ESTUDYR
PHARMACOLOGY ATI PROCTORED ACTUAL EXAM NEWEST VERSION
2025-2026 WITH NGN FORMAT QUESTION AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES RATED AGRADE
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with schizophrenia who is taking fluphenazine. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include to minimize anticholinergic effects?
A. Use a humidifier at night
B. Chew sugarless gum to moisten the mouth. ✅
C. Increase fluid intake to 4 L/day
D. Take the medication with meals only
Rationale: Fluphenazine can cause dry mouth due to anticholinergic effects. Chewing sugarless gum
stimulates saliva production and relieves dryness without increasing sugar intake.
2. Gentamicin is prescribed for a client. What is the primary therapeutic use of gentamicin?
A. Treat viral infections
B. Treat serious infections caused by aerobic bacilli. ✅
C. Lower blood pressure
D. Treat fungal infections
Rationale: Gentamicin is a narrow-spectrum aminoglycoside effective against aerobic gram-negative
bacteria and is used for severe infections.
3. Which of the following complications is most concerning for a client taking gentamicin?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hypotension
C. Nephrotoxicity due to proximal renal tubule injury. ✅
D. Respiratory depression
Rationale: Gentamicin can damage proximal renal tubules, increasing risk of kidney injury, especially in
older adults or those taking nephrotoxic drugs like NSAIDs.
4. Which lab values should the nurse monitor for a client taking gentamicin?
A. AST and ALT
B. BUN, creatinine, peak and trough levels, urinalysis, and urine specific gravity. ✅
C. Hemoglobin and hematocrit only
D. Blood glucose
,ESTUDYR
Rationale: Monitoring kidney function (BUN, creatinine, urine output) and drug levels helps prevent
nephrotoxicity and ensures therapeutic dosing.
5. What is the purpose of monitoring BUN in a client taking gentamicin?
A. Evaluate liver function
B. Assess renal function and detect nephrotoxicity. ✅
C. Detect electrolyte imbalance
D. Monitor infection resolution
Rationale: Elevated BUN may indicate kidney damage caused by gentamicin toxicity.
6. Nursing actions for a client receiving gentamicin include:
A. Limit fluid intake
B. Monitor intake and output, assess for ototoxicity, notify provider of low urine output. ✅
C. Encourage prolonged bedrest
D. Avoid blood pressure monitoring
Rationale: Adequate hydration and monitoring urine output and hearing help prevent complications like
nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
7. When preparing medications, which information is essential for the nurse to maintain knowledge
of?
A. Only the cost of the drug
B. Mechanism of action, adverse effects, contraindications, and therapeutic effects. ✅
C. Manufacturer details
D. Client insurance coverage
Rationale: Nurses must understand pharmacology to compare expected versus actual outcomes and
ensure safe administration.
8. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is indicated for clients who:
A. Require oral hydration only
B. Have mild malnutrition
C. Cannot eat by mouth or have severe GI dysfunction. ✅
D. Need intermittent IV fluids only
Rationale: TPN provides complete nutrients intravenously for clients unable to meet nutritional needs
orally.
, ESTUDYR
9. Which information should a nurse include in a medication incident report?
A. Only the medication dose
B. Only the client’s initials
C. Time of incident, client identification, who was notified, and actions taken. ✅
D. Only provider’s response
Rationale: A complete incident report ensures proper documentation and follow-up while maintaining
client safety.
10. A client is prescribed oxybutynin. Which adverse effects should the nurse monitor?
A. Dry mouth, blurred vision, hypotension, peripheral edema, QT interval prolongation. ✅
B. Hyperglycemia only
C. Respiratory depression
D. Muscle spasm
Rationale: Oxybutynin is anticholinergic and can cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and cardiovascular
effects.
11. A client is prescribed fentanyl patches. Which are common adverse effects?
A. Hyperactivity, insomnia
B. Respiratory depression, hypotension, constipation, nausea/vomiting. ✅
C. Tachycardia and tremors
D. Hypoglycemia only
Rationale: Opioids like fentanyl depress the CNS, slow bowel motility, and can reduce blood pressure.
12. What daily intervention should a client taking fentanyl patches follow?
A. Take aspirin daily
B. Take a stool softener daily to prevent constipation. ✅
C. Take ibuprofen daily
D. Increase exercise intensity
Rationale: Constipation is a common opioid adverse effect; stool softeners reduce discomfort and
prevent impaction.
