ATI RN PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED
2023 Actual Exam Questions And
Correct Answers With Rationale Latest
Update
1. A nurse is administering morphine IV. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Respiratory rate 8/min
B) Complaints of nausea
C) Pruritus
D) BP 110/70
✅ Answer: A) Respiratory rate 8/min
Rationale: Respiratory depression (RR <12/min) is the most serious adverse effect
of opioids and requires immediate action.
2. A client taking warfarin asks which foods to avoid. The nurse should tell
the client to limit:
A) Bananas
B) Spinach
C) Milk
D) Chicken
✅ Answer: B) Spinach
Rationale: Spinach is high in vitamin K, which decreases warfarin effectiveness.
3. A client is starting digoxin therapy. Which finding indicates toxicity?
A) Pink-tinged urine
B) Yellow vision
,C) Diarrhea only
D) Muscle twitching
✅ Answer: B) Yellow vision
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity commonly causes visual disturbances such as yellow
halos.
4. A nurse is preparing to give lisinopril. Which adverse effect is most
important to monitor?
A) Dry cough
B) Constipation
C) Hypokalemia
D) Angioedema
✅ Answer: D) Angioedema
Rationale: Although dry cough is common, angioedema is life-threatening and
requires immediate discontinuation.
5. A patient taking furosemide is at risk for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
✅ Answer: B) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, increasing risk of arrhythmias.
6. A nurse teaches a patient taking nitroglycerin SL tablets. Which instruction
is correct?
A) “Swallow the tablet whole.”
B) “Take up to 3 tablets, 5 minutes apart.”
, C) “Store tablets in a plastic pillbox.”
D) “Take with food.”
✅ Answer: B) Take up to 3 tablets, 5 minutes apart.
Rationale: Standard protocol: 1 tablet every 5 minutes x3; call EMS if pain
persists after the first.
7. A nurse is giving metoprolol. Which finding requires the dose to be
withheld?
A) HR 52/min
B) BP 130/78
C) Headache
D) Nausea
✅ Answer: A) HR 52/min
Rationale: Beta blockers cause bradycardia; hold for HR <60/min.
8. A client on gentamicin should be monitored for:
A) Hypertension
B) Nephrotoxicity
C) Diarrhea
D) Hyperglycemia
✅ Answer: B) Nephrotoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can damage kidneys; monitor creatinine and urine
output.
9. Which medication is used as the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?
A) Naloxone
B) Flumazenil
C) Protamine sulfate
D) Acetylcysteine
2023 Actual Exam Questions And
Correct Answers With Rationale Latest
Update
1. A nurse is administering morphine IV. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Respiratory rate 8/min
B) Complaints of nausea
C) Pruritus
D) BP 110/70
✅ Answer: A) Respiratory rate 8/min
Rationale: Respiratory depression (RR <12/min) is the most serious adverse effect
of opioids and requires immediate action.
2. A client taking warfarin asks which foods to avoid. The nurse should tell
the client to limit:
A) Bananas
B) Spinach
C) Milk
D) Chicken
✅ Answer: B) Spinach
Rationale: Spinach is high in vitamin K, which decreases warfarin effectiveness.
3. A client is starting digoxin therapy. Which finding indicates toxicity?
A) Pink-tinged urine
B) Yellow vision
,C) Diarrhea only
D) Muscle twitching
✅ Answer: B) Yellow vision
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity commonly causes visual disturbances such as yellow
halos.
4. A nurse is preparing to give lisinopril. Which adverse effect is most
important to monitor?
A) Dry cough
B) Constipation
C) Hypokalemia
D) Angioedema
✅ Answer: D) Angioedema
Rationale: Although dry cough is common, angioedema is life-threatening and
requires immediate discontinuation.
5. A patient taking furosemide is at risk for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
✅ Answer: B) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, increasing risk of arrhythmias.
6. A nurse teaches a patient taking nitroglycerin SL tablets. Which instruction
is correct?
A) “Swallow the tablet whole.”
B) “Take up to 3 tablets, 5 minutes apart.”
, C) “Store tablets in a plastic pillbox.”
D) “Take with food.”
✅ Answer: B) Take up to 3 tablets, 5 minutes apart.
Rationale: Standard protocol: 1 tablet every 5 minutes x3; call EMS if pain
persists after the first.
7. A nurse is giving metoprolol. Which finding requires the dose to be
withheld?
A) HR 52/min
B) BP 130/78
C) Headache
D) Nausea
✅ Answer: A) HR 52/min
Rationale: Beta blockers cause bradycardia; hold for HR <60/min.
8. A client on gentamicin should be monitored for:
A) Hypertension
B) Nephrotoxicity
C) Diarrhea
D) Hyperglycemia
✅ Answer: B) Nephrotoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can damage kidneys; monitor creatinine and urine
output.
9. Which medication is used as the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?
A) Naloxone
B) Flumazenil
C) Protamine sulfate
D) Acetylcysteine
