ATI Pharm Practice Exam 2024-2025 with
rationales
A nurse receives a verbal order from the provider to administer morphine five
milligrams every 4 hours subcutaneously for severe pain as needed. The nurse
should identify which of the following entries as the correct format for the MAR?
(Missed)
-MSO4 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain
-Morphine 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain
-MSO4 5 mg SQ every 4 hr PRN severe pain
-Morphine 5.0 mg subcutaneously every 4 hr PRN severe pain - ANSWER-
Morphine 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain
The nurse should identify this entry as the correct format for the MAR. The
medication name is spelled out and there are not any abbreviations from The Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" list included in the transcription.
The use of the abbreviation MSO4 is prohibited by The Joint Commission. The
medication name of morphine must be spelled out to reduce the risk for error.
The use of the abbreviations MSO4 and SQ are prohibited by The Joint
Commission. The abbreviation SQ can be mistaken for SL and, therefore, this
route should be written as subcut, SUBQ, or subcutaneously.
The trailing zero on 5.0 can be mistaken for 50 if the decimal point is missed.
Therefore, the dosage should be written as 5 mg without a trailing zero.
,A nurse is caring for a client who is taking acetazolamide for chronic open-angle
glaucoma. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse instruct the
client to monitor and report? (Missed)
-Tingling of fingers
-Constipation
-Weight gain
-Oliguria - ANSWER- Tingling of fingers
The nurse should instruct the client to report the adverse effect of paresthesia, a
tingling sensation in the extremities, when taking acetazolamide.
Diarrhea is an adverse effect of acetazolamide due to gastrointestinal disturbances.
Weight loss is an adverse effect of acetazolamide due to gastrointestinal
disturbances causing reduced appetite.
Polyuria, rather than oliguria, is an adverse effect of acetazolamide.
A nurse is instructing a client on the application of nitroglycerin patches. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
(missed)
-"I should apply a patch every 5 minutes if I develop chest pain."
-"I will take the patch off right after my evening meal."
-"I will leave the patch off at least 1 day each week."
-"I should discard the used patch by flushing it down the toilet." - ANSWER- "I
will take the patch off right after my evening meal."
,Clients should remove the patch each evening for a medication free time of 12 to
14 hr before applying a new patch to avoid developing a tolerance to the
medication's effects.
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are used to treat new onset of angina pain. A client
who uses sublingual tablets should place one tablet under their tongue at the onset
of angina pain and continue taking a tablet every 5 min for a total of three doses of
nitroglycerin. The effects of a nitroglycerin patch will take 30 to 60 min to occur
and are not useful to prevent an ongoing angina attack.
Nitroglycerin is an antianginal medication that results in dilation of the coronary
vessels. Clients should apply the patch daily to sustain prophylaxis.
Medication remains in the transdermal patch after removing it from the body and
must be discarded safely. The nurse should instruct the client to fold the patch ends
together with the medication on the inside and place the discarded patch in a closed
container so that children and pets cannot gain access to the medication.
A nurse administers a dose of metformin to a client instead of the prescribed dose
of metoclopramide. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
-Report the incident to the charge nurse.
-Notify the provider.
-Check the client's blood glucose.
-Fill out an incident report. - ANSWER- Check the client's blood glucose.
The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to assess the
client. The client is at risk for hypoglycemia. The nurse should monitor the client's
blood glucose and provide the client with a snack to reduce the risk for
hypoglycemia.
, The nurse should report the incident to the charge nurse to protect the client from
injury. However, there is another action the nurse should take first.
The nurse should notify the provider to protect the client from injury. However,
there is another action the nurse should take first.
The nurse should fill out an incident report to document the incident. However,
there is another action the nurse should take first. The incident report alerts the risk
manager to the incident, who then determines the cause and a plan of action to
reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and is taking oral morphine and
docusate sodium. The nurse should instruct the client that taking the docusate
sodium daily can minimize which of the following adverse effects of morphine?
-Constipation
-Drowsiness
-Facial flushing
-Itching - ANSWER- Constipation
Constipation is a common adverse effect of morphine that can be minimized by
taking docusate sodium, a stool softener that promotes easier evacuation of stool
by increasing water and fat in the intestine.
Drowsiness, facial flushing, and itching are not adverse effects of morphine that
can be minimized by taking docusate sodium.
A nurse is assessing a client's vital signs prior to the administration of PO digoxin.
