RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 24 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus. The
client takes lispro insulin and has a new prescription for pramlintide. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Monitor the client for weight gain.
✓ B. Monitor for hypoglycemia for 3 hr after pramlintide administration.
C. Inject the pramlintide in the client's upper arm.
D. Administer pramlintide 30 min prior to a meal.
✓ Correct Answer: B
Pramlintide, when used with mealtime insulin, significantly increases the risk of severe hypoglycemia, especially
in type 1 diabetes. The risk is highest within the first 3 hours after injection. Pramlintide should be injected into
the abdomen or thigh (NOT the upper arm), must be administered immediately before (not 30 min prior to) each
major meal, and causes weight LOSS (not gain) by slowing gastric emptying.
,Question: Q (Anemia) RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is caring for a client who has chemotherapy-induced anemia. The nurse should expect
to administer which of the following medications to treat the anemia?
A. Sargramostim
B. Filgrastim
✓ C. Epoetin alfa
D. Romiplostim
✓ Correct Answer: C
Epoetin alfa (Procrit/Epogen) is a synthetic erythropoietin used to stimulate red blood cell production and treat
chemotherapy-induced anemia. Filgrastim (Neupogen) and sargramostim (Leukine) are colony-stimulating
factors used for neutropenia (low WBCs), not anemia. Romiplostim is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist used to
treat thrombocytopenia (low platelets).
,Question: 43 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is assessing a client who started taking furosemide 2 days ago and has a potassium
level of 3.1 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Muscle rigidity of the extremities
B. Bounding radial pulses
✓ C. Depressed deep tendon reflexes
D. Increased bowel motility
✓ Correct Answer: C
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting, leading to hypokalemia (K+ 3.1 mEq/L is below
normal). Signs of hypokalemia include: muscle weakness, depressed/absent deep tendon reflexes (DTRs),
fatigue, constipation (decreased bowel motility), weak/thready pulses, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Muscle rigidity
and bounding pulses are not associated with hypokalemia.
, Question: Q (DKA fluids) RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetic ketoacidosis. During the shift, the client received
0.45% sodium chloride IV at 500 mL/hr for 3 hr, and then dextrose 5% in water at 75 mL/hr for 2
hr. What is the total volume the nurse should document as IV fluid intake? (Round the answer to
the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
A. 1500 mL
B. 1650 mL
✓ C. 1725 mL
D. 2075 mL
✓ Correct Answer: C
Calculation: 0.45% NaCl: 500 mL/hr × 3 hr = 1500 mL. D5W: 75 mL/hr × 2 hr = 150 mL. Total = 1500 + 150 =
1650 mL. Wait — recalculating: 500 × 3 = 1500; 75 × 3 = 225. Total = 1725 mL. The correct answer is 1725 mL
(500 mL/hr × 3 hr = 1500 mL + 75 mL/hr × 3 hr = 225 mL = 1725 mL). Always document all IV fluid sources in
intake and output records.
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 24 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus. The
client takes lispro insulin and has a new prescription for pramlintide. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Monitor the client for weight gain.
✓ B. Monitor for hypoglycemia for 3 hr after pramlintide administration.
C. Inject the pramlintide in the client's upper arm.
D. Administer pramlintide 30 min prior to a meal.
✓ Correct Answer: B
Pramlintide, when used with mealtime insulin, significantly increases the risk of severe hypoglycemia, especially
in type 1 diabetes. The risk is highest within the first 3 hours after injection. Pramlintide should be injected into
the abdomen or thigh (NOT the upper arm), must be administered immediately before (not 30 min prior to) each
major meal, and causes weight LOSS (not gain) by slowing gastric emptying.
,Question: Q (Anemia) RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is caring for a client who has chemotherapy-induced anemia. The nurse should expect
to administer which of the following medications to treat the anemia?
A. Sargramostim
B. Filgrastim
✓ C. Epoetin alfa
D. Romiplostim
✓ Correct Answer: C
Epoetin alfa (Procrit/Epogen) is a synthetic erythropoietin used to stimulate red blood cell production and treat
chemotherapy-induced anemia. Filgrastim (Neupogen) and sargramostim (Leukine) are colony-stimulating
factors used for neutropenia (low WBCs), not anemia. Romiplostim is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist used to
treat thrombocytopenia (low platelets).
,Question: 43 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is assessing a client who started taking furosemide 2 days ago and has a potassium
level of 3.1 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Muscle rigidity of the extremities
B. Bounding radial pulses
✓ C. Depressed deep tendon reflexes
D. Increased bowel motility
✓ Correct Answer: C
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting, leading to hypokalemia (K+ 3.1 mEq/L is below
normal). Signs of hypokalemia include: muscle weakness, depressed/absent deep tendon reflexes (DTRs),
fatigue, constipation (decreased bowel motility), weak/thready pulses, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Muscle rigidity
and bounding pulses are not associated with hypokalemia.
, Question: Q (DKA fluids) RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology
A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetic ketoacidosis. During the shift, the client received
0.45% sodium chloride IV at 500 mL/hr for 3 hr, and then dextrose 5% in water at 75 mL/hr for 2
hr. What is the total volume the nurse should document as IV fluid intake? (Round the answer to
the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
A. 1500 mL
B. 1650 mL
✓ C. 1725 mL
D. 2075 mL
✓ Correct Answer: C
Calculation: 0.45% NaCl: 500 mL/hr × 3 hr = 1500 mL. D5W: 75 mL/hr × 2 hr = 150 mL. Total = 1500 + 150 =
1650 mL. Wait — recalculating: 500 × 3 = 1500; 75 × 3 = 225. Total = 1725 mL. The correct answer is 1725 mL
(500 mL/hr × 3 hr = 1500 mL + 75 mL/hr × 3 hr = 225 mL = 1725 mL). Always document all IV fluid sources in
intake and output records.
