ATI CAPSTONE PHARMACOLOGY LATEST EXAM 2026
PAPER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Indomethacin (Indocin) - ✔✔administer to relieve pain associated with rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, tendonitis, and gouty arthritis.
*during initial attacks of acute gout, the drug may be given*
✔✔Diabetes Medications - ✔✔
✔✔Exanatide (Byetta) - ✔✔Incretin mimetic.
✔✔Exanatide (Byetta) mechanism of action? - ✔✔promotes release of insulin, and
decreases secretion of glucagon
-slows gastric emptying
✔✔Metformin (Glucophage) - ✔✔Antidiabetic
✔✔Metformin (Glucophage) mechanism of action? - ✔✔Decrase hepatic gluclose
production and intestinal glucose absorption
✔✔Metformin (Glucophage) patient teaching? - ✔✔*N/V usually subsides with use*
-take med at the same time everyday
- does not cure diabetes just helps control hyperglycemia
- *take with meals*
- Learn how to take bs the right way- if hypoglycemic: glass of ok or 2-3 tsp of sugar-
risk for lactic acidosis and potential need to stop med if severe infection, dehydration, or
continuing diarrhea occurs
✔✔Glucophage (metformin)Nursing Implications - ✔✔- observe for signs and symptoms
of lactic acidosis:-chills, diarrhea , dizziness, decreased Bp, decrease heart rate
- monitor bs-observe for signs of hypoglycemia
✔✔Glucophage (metformin)Drug interactions (DAMN) - ✔✔Digoxin
Alcohol
Morphine
Nifedine
Ranitidine
,✔✔Glucophage (metformin)Side effects (DANHL) - ✔✔Decrease B12 levels // diarrhea
Abdominal bloating
Nausea
Hypoglycemia
Lactic Acidosis
✔✔exanatide (byetta) side effects? - ✔✔-satiety (fullness)
-weight loss
✔✔Exanatide (Byetta) - pt education - ✔✔take *1 hour before* morning and evening
meals
-subQ in thigh, abdomen, upper arm
✔✔how long can you keep Exanatide (Byetta) in the fridge? - ✔✔30 days
✔✔how do you store Exanatide (Byetta)? - ✔✔keep open pen in fridge for 30 days
✔✔(acetaminiophen) Tylenol overdose antidote - ✔✔Mucomyst (acetylcysteine)
✔✔Mexotrexate - ✔✔anti-neoplastic
immunosuppressant
✔✔methotrexate trade names? - ✔✔- Rheumatrex
- Trexall
✔✔what does mexotrexate treat? - ✔✔-chemo
-R.A
-osteoarthritis
- choriocarcinoma- osteogenic sarcoma- leukemias- head & neck cancers- breast
carcinoma- lung carcinoma
✔✔Mexotrexate nursing interventions? - ✔✔avoid skin exposure
avoid inhaling particles
*dilute 1st*
- Pregnancy Category X
✔✔mexotrexate side effects? - ✔✔thrombocytopenia
*risk = severe bleeding*
, bone marrow suppression
N&V & anorexia
Steven-johnsons syndrome
✔✔mexotrexate contraindications? - ✔✔thrombocytopenia, anemia, leukopenia,
concurrent admin of hepatotoxic drugs & hematopoietic suppressants, alcoholism,
lactation, immunosuppressed pts
✔✔methotrexate Herbals/Food Interactions - ✔✔- Food delays the oral absorption
- Echinacea may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity
✔✔methotrexate Drug-Drug Interactions - ✔✔- bone marrow suppressants
- NSAIDS
- aspirin
- live oral vaccine
✔✔what do you monitor while pt. is on mexotrexate? - ✔✔*s/s myelosuppression*
-RBC
-H & H
-neutrophils
-platelets
*harsh on kidneys and liver*
-I&O's, creatine and BUN
-LFT's
✔✔Filgrastim (Neupogen) - ✔✔*bone marrow stimulant*
Leukopoietic growth factor
*Used for neutropenia (cancer)*
✔✔Filgrastim (Neupogen) side effects? - ✔✔Can cause bone pain, leukocytosis (WBC
> 100,000)
✔✔Vancomycin - ✔✔Treatment of choice for MRSA and other gram-positive infections
✔✔What are the nursing implications of vancomycin administration? (5) - ✔✔1. Must
monitor blood levels to ensure therapeutic peak and trough levels and prevent toxicity
2. Should be infused over 60 minutes
3. Rapid infusions may cause hypotension
PAPER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Indomethacin (Indocin) - ✔✔administer to relieve pain associated with rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, tendonitis, and gouty arthritis.