The client's BP is 144/86 mm Hg, heart rate is 55/min, and respiratory rate is
20/min. The nurse should withhold the medication and contact the provider for
which of the following findings?
rationales
A nurse receives a verbal order from the provider to administer morphine five
milligrams every 4 hours subcutaneously for severe pain as needed. The nurse
should identify which of the following entries as the correct format for the MAR?
(Missed)
-MSO4 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain
-Morphine 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain
-MSO4 5 mg SQ every 4 hr PRN severe pain
-Morphine 5.0 mg subcutaneously every 4 hr PRN severe pain - ANSWER-
Morphine 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain
The nurse should identify this entry as the correct format for the MAR. The
medication name is spelled out and there are not any abbreviations from The Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" list included in the transcription.
The use of the abbreviation MSO4 is prohibited by The Joint Commission. The
medication name of morphine must be spelled out to reduce the risk for error.
The use of the abbreviations MSO4 and SQ are prohibited by The Joint
Commission. The abbreviation SQ can be mistaken for SL and, therefore, this
route should be written as subcut, SUBQ, or subcutaneously.
The trailing zero on 5.0 can be mistaken for 50 if the decimal point is missed.
Therefore, the dosage should be written as 5 mg without a trailing zero.
,A nurse is caring for a client who is taking acetazolamide for chronic open-angle
glaucoma. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse instruct the
client to monitor and report? (Missed)
-Tingling of fingers
-Constipation
-Weight gain
-Oliguria - ANSWER- Tingling of fingers
The nurse should instruct the client to report the adverse effect of paresthesia, a
tingling sensation in the extremities, when taking acetazolamide.
Diarrhea is an adverse effect of acetazolamide due to gastrointestinal disturbances.
Weight loss is an adverse effect of acetazolamide due to gastrointestinal
disturbances causing reduced appetite.
Polyuria, rather than oliguria, is an adverse effect of acetazolamide.
A nurse is instructing a client on the application of nitroglycerin patches. Which of
the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
(missed)
-"I should apply a patch every 5 minutes if I develop chest pain."
-"I will take the patch off right after my evening meal."
-"I will leave the patch off at least 1 day each week."
-"I should discard the used patch by flushing it down the toilet." - ANSWER- "I
will take the patch off right after my evening meal."
,Clients should remove the patch each evening for a medication free time of 12 to
14 hr before applying a new patch to avoid developing a tolerance to the
medication's effects.
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are used to treat new onset of angina pain. A client
who uses sublingual tablets should place one tablet under their tongue at the onset
of angina pain and continue taking a tablet every 5 min for a total of three doses of
nitroglycerin. The effects of a nitroglycerin patch will take 30 to 60 min to occur
and are not useful to prevent an ongoing angina attack.
Nitroglycerin is an antianginal medication that results in dilation of the coronary
vessels. Clients should apply the patch daily to sustain prophylaxis.
Medication remains in the transdermal patch after removing it from the body and
must be discarded safely. The nurse should instruct the client to fold the patch ends
together with the medication on the inside and place the discarded patch in a closed
container so that children and pets cannot gain access to the medication.
A nurse administers a dose of metformin to a client instead of the prescribed dose
of metoclopramide. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
-Report the incident to the charge nurse.
-Notify the provider.
-Check the client's blood glucose.
-Fill out an incident report. - ANSWER- Check the client's blood glucose.
The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to assess the
client. The client is at risk for hypoglycemia. The nurse should monitor the client's
blood glucose and provide the client with a snack to reduce the risk for
hypoglycemia.
, The nurse should report the incident to the charge nurse to protect the client from
injury. However, there is another action the nurse should take first.
The nurse should notify the provider to protect the client from injury. However,
there is another action the nurse should take first.
The nurse should fill out an incident report to document the incident. However,
there is another action the nurse should take first. The incident report alerts the risk
manager to the incident, who then determines the cause and a plan of action to
reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and is taking oral morphine and
docusate sodium. The nurse should instruct the client that taking the docusate
sodium daily can minimize which of the following adverse effects of morphine?
-Constipation
-Drowsiness
-Facial flushing
-Itching - ANSWER- Constipation
Constipation is a common adverse effect of morphine that can be minimized by
taking docusate sodium, a stool softener that promotes easier evacuation of stool
by increasing water and fat in the intestine.
Drowsiness, facial flushing, and itching are not adverse effects of morphine that
can be minimized by taking docusate sodium.
A nurse is assessing a client's vital signs prior to the administration of PO digoxin.
The client's BP is 144/86 mm Hg, heart rate is 55/min, and respiratory rate is
20/min. The nurse should withhold the medication and contact the provider for
which of the following findings?
