ATI
Pharmacology Proctored Exam 2026 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Latest Update
Resource Features
➢ATI Pharmacology practice questions
➢Answers for self-assessment
➢Detailed rationales
➢Drug-class review
➢Medication-safety questions
,ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam 2026 | Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales | Latest
Update
Question 1
A provider prescribes phenobarbital for a client who has a seizure disorder.
The medication has a long half-life of 4 days. How many times per day
should the nurse expect to administer this medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: A. One
Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic
levels between doses for long periods of time. The nurse should expect to
administer this medication once a day.
Question 2
A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses at an in-service
,presentation. Which of the following factors should the educator include as
a reason to administer lower medication dosages? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal secretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication the same pathway metabolizes
Answer: C. Liver failure, E. Concurrent use of medication the same
pathway metabolizes
Rationale: Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increases the
concentration of a medication, requiring a decreased dosage. When the
same pathway metabolizes two medications, they compete for metabolism,
thereby increasing the concentration of one or both medications, requiring
decreased dosage of one or both.
Question 3
A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Have the client lie on her side.
B. Instill the medication into the conjunctival sac.
C. Apply pressure to the nasolacrimal duct after instillation.
D. Allow the client to blink immediately after instillation.
, Answer: B. Instill the medication into the conjunctival sac, C. Apply
pressure to the nasolacrimal duct after instillation
Rationale: Eye drops should be instilled into the conjunctival sac to
prevent corneal injury. Applying pressure to the nasolacrimal duct (punctal
occlusion) for 1-2 minutes after instillation prevents systemic absorption of
the medication through the tear duct.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to perform a follow-up assessment on a client who
takes chlorpromazine for the treatment of schizophrenia. The nurse should
expect to find the greatest improvement in which of the following
manifestations? (Select all that apply.)
A. Disorganized speech
B. Bizarre behavior
C. Impaired social interactions
D. Hallucinations
E. Decreased motivation
Answer: A. Disorganized speech, B. Bizarre behavior, D. Hallucinations
Rationale: A client who takes a conventional antipsychotic medication,
such as chlorpromazine, should have the greatest improvement in positive
symptoms such as disorganized speech, bizarre behavior, and
hallucinations.
Pharmacology Proctored Exam 2026 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Latest Update
Resource Features
➢ATI Pharmacology practice questions
➢Answers for self-assessment
➢Detailed rationales
➢Drug-class review
➢Medication-safety questions
,ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam 2026 | Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales | Latest
Update
Question 1
A provider prescribes phenobarbital for a client who has a seizure disorder.
The medication has a long half-life of 4 days. How many times per day
should the nurse expect to administer this medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: A. One
Rationale: Medications with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic
levels between doses for long periods of time. The nurse should expect to
administer this medication once a day.
Question 2
A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses at an in-service
,presentation. Which of the following factors should the educator include as
a reason to administer lower medication dosages? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal secretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication the same pathway metabolizes
Answer: C. Liver failure, E. Concurrent use of medication the same
pathway metabolizes
Rationale: Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increases the
concentration of a medication, requiring a decreased dosage. When the
same pathway metabolizes two medications, they compete for metabolism,
thereby increasing the concentration of one or both medications, requiring
decreased dosage of one or both.
Question 3
A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Have the client lie on her side.
B. Instill the medication into the conjunctival sac.
C. Apply pressure to the nasolacrimal duct after instillation.
D. Allow the client to blink immediately after instillation.
, Answer: B. Instill the medication into the conjunctival sac, C. Apply
pressure to the nasolacrimal duct after instillation
Rationale: Eye drops should be instilled into the conjunctival sac to
prevent corneal injury. Applying pressure to the nasolacrimal duct (punctal
occlusion) for 1-2 minutes after instillation prevents systemic absorption of
the medication through the tear duct.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to perform a follow-up assessment on a client who
takes chlorpromazine for the treatment of schizophrenia. The nurse should
expect to find the greatest improvement in which of the following
manifestations? (Select all that apply.)
A. Disorganized speech
B. Bizarre behavior
C. Impaired social interactions
D. Hallucinations
E. Decreased motivation
Answer: A. Disorganized speech, B. Bizarre behavior, D. Hallucinations
Rationale: A client who takes a conventional antipsychotic medication,
such as chlorpromazine, should have the greatest improvement in positive
symptoms such as disorganized speech, bizarre behavior, and
hallucinations.
