ATI RN PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM
PRACTICE TEST 2026-2027 100 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
PLUS ANSWER KEY GRADED A+ INSTANT DOWNLOAD
PDF
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of warfarin to a client. Which
laboratory test should the nurse review prior to administration?
A. PT
B. Total iron-binding capacity
C. WBC
D. PTT
Answer: A
The prothrombin time (PT) and INR are used to monitor the therapeutic effects of
warfarin, which is an anticoagulant. The PTT is used to monitor heparin therapy.
Reviewing these results before administration is critical to prevent bleeding
complications.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for nifedipine. Which of the
following findings should the nurse assess prior to administration of the
medication?
A. Blood pressure
,B. Respiratory rate
C. Temperature
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: A
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension. Assessing the
client's blood pressure before administration is essential to evaluate the
medication's effectiveness and prevent hypotension.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client who has received oxycodone. The nurse notes that
the client's respiratory rate is 8/min. The nurse should identify that which of the
following is the pathophysiology for the client's respiratory rate?
A. Oxycodone blocks the sodium channel, suspending nerve conduction
B. Oxycodone promotes vasodilation of cranial arteries
C. Oxycodone causes central nervous system depression
D. Oxycodone inhibits prostaglandin synthesis
Answer: C
Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic that causes central nervous system depression. It
depresses the brainstem's respiratory centers, leading to a decreased respiratory
rate and potentially life-threatening respiratory depression.
Question 4
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data of a client who is receiving filgrastim.
Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to evaluate the
effectiveness of the treatment?
A. Potassium level
B. BUN
C. INR
D. WBC count
Answer: D
Filgrastim stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. Monitoring
the WBC count is the best indicator of the drug's effectiveness in treating or
preventing neutropenia.
,Question 5
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
carbamazepine for the treatment of seizures. The nurse should instruct the client
to monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
A. Blurred vision
B. Insomnia
C. Metallic taste
D. Tachypnea
Answer: A
Blurred vision is a dose-related adverse effect of carbamazepine. Patients should
be instructed to report this symptom to their healthcare provider, as it may
indicate the need for a dosage adjustment.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 1 g in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL
via intermittent IV bolus over 30 minutes. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing
is 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver how many
gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 50 gtt/min
C. 75 gtt/min
D. 100 gtt/min
Answer: B
The formula is (100 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ 30 minutes = 50 gtt/min. This calculation
ensures the medication is infused over the prescribed 30 minutes.
Question 7
A nurse is preparing to mix short-acting (regular) insulin with NPH insulin from
two vials. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the insulin within 20 minutes of preparing it
B. Ensure the NPH insulin is drawn into the syringe first
C. Inject air into the vial to withdraw the short-acting insulin first
D. Use two separate syringes to mix the insulin
Answer: C
, Injecting air into the short-acting insulin vial and withdrawing the clear insulin
before the cloudy NPH insulin prevents contamination of the short-acting vial with
NPH insulin. This practice maintains the integrity and efficacy of each insulin type.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who takes warfarin and reports beginning several
herbal supplements. The nurse should identify that which of the following
supplements is contraindicated for use with warfarin?
A. Probiotics
B. Coenzyme Q10
C. Valerian
D. Ginkgo biloba
Answer: D
Ginkgo biloba has antiplatelet effects and can increase the risk of bleeding when
taken with warfarin. Patients on anticoagulant therapy should be educated about
the potential interactions with herbal supplements.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for doxycycline. Which of the
following client statements indicates effective teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. "I will avoid the sun while taking this medication."
B. "I should use an alternate form of birth control while taking this medication."
C. "It is common to experience headache or blurred vision while taking this
medication."
D. "This medication may cause constipation."
E. "I should take this medication with dairy products."
Answer: A, B
Doxycycline increases photosensitivity, so sun avoidance is essential. It can also
reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, so an alternate form of birth
control should be used.
