ATI PN Pharmacology Proctored Newest
Exam – (2 VERSIONS) Original NGN Practice
Questions with Answers & Rationales
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Coverage:
This exam is designed for the ATI PN Pharmacology Proctored Exam, using NGN-style
items aligned to common PN pharmacology content areas: safe medication administration
and dosage calculations, anti-infectives, cardiovascular and hematologic agents,
respiratory, GI, and endocrine medications, CNS/psychiatric and neurologic drugs, pain
management, anti-inflammatories, immunizations, and patient education. Each question
includes a clear answer and a concise rationale to reinforce safe medication practices and
clinical decision-making skills. Ideal for practical nursing students preparing for the ATI PN
Pharmacology exam or seeking to strengthen their pharmacology knowledge.
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for metformin. Which
instruction should the nurse include in the teaching?*
Answer: “Take this medication with meals to reduce gastrointestinal upset.”
Explanation: Metformin commonly causes GI upset; taking with food improves tolerance.
,Q2. A nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin to a client. Which action should
the nurse take to ensure safe administration?*
Answer: Inject the medication subcutaneously into the lateral anterior or posterior abdominal
wall.
Explanation: Enoxaparin is given subcutaneously in the abdomen, not IM.
Q3. A nurse is assessing a client who is taking furosemide. Which finding should the
nurse identify as an adverse effect of this medication?*
Answer: Muscle weakness and irregular pulse indicate hypokalemia from furosemide.
Explanation: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, leading to weakness and arrhythmias.
Q4. A nurse is reviewing a client’s medication list. Which medication should the
nurse identify as increasing the risk for bleeding when taken with warfarin?*
Answer: Aspirin increases the risk for bleeding when taken with warfarin.
Explanation: Both affect clotting; combined use raises bleeding risk.
Q5. A nurse is administering insulin glargine to a client. Which action should the
nurse take to ensure proper administration?*
Answer: Administer the medication subcutaneously at the same time each day.
Explanation: Long-acting insulin is given once daily at a consistent time.
Q6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for lisinopril. Which finding
should the nurse monitor as an adverse effect?*
,Answer: Persistent dry cough is an adverse effect of lisinopril.
Explanation: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a nonproductive cough.
Q7. A nurse is preparing to give morphine sulfate to a client. Which assessment
finding should cause the nurse to withhold the medication?*
Answer: Respiratory rate of 10/min should cause the nurse to withhold morphine.
Explanation: Opioids depress respiration; low rate increases risk of respiratory failure.
Q8. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for levothyroxine. Which
instruction should the nurse include?*
Answer: “Take this medication on an empty stomach in the morning.”
Explanation: Food and some supplements reduce levothyroxine absorption.
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking prednisone. Which finding should the
nurse identify as an adverse effect?*
Answer: Elevated blood glucose and weight gain are adverse effects of prednisone.
Explanation: Corticosteroids increase gluconeogenesis and cause fluid retention.
Q10. A nurse is reviewing a client’s lab values before administering digoxin. Which
value should the nurse monitor closely?*
Answer: Serum potassium level should be monitored closely before giving digoxin.
Explanation: Hypokalemia increases risk of digoxin toxicity.
, Q11. A nurse is administering a medication via the intradermal route. Which angle
should the nurse use to insert the needle?*
Answer: Insert the needle at a 5–15 degree angle with the bevel up.
Explanation: Intradermal injections require a shallow angle to deposit medication under the
epidermis.
Q12. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for albuterol. Which
finding indicates a therapeutic effect?*
Answer: Improved breath sounds and decreased wheezing indicate a therapeutic effect.
Explanation: Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relieves airway constriction.
Q13. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which action should the
nurse take first?*
Answer: Verify the client’s identity and blood product with another nurse.
Explanation: Two-nurse verification prevents transfusion errors.
Q14. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for omeprazole. Which
instruction should the nurse include?*
Answer: “Take this medication before a meal, usually in the morning.”
Explanation: PPIs work best when taken before food stimulates acid production.
