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ATI Medication Administration Practice Exam
Preparation With Complete Questions And Correct
Answers With Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand
New Version!!
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first to ensure patient
safety?
A. Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers.
B. Check the medication administration record (MAR) for the correct
dose.
C. Perform hand hygiene.
D. Assess the patient's allergy status.
Answer: C
Rationale: According to the standard of practice and infection control
protocols, the first action a nurse should take before any patient contact
or medication preparation is to perform hand hygiene. This is the
foundational step to prevent the transmission of pathogens. While
verifying identity, checking the MAR, and assessing allergies are all
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critical components of the "Rights" of medication administration, hand
hygiene must precede these actions to maintain a sterile or clean
environment. The sequence of care dictates that preparation and
environmental safety precede patient-specific verification.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed 500 mg of an antibiotic. The available tablets are
250 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: The calculation required is a basic ratio and proportion. The
desired dose is 500 mg, and the available dose per tablet is 250 mg. By
dividing the desired dose by the dose on hand (500 mg / 250 mg), the
result is 2 tablets. This is a fundamental dosage calculation that ensures
the patient receives the precise amount prescribed. It is crucial to
always double-check calculations, as mathematical errors are a leading
cause of medication errors.
Question 3
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A nurse is administering an enteric-coated tablet. The patient requests
that the tablet be crushed to make it easier to swallow. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Crush the tablet and mix it with applesauce.
B. Crush the tablet and administer it via a straw.
C. Explain to the patient that enteric-coated tablets should not be
crushed and consult the prescriber for an alternative form.
D. Dissolve the tablet in warm water before administration.
Answer: C
Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets are designed with a special coating to
resist dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach and to
dissolve in the more alkaline environment of the small intestine. This is
done to protect the drug from stomach acid, prevent gastric irritation,
or delay the onset of action. Crushing or chewing the tablet destroys
this coating, potentially leading to drug inactivation, gastric upset, or an
unintended rapid release of the medication. The nurse must advocate
for the patient and seek an alternative formulation, such as a liquid or a
different route.
Question 4
Which of the following is a correct step when administering a
subcutaneous injection?
A. Use a 1-inch needle for administration.
B. Administer the injection at a 90-degree angle regardless of the
patient's body mass.
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C. Aspirate before injecting the medication to ensure the needle is not
in a blood vessel.
D. Pinch the skin to lift the subcutaneous tissue away from the muscle.
Answer: D
Rationale: For a subcutaneous injection, the skin is pinched or bunched
to elevate the subcutaneous tissue. This technique helps to ensure the
medication is deposited into the subcutaneous layer and not
inadvertently into the muscle, which could alter the absorption rate and
possibly cause injury. The needle angle (typically 45 or 90 degrees)
depends on the amount of subcutaneous tissue and needle length.
Aspiration is no longer a standard recommendation for subcutaneous
injections because it is not necessary and may cause tissue trauma.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection in the
ventrogluteal site. Which of the following landmarks is the nurse using
to locate this site?
A. The greater trochanter of the femur and the iliac crest.
B. The acromion process and the axilla.
C. The anterior superior iliac spine and the iliac crest.
D. The posterior superior iliac spine and the coccyx.
Answer: A
ATI Medication Administration Practice Exam
Preparation With Complete Questions And Correct
Answers With Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand
New Version!!
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first to ensure patient
safety?
A. Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers.
B. Check the medication administration record (MAR) for the correct
dose.
C. Perform hand hygiene.
D. Assess the patient's allergy status.
Answer: C
Rationale: According to the standard of practice and infection control
protocols, the first action a nurse should take before any patient contact
or medication preparation is to perform hand hygiene. This is the
foundational step to prevent the transmission of pathogens. While
verifying identity, checking the MAR, and assessing allergies are all
,2|Page
critical components of the "Rights" of medication administration, hand
hygiene must precede these actions to maintain a sterile or clean
environment. The sequence of care dictates that preparation and
environmental safety precede patient-specific verification.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed 500 mg of an antibiotic. The available tablets are
250 mg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 1.5 tablets
C. 2 tablets
D. 2.5 tablets
Answer: C
Rationale: The calculation required is a basic ratio and proportion. The
desired dose is 500 mg, and the available dose per tablet is 250 mg. By
dividing the desired dose by the dose on hand (500 mg / 250 mg), the
result is 2 tablets. This is a fundamental dosage calculation that ensures
the patient receives the precise amount prescribed. It is crucial to
always double-check calculations, as mathematical errors are a leading
cause of medication errors.
Question 3
,3|Page
A nurse is administering an enteric-coated tablet. The patient requests
that the tablet be crushed to make it easier to swallow. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Crush the tablet and mix it with applesauce.
B. Crush the tablet and administer it via a straw.
C. Explain to the patient that enteric-coated tablets should not be
crushed and consult the prescriber for an alternative form.
D. Dissolve the tablet in warm water before administration.
Answer: C
Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets are designed with a special coating to
resist dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach and to
dissolve in the more alkaline environment of the small intestine. This is
done to protect the drug from stomach acid, prevent gastric irritation,
or delay the onset of action. Crushing or chewing the tablet destroys
this coating, potentially leading to drug inactivation, gastric upset, or an
unintended rapid release of the medication. The nurse must advocate
for the patient and seek an alternative formulation, such as a liquid or a
different route.
Question 4
Which of the following is a correct step when administering a
subcutaneous injection?
A. Use a 1-inch needle for administration.
B. Administer the injection at a 90-degree angle regardless of the
patient's body mass.
, 4|Page
C. Aspirate before injecting the medication to ensure the needle is not
in a blood vessel.
D. Pinch the skin to lift the subcutaneous tissue away from the muscle.
Answer: D
Rationale: For a subcutaneous injection, the skin is pinched or bunched
to elevate the subcutaneous tissue. This technique helps to ensure the
medication is deposited into the subcutaneous layer and not
inadvertently into the muscle, which could alter the absorption rate and
possibly cause injury. The needle angle (typically 45 or 90 degrees)
depends on the amount of subcutaneous tissue and needle length.
Aspiration is no longer a standard recommendation for subcutaneous
injections because it is not necessary and may cause tissue trauma.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection in the
ventrogluteal site. Which of the following landmarks is the nurse using
to locate this site?
A. The greater trochanter of the femur and the iliac crest.
B. The acromion process and the axilla.
C. The anterior superior iliac spine and the iliac crest.
D. The posterior superior iliac spine and the coccyx.
Answer: A