13. Haloperidol can cause which major adverse effect?
PHARMACOLOGY ATI PROCTORED ACTUAL EXAM NEWEST VERSION
2025-2026 WITH NGN FORMAT QUESTION AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES RATED AGRADE
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with schizophrenia who is taking fluphenazine. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include to minimize anticholinergic effects?
A. Use a humidifier at night
B. Chew sugarless gum to moisten the mouth. ✅
C. Increase fluid intake to 4 L/day
D. Take the medication with meals only
Rationale: Fluphenazine can cause dry mouth due to anticholinergic effects. Chewing sugarless gum
stimulates saliva production and relieves dryness without increasing sugar intake.
2. Gentamicin is prescribed for a client. What is the primary therapeutic use of gentamicin?
A. Treat viral infections
B. Treat serious infections caused by aerobic bacilli. ✅
C. Lower blood pressure
D. Treat fungal infections
Rationale: Gentamicin is a narrow-spectrum aminoglycoside effective against aerobic gram-negative
bacteria and is used for severe infections.
3. Which of the following complications is most concerning for a client taking gentamicin?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hypotension
C. Nephrotoxicity due to proximal renal tubule injury. ✅
D. Respiratory depression
Rationale: Gentamicin can damage proximal renal tubules, increasing risk of kidney injury, especially in
older adults or those taking nephrotoxic drugs like NSAIDs.
4. Which lab values should the nurse monitor for a client taking gentamicin?
A. AST and ALT
B. BUN, creatinine, peak and trough levels, urinalysis, and urine specific gravity. ✅
C. Hemoglobin and hematocrit only
D. Blood glucose
,ESTUDYR
Rationale: Monitoring kidney function (BUN, creatinine, urine output) and drug levels helps prevent
nephrotoxicity and ensures therapeutic dosing.
5. What is the purpose of monitoring BUN in a client taking gentamicin?
A. Evaluate liver function
B. Assess renal function and detect nephrotoxicity. ✅
C. Detect electrolyte imbalance
D. Monitor infection resolution
Rationale: Elevated BUN may indicate kidney damage caused by gentamicin toxicity.
6. Nursing actions for a client receiving gentamicin include:
A. Limit fluid intake
B. Monitor intake and output, assess for ototoxicity, notify provider of low urine output. ✅
C. Encourage prolonged bedrest
D. Avoid blood pressure monitoring
Rationale: Adequate hydration and monitoring urine output and hearing help prevent complications like
nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
7. When preparing medications, which information is essential for the nurse to maintain knowledge
of?
A. Only the cost of the drug
B. Mechanism of action, adverse effects, contraindications, and therapeutic effects. ✅
C. Manufacturer details
D. Client insurance coverage
Rationale: Nurses must understand pharmacology to compare expected versus actual outcomes and
ensure safe administration.
8. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is indicated for clients who:
A. Require oral hydration only
B. Have mild malnutrition
C. Cannot eat by mouth or have severe GI dysfunction. ✅
D. Need intermittent IV fluids only
Rationale: TPN provides complete nutrients intravenously for clients unable to meet nutritional needs
orally.
, ESTUDYR
9. Which information should a nurse include in a medication incident report?
A. Only the medication dose
B. Only the client’s initials
C. Time of incident, client identification, who was notified, and actions taken. ✅
D. Only provider’s response
Rationale: A complete incident report ensures proper documentation and follow-up while maintaining
client safety.
10. A client is prescribed oxybutynin. Which adverse effects should the nurse monitor?
A. Dry mouth, blurred vision, hypotension, peripheral edema, QT interval prolongation. ✅
B. Hyperglycemia only
C. Respiratory depression
D. Muscle spasm
Rationale: Oxybutynin is anticholinergic and can cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and cardiovascular
effects.
11. A client is prescribed fentanyl patches. Which are common adverse effects?
A. Hyperactivity, insomnia
B. Respiratory depression, hypotension, constipation, nausea/vomiting. ✅
C. Tachycardia and tremors
D. Hypoglycemia only
Rationale: Opioids like fentanyl depress the CNS, slow bowel motility, and can reduce blood pressure.
12. What daily intervention should a client taking fentanyl patches follow?
A. Take aspirin daily
B. Take a stool softener daily to prevent constipation. ✅
C. Take ibuprofen daily
D. Increase exercise intensity
Rationale: Constipation is a common opioid adverse effect; stool softeners reduce discomfort and
prevent impaction.
13. Haloperidol can cause which major adverse effect?
