ATI CMS Pharmacology Review | ATI Pharmacology Comprehensive
Medical-Surgical (CMS) Exam Study Guide | Complete Nursing
Pharmacology Notes | NCLEX-PN & NCLEX-RN Exam Prep |
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics | Medication Absorption,
Distribution, Metabolism & Excretion (ADME) | Liver & Kidney
Function Tests | Safe Medication Administration Rights | Medication
Administration Routes | Enteral & NG Tube Medication Guidelines |
Oral, Sublingual & Transdermal Medications | Insulin Pharmacology |
Rapid-Acting, Short-Acting, Intermediate (NPH) & Long-Acting
Insulins | Insulin Onset, Peak & Duration | Diabetes Medication
Review | Medication Safety Principles | High-Yield ATI Pharmacology
Review Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded
Answers Latest Updated 2026
What are the tests for liver function?
AST, ALT, and Bilirubin total
What are the tests for kidney function?
Creatinine and GFR levels
How do medications travel through the body?
"MADE"
- Metabolism
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Excretion
,What are the 8 routes of medication administration?
1. Nasal
2. Otic
3. Oral
4. Inhalation
5. Ocular
6. Inhalation
7. Topical/transdermal
8. Rectal/vaginal
Pharmacokinetics of Absorption
IV route
- No barrier for absorption
Pharmacokinetics of Metabolism
Liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, blood
- Can be affected by age, increase in some medication metabolism enzymes, FIRST-PASS
EFFECT, and nutritional status
Pharmacokinetics of Elimination
Kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, and exocrine glands (ex. breast milk)
,Pharmacodynamics
Interaction between medication and target cells, body systems, and organs to produce effects
- Agonist
- Antagonist
- Partial Agonist
Things to remember for the oral/enteral route
- Avoid administration with interacting foods and beverages (ex. Grapefruit)
- Ensure to swallow enteric-coated or time-release capsules whole
- For sublingual, DO NOT eat or drink till fully dissolved
Things to remember for NGT and gastrostomy tube routes
- DO NOT administer sublingual medications through NG tube
- Administrate medications separately
- Completely dissolve crushed tablets and capsules
- DO NOT crush extended/time-release, fluid-filled, or enteric-coated
Rapid-Acting Insulins
Lispro (Humalog), Aspart (Novolog), Glulisine (Apidra)
- Onset - 15-30 min
- Peak - 0.5-2.5 hr
, - Duration - 3-6 hr
Short-Acting Insulins
- Regular (Humulin R, Novolin R)
- Onset 30 min-1 hr
- Peak 2-5 hr
- Duration 5-8 hr
ONLY ONE GIVEN IV
Intermediate-Acting Insulins
NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N)
- Onset - 1-2 hr
- Peak - 4-12 hr
- Duration - 6-10 hr
CLOUDY
Long-Acting Insulins
Glargine (Lantus), Detemir (Levemir)
- Onset - 70 min
- Peak - NO PEAK
Medical-Surgical (CMS) Exam Study Guide | Complete Nursing
Pharmacology Notes | NCLEX-PN & NCLEX-RN Exam Prep |
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics | Medication Absorption,
Distribution, Metabolism & Excretion (ADME) | Liver & Kidney
Function Tests | Safe Medication Administration Rights | Medication
Administration Routes | Enteral & NG Tube Medication Guidelines |
Oral, Sublingual & Transdermal Medications | Insulin Pharmacology |
Rapid-Acting, Short-Acting, Intermediate (NPH) & Long-Acting
Insulins | Insulin Onset, Peak & Duration | Diabetes Medication
Review | Medication Safety Principles | High-Yield ATI Pharmacology
Review Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded
Answers Latest Updated 2026
What are the tests for liver function?
AST, ALT, and Bilirubin total
What are the tests for kidney function?
Creatinine and GFR levels
How do medications travel through the body?
"MADE"
- Metabolism
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Excretion
,What are the 8 routes of medication administration?
1. Nasal
2. Otic
3. Oral
4. Inhalation
5. Ocular
6. Inhalation
7. Topical/transdermal
8. Rectal/vaginal
Pharmacokinetics of Absorption
IV route
- No barrier for absorption
Pharmacokinetics of Metabolism
Liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, blood
- Can be affected by age, increase in some medication metabolism enzymes, FIRST-PASS
EFFECT, and nutritional status
Pharmacokinetics of Elimination
Kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, and exocrine glands (ex. breast milk)
,Pharmacodynamics
Interaction between medication and target cells, body systems, and organs to produce effects
- Agonist
- Antagonist
- Partial Agonist
Things to remember for the oral/enteral route
- Avoid administration with interacting foods and beverages (ex. Grapefruit)
- Ensure to swallow enteric-coated or time-release capsules whole
- For sublingual, DO NOT eat or drink till fully dissolved
Things to remember for NGT and gastrostomy tube routes
- DO NOT administer sublingual medications through NG tube
- Administrate medications separately
- Completely dissolve crushed tablets and capsules
- DO NOT crush extended/time-release, fluid-filled, or enteric-coated
Rapid-Acting Insulins
Lispro (Humalog), Aspart (Novolog), Glulisine (Apidra)
- Onset - 15-30 min
- Peak - 0.5-2.5 hr
, - Duration - 3-6 hr
Short-Acting Insulins
- Regular (Humulin R, Novolin R)
- Onset 30 min-1 hr
- Peak 2-5 hr
- Duration 5-8 hr
ONLY ONE GIVEN IV
Intermediate-Acting Insulins
NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N)
- Onset - 1-2 hr
- Peak - 4-12 hr
- Duration - 6-10 hr
CLOUDY
Long-Acting Insulins
Glargine (Lantus), Detemir (Levemir)
- Onset - 70 min
- Peak - NO PEAK
