ATI Pharmacology Practice A Questions
& solved Answers
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?
A. Constipation
B. Drowsiness
C. Facial flushing
D. Itching - ANSWER-Answer: A
A. 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.
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?
A. Diastolic BP
B. Systolic BP
C. Heart rate
D. Respiratory rate - ANSWER-Answer: C
C. Digoxin slows the conduction rate through the SA and AV nodes, thereby decreasing
the heart rate. The nurse should withhold the medication and notify the provider for a
heart rate of 55/min because this is an early indication of digoxin toxicity.
A nurse is caring for a client who received 0.9% sodium chloride 1 L over 4 hr instead of
over 8 hr as prescribed. Which of the following information should the nurse enter as a
complete documentation of the incident?
A. IV fluid infused over 4 hr instead of the prescribed 8 hr. Client tolerated fluids well,
provider notified.
B. 0.9% sodium chloride 1 L IV infused over 4 hr. Vital signs stable, provider notified.
C. 1 L of 0.9% sodium chloride completed at 0900. Client denies shortness of breath.
D. IV fluid initiated at 0500. Lungs clear to auscultation. - ANSWER-Answer: B
,B. The nurse should document the type and amount of fluid, how long it took to infuse,
provider notification, and the client's physical status.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has peptic ulcer disease and is to start a
new prescription for sucralfate. Which of the following actions of sucralfate should the
nurse include in the teaching?
A. Decreases stomach acid secretion
B. Neutralizes acids in the stomach
C. Forms a protective barrier over ulcers
D. Treats ulcers by eradicating H. pylori - ANSWER-Answer: C
C. Secretions by the parietal and chief cells, hydrochloric acid and pepsin, can further
irritate the ulcerated areas. Sucralfate, a mucosal protectant, forms a gel-like substance
that coats the ulcer, creating a barrier to hydrochloric acid and pepsin.
A nurse is reviewing the ECG of a client who is receiving IV furosemide for heart failure.
The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of
hypokalemia?
A. Tall, tented T-waves
B. Presence of U-waves
C. Widened QRS complex
D. ST elevation - ANSWER-Answer: B
B. The nurse should identify the presence of U-waves as a manifestation of
hypokalemia, an adverse effect of furosemide.
A nurse on the acute care unit is caring for a client who is receiving gentamicin IV. The
nurse should report which of the following findings to the provider as an adverse effect
of the medication?
A. Constipation
B. Tinnitus
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Joint pain - ANSWER-Answer: B
B. Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin, are ototoxic, which can manifest as tinnitus
and deafness. The nurse should monitor the client for high-pitched ringing in the ears
and headaches and should notify the provider if these occur.
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin subcutaneously to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A. Administer the medication outside the 5-cm (2-in) radius of the umbilicus.
B. Aspirate for blood return before injecting.
C. Rub vigorously after the injection to promote absorption.
, D. Place a pressure dressing on the injection site to prevent bleeding. - ANSWER-
Answer: A
A. The nurse should administer the heparin by subcutaneous injection to the abdomen
in an area that is above the iliac crest and at least 5 cm (2 in) away from the umbilicus.
A nurse at an urgent care clinic is collecting a history from a female client who has a
urinary tract infection. The nurse anticipates a prescription for ciprofloxacin. The nurse
should identify that which of the following client statements indicates a contraindication
for administering this medication?
A. "I have tendonitis, so I haven't been able to exercise."
B. "I take a stool softener for chronic constipation."
C. "I take medicine for my thyroid."
D. "I am allergic to sulfa." - ANSWER-Answer; A
A. The nurse should identify tendonitis as a contraindication for taking ciprofloxacin due
to the risk of tendon rupture.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client who is receiving heparin via
continuous IV infusion for deep-vein thrombosis. The nurse should discontinue the
medication infusion for which of the following client findings?
A. Potassium 5.0 mEq/ L
B. aPTT 2 times the control
C. Hemoglobin 15 g/dL
D. Platelets 96,000/mm3 - ANSWER-Answer: D
D. A platelet count of 96,000/mm3 is below the expected range of 150,000 to
400,000/mm3. A platelet count less than 100,000/mm3 while receiving heparin can
indicate heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, a potentially fatal condition that requires
stopping the infusion.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor. The client is receiving oxytocin by
continuous IV infusion with a maintenance IV solution. The external FHR monitor
indicates late decelerations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Turn the client to a side-lying position.
B. Disconnect the client's oxytocin from the maintenance IV.
C. Apply oxygen to the client by face mask.
D. Increase the client's maintenance IV infusion rate. - ANSWER-Answer: A
A. The greatest risk to the fetus experiencing late decelerations is injury from
uteroplacental insufficiency. Therefore, the priority action the nurse should take is to
place the client in a lateral position.
