NR 293 Pharmacology (ATI-Based) Exam 5 Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for levothyroxine.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with a high-calcium snack.
B. Stop taking the medication once your symptoms resolve.
C. Expect to see full effects within 24 hours of starting therapy.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast.
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, usually 30 to 60 minutes
before breakfast, to increase absorption. Calcium and food can interfere with its
absorption.
2. A nurse is caring for a client receiving gentamicin IV. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse monitor to detect a common adverse effect?
A. Serum glucose
B. Serum creatinine
C. Prothrombin time (PT)
D. Amylase
Answer: B
Rationale: Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside that is nephrotoxic. Monitoring serum
creatinine and BUN is essential to detect renal impairment early.
,3. Which of the following findings is a priority for a nurse to report in a client
taking propylthiouracil (PTU)?
A. Weight gain
B. Drowsiness
C. Constipation
D. Sore throat and fever
Answer: D
Rationale: PTU can cause agranulocytosis, which is a dangerous drop in white blood cell
count. Sore throat and fever are early signs of infection that must be reported immediately.
4. A client with diabetes mellitus is prescribed lispro insulin. When should the
nurse instruct the client to administer this medication?
A. 30 to 60 minutes before a meal
B. At bedtime
C. Immediately before or after eating
D. Only when blood glucose is above 200 mg/dL
Answer: C
Rationale: Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 15 to 30 minutes. It should be
given within 15 minutes of mealtime to prevent hypoglycemia.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin IV to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent ‘Red Man Syndrome’?
A. Keep the client in a supine position for 2 hours post-infusion.
B. Premedicate with oral acetaminophen.
C. Administer the dose over at least 60 minutes.
D. Dilute the medication in 10 mL of normal saline.
Answer: C
Rationale: Red Man Syndrome is a rate-dependent infusion reaction. Infusing vancomycin
slowly (over 60 minutes or more) minimizes the risk of histamine release.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for metformin. Which of
the following is a common side effect of this medication?
A. GI distress such as diarrhea
B. Weight gain
C. Hypokalemia
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: A
Rationale: Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea,
anorexia, and diarrhea, especially when starting therapy.
7. A client is taking spironolactone for heart failure. Which of the following
electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It can lead to the retention of
potassium, resulting in hyperkalemia.
8. A nurse is reviewing the medication record of a client with a history of
penicillin allergy. Which class of antibiotics should be used with caution due to
potential cross-sensitivity?
A. Tetracyclines
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Cephalosporins
Answer: D
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for levothyroxine.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication with a high-calcium snack.
B. Stop taking the medication once your symptoms resolve.
C. Expect to see full effects within 24 hours of starting therapy.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast.
Answer: D
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, usually 30 to 60 minutes
before breakfast, to increase absorption. Calcium and food can interfere with its
absorption.
2. A nurse is caring for a client receiving gentamicin IV. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse monitor to detect a common adverse effect?
A. Serum glucose
B. Serum creatinine
C. Prothrombin time (PT)
D. Amylase
Answer: B
Rationale: Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside that is nephrotoxic. Monitoring serum
creatinine and BUN is essential to detect renal impairment early.
,3. Which of the following findings is a priority for a nurse to report in a client
taking propylthiouracil (PTU)?
A. Weight gain
B. Drowsiness
C. Constipation
D. Sore throat and fever
Answer: D
Rationale: PTU can cause agranulocytosis, which is a dangerous drop in white blood cell
count. Sore throat and fever are early signs of infection that must be reported immediately.
4. A client with diabetes mellitus is prescribed lispro insulin. When should the
nurse instruct the client to administer this medication?
A. 30 to 60 minutes before a meal
B. At bedtime
C. Immediately before or after eating
D. Only when blood glucose is above 200 mg/dL
Answer: C
Rationale: Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 15 to 30 minutes. It should be
given within 15 minutes of mealtime to prevent hypoglycemia.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin IV to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to prevent ‘Red Man Syndrome’?
A. Keep the client in a supine position for 2 hours post-infusion.
B. Premedicate with oral acetaminophen.
C. Administer the dose over at least 60 minutes.
D. Dilute the medication in 10 mL of normal saline.
Answer: C
Rationale: Red Man Syndrome is a rate-dependent infusion reaction. Infusing vancomycin
slowly (over 60 minutes or more) minimizes the risk of histamine release.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for metformin. Which of
the following is a common side effect of this medication?
A. GI distress such as diarrhea
B. Weight gain
C. Hypokalemia
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: A
Rationale: Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea,
anorexia, and diarrhea, especially when starting therapy.
7. A client is taking spironolactone for heart failure. Which of the following
electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It can lead to the retention of
potassium, resulting in hyperkalemia.
8. A nurse is reviewing the medication record of a client with a history of
penicillin allergy. Which class of antibiotics should be used with caution due to
potential cross-sensitivity?
A. Tetracyclines
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Cephalosporins
Answer: D
