ATI Pharmacology CMS Proctored Exam Prep
(2026) | {2 NEW VERSIONS} Highly-Predicted
Questions & Detailed Rationales Bundle |
Complete exam
Cardiovascular System (Q1–Q12)
Q1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client who has
heart failure. Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse review before administering the medication?
Answer: Serum potassium level.
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) significantly increases the risk of
digoxin toxicity. The nurse must monitor potassium levels closely,
especially if the client is concurrently taking potassium-wasting diuretics.
Q2. A nurse is evaluating a client who has been taking furosemide
daily for 2 weeks. Which of the following findings indicates the
medication has been effective?
Answer: Clear bilateral breath sounds and decreased weight.
, Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume
overload. A decrease in weight and clearance of pulmonary congestion
indicate successful fluid removal.
Q3. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous
intravenous heparin infusion. The client’s morning aPTT is 110
seconds. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Stop the heparin infusion.
Rationale: A therapeutic aPTT for heparin is generally 1.5 to 2.5 times the
normal control value (typically 60 to 80 seconds). An aPTT of 110 seconds
is excessively high and puts the client at critical risk for bleeding. The
immediate priority action is to stop the infusion.
Q4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for warfarin. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
Answer: Maintain a consistent intake of green leafy vegetables.
Rationale: Green leafy vegetables contain vitamin K, which is the antidote
for warfarin. Large changes in vitamin K intake can alter the therapeutic
effect of the drug. Consistency, rather than elimination, is required.
, Q5. A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for
atorvastatin. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse
expect to monitor periodically?
Answer: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase
(AST).
Rationale: Statins can cause hepatotoxicity. Liver function tests (ALT and
AST) must be monitored at the start of therapy and periodically throughout
treatment.
Q6. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for
sublingual nitroglycerin tablets for angina pectoris. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse provide?
Answer: Place one tablet under the tongue at the onset of chest pain, and
call emergency services if pain is not relieved 5 minutes after the first dose.
Rationale: The client should take one tablet immediately. If pain persists
after 5 minutes, they should call emergency services before taking a
second dose. A maximum of 3 doses can be taken 5 minutes apart.
Q7. A nurse is assessing a client who has a new prescription for
captopril. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse
monitor for?
, Answer: A persistent, dry cough.
Rationale: Captopril is an ACE inhibitor. It causes an accumulation of
bradykinin in the respiratory tract, leading to a dry, hacking cough. If this
occurs, the medication must typically be discontinued and switched to an
ARB.
Q8. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking spironolactone for
hypertension. Which of the following dietary choices should the nurse
instruct the client to avoid?
Answer: Salt substitutes.
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic. Salt substitutes
usually contain potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride, which
increases the risk of life-threatening hyperkalemia.
Q9. A nurse is preparing to administer metoprolol to a client. Which of
the following clinical findings is a contraindication to administering
this medication?
Answer: A heart rate of 52/min.
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that decreases heart rate and
myocardial contractility. It should be withheld if the apical pulse is less than
60/min.
(2026) | {2 NEW VERSIONS} Highly-Predicted
Questions & Detailed Rationales Bundle |
Complete exam
Cardiovascular System (Q1–Q12)
Q1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client who has
heart failure. Which of the following laboratory values should the
nurse review before administering the medication?
Answer: Serum potassium level.
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) significantly increases the risk of
digoxin toxicity. The nurse must monitor potassium levels closely,
especially if the client is concurrently taking potassium-wasting diuretics.
Q2. A nurse is evaluating a client who has been taking furosemide
daily for 2 weeks. Which of the following findings indicates the
medication has been effective?
Answer: Clear bilateral breath sounds and decreased weight.
, Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume
overload. A decrease in weight and clearance of pulmonary congestion
indicate successful fluid removal.
Q3. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous
intravenous heparin infusion. The client’s morning aPTT is 110
seconds. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Answer: Stop the heparin infusion.
Rationale: A therapeutic aPTT for heparin is generally 1.5 to 2.5 times the
normal control value (typically 60 to 80 seconds). An aPTT of 110 seconds
is excessively high and puts the client at critical risk for bleeding. The
immediate priority action is to stop the infusion.
Q4. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for warfarin. Which of the following instructions should
the nurse include?
Answer: Maintain a consistent intake of green leafy vegetables.
Rationale: Green leafy vegetables contain vitamin K, which is the antidote
for warfarin. Large changes in vitamin K intake can alter the therapeutic
effect of the drug. Consistency, rather than elimination, is required.
, Q5. A nurse is assessing a client who has a prescription for
atorvastatin. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse
expect to monitor periodically?
Answer: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase
(AST).
Rationale: Statins can cause hepatotoxicity. Liver function tests (ALT and
AST) must be monitored at the start of therapy and periodically throughout
treatment.
Q6. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for
sublingual nitroglycerin tablets for angina pectoris. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse provide?
Answer: Place one tablet under the tongue at the onset of chest pain, and
call emergency services if pain is not relieved 5 minutes after the first dose.
Rationale: The client should take one tablet immediately. If pain persists
after 5 minutes, they should call emergency services before taking a
second dose. A maximum of 3 doses can be taken 5 minutes apart.
Q7. A nurse is assessing a client who has a new prescription for
captopril. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse
monitor for?
, Answer: A persistent, dry cough.
Rationale: Captopril is an ACE inhibitor. It causes an accumulation of
bradykinin in the respiratory tract, leading to a dry, hacking cough. If this
occurs, the medication must typically be discontinued and switched to an
ARB.
Q8. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking spironolactone for
hypertension. Which of the following dietary choices should the nurse
instruct the client to avoid?
Answer: Salt substitutes.
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic. Salt substitutes
usually contain potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride, which
increases the risk of life-threatening hyperkalemia.
Q9. A nurse is preparing to administer metoprolol to a client. Which of
the following clinical findings is a contraindication to administering
this medication?
Answer: A heart rate of 52/min.
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that decreases heart rate and
myocardial contractility. It should be withheld if the apical pulse is less than
60/min.
