ATI COMPREHENSIVE PN PHARMACOLOGY
EXAM 2026/2027 – 140 QUESTIONS WITH NGN &
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A+)
Question 1: A nurse is teaching a client about the enteric-coated formulation of a
medication. Which statement by the client indicates understanding?
A) “I can crush the tablet if I have trouble swallowing.”
B) “The coating protects my stomach from irritation.”
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C) “I should take it with an antacid to help absorption.”
D) “The coating makes the drug work faster.”
nfi
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) “The coating protects my stomach from
irritation.”
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Rationale: Enteric coating prevents dissolution in the stomach, protecting the
gastric mucosa and allowing absorption in the small intestine. Crushing destroys
the coating.
n
Question 2: A client is prescribed a medication with a narrow therapeutic index.
The nurse understands that this means:
al
A) The drug has a high margin of safety.
B) Small changes in dose can cause toxicity.
C) The drug is only effective in a narrow age range.
D) The drug must be given intravenously.
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Small changes in dose can cause toxicity.
Rationale: Narrow therapeutic index means the difference between therapeutic and
toxic doses is small. Monitoring of drug levels is essential.
,Question 3: A nurse is administering a drug that is a weak base. The drug will be
best absorbed in which part of the gastrointestinal tract?
A) Stomach (acidic pH)
B) Small intestine (neutral pH)
C) Large intestine (alkaline pH)
D) Mouth (neutral pH)
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Small intestine (neutral pH)
Rationale: Weak bases are ionized and poorly absorbed in acidic stomach; they are
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better absorbed in the more alkaline environment of the small intestine.
Question 4: A client is taking warfarin and begins taking a new herbal
nfi
supplement. The nurse should advise that which herbal product can increase the
risk of bleeding?
A) St. John’s wort
de
B) Ginkgo biloba
C) Echinacea
n
D) Saw palmetto
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Ginkgo biloba
al
Rationale: Ginkgo biloba has antiplatelet effects and can increase bleeding risk
when combined with anticoagulants like warfarin. St. John’s wort decreases
warfarin efficacy.
Question 5: A nurse is reviewing a medication order. The order reads: “Morphine
sulfate 10 mg IM every 4 hours PRN pain.” Which action is most appropriate?
A) Administer as ordered.
B) Clarify the route because morphine is not given IM.
,C) Question the dose because it exceeds the usual maximum.
D) Verify the frequency with the prescriber.
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: C) Question the dose because it exceeds the usual
maximum.
Rationale: Usual IM morphine dose for moderate-severe pain is 5–10 mg, but 10
mg is high for a naive client. More importantly, the nurse should verify if the client
is opioid-naive. However, many protocols allow 10 mg. Without additional
context, the best answer is to verify the dose if it seems excessive. Standard
Co
answer: question the dose.
Question 6: A client is prescribed a medication that is known to be hepatotoxic.
nfi
The nurse should monitor which laboratory value?
A) Serum creatinine
B) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
de
C) Hemoglobin
D) White blood cell count
n
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Rationale: ALT is a liver enzyme that rises with hepatocellular injury. It is a key
al
marker of hepatotoxicity.
Question 7: A nurse is teaching a client about sublingual nitroglycerin. Which
instruction is correct?
A) Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
B) Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve.
C) Chew the tablet for faster absorption.
D) Take with food to prevent nausea.
, Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to
dissolve.
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows rapid absorption through the oral
mucosa, bypassing first-pass metabolism.
Question 8: A client is receiving intravenous gentamicin. Which finding requires
immediate nursing intervention?
A) Serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL
B) Urine output 40 mL/hour
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C) Tinnitus and dizziness
D) Mild nausea
nfi
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: C) Tinnitus and dizziness
Rationale: Tinnitus and dizziness are early signs of ototoxicity from
aminoglycosides. Nephrotoxicity is also a concern, but ototoxicity can be
de
irreversible.
Question 9: A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication. The label reads
n
“250 mg/5 mL.” The prescribed dose is 375 mg. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
al
A) 5 mL
B) 6.5 mL
C) 7.5 mL
D) 10 mL
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: C) 7.5 mL
Rationale: (375 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 1.5 × 5 = 7.5 mL.
Question 10: A client is taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Which
food should the client avoid?
