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ATI PHARMACOLOGY RN PROCTORED EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 EDITION
ATI PHARMACOLOGY RN PROCTORED EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: BASIC PHARMACOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES & MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION (Questions 1-30)
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. The provider
prescribes 500 mg of a medication that is available in a liquid suspension of 250
mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
• A. 5 mL
• B. 8 mL
• C. 10 mL
• D. 12 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using the formula Desired/Have × Volume = 500 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5
mL = 10 mL. The nurse should administer 10 mL of the suspension to deliver the
prescribed 500 mg dose.
2. A nurse is reviewing factors that influence medication metabolism with a group
of nursing students. Which of the following factors should the nurse include as a
reason to administer lower medication dosages? (Select all that apply.)
• A. Decreased renal secretion
• B. Peripheral vascular disease
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• C. Increased liver function
• D. Advanced age
• E. Increased cardiac output
Correct Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Decreased renal secretion (A) reduces drug elimination, requiring lower
doses. Peripheral vascular disease (B) can alter drug distribution and absorption.
Advanced age (D) is associated with reduced liver and kidney function, requiring dose
adjustments. Increased liver function (C) would increase metabolism, potentially
requiring higher doses. Increased cardiac output (E) would improve drug distribution but
does not typically require dose reduction.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer an enteric-coated medication. Which of the
following actions is appropriate?
• A. Crush the tablet and mix with applesauce.
• B. Administer the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
• C. Chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing.
• D. Dissolve the tablet in 30 mL of water.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Enteric-coated medications should be administered whole and should
never be crushed, chewed, or dissolved. The enteric coating protects the medication
from stomach acid and prevents gastric irritation. Crushing or chewing destroys the
coating and alters the medication's release mechanism.
4. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication list and notes that the client is
prescribed a medication with a half-life of 4 days. Based on this information, the
nurse should expect the medication to be administered how many times per day?
• A. Once daily
• B. Twice daily
• C. Three times daily
• D. Four times daily
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between doses
for extended periods. A half-life of 4 days indicates the medication is eliminated very
slowly, allowing for once-daily administration. Short half-life medications typically
require more frequent dosing.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is available in a sustained-
release formulation. Which of the following actions is appropriate?
• A. Crush the tablet for easier administration.
• B. Split the tablet in half for a lower dose.
• C. Administer the tablet whole.
• D. Dissolve the tablet in water.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sustained-release (SR) or extended-release (XR) medications should be
administered whole and should never be crushed or split. Crushing or splitting these
medications destroys the sustained-release mechanism, potentially causing a rapid
release of the entire dose and increasing the risk of toxicity.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new medication. The client asks, "What does
'generic name' mean?" Which of the following responses is appropriate?
• A. "The generic name is the brand name given by the manufacturer."
• B. "The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name of the medication."
• C. "The generic name is the chemical formula of the medication."
• D. "The generic name is the name used only in hospitals."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name assigned to a
medication and is not owned by any manufacturer. The brand or trade name (A) is given
by the manufacturer. The chemical name (C) describes the molecular structure.
Generic names are used universally, not only in hospitals (D).
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via the subcutaneous route.
Which of the following needle lengths is most appropriate for a client of average
weight?
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• A. 1/2 inch
• B. 5/8 inch
• C. 1 inch
• D. 1 1/2 inch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A 5/8-inch needle is typically appropriate for subcutaneous injections in
clients of average weight. A 1/2-inch needle (A) may be too short for some clients. A 1-
inch (C) or 1 1/2-inch (D) needle is more appropriate for intramuscular injections.
8. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication administration record (MAR) and notes
a prescription for "lisinopril 10 mg PO daily." The nurse should identify that "PO"
indicates which route of administration?
• A. By mouth
• B. Intravenously
• C. Subcutaneously
• D. Rectally
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: "PO" is the abbreviation for "per os," meaning by mouth or orally. IV (B)
indicates intravenous, SC or subQ (C) indicates subcutaneous, and PR (D) indicates
rectal administration.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that requires a "Do Not Crush"
designation. Which of the following is a reason why a medication should not be
crushed?
• A. The medication has an unpleasant taste.
• B. The medication is available in a scored tablet.
• C. The medication is enteric-coated.
