ATI RN NEWEST PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM
2026–2027 – ACTUAL PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES MOST TESTED |
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
1. A nurse is teaching a client who is starting warfarin therapy. Which statement
indicates the client understands the teaching?
A. “I will increase my intake of green leafy vegetables.”
B. “I will use an electric razor when shaving.”
C. “I can take ibuprofen for headaches.”
D. “I should report a pulse below 60.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Using an electric razor minimizes the chance of cuts.
A: Vitamin K foods should be kept consistent, not increased.
C: NSAIDs increase bleeding risk.
D: Warfarin does not affect heart rate.
2. A client taking furosemide reports muscle weakness. Which lab result should
the nurse expect?
A. Sodium 150 mEq/L
B. Potassium 2.9 mEq/L
C. Calcium 11.2 mg/dL
D. Magnesium 2.5 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Furosemide can cause hypokalemia, which leads to muscle weakness and cramping.
A, C, D are not typical abnormalities from loop diuretics.
,3. A patient receiving morphine IV develops respiratory depression. What
medication should the nurse administer?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Naloxone is the antidote for opioid overdose and reverses respiratory depression.
A is for benzodiazepines.
C is for heparin overdose.
D treats bradycardia.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient taking gentamicin. Which finding indicates
toxicity?
A. Tinnitus
B. Constipation
C. Excessive salivation
D. Polyuria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside that can cause ototoxicity, manifested as tinnitus or hearing
loss.
5. A nurse prepares to administer insulin glargine. Which action is appropriate?
A. Mix it with regular insulin
B. Hold dose if glucose is 120 mg/dL
C. Give in a different syringe without mixing
D. Administer immediately before meals
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale:
Insulin glargine is never mixed with other insulin and is given once daily using its own syringe,
not tied to meals.
6. Which medication requires the nurse to monitor for a dry, persistent cough?
A. Metoprolol
B. Enalapril
C. Verapamil
D. Losartan
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
ACE inhibitors (like enalapril) commonly cause a dry cough from bradykinin buildup.
7. A patient taking lithium has a sodium level of 128 mEq/L. What should the
nurse expect?
A. Lithium toxicity risk
B. Normal therapeutic effect
C. Dehydration improvement
D. Reduced urine output
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Low sodium increases lithium retention and risk of toxicity.
8. Which instruction is appropriate for a client starting nitroglycerin patches?
A. “Apply the patch to the same site daily.”
B. “Remove the patch at night to prevent tolerance.”
C. “Use heating pads over the patch for faster absorption.”
D. “Cut the patch in half if headaches occur.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A nightly patch-free interval prevents tolerance.
, 9. A client taking metformin is scheduled for a CT scan with contrast. What
should the nurse do?
A. Continue the medication
B. Give an extra dose
C. Hold metformin 48 hours before and after
D. Change to glargine insulin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Contrast dye + metformin increases risk of lactic acidosis, so it must be held.
10. A patient starting sertraline reports increased energy but ongoing depression.
What risk should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hypertensive crisis
B. Suicide risk
C. Lithium toxicity
D. Serotonin depletion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Early in SSRI therapy, energy improves before mood, increasing suicide risk.
11. A nurse is teaching a client starting prednisone. Which instruction is
appropriate?
A. “Stop the medication if you feel better.”
B. “Take the medication on an empty stomach.”
C. “Avoid crowds and people with infections.”
D. “Limit foods high in potassium.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Prednisone causes immunosuppression, increasing infection risk.
It should not be stopped suddenly (A), should be taken with food (B), and does not require
lowering potassium (D).
2026–2027 – ACTUAL PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES MOST TESTED |
INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
1. A nurse is teaching a client who is starting warfarin therapy. Which statement
indicates the client understands the teaching?
A. “I will increase my intake of green leafy vegetables.”
B. “I will use an electric razor when shaving.”
C. “I can take ibuprofen for headaches.”
D. “I should report a pulse below 60.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Warfarin increases bleeding risk. Using an electric razor minimizes the chance of cuts.
A: Vitamin K foods should be kept consistent, not increased.
C: NSAIDs increase bleeding risk.
D: Warfarin does not affect heart rate.
2. A client taking furosemide reports muscle weakness. Which lab result should
the nurse expect?
A. Sodium 150 mEq/L
B. Potassium 2.9 mEq/L
C. Calcium 11.2 mg/dL
D. Magnesium 2.5 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Furosemide can cause hypokalemia, which leads to muscle weakness and cramping.
A, C, D are not typical abnormalities from loop diuretics.
,3. A patient receiving morphine IV develops respiratory depression. What
medication should the nurse administer?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Naloxone is the antidote for opioid overdose and reverses respiratory depression.
A is for benzodiazepines.
C is for heparin overdose.
D treats bradycardia.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient taking gentamicin. Which finding indicates
toxicity?
A. Tinnitus
B. Constipation
C. Excessive salivation
D. Polyuria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside that can cause ototoxicity, manifested as tinnitus or hearing
loss.
5. A nurse prepares to administer insulin glargine. Which action is appropriate?
A. Mix it with regular insulin
B. Hold dose if glucose is 120 mg/dL
C. Give in a different syringe without mixing
D. Administer immediately before meals
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale:
Insulin glargine is never mixed with other insulin and is given once daily using its own syringe,
not tied to meals.
6. Which medication requires the nurse to monitor for a dry, persistent cough?
A. Metoprolol
B. Enalapril
C. Verapamil
D. Losartan
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
ACE inhibitors (like enalapril) commonly cause a dry cough from bradykinin buildup.
7. A patient taking lithium has a sodium level of 128 mEq/L. What should the
nurse expect?
A. Lithium toxicity risk
B. Normal therapeutic effect
C. Dehydration improvement
D. Reduced urine output
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Low sodium increases lithium retention and risk of toxicity.
8. Which instruction is appropriate for a client starting nitroglycerin patches?
A. “Apply the patch to the same site daily.”
B. “Remove the patch at night to prevent tolerance.”
C. “Use heating pads over the patch for faster absorption.”
D. “Cut the patch in half if headaches occur.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A nightly patch-free interval prevents tolerance.
, 9. A client taking metformin is scheduled for a CT scan with contrast. What
should the nurse do?
A. Continue the medication
B. Give an extra dose
C. Hold metformin 48 hours before and after
D. Change to glargine insulin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Contrast dye + metformin increases risk of lactic acidosis, so it must be held.
10. A patient starting sertraline reports increased energy but ongoing depression.
What risk should the nurse monitor for?
A. Hypertensive crisis
B. Suicide risk
C. Lithium toxicity
D. Serotonin depletion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Early in SSRI therapy, energy improves before mood, increasing suicide risk.
11. A nurse is teaching a client starting prednisone. Which instruction is
appropriate?
A. “Stop the medication if you feel better.”
B. “Take the medication on an empty stomach.”
C. “Avoid crowds and people with infections.”
D. “Limit foods high in potassium.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Prednisone causes immunosuppression, increasing infection risk.
It should not be stopped suddenly (A), should be taken with food (B), and does not require
lowering potassium (D).
