ATI Pharmacology Proctor 2024 – 100% Graded A+ Verified
Exam Content
ATI Pharmacology Proctor 2024 Practice Questions
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client prescribed metformin 500 mg twice daily for type 2 diabetes. The
client reports nausea and diarrhea. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Instruct the client to stop the medication immediately.
b. Advise the client to take the medication with meals.
c. Increase the dose to 1000 mg twice daily.
d. Switch the client to insulin therapy.
Answer: b. Advise the client to take the medication with meals.
Rationale: Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea.
Taking it with meals reduces these effects by slowing gastric absorption, per ATI pharmacology
guidelines.
Question 2
A client is receiving heparin 5000 units subcutaneously every 12 hours. The nurse notes a
partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 90 seconds (reference: 25–35 seconds). What is the
priority action?
a. Administer the next dose as scheduled.
b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
c. Administer vitamin K.
d. Increase the dose to 7500 units.
Answer: b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
Rationale: An aPTT of 90 seconds indicates excessive anticoagulation, increasing bleeding
risk. Holding the dose and notifying the provider is the priority, per ATI NGN standards.
Question 3
A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin therapy. Which statement indicates the need for
further teaching?
a. “I’ll avoid eating large amounts of spinach.”
b. “I can take ibuprofen for headaches.”
c. “I’ll report any unusual bruising.”
d. “I’ll have my INR checked regularly.”
1
,Answer: b. “I can take ibuprofen for headaches.”
Rationale: Ibuprofen increases bleeding risk with warfarin due to its antiplatelet effects. The
client should avoid NSAIDs, indicating a need for further teaching, per ATI guidelines.
Question 4
A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV. Which laboratory value should
the nurse monitor closely?
a. Serum sodium
b. Serum potassium
c. Serum calcium
d. Serum glucose
Answer: b. Serum potassium
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, can cause hypokalemia due to potassium excretion.
Monitoring serum potassium is critical, per ATI pharmacology standards.
Question 5
A nurse administers lisinopril 10 mg daily to a client with hypertension. Which adverse effect
should the nurse monitor for?
a. Hyperkalemia
b. Hypoglycemia
c. Tachycardia
d. Constipation
Answer: a. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, can cause hyperkalemia by reducing aldosterone se-
cretion, per ATI pharmacology content.
Question 6
A client is prescribed albuterol via inhaler for asthma. The nurse should teach the client to:
a. Rinse their mouth after each use.
b. Hold their breath for 10 seconds after inhalation.
c. Use the inhaler before a bronchodilator.
d. Take two puffs every 2 hours.
Answer: b. Hold their breath for 10 seconds after inhalation.
Rationale: Holding the breath after inhalation allows albuterol, a beta-2 agonist, to deposit in
the lungs, maximizing effectiveness, per ATI guidelines.
2
, Question 7
A client with a seizure disorder is prescribed phenytoin 100 mg three times daily. Which labo-
ratory value should the nurse monitor?
a. Platelet count
b. Serum phenytoin levels
c. Serum sodium
d. Blood urea nitrogen
Answer: b. Serum phenytoin levels
Rationale: Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic range (10–20 mcg/mL). Monitoring levels pre-
vents toxicity or subtherapeutic dosing, per ATI standards.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.25 mg IV to a client. The client’s heart rate is 50
beats per minute. What should the nurse do?
a. Administer the dose as prescribed.
b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
c. Administer half the dose.
d. Increase the dose to 0.5 mg.
Answer: b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
Rationale: A heart rate below 60 beats per minute indicates potential digoxin toxicity. The
dose should be held, per ATI pharmacology guidelines.
Question 9
A client is prescribed levothyroxine 100 mcg daily. Which symptom indicates a need to reassess
the dose?
a. Weight gain
b. Tremors and palpitations
c. Constipation
d. Fatigue
Answer: b. Tremors and palpitations
Rationale: Tremors and palpitations suggest hyperthyroidism, indicating possible levothyrox-
ine overdose, requiring dose reassessment, per ATI standards.
Question 10
A nurse is administering insulin glargine to a client with diabetes. When is the best time to
administer this medication?
