ATI RN Pharmacology 2026–2027: 400 Original
Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
Includes medication safety, pharmacokinetics, dosage calculations, cardiovascular, respiratory,
endocrine, neurologic, psychiatric, infection, hematology, GI, reproductive, immune, bone, emergency
pharmacology, and more.
, Table of Contents
Unit 1 — Foundations, Safety & Dosage Calculations....................................................................................................3
Unit 2 — Autonomic, Pain & Anesthesia......................................................................................................................16
Unit 3 — Anti-Infective Pharmacology.........................................................................................................................21
Unit 4 — Oncology, Hematology & Immunology.........................................................................................................28
Unit 5 — Gastrointestinal & Nutrition..........................................................................................................................33
Unit 6 — Endocrine & Diabetes...................................................................................................................................38
Unit 7 — Cardiovascular & Renal.................................................................................................................................43
Unit 8 — Respiratory....................................................................................................................................................57
Unit 9 — Neurologic & Psychiatric...............................................................................................................................61
Unit 10 — Reproductive & Musculoskeletal.................................................................................................................67
Unit 11 — Hepatic & Drug Toxicity...............................................................................................................................70
Unit 12 — Emergency Pharmacology...........................................................................................................................70
Unit 13 — Integrated RN Pharmacology Review..........................................................................................................72
Unit 1 — Foundations, Safety & Dosage Calculations 3
Unit 2 — Autonomic, Pain & Anesthesia 14
Unit 3 — Anti-Infective Pharmacology 20
Unit 4 — Oncology, Hematology & Immunology 27
Unit 5 — Gastrointestinal & Nutrition 32
Unit 6 — Endocrine & Diabetes 37
Unit 7 — Cardiovascular & Renal 42
Unit 8 — Respiratory 57
Unit 9 — Neurologic & Psychiatric 61
Unit 10 — Reproductive & Musculoskeletal 67
Unit 11 — Hepatic & Drug Toxicity 70
Unit 12 — Emergency Pharmacology 71
Unit 13 — Integrated RN Pharmacology Review 73
RN Pharmacology — 400 Original Practice Questions Page 2
, Unit 1 — Foundations, Safety & Dosage Calculations
Questions in this unit are original RN/NCLEX-style practice items with the correct answer marked and a
concise rationale.
1. A nurse is caring for a client. Which action best verifies a client's identity before medication administration?
A. Ask the client to state the room number.
B. Use two approved identifiers, such as name and date of birth.
C. Ask a family member to identify the client.
D. Confirm the client's diagnosis only.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Two approved identifiers reduce wrong-client errors. A room number is not an acceptable identifier.
2. The nurse asks, which action best verifies a client's identity before medication administration?
A. Ask the client to state the room number.
B. Use two approved identifiers, such as name and date of birth.
C. Ask a family member to identify the client.
D. Confirm the client's diagnosis only.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Two approved identifiers reduce wrong-client errors. A room number is not an acceptable identifier.
3. A nurse is caring for a client. A nurse discovers that a medication dose appears unusually high. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer it because it is prescribed.
B. Hold the medication and verify the order and dose.
C. Ask another client whether the dose is usual.
D. Document the dose after administration.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: An unusually high dose should be verified before administration to prevent medication error.
4. A nurse discovers that a medication dose appears unusually high. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer it because it is prescribed.
B. Hold the medication and verify the order and dose.
C. Ask another client whether the dose is usual.
D. Document the dose after administration.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: An unusually high dose should be verified before administration to prevent medication error.
5. A nurse is caring for a client. Which prescription should the nurse clarify before administering the medication?
A. A drug with a documented allergy listed in the chart.
B. A medication ordered by the attending provider.
C. A medication with a route appropriate for the formulation.
D. A medication scheduled at the usual administration time.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: A documented allergy is a major safety concern and requires clarification before administration.
