ATI RN
Pharmacology ATI Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 5
Component added to local anesthetic solution to reduce the systemic uptake of the anesthetic agent:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: One of the most common components added to local anesthetic solutions to reduce the systemic uptake of the anesthetic agent is a vasoconstrictor. Vasoconstrictors, such as epinephrine, work by causing constriction of blood vessels at the site of injection. This constriction reduces blood flow to the area, which in turn reduces the systemic absorption of the anesthetic agent. By limiting systemic absorption, vasoconstrictors can help to prolong the duration of local anesthesia and minimize potential side effects associated with high systemic levels of the anesthetic agent, such as cardiovascular effects.
Question 2 of 5
A patient has been on TPN for 1 month, and there is an order to discontinue TPN tomorrow. The nurse contacts the health care provider because sudden interruption of TPN therapy may cause which condition?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden discontinuation of TPN can cause hypoglycemia due to the abrupt cessation of dextrose infusion. The nurse should gradually taper TPN or provide a dextrose solution to prevent this. Dehydration (
A), tremors (
B), and urinary retention (
C) are not typical complications of TPN discontinuation.
Question 3 of 5
A patient has been diagnosed has having 'long QT syndrome.' The patient is experiencing significant pain following a bout with shingles. What would be an appropriate drug for his pain?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Long QT syndrome predisposes patients to torsades de pointes, so pain management must avoid QT-prolonging drugs. Amitriptyline, a TCA, extends QT via sodium channel blockade, risking arrhythmias. Fentanyl, an opioid, has minimal QT impact and relieves severe pain but carries respiratory depression risks, less ideal for shingles' neuropathic pain. Acyclovir treats shingles' viral cause, not pain directly. Diazepam addresses anxiety, not pain. Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant, targets neuropathic pain (common in postherpetic neuralgia) by modulating calcium channels, with no significant QT prolongation, making it safe and effective here. Its efficacy in nerve pain, lack of cardiac risk, and suitability for chronic management post-shingles distinguish it as the best option.
Question 4 of 5
A 33-year-old man spends the morning outside gardening in the sun on a warm spring day. He develops a tension headache, and the only medication he has at home is aspirin. After taking two regular-sized aspirin tablets, there was an increase in his respiration rate. What is the reason for the increased respirations?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aspirin (salicylates) at standard doses (two tablets) can cause respiratory changes. Option , CO2 receptor agonism, is incorrect-salicylates don't target carotid bodies directly. Option , direct stimulation of the respiratory center, is correct-salicylates stimulate the medullary respiratory center, increasing respiration rate, a known early effect in salicylate toxicity. Option , shifting the oxygen dissociation curve, is unrelated to aspirin's action. Option , uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation, occurs in overdose, causing metabolic acidosis and compensatory hyperventilation, but not at this dose. Here, the mild increase in respiration aligns with central stimulation, not severe metabolic disruption. This reflects aspirin's pharmacological effect on brainstem respiratory control, distinct from overdose scenarios, explaining the observed hyperventilation in this otherwise healthy man.
Question 5 of 5
Epinephrine is administered to a female patient. The nurse should expect this agent to rapidly affect:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epinephrine is a potent agonist of adrenergic receptors, which are part of the sympathetic nervous system. It rapidly affects alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors, leading to increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and bronchodilation. Muscarinic and cholinergic receptors are part of the parasympathetic nervous system and are not directly activated by epinephrine. Nicotinic receptors are found in the neuromuscular junction and autonomic ganglia but are not the primary target of epinephrine. The rapid action of epinephrine makes it a critical drug in emergencies such as anaphylaxis.