ATI Nursing Education
RN PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING
EDITION 6.0 LATEST 2023 FORM A
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS(ALL ANSWERS
ARE CORRECT)|AGRADE
Table of Contents
Unit 1 Pharmacological Principles
NCLEX® Connections ....................................................................................................................1
1 Pharmacokinetics and Routes of Administration............................................................2
2 Safe Medication Administration and Error Reduction..................................................14
3 Dosage Calculation........................................................................................................26
Solid Dosage ....................................................................................................................27
Liquid Dosage..................................................................................................................28
Injectable Dosage .............................................................................................................30
Dosages by Weight...........................................................................................................31
IV Flow Rates ..................................................................................................................34
4 Intravenous Therapy......................................................................................................47
5 Adverse Effects, Interactions, and Contraindications ...................................................57
6 Individual Considerations of Medication Administration............................................66
Unit 2 Medications Affecting the Nervous System
,NCLEX® Connections ..................................................................................................................72
7 Anxiety Disorders ..........................................................................................................73
Sedative Hypnotic Anxiolytic – Benzodiazepine .................................................................73
Atypical Anxiolytic/Nonbarbiturate Anxiolytic ..................................................................75
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI Antidepressants)...........................................76
8 Depressive Disorders ......................................................................................................84
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)...................................................................84
Atypical Antidepressants ..................................................................................................87
Other Atypical Antidepressants.........................................................................................88
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs).......................................................................................88
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)...........................................................................91
9 Bipolar Disorders............................................................................................................98
Mood Stabilizer ...............................................................................................................98
Mood-Stabilizing Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) ..................................................................101
Table of Contents
RN Pharmacology for Nursing vii
10 Psychotic Disorders......................................................................................................109
Antipsychotics – First-Generation (Conventional)............................................................110
Antipsychotics – Second-Generation (Atypical) ................................................................113
11 Medications for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Issues......................123
CNS Stimulants .............................................................................................................123
Norepinephrine Selective Reuptake Inhibitor ....................................................................125
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs).....................................................................................127
Alpha2-Adrenergic Agonists ............................................................................................129
Antipsychotics – Atypical ..............................................................................................131
12 Substance Use Disorders ..............................................................................................137
Medications to Support Withdrawal/Abstinence from Alcohol..........................................137
Medications to Support Withdrawal/Abstinence from Opioids..........................................140
Medications to Support Withdrawal/Abstinence from Nicotine.........................................141
13 Chronic Neurologic Disorders .....................................................................................148
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ................................................................................................148
,Anti-Parkinson’s Medications .........................................................................................151
Antiepileptics (AEDs) .....................................................................................................156
14 Eye and Ear Disorders ..................................................................................................169
Beta Adrenergic Blockers.................................................................................................170
Alpha2-Adrenergic Agonists ............................................................................................172
Prostaglandin Analogs....................................................................................................173
Osmotic Agents ..............................................................................................................174
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Systemic) .......................................................................174
Antimicrobials ...............................................................................................................176
Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Plus Steroid Medication.........................................................177
15 Miscellaneous Central Nervous System Medications..................................................184
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents......................................................................................184
Muscle Relaxants and Antispasmodics............................................................................187
Muscarinic Agonists .......................................................................................................189
Muscarinic Antagonists ..................................................................................................190
Table of Contents
viii RN Pharmacology for Nursing
16 Sedative-Hypnotics ......................................................................................................196
Benzodiazepines.............................................................................................................196
Nonbenzodiazepines.......................................................................................................199
Melatonin Agonist..........................................................................................................200
Intravenous Anesthetics..................................................................................................201
Unit 3 Medications Affecting the Respiratory System
NCLEX® Connections ................................................................................................................208
17 Airflow Disorders .........................................................................................................209
Beta2-Adrenergic Agonists ...............................................................................................209
Methylxanthines ............................................................................................................211
Inhaled Anticholinergics .................................................................................................213
Glucocorticoids ..............................................................................................................214
Leukotriene Modifiers .....................................................................................................217
18 Upper Respiratory Disorders........................................................................................222
, Antitussives – Opioids ....................................................................................................222
Antitussives – Nonopioids...............................................................................................223
Expectorants ..................................................................................................................224
Mucolytics .....................................................................................................................225
Decongestants................................................................................................................226
Antihistamines ..............................................................................................................228
Nasal Glucocorticoids.....................................................................................................230
Unit 4 Medications Affecting the Cardiovascular System
NCLEX® Connections ................................................................................................................235
19 Medications Affecting Urinary Output .......................................................................236
High-Ceiling Loop Diuretics............................................................................................236
Thiazide Diuretics..........................................................................................................239
Potassium-Sparing Diuretics ...........................................................................................241
Osmotic Diuretics...........................................................................................................243
Table of Contents
RN Pharmacology for Nursing ix
20 Medications Affecting Blood Pressure .........................................................................249
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors ...........................................................249
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) ..........................................................................252
Aldosterone Antagonists .................................................................................................253
Direct Renin Inhibitors ...................................................................................................254
Calcium Channel Blockers..............................................................................................255
Alpha Adrenergic Blockers (Sympatholytics) ....................................................................259
Centrally Acting Alpha2 Agonists....................................................................................260
Beta Adrenergic Blockers (Sympatholytics).......................................................................262
Medications for Hypertensive Crisis ................................................................................265
21 Cardiac Glycosides and Heart Failure..........................................................................272
Cardiac Glycosides .........................................................................................................272
Adrenergic Agonists ........................................................................................................275
22 Angina..........................................................................................................................284
Organic Nitrates.............................................................................................................284
