ATI RN
Pharmacology ATI Test Bank Questions
Question 1 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 2 of 5
A 75-year-old male patient was admitted to the unit with angina. He was started on nadolol (Corgard). The patient asks why he is taking this medication because he does not have high blood pressure. What is the nurse’s best response?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Decreased heart rate, contractility, and excitability, as well as a membrane-stabilizing effect, lead to a decrease in arrhythmias, a decreased cardiac workload, and decreased oxygen consumption. The juxtaglomerular cells are not stimulated to release renin, which further decreases the blood pressure. These effects are useful in treating hypertension and chronic angina and can help to prevent reinfarction after a myocardial infarction by decreasing cardiac workload and oxygen consumption. Corgard will not prevent blood pressure problems, arrhythmias, or glaucoma in the future. Corgard is not used to treat BPH.
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 client is admitted to the emergency room complaining of difficulty of breathing and upon auscultation, the nurse noted that the patient has wheezes. An allergic reaction to penicillin was
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator commonly used in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory conditions. In this scenario where the patient is experiencing difficulty breathing and wheezing, albuterol is the most appropriate medication to administer first. Albuterol works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the airways, which helps to open up the air passages and improve breathing. It can provide quick relief of symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. In an emergency situation like this, it is crucial to address the underlying airway constriction promptly, making albuterol the priority medication to administer. This will help improve the patient's breathing and stabilize their respiratory status before considering other medications such as corticosteroids or theophylline.
Question 5 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.