*during initial attacks of acute gout, the drug may be given*
✔✔Diabetes Medications - ✔✔
✔✔Exanatide (Byetta) - ✔✔Incretin mimetic.
✔✔Exanatide (Byetta) mechanism of action? - ✔✔promotes release of insulin, and
decreases secretion of glucagon
-slows gastric emptying
✔✔Metformin (Glucophage) - ✔✔Antidiabetic
✔✔Metformin (Glucophage) mechanism of action? - ✔✔Decrase hepatic gluclose
production and intestinal glucose absorption
✔✔Metformin (Glucophage) patient teaching? - ✔✔*N/V usually subsides with use*
-take med at the same time everyday
- does not cure diabetes just helps control hyperglycemia
- *take with meals*
- Learn how to take bs the right way- if hypoglycemic: glass of ok or 2-3 tsp of sugar-
risk for lactic acidosis and potential need to stop med if severe infection, dehydration, or
continuing diarrhea occurs
✔✔Glucophage (metformin)Nursing Implications - ✔✔- observe for signs and symptoms
of lactic acidosis:-chills, diarrhea , dizziness, decreased Bp, decrease heart rate
- monitor bs-observe for signs of hypoglycemia
✔✔Glucophage (metformin)Drug interactions (DAMN) - ✔✔Digoxin
Alcohol
Morphine
Nifedine
Ranitidine
,✔✔Glucophage (metformin)Side effects (DANHL) - ✔✔Decrease B12 levels // diarrhea
Abdominal bloating
Nausea
Hypoglycemia
Lactic Acidosis
✔✔exanatide (byetta) side effects? - ✔✔-satiety (fullness)
-weight loss
✔✔Exanatide (Byetta) - pt education - ✔✔take *1 hour before* morning and evening
meals
-subQ in thigh, abdomen, upper arm
✔✔how long can you keep Exanatide (Byetta) in the fridge? - ✔✔30 days
✔✔how do you store Exanatide (Byetta)? - ✔✔keep open pen in fridge for 30 days
✔✔(acetaminiophen) Tylenol overdose antidote - ✔✔Mucomyst (acetylcysteine)
✔✔Mexotrexate - ✔✔anti-neoplastic
immunosuppressant
✔✔methotrexate trade names? - ✔✔- Rheumatrex
- Trexall
✔✔what does mexotrexate treat? - ✔✔-chemo
-R.A
-osteoarthritis
- choriocarcinoma- osteogenic sarcoma- leukemias- head & neck cancers- breast
carcinoma- lung carcinoma
✔✔Mexotrexate nursing interventions? - ✔✔avoid skin exposure
avoid inhaling particles
*dilute 1st*
- Pregnancy Category X
✔✔mexotrexate side effects? - ✔✔thrombocytopenia
*risk = severe bleeding*
, bone marrow suppression
N&V & anorexia
Steven-johnsons syndrome
✔✔mexotrexate contraindications? - ✔✔thrombocytopenia, anemia, leukopenia,
concurrent admin of hepatotoxic drugs & hematopoietic suppressants, alcoholism,
lactation, immunosuppressed pts
✔✔methotrexate Herbals/Food Interactions - ✔✔- Food delays the oral absorption
- Echinacea may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity
✔✔methotrexate Drug-Drug Interactions - ✔✔- bone marrow suppressants
- NSAIDS
- aspirin
- live oral vaccine
✔✔what do you monitor while pt. is on mexotrexate? - ✔✔*s/s myelosuppression*
-RBC
-H & H
-neutrophils
-platelets
*harsh on kidneys and liver*
-I&O's, creatine and BUN
-LFT's
✔✔Filgrastim (Neupogen) - ✔✔*bone marrow stimulant*
Leukopoietic growth factor
*Used for neutropenia (cancer)*
✔✔Filgrastim (Neupogen) side effects? - ✔✔Can cause bone pain, leukocytosis (WBC
> 100,000)
✔✔Vancomycin - ✔✔Treatment of choice for MRSA and other gram-positive infections
✔✔What are the nursing implications of vancomycin administration? (5) - ✔✔1. Must
monitor blood levels to ensure therapeutic peak and trough levels and prevent toxicity
2. Should be infused over 60 minutes
3. Rapid infusions may cause hypotension
