ATI Pharmacology ALL Major Topics Covered 2025-2026
Latest Test Bank
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a sublingual medication. Which instruction
should the nurse give the client?
a. Swallow the tablet with water
b. Place the tablet under the tongue until dissolved
c. Chew the tablet before swallowing
d. Place the tablet between the cheek and gum
Rationale: Sublingual meds dissolve under the tongue for rapid absorption;
swallowing inactivates them.
2. Which of the following routes provides the fastest absorption?
a. Oral
b. Intramuscular
c. Intravenous
d. Subcutaneous
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption, delivering medication
directly into circulation.
3. A nurse is teaching about transdermal patches. Which statement indicates a
need for further teaching?
a. “I should rotate sites with each new patch.”
b. “I can cut the patch in half if the dose is too strong.”
c. “I should apply the patch to a hairless area.”
d. “I should remove the old patch before applying a new one.”
Rationale: Cutting patches alters dosing and may cause toxicity.
4. For a client receiving eye drops, which technique is correct?
a. Place drops directly on the cornea
b. Drop into the conjunctival sac
c. Hold the dropper 5 cm away from the eye
d. Rub the eye immediately after administration
, Rationale: Drops are placed in the conjunctival sac to prevent corneal
damage and ensure absorption.
5. Which route is commonly used for insulin administration?
a. Intravenous
b. Subcutaneous
c. Intramuscular
d. Oral
Rationale: Insulin is almost always given SC for gradual absorption (except
IV in emergencies).
6. Which term describes the study of how drugs move through the body?
a. Pharmacodynamics
b. Pharmacokinetics
c. Pharmacogenomics
d. Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics = absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
(ADME).
7. The nurse understands that the “first-pass effect” occurs with which route?
a. Oral
b. Intravenous
c. Sublingual
d. Intramuscular
Rationale: Oral drugs pass through the liver first, reducing their bioavailability.
8. Which factor slows drug absorption?
a. Increased blood flow
b. Presence of food in the stomach
c. Liquid medication form
d. Empty stomach
Rationale: Food delays gastric emptying and slows absorption.
9. A drug that mimics the body’s natural chemicals by activating a receptor is called
a:
, a. Antagonist
b. Agonist
c. Inhibitor
d. Blocker
Rationale: Agonists bind and activate receptors, producing an effect.
10. The intensity of a drug’s effect at a receptor site refers to:
a. Potency
b. Affinity
c. Selectivity
d. Efficacy
Rationale: Efficacy = maximum effect achievable by a drug.
11. A nurse notes that a medication has a half-life of 8 hours. How much of a 100 mg
dose remains after 16 hours?
a. 75 mg
b. 50 mg
c. 25 mg
d. 12.5 mg
Rationale: After 2 half-lives, 25% of the drug remains.
12. The purpose of measuring trough levels is to determine:
a. The highest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream
b. The lowest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream
c. The rate of absorption
d. The duration of action
Rationale: Trough ensures safe baseline levels before next dose.
13. Which drug requires peak and trough monitoring?
a. Acetaminophen
b. Vancomycin
c. Ibuprofen
d. Loratadine
, Rationale: Vancomycin has a narrow therapeutic index and risk of
nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity.
14. If a medication is given at 0800 and has a half-life of 4 hours, at what time would
the drug level be reduced by 50%?
a. 1000
b. 1200
c. 1600
d. 2000
Rationale: 4 hours later (1200) drug is reduced by half.
15. A nurse is explaining why it’s important to draw a trough level before the next
dose. Which statement is correct?
a. “It shows how well your kidneys excrete the drug.”
b. “It shows the highest level of drug after a dose.”
c. “It shows the lowest level of drug before the next dose.”
d. “It tells us the half-life of the drug.”
Rationale: Trough ensures drug is not accumulating to toxic levels.
16. A nurse is verifying a medication order. Which of the following is NOT one of the
6 rights of medication administration?
a. Right patient
b. Right diagnosis
c. Right time
d. Right route
Rationale: The 6 rights are patient, drug, dose, time, route, documentation.
17. A provider orders ampicillin 500 mg PO q6h. The available dose is 250 mg per
capsule. How many capsules per dose?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
Rationale: 500 ÷ 250 = 2 capsules.
