ATI PHARMACOLOGY CMS FINAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the tests for kidney function? Answer: Creatinine and GFR
levels
◉ How do medications travel through the body? Answer: "MADE"
- Metabolism
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Excretion
◉ What are the 8 routes of medication administration? Answer: 1. Nasal
2. Otic
3. Oral
4. Inhalation
5. Ocular
6. Inhalation
7. Topical/transdermal
8. Rectal/vaginal
,◉ Pharmacokinetics of Absorption Answer: IV route
- No barrier for absorption
◉ Pharmacokinetics of Metabolism Answer: Liver, kidneys, lungs,
intestines, blood
- Can be affected by age, increase in some medication metabolism
enzymes, FIRST-PASS EFFECT, and nutritional status
◉ Pharmacokinetics of Elimination Answer: Kidneys, liver, lungs,
intestines, and exocrine glands (ex. breast milk)
◉ Pharmacodynamics Answer: Interaction between medication and
target cells, body systems, and organs to produce effects
- Agonist
- Antagonist
- Partial Agonist
◉ Things to remember for the oral/enteral route Answer: - Avoid
administration with interacting foods and beverages (ex. Grapefruit)
- Ensure to swallow enteric-coated or time-release capsules whole
- For sublingual, DO NOT eat or drink till fully dissolved
,◉ Things to remember for NGT and gastrostomy tube routes Answer: -
DO NOT administer sublingual medications through NG tube
- Administrate medications separately
- Completely dissolve crushed tablets and capsules
- DO NOT crush extended/time-release, fluid-filled, or enteric-coated
◉ Rapid-Acting Insulins Answer: Lispro (Humalog), Aspart (Novolog),
Glulisine (Apidra)
- Onset - 15-30 min
- Peak - 0.5-2.5 hr
- Duration - 3-6 hr
◉ Short-Acting Insulins Answer: - Regular (Humulin R, Novolin R)
- Onset 30 min-1 hr
- Peak 2-5 hr
- Duration 5-8 hr
*ONLY ONE GIVEN IV*
◉ Intermediate-Acting Insulins Answer: NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N)
- Onset - 1-2 hr
- Peak - 4-12 hr
, - Duration - 6-10 hr
*CLOUDY*
◉ Long-Acting Insulins Answer: Glargine (Lantus), Detemir (Levemir)
- Onset - 70 min
- Peak - NO PEAK
- Duration - 18-24 hr
Give once daily at bedtime
acts as basal insulin
*DO NOT MIX*
◉ Rights of Safe Medication Administration Answer: 1. Right client
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right time
5. Right route
6. Right documentation
Right client education
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the tests for kidney function? Answer: Creatinine and GFR
levels
◉ How do medications travel through the body? Answer: "MADE"
- Metabolism
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Excretion
◉ What are the 8 routes of medication administration? Answer: 1. Nasal
2. Otic
3. Oral
4. Inhalation
5. Ocular
6. Inhalation
7. Topical/transdermal
8. Rectal/vaginal
,◉ Pharmacokinetics of Absorption Answer: IV route
- No barrier for absorption
◉ Pharmacokinetics of Metabolism Answer: Liver, kidneys, lungs,
intestines, blood
- Can be affected by age, increase in some medication metabolism
enzymes, FIRST-PASS EFFECT, and nutritional status
◉ Pharmacokinetics of Elimination Answer: Kidneys, liver, lungs,
intestines, and exocrine glands (ex. breast milk)
◉ Pharmacodynamics Answer: Interaction between medication and
target cells, body systems, and organs to produce effects
- Agonist
- Antagonist
- Partial Agonist
◉ Things to remember for the oral/enteral route Answer: - Avoid
administration with interacting foods and beverages (ex. Grapefruit)
- Ensure to swallow enteric-coated or time-release capsules whole
- For sublingual, DO NOT eat or drink till fully dissolved
,◉ Things to remember for NGT and gastrostomy tube routes Answer: -
DO NOT administer sublingual medications through NG tube
- Administrate medications separately
- Completely dissolve crushed tablets and capsules
- DO NOT crush extended/time-release, fluid-filled, or enteric-coated
◉ Rapid-Acting Insulins Answer: Lispro (Humalog), Aspart (Novolog),
Glulisine (Apidra)
- Onset - 15-30 min
- Peak - 0.5-2.5 hr
- Duration - 3-6 hr
◉ Short-Acting Insulins Answer: - Regular (Humulin R, Novolin R)
- Onset 30 min-1 hr
- Peak 2-5 hr
- Duration 5-8 hr
*ONLY ONE GIVEN IV*
◉ Intermediate-Acting Insulins Answer: NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N)
- Onset - 1-2 hr
- Peak - 4-12 hr
, - Duration - 6-10 hr
*CLOUDY*
◉ Long-Acting Insulins Answer: Glargine (Lantus), Detemir (Levemir)
- Onset - 70 min
- Peak - NO PEAK
- Duration - 18-24 hr
Give once daily at bedtime
acts as basal insulin
*DO NOT MIX*
◉ Rights of Safe Medication Administration Answer: 1. Right client
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right time
5. Right route
6. Right documentation
Right client education
