Study Guide | Test Bank Practice Questions and Answers
ATI RN Pharmacology 2026 Edition Questions
Comprehensive Coverage: Dosage Calculations,
Pharmacokinetics, Major Drug Classes, & Safety
Section 1: Dosage Calculations & Pharmacokinetics
1. A nurse is preparing to administer cephalexin 500 mg PO every 6
hours. Available is cephalexin suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Answer: B) 10 mL
Rationale: Desired/Have × Volume = 500 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 10 mL.
2. A provider prescribes gentamicin 2 mg/kg/day IV divided in three
equal doses. The client weighs 80 kg. How many mg should the nurse
administer per dose?
A) 53.3 mg
B) 80 mg
C) 160 mg
,D) 240 mg
Answer: A) 53.3 mg
Rationale: 2 mg × 80 kg = 160 mg/day. 160 mg ÷ 3 doses = 53.3
mg/dose.
3. Which phase of pharmacokinetics refers to the movement of a drug
from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Metabolism
D) Excretion
Answer: A) Absorption
4. The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is:
A) Given intravenously and reaches the heart first
B) Absorbed in the stomach and inactivated by liver enzymes before
reaching systemic circulation
C) Excreted by the kidneys before reaching the target tissue
D) Distributed to fat tissues and stored indefinitely
Answer: B) Absorbed in the stomach and inactivated by liver enzymes
before reaching systemic circulation
,5. A drug has a half-life of 8 hours. How long will it take for the drug to
reach steady state?
A) 8 hours
B) 16 hours
C) 24 hours
D) 40 hours
Answer: D) 40 hours
Rationale: Steady state is reached in 4 to 5 half-lives. 8 hours × 5 = 40
hours.
6. A client has a serum albumin level of 2.0 g/dL (low). How will this
affect the administration of highly protein-bound drugs?
A) Increased risk for drug toxicity
B) Decreased drug effect
C) No change in drug effect
D) Faster excretion of the drug
Answer: A) Increased risk for drug toxicity
Rationale: Less albumin means less drug is bound and more free (active)
drug circulates, increasing the risk of toxicity.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 15 units/kg/hr by
continuous IV infusion. The client weighs 70 kg. How many units/hr
should the nurse set the pump?
, A) 700 units/hr
B) 850 units/hr
C) 1,050 units/hr
D) 1,500 units/hr
Answer: C) 1,050 units/hr
Rationale: 15 units × 70 kg = 1,050 units/hr.
8. Which laboratory finding indicates renal clearance is impaired,
requiring dosage adjustments?
A) Elevated AST
B) Elevated ALT
C) Elevated serum creatinine
D) Decreased WBC
Answer: C) Elevated serum creatinine
9. An agonist medication is one that:
A) Binds to a receptor and blocks the action of natural chemicals
B) Binds to a receptor and stimulates a physiological response
C) Decreases the absorption of other medications
D) Increases the metabolism of other medications
Answer: B) Binds to a receptor and stimulates a physiological response
ATI RN Pharmacology 2026 Edition Questions
Comprehensive Coverage: Dosage Calculations,
Pharmacokinetics, Major Drug Classes, & Safety
Section 1: Dosage Calculations & Pharmacokinetics
1. A nurse is preparing to administer cephalexin 500 mg PO every 6
hours. Available is cephalexin suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Answer: B) 10 mL
Rationale: Desired/Have × Volume = 500 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 10 mL.
2. A provider prescribes gentamicin 2 mg/kg/day IV divided in three
equal doses. The client weighs 80 kg. How many mg should the nurse
administer per dose?
A) 53.3 mg
B) 80 mg
C) 160 mg
,D) 240 mg
Answer: A) 53.3 mg
Rationale: 2 mg × 80 kg = 160 mg/day. 160 mg ÷ 3 doses = 53.3
mg/dose.
3. Which phase of pharmacokinetics refers to the movement of a drug
from the site of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Absorption
B) Distribution
C) Metabolism
D) Excretion
Answer: A) Absorption
4. The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is:
A) Given intravenously and reaches the heart first
B) Absorbed in the stomach and inactivated by liver enzymes before
reaching systemic circulation
C) Excreted by the kidneys before reaching the target tissue
D) Distributed to fat tissues and stored indefinitely
Answer: B) Absorbed in the stomach and inactivated by liver enzymes
before reaching systemic circulation
,5. A drug has a half-life of 8 hours. How long will it take for the drug to
reach steady state?
A) 8 hours
B) 16 hours
C) 24 hours
D) 40 hours
Answer: D) 40 hours
Rationale: Steady state is reached in 4 to 5 half-lives. 8 hours × 5 = 40
hours.
6. A client has a serum albumin level of 2.0 g/dL (low). How will this
affect the administration of highly protein-bound drugs?
A) Increased risk for drug toxicity
B) Decreased drug effect
C) No change in drug effect
D) Faster excretion of the drug
Answer: A) Increased risk for drug toxicity
Rationale: Less albumin means less drug is bound and more free (active)
drug circulates, increasing the risk of toxicity.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 15 units/kg/hr by
continuous IV infusion. The client weighs 70 kg. How many units/hr
should the nurse set the pump?
, A) 700 units/hr
B) 850 units/hr
C) 1,050 units/hr
D) 1,500 units/hr
Answer: C) 1,050 units/hr
Rationale: 15 units × 70 kg = 1,050 units/hr.
8. Which laboratory finding indicates renal clearance is impaired,
requiring dosage adjustments?
A) Elevated AST
B) Elevated ALT
C) Elevated serum creatinine
D) Decreased WBC
Answer: C) Elevated serum creatinine
9. An agonist medication is one that:
A) Binds to a receptor and blocks the action of natural chemicals
B) Binds to a receptor and stimulates a physiological response
C) Decreases the absorption of other medications
D) Increases the metabolism of other medications
Answer: B) Binds to a receptor and stimulates a physiological response
