RN Pharmacology for Nursing, 8.0
Edition by Assessment Technologies
Institute (ATI) - Ultimate 2025/2026
Study Prep: Pass Your Exam on the First
Attempt and Avoid Resits
1–20: Foundations & Medication Safety
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a
long half-life of 24 hours. How often should the nurse expect
to give this drug?
A. Every 4 hours
B. Every 8 hours
C. Once daily
D. Every other day
Answer: C – Once daily
Rationale: A long half-life (≥24 hours) means the drug is
eliminated slowly; once-daily dosing maintains therapeutic
levels without accumulation toxicity.
2. A nurse is collecting a blood sample to measure a trough
level. When should the sample be drawn?
A. 1 hour after the dose
B. Immediately before the next dose
, C. Midway between doses
D. 30 minutes after IV push
Answer: B – Immediately before the next dose
Rationale: Trough is the lowest plasma concentration, drawn
just before the next dose to avoid subtherapeutic levels.
3. During medication reconciliation, a client reports taking a
different dose of warfarin at home than what is newly
prescribed. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Give the newly prescribed dose
B. Hold both doses and contact the provider
C. Give the home dose
D. Document the discrepancy and continue
Answer: B – Hold both doses and contact the provider
Rationale: Clarify all discrepancies with the provider before
administering any dose to prevent overdose or underdose.
4. A nurse administers eye drops. Which technique is correct?
A. Have the client look down, instill into lower lid
B. Have the client look up, instill into conjunctival sac
C. Place drops directly onto the cornea
D. Tilt head back and close eyes tightly
Answer: B – Have the client look up, instill into
conjunctival sac
Rationale: Looking up exposes the conjunctival sac; instilling
there avoids corneal injury and maximizes absorption.
5. A client develops hives and dyspnea minutes after IM
penicillin. What is the first action?
, A. Administer diphenhydramine
B. Give epinephrine IM
C. Start IV fluids
D. Call respiratory therapy
Answer: B – Give epinephrine IM
Rationale: Epinephrine is first-line for anaphylaxis to reverse
bronchospasm and hypotension.
6. A client is prescribed lithium. The nurse notes a serum level
of 1.8 mEq/L. What action should the nurse take?
A. Administer the next dose as ordered
B. Hold the lithium and notify the provider
C. Increase fluid intake
D. Give sodium polystyrene sulfonate
Answer: B – Hold the lithium and notify the provider
Rationale: Therapeutic range is 0.6–1.2 mEq/L; 1.8 mEq/L is
toxic (≥1.5 mEq/L). Hold and report.
7. Which insulin can be given IV?
A. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
B. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
C. Insulin regular (Humulin R)
D. Insulin NPH (Humulin N)
Answer: C – Insulin regular (Humulin R)
Rationale: Regular insulin is short-acting and can be given IV
in emergency settings. Others are for subcutaneous use only.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about rifampin. Which
statement indicates understanding?
, A. “My urine may turn red-orange, but that’s harmless.”
B. “I will take this with antacids to reduce stomach upset.”
C. “I should expect my skin to turn yellow.”
D. “I can stop the drug when I feel better.”
Answer: A – “My urine may turn red-orange, but that’s
harmless.”
Rationale: Rifampin causes harmless red-orange discoloration
of body fluids; this is expected and not a sign of liver
damage.
9. After giving IV furosemide (Lasix), the nurse should
monitor most closely for which finding?
A. Weight loss of 1 kg in 24 hours
B. Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
C. Increased urine output
D. Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg
Answer: B – Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes
hypokalemia; a level below 3.5 requires intervention.
10. A client on morphine reports nausea and vomiting. What
is the nurse’s priority initial action?
A. Administer ondansetron (Zofran)
B. Give a second dose of morphine
C. Assess respiratory rate and pain level
D. Place the client in a supine position
Answer: C – Assess respiratory rate and pain level
Rationale: Always assess first (ABCs). Morphine can cause
respiratory depression; nausea is common but not
immediately life-threatening.
