SSRIs, such as fluoxetine, can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and
behavior, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults. It is
important for the nurse to educate the client to report any changes in
mood, feelings of hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm immediately.
Nausea, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia are common side effects of
SSRIs, but they do not require immediate medical intervention.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of digoxin to a client.
Before administering the medication, the nurse should check which of
the following parameters to ensure safe administration?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Temperature
Correct Answer: B. Heart rate.
Rationale:
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that increases the force of myocardial
contraction and decreases heart rate. Before administering digoxin, the
nurse should assess the client’s heart rate to ensure it is not too low, as
digoxin can cause bradycardia. The usual threshold for withholding the
medication is a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute in adults. Blood
pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature are also important
parameters but are not as directly related to digoxin administration.
Practice Exam 2025
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an opioid analgesic to a client who
is post-surgery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to
minimize the risk of opioid-induced respiratory depression?
A. Administer the opioid medication with food.
B. Administer the medication at regular intervals to prevent pain.
C. Monitor the client’s respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels.
D. Encourage the client to increase physical activity after receiving the
medication.
Correct Answer: C. Monitor the client’s respiratory rate and oxygen
saturation levels.
Rationale:
Opioids can depress the respiratory center in the brain, leading to
slowed or irregular breathing. Monitoring the client’s respiratory rate
and oxygen saturation is crucial to detect early signs of respiratory
depression, a common side effect of opioids. The nurse should
intervene promptly if the client’s respiratory rate drops below the
normal range (12-20 breaths per minute) or if oxygen saturation falls
below the safe threshold (usually < 90%).
,2. A client is prescribed warfarin for anticoagulation therapy. The nurse
should teach the client to avoid which of the following foods due to the
risk of decreasing the therapeutic effect of warfarin?
A. Leafy green vegetables
B. Citrus fruits
C. Dairy products
D. Whole grains
Correct Answer: A. Leafy green vegetables.
Rationale:
Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and broccoli, are high in
vitamin K, which plays a key role in blood clotting. Vitamin K can reduce
the effectiveness of warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist, by promoting clot
formation. The nurse should educate the client to maintain a consistent
intake of vitamin K and avoid large fluctuations in intake.
3. A nurse is caring for a client with type 2 diabetes who is receiving
metformin. The nurse should monitor for which of the following
adverse effects associated with metformin?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Renal failure
C. Lactic acidosis
,D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: C. Lactic acidosis.
Rationale:
Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious adverse effect of metformin,
especially in clients with impaired renal function. Metformin should be
used cautiously in clients with kidney disease because it can
accumulate in the body and lead to lactic acidosis, a condition that can
be life-threatening. The nurse should monitor kidney function and be
alert for signs of lactic acidosis, such as muscle pain, weakness, and
difficulty breathing.
4. A client is prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
for depression. Which of the following side effects should the nurse
instruct the client to report immediately?
A. Nausea and vomiting
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Suicidal thoughts
D. Insomnia
Correct Answer: C. Suicidal thoughts.
Rationale:
, SSRIs, such as fluoxetine, can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and
behavior, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults. It is
important for the nurse to educate the client to report any changes in
mood, feelings of hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm immediately.
Nausea, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia are common side effects of
SSRIs, but they do not require immediate medical intervention.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of digoxin to a client.
Before administering the medication, the nurse should check which of
the following parameters to ensure safe administration?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Temperature
Correct Answer: B. Heart rate.
Rationale:
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that increases the force of myocardial
contraction and decreases heart rate. Before administering digoxin, the
nurse should assess the client’s heart rate to ensure it is not too low, as
digoxin can cause bradycardia. The usual threshold for withholding the
medication is a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute in adults. Blood
pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature are also important
parameters but are not as directly related to digoxin administration.