6. The nurse asks, which prescription should the nurse clarify before administering the medication?
A. A drug with a documented allergy listed in the chart.
RN Pharmacology — 400 Original Practice Questions Page 3
, B. A medication ordered by the attending provider.
C. A medication with a route appropriate for the formulation.
D. A medication scheduled at the usual administration time.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: A documented allergy is a major safety concern and requires clarification before administration.
7. A nurse is caring for a client. Which practice is safest when administering a high-alert medication?
A. Skip an independent check if the nurse is experienced.
B. Use required independent verification procedures.
C. Prepare the medication in advance for the next shift.
D. Ask the client to calculate the dose.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: High-alert medications require safeguards such as independent verification according to institutional policy.
8. The nurse asks, which practice is safest when administering a high-alert medication?
A. Skip an independent check if the nurse is experienced.
B. Use required independent verification procedures.
C. Prepare the medication in advance for the next shift.
D. Ask the client to calculate the dose.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: High-alert medications require safeguards such as independent verification according to institutional policy.
9. A nurse is caring for a client. A nurse receives a verbal medication order. Which action is appropriate?
A. Repeat the order back to the prescriber for verification.
B. Guess unclear words from context.
C. Document only the medication name.
D. Ask the client to interpret the order.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Read-back verification reduces transcription and communication errors.
10. A nurse receives a verbal medication order. Which action is appropriate?
A. Repeat the order back to the prescriber for verification.
B. Guess unclear words from context.
C. Document only the medication name.
D. Ask the client to interpret the order.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Read-back verification reduces transcription and communication errors.
11. A nurse is caring for a client. What should the nurse do with a medication label that is unreadable?
A. Do not administer it; obtain a clearly labeled medication.
B. Guess the name from the package shape.
C. Administer half the dose.
D. Ask the client to identify it.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: An unreadable label creates a medication-identification risk and should not be administered.
12. What should the nurse do with a medication label that is unreadable?
A. Do not administer it; obtain a clearly labeled medication.
B. Guess the name from the package shape.
RN Pharmacology — 400 Original Practice Questions Page 4
Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
Includes medication safety, pharmacokinetics, dosage calculations, cardiovascular, respiratory,
endocrine, neurologic, psychiatric, infection, hematology, GI, reproductive, immune, bone, emergency
pharmacology, and more.
, Table of Contents
Unit 1 — Foundations, Safety & Dosage Calculations....................................................................................................3
Unit 2 — Autonomic, Pain & Anesthesia......................................................................................................................16
Unit 3 — Anti-Infective Pharmacology.........................................................................................................................21
Unit 4 — Oncology, Hematology & Immunology.........................................................................................................28
Unit 5 — Gastrointestinal & Nutrition..........................................................................................................................33
Unit 6 — Endocrine & Diabetes...................................................................................................................................38
Unit 7 — Cardiovascular & Renal.................................................................................................................................43
Unit 8 — Respiratory....................................................................................................................................................57
Unit 9 — Neurologic & Psychiatric...............................................................................................................................61
Unit 10 — Reproductive & Musculoskeletal.................................................................................................................67
Unit 11 — Hepatic & Drug Toxicity...............................................................................................................................70
Unit 12 — Emergency Pharmacology...........................................................................................................................70
Unit 13 — Integrated RN Pharmacology Review..........................................................................................................72
Unit 1 — Foundations, Safety & Dosage Calculations 3
Unit 2 — Autonomic, Pain & Anesthesia 14
Unit 3 — Anti-Infective Pharmacology 20
Unit 4 — Oncology, Hematology & Immunology 27
Unit 5 — Gastrointestinal & Nutrition 32
Unit 6 — Endocrine & Diabetes 37
Unit 7 — Cardiovascular & Renal 42
Unit 8 — Respiratory 57
Unit 9 — Neurologic & Psychiatric 61
Unit 10 — Reproductive & Musculoskeletal 67
Unit 11 — Hepatic & Drug Toxicity 70
Unit 12 — Emergency Pharmacology 71
Unit 13 — Integrated RN Pharmacology Review 73
RN Pharmacology — 400 Original Practice Questions Page 2
, Unit 1 — Foundations, Safety & Dosage Calculations
Questions in this unit are original RN/NCLEX-style practice items with the correct answer marked and a
concise rationale.
