2026 ATI RN Pharmacology Proctored Exam Practice Test
Bank | Level 3 Master Study Guide |Original Questions &
Detailed Clinical Rationales
Secure a Level 3 proficiency rating on your proctored specialty assessment with this
comprehensive 2026 ATI RN Pharmacology master practice test bank containing
original exam-style multiple-choice questions. Master high-yield nursing
pharmacology domains, including dosage calculation safety, pharmacokinetics,
critical drug antidotes, adverse reaction profiles, and Next Generation NCLEX
(NGN) clinical judgment items. Every verified question features a highly thorough
clinical rationale to sharpen your prescriptive reasoning, eliminate testing anxiety, and
guarantee top marks on your proctored exam.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin glulisine to a client. When should the
nurse administer this medication?
A. 15 minutes before meals
B. 30 minutes before meals
C. 1 hour before meals
D. At bedtime
A. 15 minutes before meals
Insulin glulisine is a rapid-acting insulin that should be administered within 15 minutes
before meals or immediately after eating to match peak action with food absorption.
2. A nurse is caring for a client receiving intravenous potassium chloride. Which
finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Serum potassium of 4.0 mEq/L
B. Urine output of 15 mL/hr
C. Blood pressure of 118/76 mm Hg
D. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
B. Urine output of 15 mL/hr
,Potassium chloride should not be administered when urine output is less than 30 mL/hr
because of the risk of hyperkalemia. The nurse should hold the infusion and notify the
provider.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of levodopa-carbidopa. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with a high-protein meal."
B. "Report any darkening of urine or sweat."
C. "Take this medication at bedtime."
D. "Stop the medication if you feel better."
B. "Report any darkening of urine or sweat."
Levodopa-carbidopa can cause darkening of urine, sweat, and saliva. Clients should be
informed that this is a harmless effect but should still report it to the provider.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer IV phenytoin. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Administer rapidly over 5 minutes
B. Mix with dextrose 5% in water
C. Administer with normal saline and a filter
D. Administer via IV push over 1 minute
C. Administer with normal saline and a filter
Phenytoin must be administered with normal saline, not dextrose, and should be given
with a filter. It should be infused no faster than 50 mg/min to prevent hypotension and
dysrhythmias.
5. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of allopurinol. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
,A. "Drink at least 2 liters of water daily."
B. "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
C. "Stop the medication when joint pain resolves."
D. "Avoid all dairy products."
A. "Drink at least 2 liters of water daily."
Allopurinol is used for gout and can cause kidney stone formation. Adequate hydration
helps prevent crystalluria and stone formation.
6. A nurse is caring for a client receiving intravenous magnesium sulfate for
preeclampsia. Which finding indicates magnesium toxicity?
A. Blood pressure of 138/88 mm Hg
B. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
C. Deep tendon reflexes of 2+
D. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
B. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
Magnesium sulfate can cause respiratory depression. A respiratory rate below 12
breaths/min indicates toxicity and requires immediate intervention. Calcium gluconate is
the antidote.
7. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of methotrexate. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with food."
B. "Avoid alcohol while taking this medication."
C. "This medication has no side effects."
D. "You can receive live vaccines while taking this medication."
B. "Avoid alcohol while taking this medication."
Methotrexate is hepatotoxic, and alcohol increases the risk of liver damage. Clients should
avoid alcohol and report any signs of hepatotoxicity.
, 8. A nurse is preparing to administer naloxone to a client. Which finding indicates
a therapeutic response?
A. Increased respiratory rate
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Decreased urine output
A. Increased respiratory rate
Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression. An increased respiratory rate
indicates a therapeutic response.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of nitrofurantoin. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with food."
B. "This medication can cause brown discoloration of urine."
C. "This medication has no side effects."
D. "This medication is safe during pregnancy."
B. "This medication can cause brown discoloration of urine."
Nitrofurantoin can cause brown discoloration of urine. Clients should be informed that this
is a harmless effect.
