ATI PHARMACOLOGY CMS RETAKE EXAM
LATEST VERSION 2025-2026 150 QUESTION
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
EXPLANTION.RETAKE CMS PHARMACOLOGY
ATI EXAM.
Question 1:
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has a prescription for sodium
polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) every 6 hr. Which of the following should the nurse
report to the provider?
a. Creatinine 0.72 mg/dL
b. Sodium 138 mEq/L
c. Magnesium 2 mEq/L
d. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
Rationale: *Hyperkalemia (serum potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L) increases the
client's risk for fatal cardiac dysrhythmias. Kayexalate is used to decrease the serum
potassium level, so the nurse should monitor the client's serum potassium level and
report elevated results.*
Question 2:
A nurse is caring for a client who develops an anaphylactic reaction to IV administration.
After assessing the client's respiratory status and stopping the medication infusion,
which of the following actions should the nurse take next?
a. Replace the infusion with 0.9% sodium chloride
b. Give diphenhydramine IM
c. Elevate the client's legs and feet
d. Administer epinephrine IM
,Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. It reverses
bronchoconstriction and hypotension. The priority is to administer epinephrine
immediately after stopping the offending agent.
Question 3:
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking sertraline and reports a desire to begin taking
supplements. Which of the following supplements should the nurse advise the client to
avoid?
a. St. John's Wort
b. Ginger root
c. Black cohosh
d. Coenzyme Q10
Rationale: St. John's Wort interacts with sertraline (an SSRI) and can cause serotonin
syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by agitation, confusion,
fever, and tremors.
Question 4:
A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription for lisinopril.
For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse monitor when administering
lisinopril?
a. Bradycardia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Tinnitus
d. Hypotension
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that causes vasodilation. The nurse should monitor
for hypotension, especially after the first dose. Other adverse effects include hyperkalemia,
cough, and angioedema.
,Question 5:
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has Parkinson's disease and is taking
levodopa/carbidopa. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an
adverse effect of this medication?
a. Dark urine
b. Hypertension
c. Increased salivation
d. Bradycardia
Rationale: The nurse should identify that levodopa/carbidopa can cause a darkening of
the client's urine, sweat, and saliva. This is a harmless but expected adverse effect.
Question 6:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about using metoprolol to
treat hypertension. Which of the following conditions should the nurse include as a
contraindication for this medication?
a. Peripheral vascular disease
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Bradycardia
d. Chronic kidney disease
Rationale: *Metoprolol is a beta blocker that slows conduction through the AV node.
Therefore, it is contraindicated for clients who have bradycardia or a heart rate
consistently less than 60/min.*
Question 7:
A nurse is caring for a client who has multiple sclerosis and a new prescription for
baclofen. Which of the following findings indicates to the nurse that the medication is
having a therapeutic effect?
a. Decreased muscle spasticity
b. Increased urinary output
c. Increased mental alertness
d. Decreased heart rate
, Rationale: The nurse should identify that baclofen is an antispasmodic that decreases
muscle spasticity in a client who has multiple sclerosis. This is the intended therapeutic
effect.
Question 8:
A nurse is preparing to administer a PRN medication to a group of clients. Which of the
following clients should the nurse administer medication to first?
a. A client who has GERD and requests an antacid
b. A client who reports constipation for 3 days and requests a stool softener
c. A client who has mild generalized anxiety disorder and requests an antianxiety
medication
d. A client who is attending postoperative physical therapy and requests pain
medication
Rationale: The nurse should apply the priority framework. Pain management is essential
for postoperative recovery and mobility. Uncontrolled pain can impair healing and
increase complications, making this the priority over the other requests.
Question 8
A nurse is reviewing a client's prescribed medications. Which of the following
situations represents a contraindication to medication administration?
a. The client drank grapefruit juice, which could reduce a medication's effectiveness.
b. The medication has orthostatic hypotension as an adverse effect.
c. A medication is approved for ages 12 and older, and the client is 8 years old.
d. An antianxiety medication that has an adverse effect of drowsiness is prescribed as a
preoperative sedative.
Answer: c. A medication is approved for ages 12 and older, and the client is 8 years
old.
