ATI RN Pharmacology Proctored EXAM LATEST 300
QUESTIONS AND 100- Verified ANSWERS JUST
RELEASED
SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS, PHARMACODYNAMICS & MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a long half-life of 4
days. How many times per day should the nurse expect to administer this
medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: A. One
Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between
doses for extended periods, so they are typically administered once daily .
2. A nurse is teaching a client about the "first-pass effect." Which route of
administration is most affected by this process?
A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Answer: C. Oral
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed in the GI tract and travel to the liver via
the portal vein, where a significant portion may be metabolized before reaching
systemic circulation .
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client who has a history
of renal failure. Which pharmacokinetic process should the nurse expect to be
most affected?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D. Excretion
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for the excretion of
drugs and their metabolites. Impaired renal function leads to decreased drug
clearance and a high risk for toxicity .
4. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication record and notes a prescription for a
"trough level." When should the nurse schedule the blood draw?
A. 30 minutes after the dose is administered
B. Exactly midway between doses
C. 15 minutes before the next dose
D. 2 hours after the start of the infusion
Answer: C. 15 minutes before the next dose
Rationale: The trough level represents the lowest concentration of the drug in the
bloodstream and is measured immediately (usually 15–30 minutes) before the
next scheduled dose .
5. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult
client who has a BMI of 32. Which needle length should the nurse select?
A. 5/8 inch
B. 1 inch
,C. 1½ inches
D. 2 inches
Answer: C. 1½ inches
Rationale: For an obese client, a longer needle (1.5 inches) is required to ensure
the medication reaches the muscle tissue rather than staying in the subcutaneous
fat .
6. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via the transdermal route.
Which action is correct?
A. Apply the patch to a hairless area of skin
B. Apply the patch to the same site every day
C. Cut the patch if the dose is too high
D. Apply the patch to an area with broken skin
Answer: A. Apply the patch to a hairless area of skin
Rationale: Transdermal patches should be applied to a hairless area of intact skin
to promote absorption. The site should be rotated to prevent skin irritation, and
patches should not be cut .
7. A nurse is calculating the IV flow rate for a client who is to receive 1,000 mL of
0.9% sodium chloride over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the
flow rate in gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: (1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ (8 hours × 60 minutes) = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25
→ 31 gtt/min .
, 8. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.5 g of a medication. The available dose is
250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablets
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: C. 2 tablets
Rationale: First convert grams to milligrams: 0.5 g = 500 mg. Then divide: 500 mg
÷ 250 mg = 2 tablets .
9. A nurse is administering a liquid oral medication to an infant. Where should
the nurse place the medication?
A. On the anterior portion of the tongue
B. Between the gum and cheek
C. In the back of the throat
D. Under the tongue
Answer: B. Between the gum and cheek
Rationale: To prevent aspiration in infants, the medication should be directed
toward the inside of the cheek (buccal pouch), allowing the infant to swallow
safely .
10. A nurse is performing the third check of medication administration for
hydromorphone (Dilaudid), a Schedule II controlled substance. After opening the
unit-dose packet, the client refuses to take it. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A. Return the intact medication to the automated dispensing cabinet
B. Dispose of the medication in the sharps container and document wasting
QUESTIONS AND 100- Verified ANSWERS JUST
RELEASED
SECTION 1: PHARMACOKINETICS, PHARMACODYNAMICS & MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a long half-life of 4
days. How many times per day should the nurse expect to administer this
medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: A. One
Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between
doses for extended periods, so they are typically administered once daily .
2. A nurse is teaching a client about the "first-pass effect." Which route of
administration is most affected by this process?
A. Intravenous
B. Sublingual
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Answer: C. Oral
Rationale: Oral medications are absorbed in the GI tract and travel to the liver via
the portal vein, where a significant portion may be metabolized before reaching
systemic circulation .
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client who has a history
of renal failure. Which pharmacokinetic process should the nurse expect to be
most affected?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
Answer: D. Excretion
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs responsible for the excretion of
drugs and their metabolites. Impaired renal function leads to decreased drug
clearance and a high risk for toxicity .
4. A nurse is reviewing a client's medication record and notes a prescription for a
"trough level." When should the nurse schedule the blood draw?
A. 30 minutes after the dose is administered
B. Exactly midway between doses
C. 15 minutes before the next dose
D. 2 hours after the start of the infusion
Answer: C. 15 minutes before the next dose
Rationale: The trough level represents the lowest concentration of the drug in the
bloodstream and is measured immediately (usually 15–30 minutes) before the
next scheduled dose .
5. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult
client who has a BMI of 32. Which needle length should the nurse select?
A. 5/8 inch
B. 1 inch
,C. 1½ inches
D. 2 inches
Answer: C. 1½ inches
Rationale: For an obese client, a longer needle (1.5 inches) is required to ensure
the medication reaches the muscle tissue rather than staying in the subcutaneous
fat .
6. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via the transdermal route.
Which action is correct?
A. Apply the patch to a hairless area of skin
B. Apply the patch to the same site every day
C. Cut the patch if the dose is too high
D. Apply the patch to an area with broken skin
Answer: A. Apply the patch to a hairless area of skin
Rationale: Transdermal patches should be applied to a hairless area of intact skin
to promote absorption. The site should be rotated to prevent skin irritation, and
patches should not be cut .
7. A nurse is calculating the IV flow rate for a client who is to receive 1,000 mL of
0.9% sodium chloride over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the
flow rate in gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number.)
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 63 gtt/min
Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Rationale: (1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ (8 hours × 60 minutes) = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25
→ 31 gtt/min .
, 8. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.5 g of a medication. The available dose is
250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablets
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Answer: C. 2 tablets
Rationale: First convert grams to milligrams: 0.5 g = 500 mg. Then divide: 500 mg
÷ 250 mg = 2 tablets .
9. A nurse is administering a liquid oral medication to an infant. Where should
the nurse place the medication?
A. On the anterior portion of the tongue
B. Between the gum and cheek
C. In the back of the throat
D. Under the tongue
Answer: B. Between the gum and cheek
Rationale: To prevent aspiration in infants, the medication should be directed
toward the inside of the cheek (buccal pouch), allowing the infant to swallow
safely .
10. A nurse is performing the third check of medication administration for
hydromorphone (Dilaudid), a Schedule II controlled substance. After opening the
unit-dose packet, the client refuses to take it. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A. Return the intact medication to the automated dispensing cabinet
B. Dispose of the medication in the sharps container and document wasting
