ATI PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED REAL
EXAM 2026/2027 VERIFIED ANSWERS – ACTUAL
UPDATED HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES – LATEST
VERSION – GRADED A+
1. A provider prescribes phenobarbital for a client who has a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. How many times per day should the
nurse expect to administer this medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: A. One
(Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between doses for
long periods. Phenobarbital is given once daily.)
2. A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Which of the following factors
should the educator include as a reason to administer lower medication dosages?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal secretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication the same pathway metabolizes
Correct Answer: C, E
(Liver failure decreases metabolism, increasing drug concentration. Concurrent
use of drugs on the same pathway causes competition, requiring lower doses.)
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Have the client lie on her side.
B. Ask the client to look up at the ceiling.
C. Tell the client to blink when the drops enter her eye.
D. Drop the medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac.
E. Instruct the client to close her eye gently after instillation.
Correct Answer: B, D, E
(Looking up prevents drops from hitting cornea; center of conjunctival sac
promotes distribution; gentle closing prevents expulsion.)
4. A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription
for transdermal patches. Which statement indicates the client understands the
instructions?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab before I apply the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application sites weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
Correct Answer: C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
(Hairless skin promotes absorption; rotation should be daily, not weekly; old site
should be cleaned and new site rotated.)
5. A nurse reviewing a client's medical record notes a new prescription for
verifying the trough level of the client's medication. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Obtain a blood specimen immediately prior to administering the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been taking the medication for 24 hr before obtaining a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose.
D. Administer the medication, and obtain a blood specimen 30 min later.
Correct Answer: A. Obtain a blood specimen immediately prior to
administering the next dose.
(Trough level is the lowest concentration, drawn just before next dose.)
,6. A nurse is preparing a client's medications. Which actions should the nurse take
to follow legal practice guidelines? (Select all that apply.)
A. Identify the client using two identifiers.
B. Check the expiration date of each medication.
C. Prepare medications for more than one client at a time.
D. Document medication administration immediately after giving it.
E. Verify the medication dose with the provider if it seems unusual.
Correct Answer: A, B, D, E
(Two identifiers, check expiration, document immediately, verify unusual doses.
Never prepare for multiple clients at once.)
7. A client is prescribed digoxin (Lanoxin). Which finding should the nurse report
to the provider immediately?
A. Heart rate 58 bpm
B. Anorexia and nausea
C. Serum digoxin level 1.2 ng/mL
D. Yellow-tinged vision
Correct Answer: D. Yellow-tinged vision
*(Yellow or green vision is a sign of digoxin toxicity; requires immediate
intervention. HR 58 may be acceptable; anorexia/nausea are early signs but less
urgent; 1.2 ng/mL is therapeutic.)*
8. A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin (Coumadin). Which statement by the
client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will have my blood tested regularly."
B. "I will eat more green leafy vegetables."
C. "I will use a soft toothbrush."
D. "I will report any bruising to my provider."
Correct Answer: B. "I will eat more green leafy vegetables."
(Green leafy vegetables contain vitamin K, which antagonizes warfarin. Clients
should maintain consistent intake, not increase it.)
, 9. A client is receiving IV heparin. The nurse notes aPTT of 110 seconds (normal
25-35). What is the priority action?
A. Continue the infusion as ordered.
B. Decrease the infusion rate by half.
C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider.
D. Draw a stat platelet count.
Correct Answer: C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider.
*(aPTT > 100 seconds indicates high bleeding risk; stop infusion and notify
provider. Therapeutic range is usually 60-80 seconds.)*
10. A nurse is administering furosemide (Lasix) IV push. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Serum sodium
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum calcium
D. Serum magnesium
Correct Answer: B. Serum potassium
(Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting; hypokalemia can
lead to arrhythmias.)
11. A client with type 2 diabetes is prescribed metformin (Glucophage). Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
B. "Expect your urine to turn orange."
C. "Report any muscle pain or weakness."
D. "You may discontinue your diet plan."
Correct Answer: C. "Report any muscle pain or weakness."
(Muscle pain can indicate lactic acidosis, a rare but serious adverse effect of
metformin. Take with meals to reduce GI upset.)
12. A nurse is teaching a client about alendronate (Fosamax) for osteoporosis.
Which instruction is most important?