Question 10
A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving a peripheral IV infusion and notes
infiltration of fluid into the tissues surrounding the insertion site. Which of the
PRACTICE TEST 2026-2027 100 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
PLUS ANSWER KEY GRADED A+ INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of warfarin to a client. Which
laboratory test should the nurse review prior to administration?
A. PT
B. Total iron-binding capacity
C. WBC
D. PTT
Answer: A
The prothrombin time (PT) and INR are used to monitor the therapeutic effects of
warfarin, which is an anticoagulant. The PTT is used to monitor heparin therapy.
Reviewing these results before administration is critical to prevent bleeding
complications.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for nifedipine. Which of the
following findings should the nurse assess prior to administration of the
medication?
A. Blood pressure
,B. Respiratory rate
C. Temperature
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: A
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension. Assessing the
client's blood pressure before administration is essential to evaluate the
medication's effectiveness and prevent hypotension.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client who has received oxycodone. The nurse notes that
the client's respiratory rate is 8/min. The nurse should identify that which of the
following is the pathophysiology for the client's respiratory rate?
A. Oxycodone blocks the sodium channel, suspending nerve conduction
B. Oxycodone promotes vasodilation of cranial arteries
C. Oxycodone causes central nervous system depression
D. Oxycodone inhibits prostaglandin synthesis
Answer: C
Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic that causes central nervous system depression. It
depresses the brainstem's respiratory centers, leading to a decreased respiratory
rate and potentially life-threatening respiratory depression.
Question 4
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data of a client who is receiving filgrastim.
Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to evaluate the
effectiveness of the treatment?
A. Potassium level
B. BUN
C. INR
D. WBC count
Answer: D
Filgrastim stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. Monitoring
the WBC count is the best indicator of the drug's effectiveness in treating or
preventing neutropenia.
,Question 5
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
carbamazepine for the treatment of seizures. The nurse should instruct the client
to monitor for which of the following adverse effects?
A. Blurred vision
B. Insomnia
C. Metallic taste
D. Tachypnea
Answer: A
Blurred vision is a dose-related adverse effect of carbamazepine. Patients should
be instructed to report this symptom to their healthcare provider, as it may
indicate the need for a dosage adjustment.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 1 g in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL
via intermittent IV bolus over 30 minutes. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing
is 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver how many
gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 50 gtt/min
C. 75 gtt/min
D. 100 gtt/min
Answer: B
The formula is (100 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ 30 minutes = 50 gtt/min. This calculation
ensures the medication is infused over the prescribed 30 minutes.
Question 7
A nurse is preparing to mix short-acting (regular) insulin with NPH insulin from
two vials. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the insulin within 20 minutes of preparing it
B. Ensure the NPH insulin is drawn into the syringe first
C. Inject air into the vial to withdraw the short-acting insulin first
D. Use two separate syringes to mix the insulin
Answer: C
, Injecting air into the short-acting insulin vial and withdrawing the clear insulin
before the cloudy NPH insulin prevents contamination of the short-acting vial with
NPH insulin. This practice maintains the integrity and efficacy of each insulin type.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who takes warfarin and reports beginning several
herbal supplements. The nurse should identify that which of the following
supplements is contraindicated for use with warfarin?
A. Probiotics
B. Coenzyme Q10
C. Valerian
D. Ginkgo biloba
Answer: D
Ginkgo biloba has antiplatelet effects and can increase the risk of bleeding when
taken with warfarin. Patients on anticoagulant therapy should be educated about
the potential interactions with herbal supplements.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for doxycycline. Which of the
following client statements indicates effective teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. "I will avoid the sun while taking this medication."
B. "I should use an alternate form of birth control while taking this medication."
C. "It is common to experience headache or blurred vision while taking this
medication."
D. "This medication may cause constipation."
E. "I should take this medication with dairy products."
Answer: A, B
Doxycycline increases photosensitivity, so sun avoidance is essential. It can also
reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, so an alternate form of birth
control should be used.
Question 10
A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving a peripheral IV infusion and notes
infiltration of fluid into the tissues surrounding the insertion site. Which of the
