Test Bank ATI Pharm CMS Comprehensive Exam 2026 – Questions And
correct Answers solutions
1. A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which electrolyte imbalance should
the nurse monitor for?
✅
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion, leading to
hypokalemia.
2. A patient is receiving warfarin. Which lab value should the nurse monitor to assess
effectiveness?
✅
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hematocrit
Rationale: Warfarin therapy is monitored using the International Normalized Ratio (INR) to
ensure therapeutic anticoagulation.
✅
3. Which medication is contraindicated in patients with asthma?
A. Metoprolol
B. Lisinopril
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Digoxin
Rationale: Non-selective beta-blockers (like metoprolol in high doses) may cause
bronchoconstriction in asthma patients.
4. A patient develops a rash after starting amoxicillin. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Document the rash
, ✅
B. Continue medication
C. Discontinue medication and notify provider
D. Apply topical cream
Rationale: A rash may indicate an allergic reaction; immediate discontinuation and provider
notification are necessary.
✅
5. A patient is prescribed digoxin. Which symptom indicates digoxin toxicity?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Increased appetite
D. Diaphoresis
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity commonly presents with bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, and visual
changes (e.g., yellow-green halos).
6. A patient with chronic kidney disease is prescribed erythropoietin. What is the primary
nursing consideration?
✅
A. Monitor potassium
B. Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit
C. Assess liver function
D. Administer with food
Rationale: Erythropoietin stimulates RBC production; hemoglobin and hematocrit must be
monitored to prevent polycythemia.
✅
7. Which drug class is most likely to cause a persistent dry cough?
A. ACE inhibitors
B. ARBs
C. Beta-blockers
D. Calcium channel blockers
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can cause a persistent dry cough due to bradykinin accumulation.
8. A patient taking metformin should be instructed to monitor for:
✅
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Lactic acidosis
, C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypertension
Rationale: Metformin rarely causes hypoglycemia but may increase the risk of lactic acidosis,
especially in renal impairment.
9. Which medication is used to treat hyperthyroidism?
✅
A. Levothyroxine
B. Methimazole
✅
C. Propylthiouracil
D. Both B and C
Rationale: Methimazole and propylthiouracil inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis and are used to
manage hyperthyroidism.
✅
10. A patient is prescribed a statin. Which lab should be monitored regularly?
A. Liver function tests
B. Renal function
C. CBC
D. Coagulation profile
Rationale: Statins can cause hepatotoxicity; liver function tests should be monitored.
11. Which medication should be held if a patient’s heart rate is <60 bpm?
✅
A. Lisinopril
B. Metoprolol
C. Furosemide
D. Warfarin
Rationale: Beta-blockers can cause bradycardia; administration should be withheld if HR <60
bpm.
12. A patient on heparin therapy develops platelets 90,000/mm³. What should the nurse
do?
✅
A. Continue heparin
B. Discontinue heparin and notify provider
C. Increase heparin dose
D. Give vitamin K
correct Answers solutions
1. A patient is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which electrolyte imbalance should
the nurse monitor for?
✅
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium excretion, leading to
hypokalemia.
2. A patient is receiving warfarin. Which lab value should the nurse monitor to assess
effectiveness?
✅
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hematocrit
Rationale: Warfarin therapy is monitored using the International Normalized Ratio (INR) to
ensure therapeutic anticoagulation.
✅
3. Which medication is contraindicated in patients with asthma?
A. Metoprolol
B. Lisinopril
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Digoxin
Rationale: Non-selective beta-blockers (like metoprolol in high doses) may cause
bronchoconstriction in asthma patients.
4. A patient develops a rash after starting amoxicillin. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Document the rash
, ✅
B. Continue medication
C. Discontinue medication and notify provider
D. Apply topical cream
Rationale: A rash may indicate an allergic reaction; immediate discontinuation and provider
notification are necessary.
✅
5. A patient is prescribed digoxin. Which symptom indicates digoxin toxicity?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Increased appetite
D. Diaphoresis
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity commonly presents with bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, and visual
changes (e.g., yellow-green halos).
6. A patient with chronic kidney disease is prescribed erythropoietin. What is the primary
nursing consideration?
✅
A. Monitor potassium
B. Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit
C. Assess liver function
D. Administer with food
Rationale: Erythropoietin stimulates RBC production; hemoglobin and hematocrit must be
monitored to prevent polycythemia.
✅
7. Which drug class is most likely to cause a persistent dry cough?
A. ACE inhibitors
B. ARBs
C. Beta-blockers
D. Calcium channel blockers
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can cause a persistent dry cough due to bradykinin accumulation.
8. A patient taking metformin should be instructed to monitor for:
✅
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Lactic acidosis
, C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypertension
Rationale: Metformin rarely causes hypoglycemia but may increase the risk of lactic acidosis,
especially in renal impairment.
9. Which medication is used to treat hyperthyroidism?
✅
A. Levothyroxine
B. Methimazole
✅
C. Propylthiouracil
D. Both B and C
Rationale: Methimazole and propylthiouracil inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis and are used to
manage hyperthyroidism.
✅
10. A patient is prescribed a statin. Which lab should be monitored regularly?
A. Liver function tests
B. Renal function
C. CBC
D. Coagulation profile
Rationale: Statins can cause hepatotoxicity; liver function tests should be monitored.
11. Which medication should be held if a patient’s heart rate is <60 bpm?
✅
A. Lisinopril
B. Metoprolol
C. Furosemide
D. Warfarin
Rationale: Beta-blockers can cause bradycardia; administration should be withheld if HR <60
bpm.
12. A patient on heparin therapy develops platelets 90,000/mm³. What should the nurse
do?
✅
A. Continue heparin
B. Discontinue heparin and notify provider
C. Increase heparin dose
D. Give vitamin K
