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TEST BANK
ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam Prep
Document 2026/2027 | Medication Therapy, Clinical Judgment & Safe Drug Administration | 60
Verified Questions with Detailed Rationales
Pharmacology is one of the most critical subjects in nursing education because it directly connects pathophysiology, medication therapy, and
patient safety. In ATI-style exams, including proctored assessments and Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) questions, success depends not just on
memorization of drugs, but on understanding how medications affect body systems, how to assess patients before and after administration,
and how to make safe clinical judgments under pressure.
This ATI Pharmacology practice set is designed to reflect the real expectations of nursing exams. It focuses on the core competencies that ATI
repeatedly tests:
● Safe medication administration and the “rights” of medication administration
● Priority nursing actions using clinical judgment
● High-alert medications such as insulin, anticoagulants, and opioids
● Recognition and response to adverse drug reactions and toxicity
● Laboratory value interpretation related to medications
● Patient teaching and discharge education
● Drug classifications and expected therapeutic outcomes
Unlike simple memorization-based questions, ATI exams emphasize clinical reasoning. This means you must determine not only what a drug does,
but also what to do first, what to monitor, and when to hold a medication. Many questions are designed to test your ability to identify early warning signs
of complications such as hypoglycemia, respiratory depression, bleeding, or electrolyte imbalance.
For example, a nurse administering digoxin must understand the relationship between potassium levels and toxicity risk. A patient on warfarin must be
monitored using INR, not routine clotting time alone. A patient receiving opioids must always be assessed for respiratory depression before sedation or
pain relief is considered. These are the types of decision-making skills that determine success on ATI exams.
ATI Pharmacology Practice Questions (Original) 1–10 of
60
1. A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which
assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Assess bowel sounds
B. Measure apical pulse for 1 minute
C. Assess urine output
D. Check oxygen saturation
Answer: B
,Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse should measure the apical pulse for a full
minute before administration and withhold the medication if the pulse is below the prescribed
parameter.
2. A client receiving furosemide reports muscle weakness and leg cramps.
Which laboratory value should the nurse review first?
A. Sodium level
B. Hemoglobin level
C. Potassium level
D. Platelet count
Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that may cause potassium loss. Muscle weakness and
cramps are common signs of hypokalemia.
3. Which finding indicates therapeutic effectiveness of insulin therapy in a
client with diabetes mellitus?
A. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
B. Respiratory rate 28/min
C. Ketones in urine
D. Increased thirst
Answer: A
Rationale: A blood glucose level within the target range indicates effective insulin therapy.
4. A nurse is teaching a client about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. Which
statement by the client indicates understanding?
A. "I should swallow the tablet immediately."
B. "I will place the tablet under my tongue."
C. "I should take the medication with milk."
D. "I can chew the tablet if pain continues."
Answer: B
,Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve.
5. A client taking warfarin should be instructed to report which finding
immediately?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Bruising and bleeding gums
C. Increased appetite
D. Dry mouth
Answer: B
Rationale: Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Unusual bruising and bleeding require immediate
evaluation.
6. A nurse is administering morphine IV. Which assessment is the priority?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Respiratory rate
C. Skin turgor
D. Bowel sounds
Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression. Airway and breathing are the priority
assessments.
7. A client receives albuterol via inhaler. Which outcome indicates
therapeutic effectiveness?
A. Decreased wheezing
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Decreased urine output
D. Increased edema
Answer: A
Rationale: Albuterol is a bronchodilator that improves airflow and reduces wheezing.
, 8. A nurse is caring for a client prescribed metformin. Which adverse effect
should the nurse monitor for?
A. Respiratory depression
B. Lactic acidosis
C. Hearing loss
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Although rare, metformin may cause lactic acidosis, especially in clients with renal
impairment.
9. A client taking lisinopril develops a persistent dry cough. The nurse
should recognize this as:
A. A common adverse effect
B. Evidence of infection
C. An allergic reaction requiring epinephrine
D. A sign of hypoglycemia
Answer: A
Rationale: ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril commonly cause a dry, persistent cough.
10. Which action is appropriate when administering heparin
subcutaneously?
A. Massage the injection site
B. Aspirate before injection
C. Inject into abdominal tissue
D. Use a heating pad afterward
Answer: C
Rationale: Heparin is commonly administered into abdominal subcutaneous tissue. The site
should not be massaged because this can increase bruising.
