ATI Capstone Pharmacology 1 & 2 EXAM LATEST FINAL VERSION
EXAM WITH ACTUAL 300+ QUESTION AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | 2026-2027 FREQUENTLY MOST
TESTED Q&A FROM PAST PAPERS – MOST EXPECTED IN EXAM –
MUST KNOW BEFORE EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Question
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine. What assessment is the priority?
A) Blood pressure
B) Respiratory rate
C) Heart rate
D) Temperature
Expert Rationale: Respiratory rate is the priority assessment for a client receiving
morphine. Morphine is an opioid that can cause respiratory depression, which is the most
life-threatening adverse effect. The nurse should monitor respiratory rate closely,
especially during the first 24 hours of therapy and after dose increases. A respiratory rate
below 12 breaths per minute requires immediate intervention.
Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has been using beclomethasone for 2 weeks to manage
asthma. What is the priority to report to the provider?
A) Hoarseness
B) Bronchospasm
C) Dry mouth
D) Headache
Expert Rationale: Bronchospasm is the priority finding to report to the provider.
Beclomethasone is an inhaled corticosteroid used for long-term asthma control.
Paradoxical bronchospasm is a serious adverse effect that can occur with inhaled
medications and requires immediate medical attention. Hoarseness, dry mouth, and
headache are common but less urgent side effects.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a beclomethasone
,inhaler to use with an albuterol inhaler for asthma maintenance. What should the nurse
instruct?
A) Use the beclomethasone inhaler first, then the albuterol inhaler
B) Use the albuterol inhaler first, then the beclomethasone inhaler
C) Gargle with water after each use of the beclomethasone inhaler
D) Use both inhalers at the same time
Expert Rationale: The nurse should instruct the client to gargle with water after each use
of the beclomethasone inhaler. Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral candidiasis
(thrush), and rinsing the mouth helps prevent this. Additionally, when using both inhalers,
the bronchodilator (albuterol) should be used first to open the airways, followed by the
corticosteroid (beclomethasone) 5 minutes later.
Question
A nurse is planning a staff education session on adverse effects of medications. What
information should the nurse discuss about anticholinergic adverse effects?
A) Blurred vision, tachycardia, and constipation
B) Bradycardia, diarrhea, and pupil constriction
C) Hypertension, insomnia, and weight loss
D) Hypotension, bradycardia, and excessive salivation
Expert Rationale: Anticholinergic adverse effects include blurred vision (due to pupil
dilation), tachycardia, constipation, dry mouth, urinary retention, and confusion. The
mnemonic "Hot as a hare, blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet, mad as a hatter"
helps remember these effects.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for guaifenesin. What
information regarding the action of guaifenesin should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Guaifenesin suppresses the cough reflex
B) Guaifenesin increases cough production
C) Guaifenesin reduces inflammation in the airways
D) Guaifenesin dilates the bronchioles
Expert Rationale: Guaifenesin is an expectorant that increases cough production by
thinning mucus and making it easier to expectorate. It does not suppress the cough reflex
,(that is the action of antitussives like codeine), reduce inflammation (that is the action of
corticosteroids), or dilate bronchioles (that is the action of bronchodilators).
Question
A nurse is preparing to administer verapamil to a client who is 2 days post-myocardial
infarction. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following outcomes as a
therapeutic response to the medication?
A) Increased heart rate
B) Decreased anginal pain
C) Increased blood pressure
D) Decreased respiratory rate
Expert Rationale: Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat angina and
hypertension. The therapeutic response is decreased anginal pain due to reduced
myocardial oxygen demand and improved coronary blood flow. Verapamil can cause
bradycardia and hypotension, not increased heart rate or blood pressure.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for levothyroxine.
Which statement indicates understanding of the teaching?
A) "I might not realize the full effect of the medication for several weeks."
B) "I should take this medication with food to prevent stomach upset."
C) "I should stop taking this medication if I feel better."
D) "I should take this medication at bedtime."
Expert Rationale: Levothyroxine takes several weeks to reach full therapeutic effect. The
nurse should teach the client that improvement may be gradual. Levothyroxine should be
taken on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, 30-60 minutes before breakfast. It
should not be stopped abruptly, and bedtime is not the recommended administration time.
Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking digoxin. The nurse should
monitor the client for which of the following manifestations as an indication of digoxin
toxicity to report to the provider?
, A) Diarrhea
B) Vomiting
C) Increased appetite
D) Hypertension
Expert Rationale: Vomiting is a common manifestation of digoxin toxicity, along with
nausea, anorexia, and blurred vision. Digoxin toxicity can also cause cardiac arrhythmias.
The nurse should monitor for these signs and report them to the provider immediately.
Diarrhea is less common; increased appetite and hypertension are not signs of digoxin
toxicity.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching for a patient with a prescription for oral metronidazole. What
is the priority teaching point?
A) You should report a rash to your provider
B) You should avoid sunlight while taking this medication
C) You should take this medication with food
D) You should increase your fluid intake
Expert Rationale: The priority teaching point for metronidazole is to report a rash to the
provider. Metronidazole can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare but fatal disorder
characterized by rash, blisters, and mucosal lesions. Other important teaching points
include avoiding alcohol (disulfiram-like reaction) and taking with food to reduce GI upset.
Question
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who has a new prescription for
codeine for cough suppression. What is the priority instruction?
A) Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication
B) Move slowly when standing from a lying down position
C) Take this medication on an empty stomach
D) Increase your fluid intake while taking this medication
Expert Rationale: The priority instruction is to move slowly when standing from a lying
down position. Codeine can cause orthostatic hypotension, and moving slowly helps
prevent falls. Other important instructions include avoiding alcohol (respiratory
depression), taking with food to prevent nausea, and increasing fluids to prevent
constipation.