10. A nurse is caring for a client receiving oxytocin. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Uterine contractions every 3 minutes
B. Fetal heart rate of 110 beats/min
C. Uterine hyperstimulation
D. Blood pressure of 118/76 mm Hg
Bank | Level 3 Master Study Guide |Original Questions &
Detailed Clinical Rationales
Secure a Level 3 proficiency rating on your proctored specialty assessment with this
comprehensive 2026 ATI RN Pharmacology master practice test bank containing
original exam-style multiple-choice questions. Master high-yield nursing
pharmacology domains, including dosage calculation safety, pharmacokinetics,
critical drug antidotes, adverse reaction profiles, and Next Generation NCLEX
(NGN) clinical judgment items. Every verified question features a highly thorough
clinical rationale to sharpen your prescriptive reasoning, eliminate testing anxiety, and
guarantee top marks on your proctored exam.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin glulisine to a client. When should the
nurse administer this medication?
A. 15 minutes before meals
B. 30 minutes before meals
C. 1 hour before meals
D. At bedtime
A. 15 minutes before meals
Insulin glulisine is a rapid-acting insulin that should be administered within 15 minutes
before meals or immediately after eating to match peak action with food absorption.
2. A nurse is caring for a client receiving intravenous potassium chloride. Which
finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Serum potassium of 4.0 mEq/L
B. Urine output of 15 mL/hr
C. Blood pressure of 118/76 mm Hg
D. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
B. Urine output of 15 mL/hr
,Potassium chloride should not be administered when urine output is less than 30 mL/hr
because of the risk of hyperkalemia. The nurse should hold the infusion and notify the
provider.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of levodopa-carbidopa. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with a high-protein meal."
B. "Report any darkening of urine or sweat."
C. "Take this medication at bedtime."
D. "Stop the medication if you feel better."
B. "Report any darkening of urine or sweat."
Levodopa-carbidopa can cause darkening of urine, sweat, and saliva. Clients should be
informed that this is a harmless effect but should still report it to the provider.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer IV phenytoin. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Administer rapidly over 5 minutes
B. Mix with dextrose 5% in water
C. Administer with normal saline and a filter
D. Administer via IV push over 1 minute
C. Administer with normal saline and a filter
Phenytoin must be administered with normal saline, not dextrose, and should be given
with a filter. It should be infused no faster than 50 mg/min to prevent hypotension and
dysrhythmias.
5. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of allopurinol. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
,A. "Drink at least 2 liters of water daily."
B. "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
C. "Stop the medication when joint pain resolves."
D. "Avoid all dairy products."
A. "Drink at least 2 liters of water daily."
Allopurinol is used for gout and can cause kidney stone formation. Adequate hydration
helps prevent crystalluria and stone formation.
6. A nurse is caring for a client receiving intravenous magnesium sulfate for
preeclampsia. Which finding indicates magnesium toxicity?
A. Blood pressure of 138/88 mm Hg
B. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
C. Deep tendon reflexes of 2+
D. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
B. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
Magnesium sulfate can cause respiratory depression. A respiratory rate below 12
breaths/min indicates toxicity and requires immediate intervention. Calcium gluconate is
the antidote.
7. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of methotrexate. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with food."
B. "Avoid alcohol while taking this medication."
C. "This medication has no side effects."
D. "You can receive live vaccines while taking this medication."
B. "Avoid alcohol while taking this medication."
Methotrexate is hepatotoxic, and alcohol increases the risk of liver damage. Clients should
avoid alcohol and report any signs of hepatotoxicity.
, 8. A nurse is preparing to administer naloxone to a client. Which finding indicates
a therapeutic response?
A. Increased respiratory rate
B. Decreased heart rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Decreased urine output
A. Increased respiratory rate
Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression. An increased respiratory rate
indicates a therapeutic response.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of nitrofurantoin. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with food."
B. "This medication can cause brown discoloration of urine."
C. "This medication has no side effects."
D. "This medication is safe during pregnancy."
B. "This medication can cause brown discoloration of urine."
Nitrofurantoin can cause brown discoloration of urine. Clients should be informed that this
is a harmless effect.
10. A nurse is caring for a client receiving oxytocin. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Uterine contractions every 3 minutes
B. Fetal heart rate of 110 beats/min
C. Uterine hyperstimulation
D. Blood pressure of 118/76 mm Hg