Latest Test Bank
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a sublingual medication. Which instruction
should the nurse give the client?
a. Swallow the tablet with water
b. Place the tablet under the tongue until dissolved
c. Chew the tablet before swallowing
d. Place the tablet between the cheek and gum
Rationale: Sublingual meds dissolve under the tongue for rapid absorption;
swallowing inactivates them.
2. Which of the following routes provides the fastest absorption?
a. Oral
b. Intramuscular
c. Intravenous
d. Subcutaneous
Rationale: IV administration bypasses absorption, delivering medication
directly into circulation.
3. A nurse is teaching about transdermal patches. Which statement indicates a
need for further teaching?
a. “I should rotate sites with each new patch.”
b. “I can cut the patch in half if the dose is too strong.”
c. “I should apply the patch to a hairless area.”
d. “I should remove the old patch before applying a new one.”
Rationale: Cutting patches alters dosing and may cause toxicity.
4. For a client receiving eye drops, which technique is correct?
a. Place drops directly on the cornea
b. Drop into the conjunctival sac
c. Hold the dropper 5 cm away from the eye
d. Rub the eye immediately after administration
, Rationale: Drops are placed in the conjunctival sac to prevent corneal
damage and ensure absorption.
5. Which route is commonly used for insulin administration?
a. Intravenous
b. Subcutaneous
c. Intramuscular
d. Oral
Rationale: Insulin is almost always given SC for gradual absorption (except
IV in emergencies).
6. Which term describes the study of how drugs move through the body?
a. Pharmacodynamics
b. Pharmacokinetics
c. Pharmacogenomics
d. Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics = absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
(ADME).
7. The nurse understands that the “first-pass effect” occurs with which route?
a. Oral
b. Intravenous
c. Sublingual
d. Intramuscular
Rationale: Oral drugs pass through the liver first, reducing their bioavailability.
8. Which factor slows drug absorption?
a. Increased blood flow
b. Presence of food in the stomach
c. Liquid medication form
d. Empty stomach
Rationale: Food delays gastric emptying and slows absorption.
9. A drug that mimics the body’s natural chemicals by activating a receptor is called
a:
, a. Antagonist
b. Agonist
c. Inhibitor
d. Blocker
Rationale: Agonists bind and activate receptors, producing an effect.
10. The intensity of a drug’s effect at a receptor site refers to:
a. Potency
b. Affinity
c. Selectivity
d. Efficacy
Rationale: Efficacy = maximum effect achievable by a drug.
11. A nurse notes that a medication has a half-life of 8 hours. How much of a 100 mg
dose remains after 16 hours?
a. 75 mg
b. 50 mg
c. 25 mg
d. 12.5 mg
Rationale: After 2 half-lives, 25% of the drug remains.
12. The purpose of measuring trough levels is to determine:
a. The highest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream
b. The lowest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream
c. The rate of absorption
d. The duration of action
Rationale: Trough ensures safe baseline levels before next dose.
13. Which drug requires peak and trough monitoring?
a. Acetaminophen
b. Vancomycin
c. Ibuprofen
d. Loratadine
, Rationale: Vancomycin has a narrow therapeutic index and risk of
nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity.
14. If a medication is given at 0800 and has a half-life of 4 hours, at what time would
the drug level be reduced by 50%?
a. 1000
b. 1200
c. 1600
d. 2000
Rationale: 4 hours later (1200) drug is reduced by half.
15. A nurse is explaining why it’s important to draw a trough level before the next
dose. Which statement is correct?
a. “It shows how well your kidneys excrete the drug.”
b. “It shows the highest level of drug after a dose.”
c. “It shows the lowest level of drug before the next dose.”
d. “It tells us the half-life of the drug.”
Rationale: Trough ensures drug is not accumulating to toxic levels.
16. A nurse is verifying a medication order. Which of the following is NOT one of the
6 rights of medication administration?
a. Right patient
b. Right diagnosis
c. Right time
d. Right route
Rationale: The 6 rights are patient, drug, dose, time, route, documentation.
17. A provider orders ampicillin 500 mg PO q6h. The available dose is 250 mg per
capsule. How many capsules per dose?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
Rationale: 500 ÷ 250 = 2 capsules.