Q15. A nurse is assessing a client who is taking amitriptyline. Which finding should
the nurse identify as an adverse effect?*
Exam – (2 VERSIONS) Original NGN Practice
Questions with Answers & Rationales
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Coverage:
This exam is designed for the ATI PN Pharmacology Proctored Exam, using NGN-style
items aligned to common PN pharmacology content areas: safe medication administration
and dosage calculations, anti-infectives, cardiovascular and hematologic agents,
respiratory, GI, and endocrine medications, CNS/psychiatric and neurologic drugs, pain
management, anti-inflammatories, immunizations, and patient education. Each question
includes a clear answer and a concise rationale to reinforce safe medication practices and
clinical decision-making skills. Ideal for practical nursing students preparing for the ATI PN
Pharmacology exam or seeking to strengthen their pharmacology knowledge.
Q1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for metformin. Which
instruction should the nurse include in the teaching?*
Answer: “Take this medication with meals to reduce gastrointestinal upset.”
Explanation: Metformin commonly causes GI upset; taking with food improves tolerance.
,Q2. A nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin to a client. Which action should
the nurse take to ensure safe administration?*
Answer: Inject the medication subcutaneously into the lateral anterior or posterior abdominal
wall.
Explanation: Enoxaparin is given subcutaneously in the abdomen, not IM.
Q3. A nurse is assessing a client who is taking furosemide. Which finding should the
nurse identify as an adverse effect of this medication?*
Answer: Muscle weakness and irregular pulse indicate hypokalemia from furosemide.
Explanation: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, leading to weakness and arrhythmias.
Q4. A nurse is reviewing a client’s medication list. Which medication should the
nurse identify as increasing the risk for bleeding when taken with warfarin?*
Answer: Aspirin increases the risk for bleeding when taken with warfarin.
Explanation: Both affect clotting; combined use raises bleeding risk.
Q5. A nurse is administering insulin glargine to a client. Which action should the
nurse take to ensure proper administration?*
Answer: Administer the medication subcutaneously at the same time each day.
Explanation: Long-acting insulin is given once daily at a consistent time.
Q6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for lisinopril. Which finding
should the nurse monitor as an adverse effect?*
,Answer: Persistent dry cough is an adverse effect of lisinopril.
Explanation: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a nonproductive cough.
Q7. A nurse is preparing to give morphine sulfate to a client. Which assessment
finding should cause the nurse to withhold the medication?*
Answer: Respiratory rate of 10/min should cause the nurse to withhold morphine.
Explanation: Opioids depress respiration; low rate increases risk of respiratory failure.
Q8. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for levothyroxine. Which
instruction should the nurse include?*
Answer: “Take this medication on an empty stomach in the morning.”
Explanation: Food and some supplements reduce levothyroxine absorption.
Q9. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking prednisone. Which finding should the
nurse identify as an adverse effect?*
Answer: Elevated blood glucose and weight gain are adverse effects of prednisone.
Explanation: Corticosteroids increase gluconeogenesis and cause fluid retention.
Q10. A nurse is reviewing a client’s lab values before administering digoxin. Which
value should the nurse monitor closely?*
Answer: Serum potassium level should be monitored closely before giving digoxin.
Explanation: Hypokalemia increases risk of digoxin toxicity.
, Q11. A nurse is administering a medication via the intradermal route. Which angle
should the nurse use to insert the needle?*
Answer: Insert the needle at a 5–15 degree angle with the bevel up.
Explanation: Intradermal injections require a shallow angle to deposit medication under the
epidermis.
Q12. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for albuterol. Which
finding indicates a therapeutic effect?*
Answer: Improved breath sounds and decreased wheezing indicate a therapeutic effect.
Explanation: Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relieves airway constriction.
Q13. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which action should the
nurse take first?*
Answer: Verify the client’s identity and blood product with another nurse.
Explanation: Two-nurse verification prevents transfusion errors.
Q14. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for omeprazole. Which
instruction should the nurse include?*
Answer: “Take this medication before a meal, usually in the morning.”
Explanation: PPIs work best when taken before food stimulates acid production.
Q15. A nurse is assessing a client who is taking amitriptyline. Which finding should
the nurse identify as an adverse effect?*
