ATI PN Pharmacology Proctored Exam | Latest Update
2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers | NGN
Practice with Rationales | A+ Graded
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following should the nurse
use to identify the client? (Select all that apply.)
A) Client's room number
B) Client's full name
C) Client's date of birth
D) Client's medical record number
E) Client's diagnosis
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: The Joint Commission requires two client identifiers. Acceptable identifiers include the
client's full name, date of birth, and medical record number. Room number and diagnosis are not
reliable identifiers.
2. A nurse is teaching a client about the pharmacokinetics of a newly prescribed medication. Which
statement correctly describes the process of absorption?
A) The movement of the drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream
B) The distribution of the drug to body tissues
C) The chemical alteration of the drug in the liver
D) The elimination of the drug from the body
Answer: A
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its site of administration into the
bloodstream. Distribution is the transport of the drug to body tissues, metabolism is the chemical
alteration (primarily in the liver), and excretion is the elimination from the body.
,3. A nurse is reviewing a prescription that reads "metoprolol 25 mg PO once daily." Which part of the
prescription is missing?
A) Route of administration
B) Frequency
C) Dose
D) Drug name
Answer: A
Rationale: The prescription is missing the route of administration. "PO" indicates the route (by mouth),
but the format suggests the route may not be explicitly stated. Metoprolol is the drug name, 25 mg is
the dose, and "once daily" is the frequency.
4. A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure. Prior to administration, the apical pulse
is 52 bpm. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the medication as prescribed
B) Hold the dose and document the pulse
C) Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider
D) Administer the medication and increase fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic threshold for holding digoxin is typically a pulse < 60 bpm in adults.
Bradycardia is a sign of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should hold the dose and notify the healthcare
provider.
,5. A client is prescribed atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia. Which laboratory value should be monitored
periodically?
A) Serum potassium
B) Liver function tests (AST, ALT)
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Serum calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Atorvastatin is a statin medication that can cause hepatotoxicity. Liver function tests (AST and
ALT) should be monitored periodically to detect liver damage.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has diabetes mellitus and takes insulin glargine and
insulin aspart. Which action indicates that the client understands the instructions?
A) The client mixes insulin glargine and insulin aspart in one syringe before administration
B) The client administers insulin glargine at the same time every day
C) The client injects insulin aspart once daily
D) The client skips meals after administering insulin aspart
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin glargine is a longacting basal insulin that should be administered at the same time
every day to maintain consistent blood glucose control. It should never be mixed with other insulins in
the same syringe. Insulin aspart is a rapidacting insulin given with meals.
7. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is taking lithium carbonate to treat bipolar disorder.
Which finding should the nurse monitor and report to the provider?
A) Fine tremor
B) Constipation
, C) Hypotension
D) Bradycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: A fine tremor is an early sign of lithium toxicity. The nurse should monitor for this and report
it to the provider. Other signs of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion.
8. A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record of a client who has an NG tube. Which
medication should the nurse plan to administer through the NG tube?
A) Lovastatin
B) Warfarin
C) Metoprolol
D) Furosemide
Answer: C
Rationale: Metoprolol tablets can be crushed and safely given via NG tube. Lovastatin tablets are
extendedrelease formulations that should not be crushed. Warfarin and furosemide can be crushed but
specific instructions must be followed.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. The student nurse asks what "pharmacokinetics"
means. What is the correct response?
A) The study of how drugs interact with receptors
B) The movement of drugs through the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion
C) The study of drug toxicity and adverse effects
D) The study of drug interactions
2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers | NGN
Practice with Rationales | A+ Graded
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which of the following should the nurse
use to identify the client? (Select all that apply.)
A) Client's room number
B) Client's full name
C) Client's date of birth
D) Client's medical record number
E) Client's diagnosis
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: The Joint Commission requires two client identifiers. Acceptable identifiers include the
client's full name, date of birth, and medical record number. Room number and diagnosis are not
reliable identifiers.
2. A nurse is teaching a client about the pharmacokinetics of a newly prescribed medication. Which
statement correctly describes the process of absorption?
A) The movement of the drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream
B) The distribution of the drug to body tissues
C) The chemical alteration of the drug in the liver
D) The elimination of the drug from the body
Answer: A
Rationale: Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its site of administration into the
bloodstream. Distribution is the transport of the drug to body tissues, metabolism is the chemical
alteration (primarily in the liver), and excretion is the elimination from the body.
,3. A nurse is reviewing a prescription that reads "metoprolol 25 mg PO once daily." Which part of the
prescription is missing?
A) Route of administration
B) Frequency
C) Dose
D) Drug name
Answer: A
Rationale: The prescription is missing the route of administration. "PO" indicates the route (by mouth),
but the format suggests the route may not be explicitly stated. Metoprolol is the drug name, 25 mg is
the dose, and "once daily" is the frequency.
4. A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure. Prior to administration, the apical pulse
is 52 bpm. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the medication as prescribed
B) Hold the dose and document the pulse
C) Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider
D) Administer the medication and increase fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic threshold for holding digoxin is typically a pulse < 60 bpm in adults.
Bradycardia is a sign of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should hold the dose and notify the healthcare
provider.
,5. A client is prescribed atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia. Which laboratory value should be monitored
periodically?
A) Serum potassium
B) Liver function tests (AST, ALT)
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Serum calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Atorvastatin is a statin medication that can cause hepatotoxicity. Liver function tests (AST and
ALT) should be monitored periodically to detect liver damage.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has diabetes mellitus and takes insulin glargine and
insulin aspart. Which action indicates that the client understands the instructions?
A) The client mixes insulin glargine and insulin aspart in one syringe before administration
B) The client administers insulin glargine at the same time every day
C) The client injects insulin aspart once daily
D) The client skips meals after administering insulin aspart
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin glargine is a longacting basal insulin that should be administered at the same time
every day to maintain consistent blood glucose control. It should never be mixed with other insulins in
the same syringe. Insulin aspart is a rapidacting insulin given with meals.
7. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is taking lithium carbonate to treat bipolar disorder.
Which finding should the nurse monitor and report to the provider?
A) Fine tremor
B) Constipation
, C) Hypotension
D) Bradycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: A fine tremor is an early sign of lithium toxicity. The nurse should monitor for this and report
it to the provider. Other signs of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion.
8. A nurse is reviewing the medication administration record of a client who has an NG tube. Which
medication should the nurse plan to administer through the NG tube?
A) Lovastatin
B) Warfarin
C) Metoprolol
D) Furosemide
Answer: C
Rationale: Metoprolol tablets can be crushed and safely given via NG tube. Lovastatin tablets are
extendedrelease formulations that should not be crushed. Warfarin and furosemide can be crushed but
specific instructions must be followed.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. The student nurse asks what "pharmacokinetics"
means. What is the correct response?
A) The study of how drugs interact with receptors
B) The movement of drugs through the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion
C) The study of drug toxicity and adverse effects
D) The study of drug interactions