& solved Answers
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?
A. Constipation
B. Drowsiness
C. Facial flushing
D. Itching - ANSWER-Answer: A
A. 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.
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?
A. Diastolic BP
B. Systolic BP
C. Heart rate
D. Respiratory rate - ANSWER-Answer: C
C. Digoxin slows the conduction rate through the SA and AV nodes, thereby decreasing
the heart rate. The nurse should withhold the medication and notify the provider for a
heart rate of 55/min because this is an early indication of digoxin toxicity.
A nurse is caring for a client who received 0.9% sodium chloride 1 L over 4 hr instead of
over 8 hr as prescribed. Which of the following information should the nurse enter as a
complete documentation of the incident?
A. IV fluid infused over 4 hr instead of the prescribed 8 hr. Client tolerated fluids well,
provider notified.
B. 0.9% sodium chloride 1 L IV infused over 4 hr. Vital signs stable, provider notified.
C. 1 L of 0.9% sodium chloride completed at 0900. Client denies shortness of breath.
D. IV fluid initiated at 0500. Lungs clear to auscultation. - ANSWER-Answer: B
,B. The nurse should document the type and amount of fluid, how long it took to infuse,
provider notification, and the client's physical status.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has peptic ulcer disease and is to start a
new prescription for sucralfate. Which of the following actions of sucralfate should the
nurse include in the teaching?
A. Decreases stomach acid secretion
B. Neutralizes acids in the stomach
C. Forms a protective barrier over ulcers
D. Treats ulcers by eradicating H. pylori - ANSWER-Answer: C
C. Secretions by the parietal and chief cells, hydrochloric acid and pepsin, can further
irritate the ulcerated areas. Sucralfate, a mucosal protectant, forms a gel-like substance
that coats the ulcer, creating a barrier to hydrochloric acid and pepsin.
A nurse is reviewing the ECG of a client who is receiving IV furosemide for heart failure.
The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication of
hypokalemia?
A. Tall, tented T-waves
B. Presence of U-waves
C. Widened QRS complex
D. ST elevation - ANSWER-Answer: B
B. The nurse should identify the presence of U-waves as a manifestation of
hypokalemia, an adverse effect of furosemide.
A nurse on the acute care unit is caring for a client who is receiving gentamicin IV. The
nurse should report which of the following findings to the provider as an adverse effect
of the medication?
A. Constipation
B. Tinnitus
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Joint pain - ANSWER-Answer: B
B. Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin, are ototoxic, which can manifest as tinnitus
and deafness. The nurse should monitor the client for high-pitched ringing in the ears
and headaches and should notify the provider if these occur.
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin subcutaneously to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A. Administer the medication outside the 5-cm (2-in) radius of the umbilicus.
B. Aspirate for blood return before injecting.
C. Rub vigorously after the injection to promote absorption.
, D. Place a pressure dressing on the injection site to prevent bleeding. - ANSWER-
Answer: A
A. The nurse should administer the heparin by subcutaneous injection to the abdomen
in an area that is above the iliac crest and at least 5 cm (2 in) away from the umbilicus.
A nurse at an urgent care clinic is collecting a history from a female client who has a
urinary tract infection. The nurse anticipates a prescription for ciprofloxacin. The nurse
should identify that which of the following client statements indicates a contraindication
for administering this medication?
A. "I have tendonitis, so I haven't been able to exercise."
B. "I take a stool softener for chronic constipation."
C. "I take medicine for my thyroid."
D. "I am allergic to sulfa." - ANSWER-Answer; A
A. The nurse should identify tendonitis as a contraindication for taking ciprofloxacin due
to the risk of tendon rupture.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client who is receiving heparin via
continuous IV infusion for deep-vein thrombosis. The nurse should discontinue the
medication infusion for which of the following client findings?
A. Potassium 5.0 mEq/ L
B. aPTT 2 times the control
C. Hemoglobin 15 g/dL
D. Platelets 96,000/mm3 - ANSWER-Answer: D
D. A platelet count of 96,000/mm3 is below the expected range of 150,000 to
400,000/mm3. A platelet count less than 100,000/mm3 while receiving heparin can
indicate heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, a potentially fatal condition that requires
stopping the infusion.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor. The client is receiving oxytocin by
continuous IV infusion with a maintenance IV solution. The external FHR monitor
indicates late decelerations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Turn the client to a side-lying position.
B. Disconnect the client's oxytocin from the maintenance IV.
C. Apply oxygen to the client by face mask.
D. Increase the client's maintenance IV infusion rate. - ANSWER-Answer: A
A. The greatest risk to the fetus experiencing late decelerations is injury from
uteroplacental insufficiency. Therefore, the priority action the nurse should take is to
place the client in a lateral position.