A. "Take with a full glass of water after waking up."
EXAM 2026/2027 VERIFIED ANSWERS – ACTUAL
UPDATED HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES – LATEST
VERSION – GRADED A+
1. A provider prescribes phenobarbital for a client who has a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. How many times per day should the
nurse expect to administer this medication?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: A. One
(Medications with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between doses for
long periods. Phenobarbital is given once daily.)
2. A staff educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Which of the following factors
should the educator include as a reason to administer lower medication dosages?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal secretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication the same pathway metabolizes
Correct Answer: C, E
(Liver failure decreases metabolism, increasing drug concentration. Concurrent
use of drugs on the same pathway causes competition, requiring lower doses.)
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)
A. Have the client lie on her side.
B. Ask the client to look up at the ceiling.
C. Tell the client to blink when the drops enter her eye.
D. Drop the medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac.
E. Instruct the client to close her eye gently after instillation.
Correct Answer: B, D, E
(Looking up prevents drops from hitting cornea; center of conjunctival sac
promotes distribution; gentle closing prevents expulsion.)
4. A nurse is completing discharge teaching for a client who has a new prescription
for transdermal patches. Which statement indicates the client understands the
instructions?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab before I apply the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application sites weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
Correct Answer: C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
(Hairless skin promotes absorption; rotation should be daily, not weekly; old site
should be cleaned and new site rotated.)
5. A nurse reviewing a client's medical record notes a new prescription for
verifying the trough level of the client's medication. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Obtain a blood specimen immediately prior to administering the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been taking the medication for 24 hr before obtaining a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose.
D. Administer the medication, and obtain a blood specimen 30 min later.
Correct Answer: A. Obtain a blood specimen immediately prior to
administering the next dose.
(Trough level is the lowest concentration, drawn just before next dose.)
,6. A nurse is preparing a client's medications. Which actions should the nurse take
to follow legal practice guidelines? (Select all that apply.)
A. Identify the client using two identifiers.
B. Check the expiration date of each medication.
C. Prepare medications for more than one client at a time.
D. Document medication administration immediately after giving it.
E. Verify the medication dose with the provider if it seems unusual.
Correct Answer: A, B, D, E
(Two identifiers, check expiration, document immediately, verify unusual doses.
Never prepare for multiple clients at once.)
7. A client is prescribed digoxin (Lanoxin). Which finding should the nurse report
to the provider immediately?
A. Heart rate 58 bpm
B. Anorexia and nausea
C. Serum digoxin level 1.2 ng/mL
D. Yellow-tinged vision
Correct Answer: D. Yellow-tinged vision
*(Yellow or green vision is a sign of digoxin toxicity; requires immediate
intervention. HR 58 may be acceptable; anorexia/nausea are early signs but less
urgent; 1.2 ng/mL is therapeutic.)*
8. A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin (Coumadin). Which statement by the
client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will have my blood tested regularly."
B. "I will eat more green leafy vegetables."
C. "I will use a soft toothbrush."
D. "I will report any bruising to my provider."
Correct Answer: B. "I will eat more green leafy vegetables."
(Green leafy vegetables contain vitamin K, which antagonizes warfarin. Clients
should maintain consistent intake, not increase it.)
, 9. A client is receiving IV heparin. The nurse notes aPTT of 110 seconds (normal
25-35). What is the priority action?
A. Continue the infusion as ordered.
B. Decrease the infusion rate by half.
C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider.
D. Draw a stat platelet count.
Correct Answer: C. Stop the infusion and notify the provider.
*(aPTT > 100 seconds indicates high bleeding risk; stop infusion and notify
provider. Therapeutic range is usually 60-80 seconds.)*
10. A nurse is administering furosemide (Lasix) IV push. Which laboratory value
should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Serum sodium
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum calcium
D. Serum magnesium
Correct Answer: B. Serum potassium
(Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting; hypokalemia can
lead to arrhythmias.)
11. A client with type 2 diabetes is prescribed metformin (Glucophage). Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
B. "Expect your urine to turn orange."
C. "Report any muscle pain or weakness."
D. "You may discontinue your diet plan."
Correct Answer: C. "Report any muscle pain or weakness."
(Muscle pain can indicate lactic acidosis, a rare but serious adverse effect of
metformin. Take with meals to reduce GI upset.)
12. A nurse is teaching a client about alendronate (Fosamax) for osteoporosis.
Which instruction is most important?
A. "Take with a full glass of water after waking up."
