ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Practice B Questions
Question 1 of 5
A child is admitted with a serious infection. After two days of antibiotics, he is severely neutropenic. The physician orders granulocyte transfusions for the next four days. The mother asks the nurse why? The nurse responds:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Granulocyte transfusions are used to temporarily increase the white blood cell count in severely neutropenic patients, particularly those with life-threatening infections. These transfusions provide functional granulocytes to help fight the infection while the patient's bone marrow recovers and begins producing its own white blood cells. This explanation is accurate and reassures the mother that the treatment is aimed at supporting the child's immune system during a critical period.
Question 2 of 5
GTN has its major effect on effort angina by:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) relieves effort angina primarily by reducing preload (venodilation) and afterload (arterial dilation), decreasing myocardial oxygen demand, a true and major mechanism. It doesn't primarily reduce coronary vasospasm (more relevant in variant angina), nor significantly affect the renin-angiotensin system in this context. While it causes some coronary vasodilation, this is secondary to systemic effects on demand reduction. It doesn't cause systemic vasoconstriction (opposite effect). The preload/afterload reduction is the cornerstone of GTN's efficacy in stable angina, improving oxygen supply-demand balance, a critical concept in ischemic heart disease management.
Question 3 of 5
The drug that will most likely be used for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) is
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sildenafil (Viagra), a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, enhances penile blood flow by increasing cyclic GMP, directly treating erectile dysfunction (ED) and is the standard first-line therapy. Leuprolide, a GnRH agonist, suppresses testosterone for prostate cancer, potentially worsening ED. Finasteride, for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), reduces prostate size but may cause ED as a side effect, not treat it. Tamsulosin, an alpha-blocker for BPH, improves urinary flow but isn't indicated for ED and can lower blood pressure. Sildenafil's targeted action on vascular mechanisms in ED distinguishes it, offering rapid efficacy and a well-established safety profile for this condition.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse administers medications by various routes of delivery. The nurse recognizes which route of administration as requiring higher dosages of drugs to achieve a therapeutic effect?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oral drugs face first-pass metabolism in the liver, reducing bioavailability, so higher doses are needed for therapeutic effect compared to IV (100% bioavailability), sublingual (bypasses liver), or rectal (partial bypass). Oral route's loss to metabolism drives dosage needs, a pharmacokinetic distinction.
Question 5 of 5
The patient tells the nurse he worries about everything all day, feels confused, restless, and just can't stop worrying. What is the best response by the nurse?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Persistent worry, confusion, and restlessness suggest generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)-relaxation techniques (e.g., breathing) help manage, a practical response. Social anxiety ties to specific triggers, not all-day worry. PTSD needs trauma history, not indicated. Panic disorder features acute attacks, not constant worry. GAD diagnosis with techniques fits symptoms, per psychiatry.