ATI RN
ATI Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam I Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient is diagnosed as having elevated cholesterol level. The nurse is aware that plaque on the inner lumen of arteries begins as what?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Fatty streaks. Fatty streaks are the earliest visible signs of atherosclerosis and are primarily composed of lipid-laden macrophages within the arterial wall. Platelets and fibrin (
A) are involved in clot formation, not the initial stages of plaque formation. White blood cells (
C) and foam cells (
D) are involved in the later stages of atherosclerosis. The other choices are irrelevant to the initial development of plaque.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse assisting with Phase 1 drug studies is talking with a woman who asks, 'Why can't I participate in this study?' What would be the nurse's best response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Drugs pose a greater risk to women of reproductive age. This answer is based on the fact that women of reproductive age may be at higher risk when participating in drug studies due to potential harm to a developing fetus. Women's hormonal fluctuations can also affect drug metabolism and response, making them more vulnerable to adverse effects.
Incorrect choices:
A: Women are not inherently more prone to adverse effects; it depends on various factors.
C: While drugs can indeed affect men and women differently, this is not the primary reason for excluding women from studies.
D: Excluding women from drug studies solely because they are 'stronger' is not ethical or scientifically valid.
Question 3 of 5
A patient who has Parkinson's will begin taking carbidopa-levodopa. What information will the nurse include when teaching this patient about this medication?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Rise slowly from your bed or chair to avoid dizziness and falls. This is because carbidopa-levodopa can cause orthostatic hypotension, leading to dizziness and potential falls when standing up quickly. Instructing the patient to rise slowly can help prevent this adverse effect.
Choice A is incorrect because insomnia is not a common side effect of carbidopa-levodopa, so there is no need to discontinue the drug solely for this reason.
Choice C is incorrect as dark-colored urine is not a typical side effect of carbidopa-levodopa and does not warrant immediate medical attention.
Choice D is incorrect because taking carbidopa-levodopa with high-protein foods can actually decrease the absorption of the medication, potentially reducing its effectiveness.
Therefore, the most important information for the patient to remember is to rise slowly to prevent dizziness and falls.
Question 4 of 5
A nursing student asks the nurse to differentiate the pathology of Alzheimer's disease from that of Parkinson's disease. Which description is correct?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. In Parkinson's disease, there is a reduction in dopamine levels due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. This imbalance leads to motor symptoms such as tremors and rigidity. In contrast, Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, leading to neuronal cell death and cognitive decline. The incorrect choices can be eliminated as follows: B is incorrect because Parkinson's disease is associated with a decrease, not an increase, in dopamine levels. C is incorrect as Alzheimer's disease is not primarily characterized by decreased dopamine levels but rather by the accumulation of plaques and tangles. D is incorrect as Alzheimer's disease is not associated with an excess of acetylcholine but rather a decrease in its levels.
Therefore, option A is the correct choice as it accurately describes the pathology of Parkinson's disease.
Question 5 of 5
The patient asks the nurse what atorvastatin (Lipitor) newly prescribed will do. What's the expected outcome the nurse will describe?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because atorvastatin works by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, leading to a decrease in serum cholesterol and LDL levels. This is the expected outcome that the nurse will describe to the patient.
Choice A is incorrect because sitosterol is not primarily targeted by atorvastatin.
Choice B is incorrect as campesterol is not a main focus of atorvastatin.
Choice D is incorrect because atorvastatin also targets LDL levels, not just serum cholesterol.