EXAM 2026/2027 – 140 QUESTIONS WITH NGN &
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A+)
Question 1: A nurse is teaching a client about the enteric-coated formulation of a
medication. Which statement by the client indicates understanding?
A) “I can crush the tablet if I have trouble swallowing.”
B) “The coating protects my stomach from irritation.”
Co
C) “I should take it with an antacid to help absorption.”
D) “The coating makes the drug work faster.”
nfi
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) “The coating protects my stomach from
irritation.”
de
Rationale: Enteric coating prevents dissolution in the stomach, protecting the
gastric mucosa and allowing absorption in the small intestine. Crushing destroys
the coating.
n
Question 2: A client is prescribed a medication with a narrow therapeutic index.
The nurse understands that this means:
al
A) The drug has a high margin of safety.
B) Small changes in dose can cause toxicity.
C) The drug is only effective in a narrow age range.
D) The drug must be given intravenously.
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Small changes in dose can cause toxicity.
Rationale: Narrow therapeutic index means the difference between therapeutic and
toxic doses is small. Monitoring of drug levels is essential.
,Question 3: A nurse is administering a drug that is a weak base. The drug will be
best absorbed in which part of the gastrointestinal tract?
A) Stomach (acidic pH)
B) Small intestine (neutral pH)
C) Large intestine (alkaline pH)
D) Mouth (neutral pH)
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Small intestine (neutral pH)
Rationale: Weak bases are ionized and poorly absorbed in acidic stomach; they are
Co
better absorbed in the more alkaline environment of the small intestine.
Question 4: A client is taking warfarin and begins taking a new herbal
nfi
supplement. The nurse should advise that which herbal product can increase the
risk of bleeding?
A) St. John’s wort
de
B) Ginkgo biloba
C) Echinacea
n
D) Saw palmetto
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Ginkgo biloba
al
Rationale: Ginkgo biloba has antiplatelet effects and can increase bleeding risk
when combined with anticoagulants like warfarin. St. John’s wort decreases
warfarin efficacy.
Question 5: A nurse is reviewing a medication order. The order reads: “Morphine
sulfate 10 mg IM every 4 hours PRN pain.” Which action is most appropriate?
A) Administer as ordered.
B) Clarify the route because morphine is not given IM.
,C) Question the dose because it exceeds the usual maximum.
D) Verify the frequency with the prescriber.
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: C) Question the dose because it exceeds the usual
maximum.
Rationale: Usual IM morphine dose for moderate-severe pain is 5–10 mg, but 10
mg is high for a naive client. More importantly, the nurse should verify if the client
is opioid-naive. However, many protocols allow 10 mg. Without additional
context, the best answer is to verify the dose if it seems excessive. Standard
Co
answer: question the dose.
Question 6: A client is prescribed a medication that is known to be hepatotoxic.
nfi
The nurse should monitor which laboratory value?
A) Serum creatinine
B) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
de
C) Hemoglobin
D) White blood cell count
n
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Rationale: ALT is a liver enzyme that rises with hepatocellular injury. It is a key
al
marker of hepatotoxicity.
Question 7: A nurse is teaching a client about sublingual nitroglycerin. Which
instruction is correct?
A) Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
B) Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to dissolve.
C) Chew the tablet for faster absorption.
D) Take with food to prevent nausea.
, Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: B) Place the tablet under the tongue and allow it to
dissolve.
Rationale: Sublingual administration allows rapid absorption through the oral
mucosa, bypassing first-pass metabolism.
Question 8: A client is receiving intravenous gentamicin. Which finding requires
immediate nursing intervention?
A) Serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL
B) Urine output 40 mL/hour
Co
C) Tinnitus and dizziness
D) Mild nausea
nfi
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: C) Tinnitus and dizziness
Rationale: Tinnitus and dizziness are early signs of ototoxicity from
aminoglycosides. Nephrotoxicity is also a concern, but ototoxicity can be
de
irreversible.
Question 9: A nurse is preparing to administer a liquid medication. The label reads
n
“250 mg/5 mL.” The prescribed dose is 375 mg. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
al
A) 5 mL
B) 6.5 mL
C) 7.5 mL
D) 10 mL
Correct ✔✔ Answer✔✔: C) 7.5 mL
Rationale: (375 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 1.5 × 5 = 7.5 mL.
Question 10: A client is taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Which
food should the client avoid?