EXAM WITH ACTUAL 300+ QUESTION AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | 2026-2027 FREQUENTLY MOST
TESTED Q&A FROM PAST PAPERS – MOST EXPECTED IN EXAM –
MUST KNOW BEFORE EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Question
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine. What assessment is the priority?
A) Blood pressure
B) Respiratory rate
C) Heart rate
D) Temperature
Expert Rationale: Respiratory rate is the priority assessment for a client receiving
morphine. Morphine is an opioid that can cause respiratory depression, which is the most
life-threatening adverse effect. The nurse should monitor respiratory rate closely,
especially during the first 24 hours of therapy and after dose increases. A respiratory rate
below 12 breaths per minute requires immediate intervention.
Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has been using beclomethasone for 2 weeks to manage
asthma. What is the priority to report to the provider?
A) Hoarseness
B) Bronchospasm
C) Dry mouth
D) Headache
Expert Rationale: Bronchospasm is the priority finding to report to the provider.
Beclomethasone is an inhaled corticosteroid used for long-term asthma control.
Paradoxical bronchospasm is a serious adverse effect that can occur with inhaled
medications and requires immediate medical attention. Hoarseness, dry mouth, and
headache are common but less urgent side effects.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a beclomethasone
,inhaler to use with an albuterol inhaler for asthma maintenance. What should the nurse
instruct?
A) Use the beclomethasone inhaler first, then the albuterol inhaler
B) Use the albuterol inhaler first, then the beclomethasone inhaler
C) Gargle with water after each use of the beclomethasone inhaler
D) Use both inhalers at the same time
Expert Rationale: The nurse should instruct the client to gargle with water after each use
of the beclomethasone inhaler. Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral candidiasis
(thrush), and rinsing the mouth helps prevent this. Additionally, when using both inhalers,
the bronchodilator (albuterol) should be used first to open the airways, followed by the
corticosteroid (beclomethasone) 5 minutes later.
Question
A nurse is planning a staff education session on adverse effects of medications. What
information should the nurse discuss about anticholinergic adverse effects?
A) Blurred vision, tachycardia, and constipation
B) Bradycardia, diarrhea, and pupil constriction
C) Hypertension, insomnia, and weight loss
D) Hypotension, bradycardia, and excessive salivation
Expert Rationale: Anticholinergic adverse effects include blurred vision (due to pupil
dilation), tachycardia, constipation, dry mouth, urinary retention, and confusion. The
mnemonic "Hot as a hare, blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet, mad as a hatter"
helps remember these effects.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for guaifenesin. What
information regarding the action of guaifenesin should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Guaifenesin suppresses the cough reflex
B) Guaifenesin increases cough production
C) Guaifenesin reduces inflammation in the airways
D) Guaifenesin dilates the bronchioles
Expert Rationale: Guaifenesin is an expectorant that increases cough production by
thinning mucus and making it easier to expectorate. It does not suppress the cough reflex
,(that is the action of antitussives like codeine), reduce inflammation (that is the action of
corticosteroids), or dilate bronchioles (that is the action of bronchodilators).
Question
A nurse is preparing to administer verapamil to a client who is 2 days post-myocardial
infarction. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following outcomes as a
therapeutic response to the medication?
A) Increased heart rate
B) Decreased anginal pain
C) Increased blood pressure
D) Decreased respiratory rate
Expert Rationale: Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat angina and
hypertension. The therapeutic response is decreased anginal pain due to reduced
myocardial oxygen demand and improved coronary blood flow. Verapamil can cause
bradycardia and hypotension, not increased heart rate or blood pressure.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for levothyroxine.
Which statement indicates understanding of the teaching?
A) "I might not realize the full effect of the medication for several weeks."
B) "I should take this medication with food to prevent stomach upset."
C) "I should stop taking this medication if I feel better."
D) "I should take this medication at bedtime."
Expert Rationale: Levothyroxine takes several weeks to reach full therapeutic effect. The
nurse should teach the client that improvement may be gradual. Levothyroxine should be
taken on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, 30-60 minutes before breakfast. It
should not be stopped abruptly, and bedtime is not the recommended administration time.
Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking digoxin. The nurse should
monitor the client for which of the following manifestations as an indication of digoxin
toxicity to report to the provider?
, A) Diarrhea
B) Vomiting
C) Increased appetite
D) Hypertension
Expert Rationale: Vomiting is a common manifestation of digoxin toxicity, along with
nausea, anorexia, and blurred vision. Digoxin toxicity can also cause cardiac arrhythmias.
The nurse should monitor for these signs and report them to the provider immediately.
Diarrhea is less common; increased appetite and hypertension are not signs of digoxin
toxicity.
Question
A nurse is providing teaching for a patient with a prescription for oral metronidazole. What
is the priority teaching point?
A) You should report a rash to your provider
B) You should avoid sunlight while taking this medication
C) You should take this medication with food
D) You should increase your fluid intake
Expert Rationale: The priority teaching point for metronidazole is to report a rash to the
provider. Metronidazole can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare but fatal disorder
characterized by rash, blisters, and mucosal lesions. Other important teaching points
include avoiding alcohol (disulfiram-like reaction) and taking with food to reduce GI upset.
Question
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who has a new prescription for
codeine for cough suppression. What is the priority instruction?
A) Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication
B) Move slowly when standing from a lying down position
C) Take this medication on an empty stomach
D) Increase your fluid intake while taking this medication
Expert Rationale: The priority instruction is to move slowly when standing from a lying
down position. Codeine can cause orthostatic hypotension, and moving slowly helps
prevent falls. Other important instructions include avoiding alcohol (respiratory
depression), taking with food to prevent nausea, and increasing fluids to prevent
constipation.
