ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Exam 1 Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse gives 800 mg of a drug that has a half-life of 8 hours. How much drug will be left in the body in 24 hours if no additional drug is given?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: 100 mg. After 8 hours, half of the drug is eliminated, leaving 400 mg. After another 8 hours (total 16 hours), half of the remaining 400 mg is eliminated, leaving 200 mg. After a total of 24 hours, another half is eliminated, leaving 100 mg.
Choice A is incorrect because some drug remains due to the half-life.
Choices B and D are incorrect as they do not account for the continuous halving of the drug over time.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is preparing to administer a medication from a unit-dose system. The nurse verifies that the medication, dose, and time are correct and that the expiration date was the day prior. Which action is correct?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct action is to return the medication to the pharmacy to be replaced (
Choice
C). The expiration date is crucial for medication safety, as it indicates the last day the medication is guaranteed to be effective. Administering an expired medication can lead to reduced efficacy or potential harm to the patient. By returning the medication to the pharmacy, the nurse ensures that the patient receives a medication that is safe and effective. Notifying the pharmacist and provider of the error (
Choice
B) is also important, but the immediate action should be to replace the expired medication. Administering the medication and observing for effects (
Choice
A) is not appropriate as it puts the patient at risk. Verifying the right patient (
Choice
D) is a standard practice but does not address the issue of the expired medication.
Question 3 of 5
When taking a medication history on a patient, why should the nurse ask about the use of complementary or alternative therapies?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it is essential for the nurse to ask about the use of complementary or alternative therapies to identify potential interactions that can cause serious problems when combined with prescribed medications. Many herbs, supplements, or alternative therapies can interact with medications, leading to reduced effectiveness or adverse effects. By understanding the patient's use of alternative therapies, the nurse can prevent harmful interactions and ensure the patient's safety.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not address the potential risks associated with drug-alternative therapy interactions.
Choice A focuses on compliance, while choice C assumes natural products are always more effective and choice D is about cost, but none of these directly address the primary concern of potential interactions.
Question 4 of 5
Which category is characterized as objective data?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because lab values associated with the drugs the patient is taking are objective data that can be measured and verified. Lab values provide concrete information about the patient's health status related to medication use. The other choices involve subjective information that can be influenced by individual perception or interpretation. For example, choices A, B, and C rely on self-reported or observed behaviors, which may vary in accuracy.
Therefore, lab values stand out as the most objective and reliable source of data in this scenario.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who is supposed to receive two drugs at the same time. What is the nurse's priority action?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Consult a drug guide for compatibility. The nurse's priority is to ensure the safety of the patient by verifying if the two drugs can be administered together without causing adverse reactions or interactions. Consulting a drug guide will provide crucial information on drug compatibility, potential interactions, and any contraindications. This step is essential to prevent harm to the patient. Washing hands (
A) is important for infection control but not the priority in this situation. Questioning the patient about drug allergies (
C) is also important but not as urgent as checking drug compatibility. The other choices are not relevant to the immediate safety concern of administering two drugs simultaneously.