ATI Pharmacology RN Exam Questions
2026/2027 | Medication Safety, Dosage & Drug
Therapy
ATI PHARMACOLOGY RN EXAM QUESTIONS 2026/2027
Medication Safety, Dosage & Drug Therapy
OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive exam contains 210 questions covering medication safety,
drug calculations, dosage administration, and therapeutic drug management -
organized systematically to reinforce critical nursing pharmacology concepts.
• Use this material to practice identifying safe dosing parameters, medication
interactions, adverse effects, and clinical decision-making scenarios you'll
encounter in clinical practice.
SECTION 1: MEDICATION DOSAGE CALCULATIONS & SAFETY
1. A patient is prescribed 500 mg of amoxicillin. The pharmacy provides
amoxicillin suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A) 2 mL
B) 5 mL
C) 10 mL
D) 15 mL
E) 20 mL
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) 10 mL
RATIONALE: Using the formula Dose desired/Dose on hand × Volume = mL to
administer. (500 mg / 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 = 10 mL. This calculation ensures the
patient receives the prescribed dose accurately without medication error.
,2. A provider orders 2.5 g of cephalexin PO. The available dose is 500 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 4 tablets
D) 5 tablets
E) 6 tablets
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: D) 5 tablets
RATIONALE: Convert grams to milligrams: 2.5 g = 2500 mg. Then divide: 2500 mg ÷
500 mg per tablet = 5 tablets. Accurate conversion between measurement systems
is essential for medication safety.
3. A child weighing 40 kg is prescribed a medication at 10 mg/kg/day in three
divided doses. What is the single dose?
A) 133 mg
B) 267 mg
C) 400 mg
D) 600 mg
E) 800 mg
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: A) 133 mg
RATIONALE: First calculate total daily dose: 40 kg × 10 mg/kg = 400 mg/day. Then
divide by number of doses: 400 mg ÷ 3 doses = 133.3 mg per dose. Pediatric dosing
calculations based on weight are critical safety measures.
4. The nurse is preparing an IV infusion of 500 mL over 2 hours using a
standard infusion pump. What rate should be set?
A) 100 mL/hr
,B) 150 mL/hr
C) 200 mL/hr
D) 250 mL/hr
E) 300 mL/hr
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: D) 250 mL/hr
RATIONALE: Volume/Time = Rate. 500 mL ÷ 2 hours = 250 mL/hr. Accurate pump
settings prevent under or overdose and ensure safe medication administration.
5. A nurse receives an order for 0.5 mg of a drug. The available concentration
is 1 mg/mL. How many mL should be drawn up?
A) 0.3 mL
B) 0.5 mL
C) 0.75 mL
D) 1 mL
E) 1.5 mL
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) 0.5 mL
RATIONALE: Using Desired dose/Concentration available = Volume. 0.5 mg ÷ 1
mg/mL = 0.5 mL. Precise measurement is crucial in parenteral administration to
prevent medication errors.
6. An order calls for 250 mcg of digoxin. Available tablets are 0.5 mg each. How
many tablets should be given?
A) 0.25 tablets
B) 0.5 tablets
C) 1 tablet
D) 2 tablets
E) 4 tablets
, ✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) 0.5 tablets
RATIONALE: Convert mcg to mg: 250 mcg = 0.25 mg. Then: 0.25 mg ÷ 0.5 mg per
tablet = 0.5 tablets. Unit conversions are essential; always verify micrograms versus
milligrams carefully.
7. A patient needs 400 units of insulin. The vial concentration is 100 units/mL.
How many mL should be drawn?
A) 2 mL
B) 3 mL
C) 4 mL
D) 5 mL
E) 6 mL
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) 4 mL
RATIONALE: 400 units ÷ 100 units/mL = 4 mL. Insulin calculations require extreme
accuracy as insulin errors can result in severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Always verify with another nurse for high-risk medications.
8. A medication is prescribed at 5 mg/kg for a patient weighing 154 pounds.
What is the total dose? (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
A) 350 mg
B) 450 mg
C) 550 mg
D) 650 mg
E) 750 mg
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: A) 350 mg
RATIONALE: First convert weight: 154 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. Then calculate dose: 70 kg ×
5 mg/kg = 350 mg. Weight-based dosing requires accurate conversion between
imperial and metric measurements.