TEST BANK
ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam Prep
Document 2026/2027 | Medication Therapy, Clinical Judgment & Safe Drug Administration | 60
Verified Questions with Detailed Rationales
Pharmacology is one of the most critical subjects in nursing education because it directly connects pathophysiology, medication therapy, and
patient safety. In ATI-style exams, including proctored assessments and Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) questions, success depends not just on
memorization of drugs, but on understanding how medications affect body systems, how to assess patients before and after administration,
and how to make safe clinical judgments under pressure.
This ATI Pharmacology practice set is designed to reflect the real expectations of nursing exams. It focuses on the core competencies that ATI
repeatedly tests:
● Safe medication administration and the “rights” of medication administration
● Priority nursing actions using clinical judgment
● High-alert medications such as insulin, anticoagulants, and opioids
● Recognition and response to adverse drug reactions and toxicity
● Laboratory value interpretation related to medications
● Patient teaching and discharge education
● Drug classifications and expected therapeutic outcomes
Unlike simple memorization-based questions, ATI exams emphasize clinical reasoning. This means you must determine not only what a drug does,
but also what to do first, what to monitor, and when to hold a medication. Many questions are designed to test your ability to identify early warning signs
of complications such as hypoglycemia, respiratory depression, bleeding, or electrolyte imbalance.
For example, a nurse administering digoxin must understand the relationship between potassium levels and toxicity risk. A patient on warfarin must be
monitored using INR, not routine clotting time alone. A patient receiving opioids must always be assessed for respiratory depression before sedation or
pain relief is considered. These are the types of decision-making skills that determine success on ATI exams.
ATI Pharmacology Practice Questions (Original) 1–10 of
60
1. A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which
assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Assess bowel sounds
B. Measure apical pulse for 1 minute
C. Assess urine output
D. Check oxygen saturation
Answer: B
,Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse should measure the apical pulse for a full
minute before administration and withhold the medication if the pulse is below the prescribed
parameter.
2. A client receiving furosemide reports muscle weakness and leg cramps.
Which laboratory value should the nurse review first?
A. Sodium level
B. Hemoglobin level
C. Potassium level
D. Platelet count
Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that may cause potassium loss. Muscle weakness and
cramps are common signs of hypokalemia.
3. Which finding indicates therapeutic effectiveness of insulin therapy in a
client with diabetes mellitus?
A. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
B. Respiratory rate 28/min
C. Ketones in urine
D. Increased thirst
Answer: A
Rationale: A blood glucose level within the target range indicates effective insulin therapy.
4. A nurse is teaching a client about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. Which
statement by the client indicates understanding?
A. "I should swallow the tablet immediately."
B. "I will place the tablet under my tongue."
C. "I should take the medication with milk."
D. "I can chew the tablet if pain continues."
Answer: B
,Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve.
5. A client taking warfarin should be instructed to report which finding
immediately?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Bruising and bleeding gums
C. Increased appetite
D. Dry mouth
Answer: B
Rationale: Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Unusual bruising and bleeding require immediate
evaluation.
6. A nurse is administering morphine IV. Which assessment is the priority?
A. Blood glucose level
B. Respiratory rate
C. Skin turgor
D. Bowel sounds
Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression. Airway and breathing are the priority
assessments.
7. A client receives albuterol via inhaler. Which outcome indicates
therapeutic effectiveness?
A. Decreased wheezing
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Decreased urine output
D. Increased edema
Answer: A
Rationale: Albuterol is a bronchodilator that improves airflow and reduces wheezing.
, 8. A nurse is caring for a client prescribed metformin. Which adverse effect
should the nurse monitor for?
A. Respiratory depression
B. Lactic acidosis
C. Hearing loss
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Although rare, metformin may cause lactic acidosis, especially in clients with renal
impairment.
9. A client taking lisinopril develops a persistent dry cough. The nurse
should recognize this as:
A. A common adverse effect
B. Evidence of infection
C. An allergic reaction requiring epinephrine
D. A sign of hypoglycemia
Answer: A
Rationale: ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril commonly cause a dry, persistent cough.
10. Which action is appropriate when administering heparin
subcutaneously?
A. Massage the injection site
B. Aspirate before injection
C. Inject into abdominal tissue
D. Use a heating pad afterward
Answer: C
Rationale: Heparin is commonly administered into abdominal subcutaneous tissue. The site
should not be massaged because this can increase bruising.