• D. The medication is available in a liquid form.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Enteric-coated medications (C) should not be crushed because the coating
protects the medication from stomach acid and prevents gastric irritation. Unpleasant
ATI PHARMACOLOGY RN PROCTORED EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 EDITION
ATI PHARMACOLOGY RN PROCTORED EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: BASIC PHARMACOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES & MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION (Questions 1-30)
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. The provider
prescribes 500 mg of a medication that is available in a liquid suspension of 250
mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
• A. 5 mL
• B. 8 mL
• C. 10 mL
• D. 12 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using the formula Desired/Have × Volume = 500 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5
mL = 10 mL. The nurse should administer 10 mL of the suspension to deliver the
prescribed 500 mg dose.
2. A nurse is reviewing factors that influence medication metabolism with a group
of nursing students. Which of the following factors should the nurse include as a
reason to administer lower medication dosages? (Select all that apply.)
• A. Decreased renal secretion
• B. Peripheral vascular disease
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• C. Increased liver function
• D. Advanced age
• E. Increased cardiac output
Correct Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: Decreased renal secretion (A) reduces drug elimination, requiring lower
doses. Peripheral vascular disease (B) can alter drug distribution and absorption.
Advanced age (D) is associated with reduced liver and kidney function, requiring dose
adjustments. Increased liver function (C) would increase metabolism, potentially
requiring higher doses. Increased cardiac output (E) would improve drug distribution but
does not typically require dose reduction.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer an enteric-coated medication. Which of the
following actions is appropriate?
• A. Crush the tablet and mix with applesauce.
• B. Administer the tablet whole with a full glass of water.
• C. Chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing.
• D. Dissolve the tablet in 30 mL of water.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Enteric-coated medications should be administered whole and should
never be crushed, chewed, or dissolved. The enteric coating protects the medication
from stomach acid and prevents gastric irritation. Crushing or chewing destroys the
coating and alters the medication's release mechanism.
4. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication list and notes that the client is
prescribed a medication with a half-life of 4 days. Based on this information, the
nurse should expect the medication to be administered how many times per day?
• A. Once daily
• B. Twice daily
• C. Three times daily
• D. Four times daily
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between doses
for extended periods. A half-life of 4 days indicates the medication is eliminated very
slowly, allowing for once-daily administration. Short half-life medications typically
require more frequent dosing.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that is available in a sustained-
release formulation. Which of the following actions is appropriate?
• A. Crush the tablet for easier administration.
• B. Split the tablet in half for a lower dose.
• C. Administer the tablet whole.
• D. Dissolve the tablet in water.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sustained-release (SR) or extended-release (XR) medications should be
administered whole and should never be crushed or split. Crushing or splitting these
medications destroys the sustained-release mechanism, potentially causing a rapid
release of the entire dose and increasing the risk of toxicity.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new medication. The client asks, "What does
'generic name' mean?" Which of the following responses is appropriate?
• A. "The generic name is the brand name given by the manufacturer."
• B. "The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name of the medication."
• C. "The generic name is the chemical formula of the medication."
• D. "The generic name is the name used only in hospitals."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The generic name is the official, non-proprietary name assigned to a
medication and is not owned by any manufacturer. The brand or trade name (A) is given
by the manufacturer. The chemical name (C) describes the molecular structure.
Generic names are used universally, not only in hospitals (D).
7. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via the subcutaneous route.
Which of the following needle lengths is most appropriate for a client of average
weight?
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• A. 1/2 inch
• B. 5/8 inch
• C. 1 inch
• D. 1 1/2 inch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A 5/8-inch needle is typically appropriate for subcutaneous injections in
clients of average weight. A 1/2-inch needle (A) may be too short for some clients. A 1-
inch (C) or 1 1/2-inch (D) needle is more appropriate for intramuscular injections.
8. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication administration record (MAR) and notes
a prescription for "lisinopril 10 mg PO daily." The nurse should identify that "PO"
indicates which route of administration?
• A. By mouth
• B. Intravenously
• C. Subcutaneously
• D. Rectally
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: "PO" is the abbreviation for "per os," meaning by mouth or orally. IV (B)
indicates intravenous, SC or subQ (C) indicates subcutaneous, and PR (D) indicates
rectal administration.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that requires a "Do Not Crush"
designation. Which of the following is a reason why a medication should not be
crushed?
• A. The medication has an unpleasant taste.
• B. The medication is available in a scored tablet.
• C. The medication is enteric-coated.
• D. The medication is available in a liquid form.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Enteric-coated medications (C) should not be crushed because the coating
protects the medication from stomach acid and prevents gastric irritation. Unpleasant
