ATI PN Pharmacology Online Practice A Exam
Questions & Answers
A nurse is planning to reinforce teaching about newborn immunizations with a client who is 24 hr
postpartum. Which of the following information should the nurse plan to include? - ANS ✔ - "Your
baby will receive the first hepatitis B vaccine before discharge."
The newborn should receive the first hepatitis B vaccine at birth, with the next dose at age 1 to 2
months.
A client comes to an urgent care clinic and announces with great enthusiasm, "I am an expert at all
things medical as they apply to me, and I require zolpidem." The client's pupils are dilated, along
with an elevated heart rate and blood pressure level. The nurse should suspect intoxication with
which of the following substances? - ANS ✔ - Cocaine
The client who has cocaine toxicity typically has tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils,
and displays delusions. This client's behavior and physiological data indicate cocaine intoxication.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving 0.9% sodium chloride 1,000 mL to infuse over 8 hr. The
drop factor on the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should ensure that the manual IV
infusion is set to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a
leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) - ANS ✔ - 31 gtt/min
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for alendronate. Which of the
following client responses indicates to the nurse an understanding of the teaching? - ANS ✔ - "I will
take the medication with 8 ounces of water."
The client should take alendronate on an empty stomach with 240 mL (8 oz) of water to ensure it
does not lodge in the esophagus, which can result in esophageal ulcerations.
A nurse is monitoring a client who has been receiving long-term hydrochlorothiazide therapy for
recurring episodes of heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an
adverse effect of this medication? - ANS ✔ - Hypokalemia
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that can cause hypokalemia due to excessive potassium
excretion in the urine.
1|Page
,A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for omeprazole oral
capsules. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? - ANS ✔ - Swallow the
medication whole.
The nurse should instruct the client to swallow the capsules or tablets whole and not chew or crush
them. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, blocks the secretion of gastric acid. It is available in
delayed-release capsules and over the counter in delayed-release tablets, as well as suspensions and
powders.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about comfort measures with the guardian of a 10-year-old child who
has a viral infection. The nurse should plan to tell the parent that aspirin is contraindicated because
of the risk for which of the following conditions? - ANS ✔ - Reye syndrome
Aspirin is contraindicated for children and adolescents who have a viral illness because it increases
the risk for the development of Reye syndrome.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for an IM injection of penicillin G benzathine. The
client asks why the injection must be given IM instead of through the IV line. Which of the following
responses should the nurse make? - ANS ✔ - "Your medication can't be given IV because it is not
water-soluble."
The nurse should inform the client this type of penicillin has poor water solubility and is never
administered intravenously.
A nurse is performing the third check before administering hydromorphone to a client. After opening
the unit-dose packet, the client tells the nurse they do not want to take the medication now. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANS ✔ - Dispose of the medication with a second
nurse as a witness.
The nurse is legally required to have a witness when disposing of a controlled substance.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about using metoprolol to treat
hypertension. Which of the following conditions should the nurse include as a contraindication for
this medication? - ANS ✔ - Bradycardia
Metoprolol is a beta blocker that slows the conduction through the AV node. Therefore, it is
contraindicated for clients who have bradycardia, or a heart rate that is consistently less than
60/min.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking disulfiram and consumed alcohol 12 hr ago. Which of the
following adverse reactions is the priority finding to report to the provider? - ANS ✔ - Respiratory
depression
2|Page
, When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that the
priority finding is respiratory depression, which can indicate the client is experiencing acetaldehyde
syndrome, a life-threatening event.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about immunizations with a client who is pregnant. Which of the
following vaccines should the nurse include in the teaching as safe to administer during pregnancy? -
ANS ✔ - Tetanus and diphtheria (Td)
The nurse should include that either the Td vaccine or the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
vaccine is safe for administration during pregnancy. Tdap is the preferred vaccine.
A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has a history of psychosis and is taking
chlorpromazine. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to counteract the adverse
effects of this medication? - ANS ✔ - Inform the client to apply sunblock before going outside.
The nurse should inform the client to apply sunblock, which will counteract the adverse effects of
photosensitivity. Chlorpromazine increases skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light causing temporary
pigmentation changes and increases the risk of sunburn.
A nurse is instilling timolol eyedrops for a client who has glaucoma. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take after instilling the eyedrops? - ANS ✔ - Press the nasolacrimal duct.
The nurse should press the client's nasolacrimal duct after instilling the eye drops to prevent the
medication from absorbing into systemic circulation.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is receiving enalapril 20 mg PO daily. The nurse
should instruct the client to monitor for which of the following adverse effects of this medication? -
ANS ✔ - Dry cough
The nurse should identify that a persistent dry or nonproductive cough is an adverse effect of
enalapril. The underlying cause of the dry cough is the accumulation of bradykinin from the
medication. The client should notify the provider of this adverse effect.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking phenylephrine. The nurse should plan to monitor the client
for which of the following manifestations as an adverse effect of this medication? - ANS ✔ -
Increased heart rate
Due to cardiac effects, phenylephrine can cause tachycardia and other cardiac dysrhythmias.
