ATI RN
Pharmacology Practice Exam ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client is prescribed an intranasal corticosteroid. What should the nurse include in client education about this drug?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Intranasal corticosteroids cause burning and nosebleeds . They're preventive (choice B wrong), dosing is fixed (choice C wrong). D educates on side effects, making it key.
Question 2 of 5
The newly licensed nurse is preparing to administer a high dose of androgen to the female client. The nurse manager asks for the rationale. What is the best response by the new nurse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: High-dose androgens in females are used palliatively for certain breast cancers, especially hormone-sensitive ones, to suppress estrogen-driven tumor growth, easing symptoms in advanced disease. Athletic performance enhancement via androgens, while feasible, isn't clinically indicated and is illegal in regulated contexts. Brain cancer lacks evidence for androgen treatment, as it doesn't target neurological tumors. Sexual reassignment uses testosterone for masculinization, but high doses in clinical settings typically tie to cancer care, not transition. Breast cancer aligns with a recognized therapeutic use, leveraging androgens' anti-estrogenic effects, making it the most valid clinical rationale here.
Question 3 of 5
A 17-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a persistent cough and nasal congestion. He has been taking various prescription cough and cold medicines but did not know their names. A urine drug screen is positive for amphetamines. When confronted with this information, he vehemently denies amphetamine use. What is the best explanation?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Positive amphetamine screen with cough/cold medicine use suggests a false positive from ephedrine . Ephedrine, in decongestants, cross-reacts with amphetamine assays. Codeine and marijuana don't. Lying or sample mix-up (E) are less likely given his denial and context. This common false positive explains the discrepancy.
Question 4 of 5
Codeine sulfate is prescribed to a client with a severe back pain. Which of the following side effect is associated with this medication?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Codeine sulfate is an opioid medication commonly used to relieve pain. However, one of the most common side effects associated with the use of opioids like codeine is constipation. Opioids slow down gastrointestinal motility, leading to constipation in many patients. It is important for healthcare providers to educate patients about this side effect and recommend measures to prevent or manage constipation, such as increasing fluid and fiber intake, exercise, and in some cases, the use of stool softeners or laxatives.
Question 5 of 5
Haloperidol:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic, causes hypotension less than phenothiazines, so that's not its hallmark. It's highly prone to extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) like dystonia due to strong D2 receptor blockade, a true statement. Arrhythmias (e.g., QT prolongation) occur but aren't its primary issue. Antimuscarinic effects are minimal compared to other antipsychotics. Confusion is possible but not its defining toxicity. EPS prominence drives the need for adjunctive anticholinergics in treatment, a key consideration in schizophrenia management.