ATI Pharmacology Exam Prep – Actual
Questions & ANSWERs (ATI) (Updated PDF)
2026
QUESTION 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Assess the client's allergy status
D. Check the medication label three times
ANSWER: B. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale:
A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers - This is important but should occur after hand
hygiene, as infection control is the priority before any client contact.
B. Perform hand hygiene - CORRECT. Hand hygiene is the first and most fundamental action to prevent
infection transmission before any client care activity.
C. Assess the client's allergy status - This is essential but comes after hand hygiene and before
medication administration.
,D. Check the medication label three times - This is crucial for medication safety but occurs during the
preparation phase, after hand hygiene.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is reviewing a client's medication administration record. Which of the following abbreviations is
acceptable to use?
A. Q.D.
B. U
C. mcg
D. MSO4
ANSWER: C. mcg
Rationale:
A. Q.D. - This abbreviation is on the Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list because it can be mistaken for
Q.O.D. or other abbreviations. Should write "daily."
B. U - This abbreviation is prohibited because it can be mistaken for "0," "4," or "cc." Should write "unit."
C. mcg - CORRECT. This abbreviation for microgram is acceptable and less likely to cause confusion than
the alternative "µg."
D. MSO4 - This abbreviation is prohibited because it can be confused with MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate).
Should write "morphine sulfate."
QUESTION 3
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for digoxin. Which of the following findings should
indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing digoxin toxicity?
,A. Heart rate of 72/min
B. Yellow-tinged vision
C. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
D. Respiratory rate of 16/min
ANSWER: B. Yellow-tinged vision
Rationale:
A. Heart rate of 72/min - This is a normal heart rate and does not indicate digoxin toxicity. Bradycardia
(heart rate <60/min) would be concerning.
B. Yellow-tinged vision - CORRECT. Yellow-tinged or halo vision is a classic sign of digoxin toxicity, along
with nausea, vomiting, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
C. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg - This is a normal blood pressure reading and does not indicate
digoxin toxicity.
D. Respiratory rate of 16/min - This is a normal respiratory rate and does not indicate digoxin toxicity.
QUESTION 4
A nurse is administering an enteral feeding via a nasogastric tube. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take to verify tube placement?
A. Auscultate over the stomach while injecting air
B. Measure the pH of aspirated gastric contents
C. Observe the color of aspirated contents
D. Check for carbon dioxide detection with a capnometer
ANSWER: B. Measure the pH of aspirated gastric contents
, Rationale:
A. Auscultate over the stomach while injecting air - This method is no longer considered reliable for
verifying tube placement as it can produce false positives.
B. Measure the pH of aspirated gastric contents - CORRECT. pH testing of aspirated contents is a reliable
method to verify tube placement, with gastric pH typically ranging from 1-5.
C. Observe the color of aspirated contents - Color observation alone is not a reliable method for
verifying tube placement.
D. Check for carbon dioxide detection with a capnometer - This is used to confirm endotracheal tube
placement, not nasogastric tube placement.
QUESTION 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first?
A. Verify the client's blood type with the blood bank
B. Obtain the client's vital signs
C. Check the expiration date on the blood product
D. Prime the blood administration tubing with 0.9% sodium chloride
ANSWER: A. Verify the client's blood type with the blood bank
Rationale:
A. Verify the client's blood type with the blood bank - CORRECT. Verifying blood compatibility is the
priority action to prevent a life-threatening transfusion reaction.
Questions & ANSWERs (ATI) (Updated PDF)
2026
QUESTION 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Assess the client's allergy status
D. Check the medication label three times
ANSWER: B. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale:
A. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers - This is important but should occur after hand
hygiene, as infection control is the priority before any client contact.
B. Perform hand hygiene - CORRECT. Hand hygiene is the first and most fundamental action to prevent
infection transmission before any client care activity.
C. Assess the client's allergy status - This is essential but comes after hand hygiene and before
medication administration.
,D. Check the medication label three times - This is crucial for medication safety but occurs during the
preparation phase, after hand hygiene.
QUESTION 2
A nurse is reviewing a client's medication administration record. Which of the following abbreviations is
acceptable to use?
A. Q.D.
B. U
C. mcg
D. MSO4
ANSWER: C. mcg
Rationale:
A. Q.D. - This abbreviation is on the Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list because it can be mistaken for
Q.O.D. or other abbreviations. Should write "daily."
B. U - This abbreviation is prohibited because it can be mistaken for "0," "4," or "cc." Should write "unit."
C. mcg - CORRECT. This abbreviation for microgram is acceptable and less likely to cause confusion than
the alternative "µg."
D. MSO4 - This abbreviation is prohibited because it can be confused with MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate).
Should write "morphine sulfate."
QUESTION 3
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for digoxin. Which of the following findings should
indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing digoxin toxicity?
,A. Heart rate of 72/min
B. Yellow-tinged vision
C. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
D. Respiratory rate of 16/min
ANSWER: B. Yellow-tinged vision
Rationale:
A. Heart rate of 72/min - This is a normal heart rate and does not indicate digoxin toxicity. Bradycardia
(heart rate <60/min) would be concerning.
B. Yellow-tinged vision - CORRECT. Yellow-tinged or halo vision is a classic sign of digoxin toxicity, along
with nausea, vomiting, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
C. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg - This is a normal blood pressure reading and does not indicate
digoxin toxicity.
D. Respiratory rate of 16/min - This is a normal respiratory rate and does not indicate digoxin toxicity.
QUESTION 4
A nurse is administering an enteral feeding via a nasogastric tube. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take to verify tube placement?
A. Auscultate over the stomach while injecting air
B. Measure the pH of aspirated gastric contents
C. Observe the color of aspirated contents
D. Check for carbon dioxide detection with a capnometer
ANSWER: B. Measure the pH of aspirated gastric contents
, Rationale:
A. Auscultate over the stomach while injecting air - This method is no longer considered reliable for
verifying tube placement as it can produce false positives.
B. Measure the pH of aspirated gastric contents - CORRECT. pH testing of aspirated contents is a reliable
method to verify tube placement, with gastric pH typically ranging from 1-5.
C. Observe the color of aspirated contents - Color observation alone is not a reliable method for
verifying tube placement.
D. Check for carbon dioxide detection with a capnometer - This is used to confirm endotracheal tube
placement, not nasogastric tube placement.
QUESTION 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a client. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first?
A. Verify the client's blood type with the blood bank
B. Obtain the client's vital signs
C. Check the expiration date on the blood product
D. Prime the blood administration tubing with 0.9% sodium chloride
ANSWER: A. Verify the client's blood type with the blood bank
Rationale:
A. Verify the client's blood type with the blood bank - CORRECT. Verifying blood compatibility is the
priority action to prevent a life-threatening transfusion reaction.
