ATI RN
ATI Proctored Exam Pharmacology Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 78-year-old woman with ovarian cancer and pancreatitis is hospitalized for acute treatment of a massive pulmonary embolism. She is immediately given an intravenous dose of alteplase once the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was made. Characteristics of this agent include which of the following?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Alteplase treats pulmonary embolism by dissolving clots. Success at clot resolution is correct-it converts plasminogen to plasmin, breaking fibrin. Option , free plasminogen, is less specific than its fibrin-bound action. Option , high antigenicity, and , low specificity, are false-alteplase is fibrin-specific and recombinant. Option (E), long half-life, isn't true. Its efficacy in clot lysis is key in this acute setting.
Question 2 of 5
A patient who is taking aspirin for arthritis pain asks the nurse why it also causes gastrointestinal upset. The nurse understands that this is because aspirin:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aspirin causes gastrointestinal upset because it inhibits both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for the production of prostaglandins, which are important in protecting the stomach lining. Inhibition of COX-1 reduces the production of protective prostaglandins that help maintain the integrity of the stomach lining, leading to irritation and potential damage, which can manifest as gastrointestinal upset. This is why patients taking aspirin may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as stomach pain, ulcers, or bleeding.
Question 3 of 5
A client is prescribed docusate sodium (Colace) for constipation. Which statement by the client indicates understanding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Docusate, a stool softener, prevents straining by drawing water into stool. Drinking more water enhances this, showing understanding. It works in 1-3 days, not hours or immediately . Milk isn't needed. Hydration aligns with docusate's mechanism, key in constipation where moisture matters, making B the correct statement.
Question 4 of 5
Which finding would most accurately indicate that a therapeutic range for a medication had been reached?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic range balances efficacy-treating the condition (indication)-with safety, avoiding serious side effects, a clinical goal. No adverse effects alone doesn't confirm efficacy. Dose amount doesn't ensure range. Effectiveness with lethal effects exceeds range. Achieving indication safely defines therapeutic success, per pharmacology.
Question 5 of 5
Ester group of local anesthesia differs from the amide group in that :
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The main difference between ester group local anesthetics and amide group local anesthetics lies in the way they are metabolized in the body. Esters are metabolized in the plasma by the enzyme pseudocholinesterase, while amides are metabolized in the liver. Pseudocholinesterase hydrolyzes esters into inactive metabolites, which are then excreted mainly by the kidneys. On the other hand, amides undergo hepatic metabolism by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system before being excreted by the kidneys. This key metabolic difference between esters and amides impacts their pharmacokinetics, including onset of action, duration of effect, and potential for allergic reactions.