# VATI PHARMACOLOGY ASSESSMENT EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWER LATEST GUIDE
---
**1.** A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which finding should
prompt the nurse to withhold the medication?
A) Heart rate 58 beats per minute
B) Blood pressure 118/76 mm Hg
C) Respiratory rate 18 breaths per minute
D) Serum potassium 4.0 mEq/L
💡 RATIONALE -- Digoxin should be withheld for an apical pulse <60 bpm in adults due to risk of toxicity
and worsening bradycardia.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) Heart rate 58 beats per minute
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**2.** A client receiving IV furosemide reports tinnitus. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Administer acetaminophen
B) Notify the provider
C) Decrease the infusion rate
D) Reassure the client that this is normal
💡 RATIONALE -- Tinnitus may indicate ototoxicity, an adverse effect of loop diuretics. The nurse should
notify the provider for possible dose adjustment or discontinuation.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Notify the provider
,---
**3.** A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value indicates a therapeutic INR for atrial
fibrillation?
A) 1.0
B) 1.5
C) 2.5
D) 4.0
💡 RATIONALE -- For atrial fibrillation, the therapeutic INR range is typically 2‑3. An INR of 2.5 is within
this range.
✔️ ANSWER -- C) 2.5
---
**4.** A nurse is teaching a client about metformin. Which statement by the client indicates
understanding?
A) "I will take this medication 30 minutes before meals."
B) "I will stop taking this medication if I have diarrhea."
C) "I will report any muscle pain to my provider."
D) "I will take this medication with food to reduce stomach upset."
💡 RATIONALE -- Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhea;
taking with food reduces these symptoms. Muscle pain is not typical.
✔️ ANSWER -- D) "I will take this medication with food to reduce stomach upset."
---
,**5.** A client is prescribed lisinopril. Which adverse effect requires immediate discontinuation?
A) Dry cough
B) Angioedema
C) Dizziness
D) Headache
💡 RATIONALE -- Angioedema (swelling of lips, tongue, face, or airway) is a life‑threatening adverse
effect of ACE inhibitors requiring immediate medical attention.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Angioedema
---
**6.** A client is taking albuterol via nebulizer. Which finding indicates a therapeutic response?
A) Decreased wheezing
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased blood pressure
D) Increased respiratory rate
💡 RATIONALE -- Albuterol is a bronchodilator; a therapeutic response is relief of bronchospasm,
decreased wheezing, and improved airflow.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) Decreased wheezing
---
**7.** A client with tuberculosis is prescribed rifampin. The nurse should tell the client that which
finding is harmless?
A) Yellowing of the skin
, B) Orange‑red urine
C) Dark urine and clay‑colored stools
D) Ringing in the ears
💡 RATIONALE -- Rifampin causes harmless orange‑red discoloration of urine, sweat, and tears. Jaundice
and dark urine may indicate hepatotoxicity.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Orange‑red urine
---
**8.** A client is prescribed enoxaparin. Which technique is correct for subcutaneous administration?
A) Massage the site after injection
B) Inject into the deltoid muscle
C) Pinch a skin fold on the abdomen and inject
D) Aspirate before injecting
💡 RATIONALE -- Enoxaparin (LMWH) is given subcutaneously in the abdomen, pinching a skin fold. Do
not aspirate, massage, or inject intramuscularly.
✔️ ANSWER -- C) Pinch a skin fold on the abdomen and inject
---
**9.** A client is prescribed phenytoin. Which finding indicates a common adverse effect?
A) Gingival hyperplasia
B) Weight gain
C) Alopecia
D) Dry skin
QUESTIONS AND ANSWER LATEST GUIDE
---
**1.** A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which finding should
prompt the nurse to withhold the medication?
A) Heart rate 58 beats per minute
B) Blood pressure 118/76 mm Hg
C) Respiratory rate 18 breaths per minute
D) Serum potassium 4.0 mEq/L
💡 RATIONALE -- Digoxin should be withheld for an apical pulse <60 bpm in adults due to risk of toxicity
and worsening bradycardia.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) Heart rate 58 beats per minute
---
**2.** A client receiving IV furosemide reports tinnitus. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Administer acetaminophen
B) Notify the provider
C) Decrease the infusion rate
D) Reassure the client that this is normal
💡 RATIONALE -- Tinnitus may indicate ototoxicity, an adverse effect of loop diuretics. The nurse should
notify the provider for possible dose adjustment or discontinuation.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Notify the provider
,---
**3.** A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value indicates a therapeutic INR for atrial
fibrillation?
A) 1.0
B) 1.5
C) 2.5
D) 4.0
💡 RATIONALE -- For atrial fibrillation, the therapeutic INR range is typically 2‑3. An INR of 2.5 is within
this range.
✔️ ANSWER -- C) 2.5
---
**4.** A nurse is teaching a client about metformin. Which statement by the client indicates
understanding?
A) "I will take this medication 30 minutes before meals."
B) "I will stop taking this medication if I have diarrhea."
C) "I will report any muscle pain to my provider."
D) "I will take this medication with food to reduce stomach upset."
💡 RATIONALE -- Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhea;
taking with food reduces these symptoms. Muscle pain is not typical.
✔️ ANSWER -- D) "I will take this medication with food to reduce stomach upset."
---
,**5.** A client is prescribed lisinopril. Which adverse effect requires immediate discontinuation?
A) Dry cough
B) Angioedema
C) Dizziness
D) Headache
💡 RATIONALE -- Angioedema (swelling of lips, tongue, face, or airway) is a life‑threatening adverse
effect of ACE inhibitors requiring immediate medical attention.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Angioedema
---
**6.** A client is taking albuterol via nebulizer. Which finding indicates a therapeutic response?
A) Decreased wheezing
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased blood pressure
D) Increased respiratory rate
💡 RATIONALE -- Albuterol is a bronchodilator; a therapeutic response is relief of bronchospasm,
decreased wheezing, and improved airflow.
✔️ ANSWER -- A) Decreased wheezing
---
**7.** A client with tuberculosis is prescribed rifampin. The nurse should tell the client that which
finding is harmless?
A) Yellowing of the skin
, B) Orange‑red urine
C) Dark urine and clay‑colored stools
D) Ringing in the ears
💡 RATIONALE -- Rifampin causes harmless orange‑red discoloration of urine, sweat, and tears. Jaundice
and dark urine may indicate hepatotoxicity.
✔️ ANSWER -- B) Orange‑red urine
---
**8.** A client is prescribed enoxaparin. Which technique is correct for subcutaneous administration?
A) Massage the site after injection
B) Inject into the deltoid muscle
C) Pinch a skin fold on the abdomen and inject
D) Aspirate before injecting
💡 RATIONALE -- Enoxaparin (LMWH) is given subcutaneously in the abdomen, pinching a skin fold. Do
not aspirate, massage, or inject intramuscularly.
✔️ ANSWER -- C) Pinch a skin fold on the abdomen and inject
---
**9.** A client is prescribed phenytoin. Which finding indicates a common adverse effect?
A) Gingival hyperplasia
B) Weight gain
C) Alopecia
D) Dry skin
