ATI PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM TEST BANK 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027.
Section One: Questions 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed warfarin. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to
determine the effectiveness of this medication?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Platelet count
D. Bleeding time
🟢 B. PT/INR
🔴 RATIONALE: Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist, and its therapeutic effectiveness is monitored using the Prothrombin Time (PT)
and the International Normalized Ratio (INR).
A client is prescribed albuterol for acute asthma. Which of the following side effects should the nurse expect the client to experience?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Sedation
🟢 B. Tachycardia
🔴 RATIONALE: Albuterol is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist that can cause stimulation of beta-1 receptors in the heart, leading to
tachycardia.
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client. Which assessment is the highest priority?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respiratory rate
C. Apical pulse
D. Temperature
🟢 C. Apical pulse
🔴 RATIONALE: Digoxin slows conduction through the AV node. The nurse must assess the apical pulse for a full minute to ensure it
is not below the established parameters (usually 60 bpm) to prevent toxicity.
A nurse is teaching a client about lisinopril. Which of the following is a common adverse effect the nurse should include in the
teaching?
A. Persistent dry cough
B. Excessive salivation
C. Blurred vision
,D. Urinary retention
🟢 A. Persistent dry cough
🔴 RATIONALE: ACE inhibitors like lisinopril often cause a persistent, dry, non-productive cough due to the accumulation of
bradykinin in the lungs.
Which of the following medications is classified as a proton pump inhibitor?
A. Famotidine
B. Omeprazole
C. Aluminum hydroxide
D. Misoprostol
🟢 B. Omeprazole
🔴 RATIONALE: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces gastric acid production by inhibiting the H+/K+-ATPase enzyme
system.
A nurse is monitoring a client receiving vancomycin. The client develops flushing, tachycardia, and hypotension. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Increase the infusion rate
B. Slow the infusion rate
C. Administer an opioid
D. Document the finding and continue
🟢 B. Slow the infusion rate
🔴 RATIONALE: These symptoms indicate "Red Man Syndrome," which is caused by a rapid infusion of vancomycin. Slowing the
infusion rate usually alleviates these symptoms.
A nurse is caring for a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus who is prescribed NPH insulin. What is the expected peak time for this
insulin?
A. 1 to 2 hours
B. 4 to 12 hours
C. 18 to 24 hours
D. 30 to 60 minutes
🟢 B. 4 to 12 hours
🔴 RATIONALE: NPH insulin is an intermediate-acting insulin, and it typically peaks between 4 and 12 hours after administration.
A client is prescribed spironolactone. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
, C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
🟢 B. Hyperkalemia
🔴 RATIONALE: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic; therefore, the nurse must monitor for elevated potassium levels.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which finding indicates the medication is effective?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Weight loss
C. Decreased TSH levels
D. Increased appetite
🟢 C. Decreased TSH levels
🔴 RATIONALE: Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism. As thyroid levels normalize, the pituitary gland stops over-producing
TSH, resulting in lower (normal) TSH levels.
A nurse is providing education to a client prescribed phenytoin for seizure control. What is the most important instruction?
A. Take the medication with a glass of milk
B. Maintain good oral hygiene
C. Limit intake of vitamin D
D. Expect discoloration of urine
🟢 B. Maintain good oral hygiene
🔴 RATIONALE: Phenytoin is associated with gingival hyperplasia; therefore, the nurse should teach the client to maintain good oral
hygiene and visit the dentist regularly.
A nurse is administering furosemide to a client with heart failure. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Potassium level 3.2 mEq/L
B. Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
C. Weight loss of 0.5 kg
D. Urinary output of 50 mL/hr
🟢 A. Potassium level 3.2 mEq/L
🔴 RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss. A level of 3.2 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which
increases the risk of digoxin toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.
A client is prescribed sumatriptan for migraines. Which of the following contraindications should the nurse assess for?
A. History of asthma
B. History of coronary artery disease
C. History of peptic ulcer disease
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027.