2026/2027 | Medication Safety, Dosage & Drug
Therapy
ATI PHARMACOLOGY RN EXAM QUESTIONS 2026/2027
Medication Safety, Dosage & Drug Therapy
OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive exam contains 210 questions covering medication safety,
drug calculations, dosage administration, and therapeutic drug management -
organized systematically to reinforce critical nursing pharmacology concepts.
• Use this material to practice identifying safe dosing parameters, medication
interactions, adverse effects, and clinical decision-making scenarios you'll
encounter in clinical practice.
SECTION 1: MEDICATION DOSAGE CALCULATIONS & SAFETY
1. A patient is prescribed 500 mg of amoxicillin. The pharmacy provides
amoxicillin suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse
administer?
A) 2 mL
B) 5 mL
C) 10 mL
D) 15 mL
E) 20 mL
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) 10 mL
RATIONALE: Using the formula Dose desired/Dose on hand × Volume = mL to
administer. (500 mg / 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 = 10 mL. This calculation ensures the
patient receives the prescribed dose accurately without medication error.
,2. A provider orders 2.5 g of cephalexin PO. The available dose is 500 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 2 tablets
B) 3 tablets
C) 4 tablets
D) 5 tablets
E) 6 tablets
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: D) 5 tablets
RATIONALE: Convert grams to milligrams: 2.5 g = 2500 mg. Then divide: 2500 mg ÷
500 mg per tablet = 5 tablets. Accurate conversion between measurement systems
is essential for medication safety.
3. A child weighing 40 kg is prescribed a medication at 10 mg/kg/day in three
divided doses. What is the single dose?
A) 133 mg
B) 267 mg
C) 400 mg
D) 600 mg
E) 800 mg
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: A) 133 mg
RATIONALE: First calculate total daily dose: 40 kg × 10 mg/kg = 400 mg/day. Then
divide by number of doses: 400 mg ÷ 3 doses = 133.3 mg per dose. Pediatric dosing
calculations based on weight are critical safety measures.
4. The nurse is preparing an IV infusion of 500 mL over 2 hours using a
standard infusion pump. What rate should be set?
A) 100 mL/hr
,B) 150 mL/hr
C) 200 mL/hr
D) 250 mL/hr
E) 300 mL/hr
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: D) 250 mL/hr
RATIONALE: Volume/Time = Rate. 500 mL ÷ 2 hours = 250 mL/hr. Accurate pump
settings prevent under or overdose and ensure safe medication administration.
5. A nurse receives an order for 0.5 mg of a drug. The available concentration
is 1 mg/mL. How many mL should be drawn up?
A) 0.3 mL
B) 0.5 mL
C) 0.75 mL
D) 1 mL
E) 1.5 mL
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) 0.5 mL
RATIONALE: Using Desired dose/Concentration available = Volume. 0.5 mg ÷ 1
mg/mL = 0.5 mL. Precise measurement is crucial in parenteral administration to
prevent medication errors.
6. An order calls for 250 mcg of digoxin. Available tablets are 0.5 mg each. How
many tablets should be given?
A) 0.25 tablets
B) 0.5 tablets
C) 1 tablet
D) 2 tablets
E) 4 tablets
, ✓ CORRECT ANSWER: B) 0.5 tablets
RATIONALE: Convert mcg to mg: 250 mcg = 0.25 mg. Then: 0.25 mg ÷ 0.5 mg per
tablet = 0.5 tablets. Unit conversions are essential; always verify micrograms versus
milligrams carefully.
7. A patient needs 400 units of insulin. The vial concentration is 100 units/mL.
How many mL should be drawn?
A) 2 mL
B) 3 mL
C) 4 mL
D) 5 mL
E) 6 mL
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: C) 4 mL
RATIONALE: 400 units ÷ 100 units/mL = 4 mL. Insulin calculations require extreme
accuracy as insulin errors can result in severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Always verify with another nurse for high-risk medications.
8. A medication is prescribed at 5 mg/kg for a patient weighing 154 pounds.
What is the total dose? (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)
A) 350 mg
B) 450 mg
C) 550 mg
D) 650 mg
E) 750 mg
✓ CORRECT ANSWER: A) 350 mg
RATIONALE: First convert weight: 154 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. Then calculate dose: 70 kg ×
5 mg/kg = 350 mg. Weight-based dosing requires accurate conversion between
imperial and metric measurements.