Edition by Assessment Technologies
Institute (ATI) - Ultimate 2025/2026
Study Prep: Pass Your Exam on the First
Attempt and Avoid Resits
1–20: Foundations & Medication Safety
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication that has a
long half-life of 24 hours. How often should the nurse expect
to give this drug?
A. Every 4 hours
B. Every 8 hours
C. Once daily
D. Every other day
Answer: C – Once daily
Rationale: A long half-life (≥24 hours) means the drug is
eliminated slowly; once-daily dosing maintains therapeutic
levels without accumulation toxicity.
2. A nurse is collecting a blood sample to measure a trough
level. When should the sample be drawn?
A. 1 hour after the dose
B. Immediately before the next dose
, C. Midway between doses
D. 30 minutes after IV push
Answer: B – Immediately before the next dose
Rationale: Trough is the lowest plasma concentration, drawn
just before the next dose to avoid subtherapeutic levels.
3. During medication reconciliation, a client reports taking a
different dose of warfarin at home than what is newly
prescribed. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Give the newly prescribed dose
B. Hold both doses and contact the provider
C. Give the home dose
D. Document the discrepancy and continue
Answer: B – Hold both doses and contact the provider
Rationale: Clarify all discrepancies with the provider before
administering any dose to prevent overdose or underdose.
4. A nurse administers eye drops. Which technique is correct?
A. Have the client look down, instill into lower lid
B. Have the client look up, instill into conjunctival sac
C. Place drops directly onto the cornea
D. Tilt head back and close eyes tightly
Answer: B – Have the client look up, instill into
conjunctival sac
Rationale: Looking up exposes the conjunctival sac; instilling
there avoids corneal injury and maximizes absorption.
5. A client develops hives and dyspnea minutes after IM
penicillin. What is the first action?
, A. Administer diphenhydramine
B. Give epinephrine IM
C. Start IV fluids
D. Call respiratory therapy
Answer: B – Give epinephrine IM
Rationale: Epinephrine is first-line for anaphylaxis to reverse
bronchospasm and hypotension.
6. A client is prescribed lithium. The nurse notes a serum level
of 1.8 mEq/L. What action should the nurse take?
A. Administer the next dose as ordered
B. Hold the lithium and notify the provider
C. Increase fluid intake
D. Give sodium polystyrene sulfonate
Answer: B – Hold the lithium and notify the provider
Rationale: Therapeutic range is 0.6–1.2 mEq/L; 1.8 mEq/L is
toxic (≥1.5 mEq/L). Hold and report.
7. Which insulin can be given IV?
A. Insulin glargine (Lantus)
B. Insulin detemir (Levemir)
C. Insulin regular (Humulin R)
D. Insulin NPH (Humulin N)
Answer: C – Insulin regular (Humulin R)
Rationale: Regular insulin is short-acting and can be given IV
in emergency settings. Others are for subcutaneous use only.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about rifampin. Which
statement indicates understanding?
, A. “My urine may turn red-orange, but that’s harmless.”
B. “I will take this with antacids to reduce stomach upset.”
C. “I should expect my skin to turn yellow.”
D. “I can stop the drug when I feel better.”
Answer: A – “My urine may turn red-orange, but that’s
harmless.”
Rationale: Rifampin causes harmless red-orange discoloration
of body fluids; this is expected and not a sign of liver
damage.
9. After giving IV furosemide (Lasix), the nurse should
monitor most closely for which finding?
A. Weight loss of 1 kg in 24 hours
B. Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
C. Increased urine output
D. Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg
Answer: B – Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes
hypokalemia; a level below 3.5 requires intervention.
10. A client on morphine reports nausea and vomiting. What
is the nurse’s priority initial action?
A. Administer ondansetron (Zofran)
B. Give a second dose of morphine
C. Assess respiratory rate and pain level
D. Place the client in a supine position
Answer: C – Assess respiratory rate and pain level
Rationale: Always assess first (ABCs). Morphine can cause
respiratory depression; nausea is common but not
immediately life-threatening.
