ATI Pharmacology 2024 Mock Exam – 50 NCLEX-Style
Questions with Rationales
Section A:Cardiovascular Medications
1. A nurse is administering atenolol to a patient. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider
immediately?
A. Heart rate of 58 bpm
B. Blood pressure of 110/72 mmHg
C. Dizziness on standing
D. Mild fatigue
Answer: A
Rationale: Atenolol is a beta-blocker that lowers heart rate. A heart rate below 60 bpm may indicate
bradycardia and should be reported.
2. Which of the following is a common side effect of furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause excessive potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia.
,3. A client taking enalapril reports a dry, persistent cough. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer cough syrup
B. Advise to stop medication immediately
C. Notify the provider
D. Instruct to increase fluid intake
Answer: C
Rationale: A dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like enalapril and may require a
medication change.
4. Which lab result is most important to monitor for a patient on digoxin?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity, making potassium monitoring essential.
5. What is a major adverse effect of nitroglycerin?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator and can cause significant hypotension.
, 6. What should the nurse monitor for when administering spironolactone?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and may cause hyperkalemia.
7. Which of the following is an expected effect of clonidine?
A. Increased cardiac output
B. Increased heart rate
C. Lowered blood pressure
D. Vasoconstriction
Answer: C
Rationale: Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-agonist used to treat hypertension.
8. Verapamil is contraindicated in patients with which condition?
A. Hypertension
B. Heart failure
C. Migraine
D. Atrial fibrillation
Questions with Rationales
Section A:Cardiovascular Medications
1. A nurse is administering atenolol to a patient. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider
immediately?
A. Heart rate of 58 bpm
B. Blood pressure of 110/72 mmHg
C. Dizziness on standing
D. Mild fatigue
Answer: A
Rationale: Atenolol is a beta-blocker that lowers heart rate. A heart rate below 60 bpm may indicate
bradycardia and should be reported.
2. Which of the following is a common side effect of furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause excessive potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia.
,3. A client taking enalapril reports a dry, persistent cough. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer cough syrup
B. Advise to stop medication immediately
C. Notify the provider
D. Instruct to increase fluid intake
Answer: C
Rationale: A dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like enalapril and may require a
medication change.
4. Which lab result is most important to monitor for a patient on digoxin?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity, making potassium monitoring essential.
5. What is a major adverse effect of nitroglycerin?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator and can cause significant hypotension.
, 6. What should the nurse monitor for when administering spironolactone?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and may cause hyperkalemia.
7. Which of the following is an expected effect of clonidine?
A. Increased cardiac output
B. Increased heart rate
C. Lowered blood pressure
D. Vasoconstriction
Answer: C
Rationale: Clonidine is a centrally acting alpha-agonist used to treat hypertension.
8. Verapamil is contraindicated in patients with which condition?
A. Hypertension
B. Heart failure
C. Migraine
D. Atrial fibrillation