A nurse is caring for a client who has multiple sclerosis and a new prescription for baclofen. Which of
the following findings indicates to the nurse that the medication is having a therapeutic effect? - ANS
✔ - Decreased muscle spasticity
3|Page
Questions & Answers
A nurse is planning to reinforce teaching about newborn immunizations with a client who is 24 hr
postpartum. Which of the following information should the nurse plan to include? - ANS ✔ - "Your
baby will receive the first hepatitis B vaccine before discharge."
The newborn should receive the first hepatitis B vaccine at birth, with the next dose at age 1 to 2
months.
A client comes to an urgent care clinic and announces with great enthusiasm, "I am an expert at all
things medical as they apply to me, and I require zolpidem." The client's pupils are dilated, along
with an elevated heart rate and blood pressure level. The nurse should suspect intoxication with
which of the following substances? - ANS ✔ - Cocaine
The client who has cocaine toxicity typically has tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils,
and displays delusions. This client's behavior and physiological data indicate cocaine intoxication.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving 0.9% sodium chloride 1,000 mL to infuse over 8 hr. The
drop factor on the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should ensure that the manual IV
infusion is set to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a
leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) - ANS ✔ - 31 gtt/min
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for alendronate. Which of the
following client responses indicates to the nurse an understanding of the teaching? - ANS ✔ - "I will
take the medication with 8 ounces of water."
The client should take alendronate on an empty stomach with 240 mL (8 oz) of water to ensure it
does not lodge in the esophagus, which can result in esophageal ulcerations.
A nurse is monitoring a client who has been receiving long-term hydrochlorothiazide therapy for
recurring episodes of heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an
adverse effect of this medication? - ANS ✔ - Hypokalemia
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that can cause hypokalemia due to excessive potassium
excretion in the urine.
1|Page
,A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for omeprazole oral
capsules. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? - ANS ✔ - Swallow the
medication whole.
The nurse should instruct the client to swallow the capsules or tablets whole and not chew or crush
them. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, blocks the secretion of gastric acid. It is available in
delayed-release capsules and over the counter in delayed-release tablets, as well as suspensions and
powders.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about comfort measures with the guardian of a 10-year-old child who
has a viral infection. The nurse should plan to tell the parent that aspirin is contraindicated because
of the risk for which of the following conditions? - ANS ✔ - Reye syndrome
Aspirin is contraindicated for children and adolescents who have a viral illness because it increases
the risk for the development of Reye syndrome.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for an IM injection of penicillin G benzathine. The
client asks why the injection must be given IM instead of through the IV line. Which of the following
responses should the nurse make? - ANS ✔ - "Your medication can't be given IV because it is not
water-soluble."
The nurse should inform the client this type of penicillin has poor water solubility and is never
administered intravenously.
A nurse is performing the third check before administering hydromorphone to a client. After opening
the unit-dose packet, the client tells the nurse they do not want to take the medication now. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANS ✔ - Dispose of the medication with a second
nurse as a witness.
The nurse is legally required to have a witness when disposing of a controlled substance.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about using metoprolol to treat
hypertension. Which of the following conditions should the nurse include as a contraindication for
this medication? - ANS ✔ - Bradycardia
Metoprolol is a beta blocker that slows the conduction through the AV node. Therefore, it is
contraindicated for clients who have bradycardia, or a heart rate that is consistently less than
60/min.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking disulfiram and consumed alcohol 12 hr ago. Which of the
following adverse reactions is the priority finding to report to the provider? - ANS ✔ - Respiratory
depression
2|Page
, When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that the
priority finding is respiratory depression, which can indicate the client is experiencing acetaldehyde
syndrome, a life-threatening event.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about immunizations with a client who is pregnant. Which of the
following vaccines should the nurse include in the teaching as safe to administer during pregnancy? -
ANS ✔ - Tetanus and diphtheria (Td)
The nurse should include that either the Td vaccine or the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
vaccine is safe for administration during pregnancy. Tdap is the preferred vaccine.
A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has a history of psychosis and is taking
chlorpromazine. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to counteract the adverse
effects of this medication? - ANS ✔ - Inform the client to apply sunblock before going outside.
The nurse should inform the client to apply sunblock, which will counteract the adverse effects of
photosensitivity. Chlorpromazine increases skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light causing temporary
pigmentation changes and increases the risk of sunburn.
A nurse is instilling timolol eyedrops for a client who has glaucoma. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take after instilling the eyedrops? - ANS ✔ - Press the nasolacrimal duct.
The nurse should press the client's nasolacrimal duct after instilling the eye drops to prevent the
medication from absorbing into systemic circulation.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is receiving enalapril 20 mg PO daily. The nurse
should instruct the client to monitor for which of the following adverse effects of this medication? -
ANS ✔ - Dry cough
The nurse should identify that a persistent dry or nonproductive cough is an adverse effect of
enalapril. The underlying cause of the dry cough is the accumulation of bradykinin from the
medication. The client should notify the provider of this adverse effect.
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking phenylephrine. The nurse should plan to monitor the client
for which of the following manifestations as an adverse effect of this medication? - ANS ✔ -
Increased heart rate
Due to cardiac effects, phenylephrine can cause tachycardia and other cardiac dysrhythmias.
A nurse is caring for a client who has multiple sclerosis and a new prescription for baclofen. Which of
the following findings indicates to the nurse that the medication is having a therapeutic effect? - ANS
✔ - Decreased muscle spasticity
3|Page
