ATI Comprehensive Predictor Pharmacology Review 2026/2027
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which
of the following findings should the nurse recognize as an early sign of digoxin
toxicity?
A. Third-degree heart block
B. Anorexia and nausea
C. Yellow-tinged vision
D. Extreme bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Early signs of digoxin toxicity include gastrointestinal effects like anorexia,
nausea, and vomiting. Visual disturbances (yellow halos) and cardiac arrhythmias are later
signs.
2. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for lithium carbonate
for bipolar disorder. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include?
A. Maintain a consistent intake of sodium.
B. Limit sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
C. Restrict fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
Answer: A
Rationale: Lithium is a salt; if sodium levels decrease, the kidneys retain lithium, leading to
toxicity. Therefore, a consistent sodium intake is vital.
,3. A client is receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion. Which of the
following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor to adjust the dosage?
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
C. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D. Bleeding time
Answer: B
Rationale: aPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy. PT and INR are
used to monitor warfarin therapy.
4. A nurse is administering albuterol to a client with an acute asthma attack.
Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Lethargy
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist that can cause sympathetic nervous
system stimulation, resulting in tachycardia and tremors.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking warfarin and has an INR of 5.5.
Which of the following medications should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Acetylcysteine
Answer: A
Rationale: Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin overdose. Protamine sulfate is the
antidote for heparin.
, 6. A client is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which of the following
electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium, potentially
leading to hypokalemia.
7. A nurse is educating a client about a new prescription for levothyroxine.
What time of day should the nurse instruct the client to take this medication?
A. Immediately before bedtime
B. With the evening meal
C. In the morning, 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast
D. At the same time as their daily multivitamin
Answer: C
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning to increase
absorption and prevent insomnia.
8. A nurse is monitoring a client receiving vancomycin IV. The client develops
flushing, hypotension, and a rash on the upper body. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Administer diphenhydramine
B. Stop the infusion
C. Slow the infusion rate
D. Notify the provider
Answer: C
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which
of the following findings should the nurse recognize as an early sign of digoxin
toxicity?
A. Third-degree heart block
B. Anorexia and nausea
C. Yellow-tinged vision
D. Extreme bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Early signs of digoxin toxicity include gastrointestinal effects like anorexia,
nausea, and vomiting. Visual disturbances (yellow halos) and cardiac arrhythmias are later
signs.
2. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for lithium carbonate
for bipolar disorder. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include?
A. Maintain a consistent intake of sodium.
B. Limit sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
C. Restrict fluid intake to 1 liter per day.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
Answer: A
Rationale: Lithium is a salt; if sodium levels decrease, the kidneys retain lithium, leading to
toxicity. Therefore, a consistent sodium intake is vital.
,3. A client is receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion. Which of the
following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor to adjust the dosage?
A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
C. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D. Bleeding time
Answer: B
Rationale: aPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy. PT and INR are
used to monitor warfarin therapy.
4. A nurse is administering albuterol to a client with an acute asthma attack.
Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Lethargy
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist that can cause sympathetic nervous
system stimulation, resulting in tachycardia and tremors.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking warfarin and has an INR of 5.5.
Which of the following medications should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Acetylcysteine
Answer: A
Rationale: Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin overdose. Protamine sulfate is the
antidote for heparin.
, 6. A client is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which of the following
electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium, potentially
leading to hypokalemia.
7. A nurse is educating a client about a new prescription for levothyroxine.
What time of day should the nurse instruct the client to take this medication?
A. Immediately before bedtime
B. With the evening meal
C. In the morning, 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast
D. At the same time as their daily multivitamin
Answer: C
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning to increase
absorption and prevent insomnia.
8. A nurse is monitoring a client receiving vancomycin IV. The client develops
flushing, hypotension, and a rash on the upper body. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Administer diphenhydramine
B. Stop the infusion
C. Slow the infusion rate
D. Notify the provider
Answer: C
