ATI PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED TEST BANK
LATEST 2023-2024 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|AGRADE
Section 1: Cardiovascular Medications
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which assessment
should the nurse prioritize before administration?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Apical pulse rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Urine output
Answer: B
Rationale: Digoxin slows heart rate. Checking the apical pulse for 1 full minute is critical to
ensure it is above 60 bpm before administration. Hold the dose and notify the provider if
bradycardia is present .
2. A patient on warfarin has an INR of 5.2. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer vitamin K
B. Hold the next dose
C. Increase the dose
D. Draw aPTT
Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic INR range is 2–3 for most indications. An INR of 5.2 indicates
excessive anticoagulation and risk for bleeding. The nurse should hold the next dose and notify
the provider. Vitamin K may be ordered but is not the immediate independent nursing action .
3. A nurse is administering lisinopril. Which adverse effect requires immediate reporting?
A. Dry cough
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Angioedema
D. Fatigue
Answer: C
Rationale: Angioedema (swelling of the lips, tongue, or airway) can compromise breathing and
is a life-threatening reaction to ACE inhibitors. Dry cough is common but not emergent .
,4. Which medication requires monitoring for ototoxicity?
A. Furosemide
B. Metoprolol
C. Omeprazole
D. Heparin
Answer: A
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide can cause ototoxicity, especially at high doses or with
rapid IV administration. Tinnitus or hearing loss should be reported immediately .
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription for lisinopril. For
which adverse effect should the nurse monitor?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Tinnitus
D. Hypotension
Answer: D
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that lowers blood pressure. Hypotension is a common
adverse effect, especially with the first dose .
6. A client receiving heparin for DVT develops petechiae. What should the nurse do first?
A. Continue the infusion
B. Stop the heparin
C. Administer protamine sulfate
D. Notify the provider
Answer: D
Rationale: Petechiae indicate possible heparin-induced thrombocytopenia or bleeding. The
nurse should notify the provider for further evaluation (platelet count, aPTT). Stopping heparin
or giving protamine sulfate requires a provider's order .
7. A nurse is reviewing labs for a client prescribed warfarin. Which test should the nurse
review before administration?
A. BUN
B. PT
C. WBC
D. Total iron-binding capacity
, Answer: B
Rationale: Prothrombin time (PT) and INR are used to monitor the therapeutic range and safety
of warfarin .
8. A client on digoxin has a new prescription for furosemide. The nurse should monitor for
which adverse effect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Digoxin toxicity
C. Hypertension
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide causes hypokalemia, which increases the risk of digoxin toxicity. Monitor
potassium and digoxin levels .
9. Which instruction is correct for sublingual nitroglycerin?
A. Swallow immediately
B. Chew tablet
C. Place under tongue and avoid swallowing
D. Take with food
Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve.
Swallowing the tablet reduces its effectiveness because it undergoes first-pass metabolism .
10. A nurse is teaching a client who has angina a new prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin
tablets. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Keep the tablets in a plastic pill organizer."
B. "Take up to 3 tablets every 5 minutes for chest pain."
C. "Store the tablets in the refrigerator."
D. "Replace the tablets every 2 years."
Answer: B
Rationale: For acute angina, the client may take 1 tablet sublingually every 5 minutes for up to 3
doses. If chest pain persists after 3 doses, seek emergency care. Nitroglycerin should be stored
in the original glass bottle, not plastic .
Section 2: Endocrine & Diabetes Medications
LATEST 2023-2024 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|AGRADE
Section 1: Cardiovascular Medications
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which assessment
should the nurse prioritize before administration?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Apical pulse rate
C. Respiratory rate
D. Urine output
Answer: B
Rationale: Digoxin slows heart rate. Checking the apical pulse for 1 full minute is critical to
ensure it is above 60 bpm before administration. Hold the dose and notify the provider if
bradycardia is present .
2. A patient on warfarin has an INR of 5.2. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer vitamin K
B. Hold the next dose
C. Increase the dose
D. Draw aPTT
Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic INR range is 2–3 for most indications. An INR of 5.2 indicates
excessive anticoagulation and risk for bleeding. The nurse should hold the next dose and notify
the provider. Vitamin K may be ordered but is not the immediate independent nursing action .
3. A nurse is administering lisinopril. Which adverse effect requires immediate reporting?
A. Dry cough
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Angioedema
D. Fatigue
Answer: C
Rationale: Angioedema (swelling of the lips, tongue, or airway) can compromise breathing and
is a life-threatening reaction to ACE inhibitors. Dry cough is common but not emergent .
,4. Which medication requires monitoring for ototoxicity?
A. Furosemide
B. Metoprolol
C. Omeprazole
D. Heparin
Answer: A
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide can cause ototoxicity, especially at high doses or with
rapid IV administration. Tinnitus or hearing loss should be reported immediately .
5. A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription for lisinopril. For
which adverse effect should the nurse monitor?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Tinnitus
D. Hypotension
Answer: D
Rationale: Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that lowers blood pressure. Hypotension is a common
adverse effect, especially with the first dose .
6. A client receiving heparin for DVT develops petechiae. What should the nurse do first?
A. Continue the infusion
B. Stop the heparin
C. Administer protamine sulfate
D. Notify the provider
Answer: D
Rationale: Petechiae indicate possible heparin-induced thrombocytopenia or bleeding. The
nurse should notify the provider for further evaluation (platelet count, aPTT). Stopping heparin
or giving protamine sulfate requires a provider's order .
7. A nurse is reviewing labs for a client prescribed warfarin. Which test should the nurse
review before administration?
A. BUN
B. PT
C. WBC
D. Total iron-binding capacity
, Answer: B
Rationale: Prothrombin time (PT) and INR are used to monitor the therapeutic range and safety
of warfarin .
8. A client on digoxin has a new prescription for furosemide. The nurse should monitor for
which adverse effect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Digoxin toxicity
C. Hypertension
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide causes hypokalemia, which increases the risk of digoxin toxicity. Monitor
potassium and digoxin levels .
9. Which instruction is correct for sublingual nitroglycerin?
A. Swallow immediately
B. Chew tablet
C. Place under tongue and avoid swallowing
D. Take with food
Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve.
Swallowing the tablet reduces its effectiveness because it undergoes first-pass metabolism .
10. A nurse is teaching a client who has angina a new prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin
tablets. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Keep the tablets in a plastic pill organizer."
B. "Take up to 3 tablets every 5 minutes for chest pain."
C. "Store the tablets in the refrigerator."
D. "Replace the tablets every 2 years."
Answer: B
Rationale: For acute angina, the client may take 1 tablet sublingually every 5 minutes for up to 3
doses. If chest pain persists after 3 doses, seek emergency care. Nitroglycerin should be stored
in the original glass bottle, not plastic .
Section 2: Endocrine & Diabetes Medications
