ATI RN Pharmacology Proctored Exam |Questions and Answers [Verified
Answers] Plus Rationales | Latest 2026 Practice Exam
Question 1
A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which finding should
cause the nurse to withhold the medication?
A. Blood pressure 128/76 mm Hg
B. Apical pulse 54/min
C. Respiratory rate 20/min
D. Temperature 37°C (98.6°F)
Answer: B. Apical pulse 54/min
Rationale: Digoxin should be withheld if the apical pulse is below 60/min
because of the risk for bradycardia.
Question 2
A nurse is teaching a client about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. Which statement
by the client indicates understanding?
A. “I will store the tablets in the bathroom.”
B. “I should take one tablet every day routinely.”
C. “I will sit down before taking this medication.”
D. “I can swallow the tablet with water.”
Answer: C. “I will sit down before taking this medication.”
Rationale: Nitroglycerin can cause hypotension and dizziness; sitting helps
prevent falls.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client receiving furosemide. Which laboratory value should the
nurse monitor closely?
A. Calcium
B. Potassium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia.
Question 4
,A nurse is administering insulin lispro to a client with diabetes mellitus. When should
the nurse administer the medication?
A. 1 hr before meals
B. Immediately before meals
C. At bedtime only
D. 2 hr after meals
Answer: B. Immediately before meals
Rationale: Insulin lispro is rapid-acting and should be given when food is
readily available.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client receiving warfarin therapy. Which laboratory result
should the nurse monitor?
A. Hemoglobin
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. WBC count
Answer: B. INR
Rationale: INR is used to monitor effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client about albuterol inhaler use. Which adverse effect should
the nurse include?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tremors
C. Constipation
D. Sedation
Answer: B. Tremors
Rationale: Albuterol may stimulate the sympathetic nervous system causing
tremors.
Question 7
A nurse is administering morphine to a client. Which adverse effect is the priority to
monitor?
A. Dry mouth
B. Constipation
,C. Respiratory depression
D. Nausea
Answer: C. Respiratory depression
Rationale: Respiratory depression is the most serious adverse effect of
opioids.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client taking prednisone long-term. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
A. Weight loss
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypotension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B. Hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase blood glucose levels.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a client about levothyroxine therapy. Which instruction should the
nurse include?
A. Take the medication at bedtime with food
B. Stop taking the medication when symptoms improve
C. Take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach
D. Double the dose if one is missed
Answer: C. Take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach
Rationale: Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client receiving heparin therapy. Which medication should the
nurse have available?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Flumazenil
Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin overdose.
, Question 11
A nurse is administering metformin to a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which
adverse effect should the nurse monitor for?
A. Lactic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: A. Lactic acidosis
Rationale: Metformin can rarely cause life-threatening lactic acidosis.
Question 12
A nurse is teaching a client about atorvastatin. Which statement should the nurse
include?
A. “Report muscle pain to your provider.”
B. “Take this medication with grapefruit juice.”
C. “Stop the medication if cholesterol improves.”
D. “Take this medication only in the morning.”
Answer: A. “Report muscle pain to your provider.”
Rationale: Muscle pain may indicate rhabdomyolysis, a serious adverse effect.
Question 13
A nurse is administering enalapril. Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor
for?
A. Persistent cough
B. Tachycardia
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Constipation
Answer: A. Persistent cough
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry persistent cough.
Question 14
A nurse is teaching a client about aspirin therapy. Which finding should the client
report immediately?
A. Tinnitus
B. Increased appetite
Answers] Plus Rationales | Latest 2026 Practice Exam
Question 1
A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure. Which finding should
cause the nurse to withhold the medication?
A. Blood pressure 128/76 mm Hg
B. Apical pulse 54/min
C. Respiratory rate 20/min
D. Temperature 37°C (98.6°F)
Answer: B. Apical pulse 54/min
Rationale: Digoxin should be withheld if the apical pulse is below 60/min
because of the risk for bradycardia.
Question 2
A nurse is teaching a client about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. Which statement
by the client indicates understanding?
A. “I will store the tablets in the bathroom.”
B. “I should take one tablet every day routinely.”
C. “I will sit down before taking this medication.”
D. “I can swallow the tablet with water.”
Answer: C. “I will sit down before taking this medication.”
Rationale: Nitroglycerin can cause hypotension and dizziness; sitting helps
prevent falls.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client receiving furosemide. Which laboratory value should the
nurse monitor closely?
A. Calcium
B. Potassium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia.
Question 4
,A nurse is administering insulin lispro to a client with diabetes mellitus. When should
the nurse administer the medication?
A. 1 hr before meals
B. Immediately before meals
C. At bedtime only
D. 2 hr after meals
Answer: B. Immediately before meals
Rationale: Insulin lispro is rapid-acting and should be given when food is
readily available.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client receiving warfarin therapy. Which laboratory result
should the nurse monitor?
A. Hemoglobin
B. INR
C. Platelet count
D. WBC count
Answer: B. INR
Rationale: INR is used to monitor effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy.
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a client about albuterol inhaler use. Which adverse effect should
the nurse include?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tremors
C. Constipation
D. Sedation
Answer: B. Tremors
Rationale: Albuterol may stimulate the sympathetic nervous system causing
tremors.
Question 7
A nurse is administering morphine to a client. Which adverse effect is the priority to
monitor?
A. Dry mouth
B. Constipation
,C. Respiratory depression
D. Nausea
Answer: C. Respiratory depression
Rationale: Respiratory depression is the most serious adverse effect of
opioids.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client taking prednisone long-term. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
A. Weight loss
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypotension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B. Hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase blood glucose levels.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a client about levothyroxine therapy. Which instruction should the
nurse include?
A. Take the medication at bedtime with food
B. Stop taking the medication when symptoms improve
C. Take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach
D. Double the dose if one is missed
Answer: C. Take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach
Rationale: Levothyroxine is best absorbed on an empty stomach.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a client receiving heparin therapy. Which medication should the
nurse have available?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Flumazenil
Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin overdose.
, Question 11
A nurse is administering metformin to a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which
adverse effect should the nurse monitor for?
A. Lactic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Hypertension
D. Bradycardia
Answer: A. Lactic acidosis
Rationale: Metformin can rarely cause life-threatening lactic acidosis.
Question 12
A nurse is teaching a client about atorvastatin. Which statement should the nurse
include?
A. “Report muscle pain to your provider.”
B. “Take this medication with grapefruit juice.”
C. “Stop the medication if cholesterol improves.”
D. “Take this medication only in the morning.”
Answer: A. “Report muscle pain to your provider.”
Rationale: Muscle pain may indicate rhabdomyolysis, a serious adverse effect.
Question 13
A nurse is administering enalapril. Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor
for?
A. Persistent cough
B. Tachycardia
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Constipation
Answer: A. Persistent cough
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry persistent cough.
Question 14
A nurse is teaching a client about aspirin therapy. Which finding should the client
report immediately?
A. Tinnitus
B. Increased appetite