3
Exam Content
ATI Pharmacology Proctor 2024 Practice Questions
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client prescribed metformin 500 mg twice daily for type 2 diabetes. The
client reports nausea and diarrhea. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Instruct the client to stop the medication immediately.
b. Advise the client to take the medication with meals.
c. Increase the dose to 1000 mg twice daily.
d. Switch the client to insulin therapy.
Answer: b. Advise the client to take the medication with meals.
Rationale: Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea.
Taking it with meals reduces these effects by slowing gastric absorption, per ATI pharmacology
guidelines.
Question 2
A client is receiving heparin 5000 units subcutaneously every 12 hours. The nurse notes a
partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 90 seconds (reference: 25–35 seconds). What is the
priority action?
a. Administer the next dose as scheduled.
b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
c. Administer vitamin K.
d. Increase the dose to 7500 units.
Answer: b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
Rationale: An aPTT of 90 seconds indicates excessive anticoagulation, increasing bleeding
risk. Holding the dose and notifying the provider is the priority, per ATI NGN standards.
Question 3
A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin therapy. Which statement indicates the need for
further teaching?
a. “I’ll avoid eating large amounts of spinach.”
b. “I can take ibuprofen for headaches.”
c. “I’ll report any unusual bruising.”
d. “I’ll have my INR checked regularly.”
1
,Answer: b. “I can take ibuprofen for headaches.”
Rationale: Ibuprofen increases bleeding risk with warfarin due to its antiplatelet effects. The
client should avoid NSAIDs, indicating a need for further teaching, per ATI guidelines.
Question 4
A client with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV. Which laboratory value should
the nurse monitor closely?
a. Serum sodium
b. Serum potassium
c. Serum calcium
d. Serum glucose
Answer: b. Serum potassium
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, can cause hypokalemia due to potassium excretion.
Monitoring serum potassium is critical, per ATI pharmacology standards.
Question 5
A nurse administers lisinopril 10 mg daily to a client with hypertension. Which adverse effect
should the nurse monitor for?
a. Hyperkalemia
b. Hypoglycemia
c. Tachycardia
d. Constipation
Answer: a. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, can cause hyperkalemia by reducing aldosterone se-
cretion, per ATI pharmacology content.
Question 6
A client is prescribed albuterol via inhaler for asthma. The nurse should teach the client to:
a. Rinse their mouth after each use.
b. Hold their breath for 10 seconds after inhalation.
c. Use the inhaler before a bronchodilator.
d. Take two puffs every 2 hours.
Answer: b. Hold their breath for 10 seconds after inhalation.
Rationale: Holding the breath after inhalation allows albuterol, a beta-2 agonist, to deposit in
the lungs, maximizing effectiveness, per ATI guidelines.
2
, Question 7
A client with a seizure disorder is prescribed phenytoin 100 mg three times daily. Which labo-
ratory value should the nurse monitor?
a. Platelet count
b. Serum phenytoin levels
c. Serum sodium
d. Blood urea nitrogen
Answer: b. Serum phenytoin levels
Rationale: Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic range (10–20 mcg/mL). Monitoring levels pre-
vents toxicity or subtherapeutic dosing, per ATI standards.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.25 mg IV to a client. The client’s heart rate is 50
beats per minute. What should the nurse do?
a. Administer the dose as prescribed.
b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
c. Administer half the dose.
d. Increase the dose to 0.5 mg.
Answer: b. Hold the dose and notify the provider.
Rationale: A heart rate below 60 beats per minute indicates potential digoxin toxicity. The
dose should be held, per ATI pharmacology guidelines.
Question 9
A client is prescribed levothyroxine 100 mcg daily. Which symptom indicates a need to reassess
the dose?
a. Weight gain
b. Tremors and palpitations
c. Constipation
d. Fatigue
Answer: b. Tremors and palpitations
Rationale: Tremors and palpitations suggest hyperthyroidism, indicating possible levothyrox-
ine overdose, requiring dose reassessment, per ATI standards.
Question 10
A nurse is administering insulin glargine to a client with diabetes. When is the best time to
administer this medication?
3
