ATI RN PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM TEST BANK
2026/2027 COMPLETE REVIEW WITH 300 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS, AND DETAILED
RATIONALES FOR NCLEX-RN AND ATI EXAM SUCCESS
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a loop diuretic to a client with
heart failure. Which laboratory value should be monitored most
closely?
A. Serum sodium
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum calcium
D. Serum glucose
ANSWER — B. Serum potassium
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause significant potassium loss, which can
lead to hypokalemia and cardiac dysrhythmias.
2. A client prescribed warfarin has an INR of 5.5. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Administer the next scheduled dose
B. Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider
C. Increase the dose to lower the INR
D. Administer vitamin E
ANSWER — B. Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: An INR above 5.0 indicates a high risk for bleeding, and the
dose should be held while the provider is notified for further
instructions.
,3. A client is prescribed digoxin. Which finding indicates a therapeutic
effect?
A. Decreased heart rate and increased force of contraction
B. Increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure
C. Decreased urine output
D. Increased edema
ANSWER — A. Decreased heart rate and increased force of contraction
Rationale: Digoxin increases cardiac contractility and decreases heart
rate, improving cardiac output.
4. A client is taking an ACE inhibitor. Which side effect requires
immediate nursing intervention?
A. Dry cough
B. Angioedema
C. Headache
D. Dizziness
ANSWER — B. Angioedema
Rationale: Angioedema is a life-threatening allergic reaction causing
swelling of the airway that requires immediate intervention.
5. The nurse is administering a beta-blocker. Which assessment is
essential before giving the medication?
A. Blood pressure and heart rate
B. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
C. Level of consciousness
D. Bowel sounds
ANSWER — A. Blood pressure and heart rate
Rationale: Beta-blockers decrease heart rate and blood pressure; these
parameters must be checked to prevent bradycardia and hypotension.
,6. A client asks the nurse how a calcium channel blocker works. Which
statement is correct?
A. It blocks the reuptake of calcium in the brain
B. It relaxes blood vessels and decreases heart rate
C. It increases calcium excretion in the kidneys
D. It promotes calcium absorption in the bones
ANSWER — B. It relaxes blood vessels and decreases heart rate
Rationale: Calcium channel blockers cause vasodilation and reduce
cardiac conduction, decreasing blood pressure and heart rate.
7. A client prescribed furosemide reports muscle cramps and
weakness. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
ANSWER — B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting diuretic; muscle cramps
and weakness are symptoms of hypokalemia.
8. The nurse is caring for a client receiving IV heparin. Which
laboratory test should be monitored to evaluate its effectiveness?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
ANSWER — A. aPTT
Rationale: The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to
monitor the effectiveness of unfractionated heparin therapy.
, 9. A client is receiving enoxaparin subcutaneously. Which technique is
correct?
A. Administer the medication intramuscularly
B. Rub the injection site firmly after administration
C. Administer in the anterolateral or posterolateral abdominal wall
D. Expel the air bubble from the prefilled syringe before injection
ANSWER — C. Administer in the anterolateral or posterolateral
abdominal wall
Rationale: Enoxaparin should be given subcutaneously in the abdominal
fat, and the air bubble should not be expelled to prevent loss of
medication.
10. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease reports black, tarry
stools while taking aspirin. What is the priority action?
A. Administer an antacid
B. Continue aspirin as prescribed
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Increase fluid intake
ANSWER — C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Rationale: Black, tarry stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious
adverse effect of aspirin.
11. A nurse is teaching a client about iron supplementation. Which
statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A. I will take the iron with orange juice
B. I will take the iron with milk
C. I will expect my stools to turn dark
D. I will take the iron on an empty stomach
ANSWER — B. I will take the iron with milk
2026/2027 COMPLETE REVIEW WITH 300 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS, AND DETAILED
RATIONALES FOR NCLEX-RN AND ATI EXAM SUCCESS
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a loop diuretic to a client with
heart failure. Which laboratory value should be monitored most
closely?
A. Serum sodium
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum calcium
D. Serum glucose
ANSWER — B. Serum potassium
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause significant potassium loss, which can
lead to hypokalemia and cardiac dysrhythmias.
2. A client prescribed warfarin has an INR of 5.5. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Administer the next scheduled dose
B. Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider
C. Increase the dose to lower the INR
D. Administer vitamin E
ANSWER — B. Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider
Rationale: An INR above 5.0 indicates a high risk for bleeding, and the
dose should be held while the provider is notified for further
instructions.
,3. A client is prescribed digoxin. Which finding indicates a therapeutic
effect?
A. Decreased heart rate and increased force of contraction
B. Increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure
C. Decreased urine output
D. Increased edema
ANSWER — A. Decreased heart rate and increased force of contraction
Rationale: Digoxin increases cardiac contractility and decreases heart
rate, improving cardiac output.
4. A client is taking an ACE inhibitor. Which side effect requires
immediate nursing intervention?
A. Dry cough
B. Angioedema
C. Headache
D. Dizziness
ANSWER — B. Angioedema
Rationale: Angioedema is a life-threatening allergic reaction causing
swelling of the airway that requires immediate intervention.
5. The nurse is administering a beta-blocker. Which assessment is
essential before giving the medication?
A. Blood pressure and heart rate
B. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
C. Level of consciousness
D. Bowel sounds
ANSWER — A. Blood pressure and heart rate
Rationale: Beta-blockers decrease heart rate and blood pressure; these
parameters must be checked to prevent bradycardia and hypotension.
,6. A client asks the nurse how a calcium channel blocker works. Which
statement is correct?
A. It blocks the reuptake of calcium in the brain
B. It relaxes blood vessels and decreases heart rate
C. It increases calcium excretion in the kidneys
D. It promotes calcium absorption in the bones
ANSWER — B. It relaxes blood vessels and decreases heart rate
Rationale: Calcium channel blockers cause vasodilation and reduce
cardiac conduction, decreasing blood pressure and heart rate.
7. A client prescribed furosemide reports muscle cramps and
weakness. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
ANSWER — B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting diuretic; muscle cramps
and weakness are symptoms of hypokalemia.
8. The nurse is caring for a client receiving IV heparin. Which
laboratory test should be monitored to evaluate its effectiveness?
A. aPTT
B. PT/INR
C. Platelet count
D. Hemoglobin
ANSWER — A. aPTT
Rationale: The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to
monitor the effectiveness of unfractionated heparin therapy.
, 9. A client is receiving enoxaparin subcutaneously. Which technique is
correct?
A. Administer the medication intramuscularly
B. Rub the injection site firmly after administration
C. Administer in the anterolateral or posterolateral abdominal wall
D. Expel the air bubble from the prefilled syringe before injection
ANSWER — C. Administer in the anterolateral or posterolateral
abdominal wall
Rationale: Enoxaparin should be given subcutaneously in the abdominal
fat, and the air bubble should not be expelled to prevent loss of
medication.
10. A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease reports black, tarry
stools while taking aspirin. What is the priority action?
A. Administer an antacid
B. Continue aspirin as prescribed
C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
D. Increase fluid intake
ANSWER — C. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Rationale: Black, tarry stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious
adverse effect of aspirin.
11. A nurse is teaching a client about iron supplementation. Which
statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A. I will take the iron with orange juice
B. I will take the iron with milk
C. I will expect my stools to turn dark
D. I will take the iron on an empty stomach
ANSWER — B. I will take the iron with milk
