ATI Pharmacology: GI & Renal Medications Study Guide
2026 UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
1. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for omeprazole.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Take the medication with food.
B. This medication is used for acute relief of heart burn.
C. Stop taking the medication as soon as symptoms subside.
D. This medication prevents the production of gastric acid.
Answer: D
Rationale: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces gastric acid secretion
by irreversibly inhibiting the H+, K+-ATPase enzyme system. It should be taken before
meals, usually in the morning.
2. A client is prescribed sucralfate for the treatment of a duodenal ulcer. At
what time should the nurse instruct the client to take this medication?
A. Immediately after meals.
B. One hour before meals and at bedtime.
C. With an antacid for better results.
D. Only when feeling abdominal pain.
Answer: B
Rationale: Sucralfate requires an acidic environment to form a protective paste that
adheres to ulcers. It should be taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals and at
bedtime, to provide a barrier against acid and pepsin.
,3. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has a new prescription
for misoprostol. Which of the following conditions is a contraindication for this
medication?
A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
B. Rheumatoid arthritis
C. Pregnancy
D. Diabetes mellitus
Answer: C
Rationale: Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analog that can cause uterine contractions and is
used for medical abortions; therefore, it is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy due to
the risk of miscarriage.
4. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a prescription for aluminum
hydroxide. Which of the following side effects should the nurse mention?
A. Constipation
B. Diarrhea
C. Headache
D. Tinnitus
Answer: A
Rationale: Aluminum-based antacids are known to cause constipation. Conversely,
magnesium-based antacids often cause diarrhea. Clients are sometimes given a
combination of both to balance these effects.
5. Which of the following medications is classified as an H2-receptor antagonist?
A. Pantoprazole
B. Ranitidine
C. Metoclopramide
D. Sucralfate
Answer: B
, Rationale: Ranitidine (along with famotidine and cimetidine) is an H2-receptor antagonist
that reduces the secretion of gastric acid by blocking H2 receptors in the parietal cells of
the stomach.
6. A nurse is monitoring a client who is taking metoclopramide for
gastroparesis. The nurse should observe for which of the following adverse
effects?
A. Extrapyramidal symptoms
B. Hypotension
C. Urinary retention
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Metoclopramide is a dopamine antagonist that can cause extrapyramidal
symptoms (EPS), such as tardive dyskinesia, especially with long-term use or high doses.
7. A client with hepatic encephalopathy is prescribed lactulose. The nurse
should monitor for which of the following therapeutic effects?
A. Reduced serum ammonia levels
B. Increased blood glucose
C. Decreased serum potassium
D. Reduced heart rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Lactulose is used in hepatic encephalopathy to promote the excretion of
ammonia through the stool by acidifying the colon contents, which traps ammonia and
draws it into the bowel.
2026 UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
1. A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for omeprazole.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Take the medication with food.
B. This medication is used for acute relief of heart burn.
C. Stop taking the medication as soon as symptoms subside.
D. This medication prevents the production of gastric acid.
Answer: D
Rationale: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces gastric acid secretion
by irreversibly inhibiting the H+, K+-ATPase enzyme system. It should be taken before
meals, usually in the morning.
2. A client is prescribed sucralfate for the treatment of a duodenal ulcer. At
what time should the nurse instruct the client to take this medication?
A. Immediately after meals.
B. One hour before meals and at bedtime.
C. With an antacid for better results.
D. Only when feeling abdominal pain.
Answer: B
Rationale: Sucralfate requires an acidic environment to form a protective paste that
adheres to ulcers. It should be taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals and at
bedtime, to provide a barrier against acid and pepsin.
,3. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has a new prescription
for misoprostol. Which of the following conditions is a contraindication for this
medication?
A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
B. Rheumatoid arthritis
C. Pregnancy
D. Diabetes mellitus
Answer: C
Rationale: Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analog that can cause uterine contractions and is
used for medical abortions; therefore, it is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy due to
the risk of miscarriage.
4. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a prescription for aluminum
hydroxide. Which of the following side effects should the nurse mention?
A. Constipation
B. Diarrhea
C. Headache
D. Tinnitus
Answer: A
Rationale: Aluminum-based antacids are known to cause constipation. Conversely,
magnesium-based antacids often cause diarrhea. Clients are sometimes given a
combination of both to balance these effects.
5. Which of the following medications is classified as an H2-receptor antagonist?
A. Pantoprazole
B. Ranitidine
C. Metoclopramide
D. Sucralfate
Answer: B
, Rationale: Ranitidine (along with famotidine and cimetidine) is an H2-receptor antagonist
that reduces the secretion of gastric acid by blocking H2 receptors in the parietal cells of
the stomach.
6. A nurse is monitoring a client who is taking metoclopramide for
gastroparesis. The nurse should observe for which of the following adverse
effects?
A. Extrapyramidal symptoms
B. Hypotension
C. Urinary retention
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Metoclopramide is a dopamine antagonist that can cause extrapyramidal
symptoms (EPS), such as tardive dyskinesia, especially with long-term use or high doses.
7. A client with hepatic encephalopathy is prescribed lactulose. The nurse
should monitor for which of the following therapeutic effects?
A. Reduced serum ammonia levels
B. Increased blood glucose
C. Decreased serum potassium
D. Reduced heart rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Lactulose is used in hepatic encephalopathy to promote the excretion of
ammonia through the stool by acidifying the colon contents, which traps ammonia and
draws it into the bowel.