LATEST VERSION 2025-2026 150 QUESTION
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
EXPLANTION.RETAKE CMS PHARMACOLOGY
ATI EXAM.
Question 1:
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has a prescription for sodium
polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) every 6 hr. Which of the following should the nurse
report to the provider?
a. Creatinine 0.72 mg/dL
b. Sodium 138 mEq/L
c. Magnesium 2 mEq/L
d. Potassium 5.2 mEq/L
Rationale: *Hyperkalemia (serum potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L) increases the
client's risk for fatal cardiac dysrhythmias. Kayexalate is used to decrease the serum
potassium level, so the nurse should monitor the client's serum potassium level and
report elevated results.*
Question 2:
A nurse is caring for a client who develops an anaphylactic reaction to IV administration.
After assessing the client's respiratory status and stopping the medication infusion,
which of the following actions should the nurse take next?
a. Replace the infusion with 0.9% sodium chloride
b. Give diphenhydramine IM
c. Elevate the client's legs and feet
d. Administer epinephrine IM
,Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. It reverses
bronchoconstriction and hypotension. The priority is to administer epinephrine
immediately after stopping the offending agent.
Question 3:
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking sertraline and reports a desire to begin taking
supplements. Which of the following supplements should the nurse advise the client to
avoid?
a. St. John's Wort
b. Ginger root
c. Black cohosh
d. Coenzyme Q10
Rationale: St. John's Wort interacts with sertraline (an SSRI) and can cause serotonin
syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by agitation, confusion,
fever, and tremors.
Question 4:
A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription for lisinopril.
For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse monitor when administering
lisinopril?
a. Bradycardia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Tinnitus
d. Hypotension
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that causes vasodilation. The nurse should monitor
for hypotension, especially after the first dose. Other adverse effects include hyperkalemia,
cough, and angioedema.
,Question 5:
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has Parkinson's disease and is taking
levodopa/carbidopa. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an
adverse effect of this medication?
a. Dark urine
b. Hypertension
c. Increased salivation
d. Bradycardia
Rationale: The nurse should identify that levodopa/carbidopa can cause a darkening of
the client's urine, sweat, and saliva. This is a harmless but expected adverse effect.
Question 6:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about using metoprolol to
treat hypertension. Which of the following conditions should the nurse include as a
contraindication for this medication?
a. Peripheral vascular disease
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Bradycardia
d. Chronic kidney disease
Rationale: *Metoprolol is a beta blocker that slows conduction through the AV node.
Therefore, it is contraindicated for clients who have bradycardia or a heart rate
consistently less than 60/min.*
Question 7:
A nurse is caring for a client who has multiple sclerosis and a new prescription for
baclofen. Which of the following findings indicates to the nurse that the medication is
having a therapeutic effect?
a. Decreased muscle spasticity
b. Increased urinary output
c. Increased mental alertness
d. Decreased heart rate
, Rationale: The nurse should identify that baclofen is an antispasmodic that decreases
muscle spasticity in a client who has multiple sclerosis. This is the intended therapeutic
effect.
Question 8:
A nurse is preparing to administer a PRN medication to a group of clients. Which of the
following clients should the nurse administer medication to first?
a. A client who has GERD and requests an antacid
b. A client who reports constipation for 3 days and requests a stool softener
c. A client who has mild generalized anxiety disorder and requests an antianxiety
medication
d. A client who is attending postoperative physical therapy and requests pain
medication
Rationale: The nurse should apply the priority framework. Pain management is essential
for postoperative recovery and mobility. Uncontrolled pain can impair healing and
increase complications, making this the priority over the other requests.
Question 8
A nurse is reviewing a client's prescribed medications. Which of the following
situations represents a contraindication to medication administration?
a. The client drank grapefruit juice, which could reduce a medication's effectiveness.
b. The medication has orthostatic hypotension as an adverse effect.
c. A medication is approved for ages 12 and older, and the client is 8 years old.
d. An antianxiety medication that has an adverse effect of drowsiness is prescribed as a
preoperative sedative.
Answer: c. A medication is approved for ages 12 and older, and the client is 8 years
old.