RN PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSING
EDITION 6.0 LATEST 2023 FORM A
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS(ALL ANSWERS
ARE CORRECT)|AGRADE
Table of Contents
Unit 1 Pharmacological Principles
NCLEX® Connections ....................................................................................................................1
1 Pharmacokinetics and Routes of Administration............................................................2
2 Safe Medication Administration and Error Reduction..................................................14
3 Dosage Calculation........................................................................................................26
Solid Dosage ....................................................................................................................27
Liquid Dosage..................................................................................................................28
Injectable Dosage .............................................................................................................30
Dosages by Weight...........................................................................................................31
IV Flow Rates ..................................................................................................................34
4 Intravenous Therapy......................................................................................................47
5 Adverse Effects, Interactions, and Contraindications ...................................................57
6 Individual Considerations of Medication Administration............................................66
Unit 2 Medications Affecting the Nervous System
,NCLEX® Connections ..................................................................................................................72
7 Anxiety Disorders ..........................................................................................................73
Sedative Hypnotic Anxiolytic – Benzodiazepine .................................................................73
Atypical Anxiolytic/Nonbarbiturate Anxiolytic ..................................................................75
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI Antidepressants)...........................................76
8 Depressive Disorders ......................................................................................................84
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)...................................................................84
Atypical Antidepressants ..................................................................................................87
Other Atypical Antidepressants.........................................................................................88
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs).......................................................................................88
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)...........................................................................91
9 Bipolar Disorders............................................................................................................98
Mood Stabilizer ...............................................................................................................98
Mood-Stabilizing Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) ..................................................................101
Table of Contents
RN Pharmacology for Nursing vii
10 Psychotic Disorders......................................................................................................109
Antipsychotics – First-Generation (Conventional)............................................................110
Antipsychotics – Second-Generation (Atypical) ................................................................113
11 Medications for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Issues......................123
CNS Stimulants .............................................................................................................123
Norepinephrine Selective Reuptake Inhibitor ....................................................................125
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs).....................................................................................127
Alpha2-Adrenergic Agonists ............................................................................................129
Antipsychotics – Atypical ..............................................................................................131
12 Substance Use Disorders ..............................................................................................137
Medications to Support Withdrawal/Abstinence from Alcohol..........................................137
Medications to Support Withdrawal/Abstinence from Opioids..........................................140
Medications to Support Withdrawal/Abstinence from Nicotine.........................................141
13 Chronic Neurologic Disorders .....................................................................................148
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ................................................................................................148
,Anti-Parkinson’s Medications .........................................................................................151
Antiepileptics (AEDs) .....................................................................................................156
14 Eye and Ear Disorders ..................................................................................................169
Beta Adrenergic Blockers.................................................................................................170
Alpha2-Adrenergic Agonists ............................................................................................172
Prostaglandin Analogs....................................................................................................173
Osmotic Agents ..............................................................................................................174
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor (Systemic) .......................................................................174
Antimicrobials ...............................................................................................................176
Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Plus Steroid Medication.........................................................177
15 Miscellaneous Central Nervous System Medications..................................................184
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents......................................................................................184
Muscle Relaxants and Antispasmodics............................................................................187
Muscarinic Agonists .......................................................................................................189
Muscarinic Antagonists ..................................................................................................190
Table of Contents
viii RN Pharmacology for Nursing
16 Sedative-Hypnotics ......................................................................................................196
Benzodiazepines.............................................................................................................196
Nonbenzodiazepines.......................................................................................................199
Melatonin Agonist..........................................................................................................200
Intravenous Anesthetics..................................................................................................201
Unit 3 Medications Affecting the Respiratory System
NCLEX® Connections ................................................................................................................208
17 Airflow Disorders .........................................................................................................209
Beta2-Adrenergic Agonists ...............................................................................................209
Methylxanthines ............................................................................................................211
Inhaled Anticholinergics .................................................................................................213
Glucocorticoids ..............................................................................................................214
Leukotriene Modifiers .....................................................................................................217
18 Upper Respiratory Disorders........................................................................................222
, Antitussives – Opioids ....................................................................................................222
Antitussives – Nonopioids...............................................................................................223
Expectorants ..................................................................................................................224
Mucolytics .....................................................................................................................225
Decongestants................................................................................................................226
Antihistamines ..............................................................................................................228
Nasal Glucocorticoids.....................................................................................................230
Unit 4 Medications Affecting the Cardiovascular System
NCLEX® Connections ................................................................................................................235
19 Medications Affecting Urinary Output .......................................................................236
High-Ceiling Loop Diuretics............................................................................................236
Thiazide Diuretics..........................................................................................................239
Potassium-Sparing Diuretics ...........................................................................................241
Osmotic Diuretics...........................................................................................................243
Table of Contents
RN Pharmacology for Nursing ix
20 Medications Affecting Blood Pressure .........................................................................249
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors ...........................................................249
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) ..........................................................................252
Aldosterone Antagonists .................................................................................................253
Direct Renin Inhibitors ...................................................................................................254
Calcium Channel Blockers..............................................................................................255
Alpha Adrenergic Blockers (Sympatholytics) ....................................................................259
Centrally Acting Alpha2 Agonists....................................................................................260
Beta Adrenergic Blockers (Sympatholytics).......................................................................262
Medications for Hypertensive Crisis ................................................................................265
21 Cardiac Glycosides and Heart Failure..........................................................................272
Cardiac Glycosides .........................................................................................................272
Adrenergic Agonists ........................................................................................................275
22 Angina..........................................................................................................................284
Organic Nitrates.............................................................................................................284