1. A nurse is caring for a client. Which action best verifies a client's identity before medication administration?
A. Ask the client to state the room number.
B. Use two approved identifiers, such as name and date of birth.
C. Ask a family member to identify the client.
D. Confirm the client's diagnosis only.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Two approved identifiers reduce wrong-client errors. A room number is not an acceptable identifier.
2. The nurse asks, which action best verifies a client's identity before medication administration?
A. Ask the client to state the room number.
B. Use two approved identifiers, such as name and date of birth.
C. Ask a family member to identify the client.
D. Confirm the client's diagnosis only.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Two approved identifiers reduce wrong-client errors. A room number is not an acceptable identifier.
3. A nurse is caring for a client. A nurse discovers that a medication dose appears unusually high. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer it because it is prescribed.
B. Hold the medication and verify the order and dose.
C. Ask another client whether the dose is usual.
D. Document the dose after administration.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: An unusually high dose should be verified before administration to prevent medication error.
4. A nurse discovers that a medication dose appears unusually high. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer it because it is prescribed.
B. Hold the medication and verify the order and dose.
C. Ask another client whether the dose is usual.
D. Document the dose after administration.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: An unusually high dose should be verified before administration to prevent medication error.
5. A nurse is caring for a client. Which prescription should the nurse clarify before administering the medication?
A. A drug with a documented allergy listed in the chart.
B. A medication ordered by the attending provider.
C. A medication with a route appropriate for the formulation.
D. A medication scheduled at the usual administration time.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: A documented allergy is a major safety concern and requires clarification before administration.
6. The nurse asks, which prescription should the nurse clarify before administering the medication?
A. A drug with a documented allergy listed in the chart.
RN Pharmacology — 400 Original Practice Questions Page 3
, B. A medication ordered by the attending provider.
C. A medication with a route appropriate for the formulation.
D. A medication scheduled at the usual administration time.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: A documented allergy is a major safety concern and requires clarification before administration.
7. A nurse is caring for a client. Which practice is safest when administering a high-alert medication?
A. Skip an independent check if the nurse is experienced.
B. Use required independent verification procedures.
C. Prepare the medication in advance for the next shift.
D. Ask the client to calculate the dose.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: High-alert medications require safeguards such as independent verification according to institutional policy.
8. The nurse asks, which practice is safest when administering a high-alert medication?
A. Skip an independent check if the nurse is experienced.
B. Use required independent verification procedures.
C. Prepare the medication in advance for the next shift.
D. Ask the client to calculate the dose.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: High-alert medications require safeguards such as independent verification according to institutional policy.
9. A nurse is caring for a client. A nurse receives a verbal medication order. Which action is appropriate?
A. Repeat the order back to the prescriber for verification.
B. Guess unclear words from context.
C. Document only the medication name.
D. Ask the client to interpret the order.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Read-back verification reduces transcription and communication errors.
10. A nurse receives a verbal medication order. Which action is appropriate?
A. Repeat the order back to the prescriber for verification.
B. Guess unclear words from context.
C. Document only the medication name.
D. Ask the client to interpret the order.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Read-back verification reduces transcription and communication errors.
11. A nurse is caring for a client. What should the nurse do with a medication label that is unreadable?
A. Do not administer it; obtain a clearly labeled medication.
B. Guess the name from the package shape.
C. Administer half the dose.
D. Ask the client to identify it.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: An unreadable label creates a medication-identification risk and should not be administered.
12. What should the nurse do with a medication label that is unreadable?
A. Do not administer it; obtain a clearly labeled medication.
B. Guess the name from the package shape.
RN Pharmacology — 400 Original Practice Questions Page 4