Section One: Questions 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed warfarin. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to
determine the effectiveness of this medication?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Platelet count
D. Bleeding time
🟢 B. PT/INR
🔴 RATIONALE: Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist, and its therapeutic effectiveness is monitored using the Prothrombin Time (PT)
and the International Normalized Ratio (INR).
A client is prescribed albuterol for acute asthma. Which of the following side effects should the nurse expect the client to experience?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Sedation
🟢 B. Tachycardia
🔴 RATIONALE: Albuterol is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist that can cause stimulation of beta-1 receptors in the heart, leading to
tachycardia.
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client. Which assessment is the highest priority?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respiratory rate
C. Apical pulse
D. Temperature
🟢 C. Apical pulse
🔴 RATIONALE: Digoxin slows conduction through the AV node. The nurse must assess the apical pulse for a full minute to ensure it
is not below the established parameters (usually 60 bpm) to prevent toxicity.
A nurse is teaching a client about lisinopril. Which of the following is a common adverse effect the nurse should include in the
teaching?
A. Persistent dry cough
B. Excessive salivation
C. Blurred vision
,D. Urinary retention
🟢 A. Persistent dry cough
🔴 RATIONALE: ACE inhibitors like lisinopril often cause a persistent, dry, non-productive cough due to the accumulation of
bradykinin in the lungs.
Which of the following medications is classified as a proton pump inhibitor?
A. Famotidine
B. Omeprazole
C. Aluminum hydroxide
D. Misoprostol
🟢 B. Omeprazole
🔴 RATIONALE: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces gastric acid production by inhibiting the H+/K+-ATPase enzyme
system.
A nurse is monitoring a client receiving vancomycin. The client develops flushing, tachycardia, and hypotension. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Increase the infusion rate
B. Slow the infusion rate
C. Administer an opioid
D. Document the finding and continue
🟢 B. Slow the infusion rate
🔴 RATIONALE: These symptoms indicate "Red Man Syndrome," which is caused by a rapid infusion of vancomycin. Slowing the
infusion rate usually alleviates these symptoms.
A nurse is caring for a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus who is prescribed NPH insulin. What is the expected peak time for this
insulin?
A. 1 to 2 hours
B. 4 to 12 hours
C. 18 to 24 hours
D. 30 to 60 minutes
🟢 B. 4 to 12 hours
🔴 RATIONALE: NPH insulin is an intermediate-acting insulin, and it typically peaks between 4 and 12 hours after administration.
A client is prescribed spironolactone. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
, C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
🟢 B. Hyperkalemia
🔴 RATIONALE: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic; therefore, the nurse must monitor for elevated potassium levels.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which finding indicates the medication is effective?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Weight loss
C. Decreased TSH levels
D. Increased appetite
🟢 C. Decreased TSH levels
🔴 RATIONALE: Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism. As thyroid levels normalize, the pituitary gland stops over-producing
TSH, resulting in lower (normal) TSH levels.
A nurse is providing education to a client prescribed phenytoin for seizure control. What is the most important instruction?
A. Take the medication with a glass of milk
B. Maintain good oral hygiene
C. Limit intake of vitamin D
D. Expect discoloration of urine
🟢 B. Maintain good oral hygiene
🔴 RATIONALE: Phenytoin is associated with gingival hyperplasia; therefore, the nurse should teach the client to maintain good oral
hygiene and visit the dentist regularly.
A nurse is administering furosemide to a client with heart failure. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Potassium level 3.2 mEq/L
B. Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
C. Weight loss of 0.5 kg
D. Urinary output of 50 mL/hr
🟢 A. Potassium level 3.2 mEq/L
🔴 RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss. A level of 3.2 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which
increases the risk of digoxin toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.
A client is prescribed sumatriptan for migraines. Which of the following contraindications should the nurse assess for?
A. History of asthma
B. History of coronary artery disease
C. History of peptic ulcer disease
