ATI RN
Cardiovascular Drug Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client is admitted to an emergency department experiencing memory deficits and decreased motor function. What alteration in brain chemistry should a nurse correlate with the production of these symptoms?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Decreased levels of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is essential for memory and motor function. Reduced levels can lead to memory deficits and decreased motor function. Abnormal levels of serotonin (A), decreased levels of dopamine (B), and increased levels of norepinephrine (C) are not directly linked to memory deficits and motor function impairment.
Question 2 of 5
Lithium is prescribed for a new patient. Which information from the patient’s history indicates that monitoring of serum concentrations of the drug will be challenging and critical?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Heart failure. Patients with heart failure often have fluid and electrolyte imbalances, affecting lithium levels. Monitoring serum lithium concentrations is critical in these patients due to the risk of toxicity. Arthritis (choice A), epilepsy (choice B), and psoriasis (choice C) do not directly impact lithium levels or require close monitoring like heart failure does.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is administering a beta blocker to a patient. Which is the most important assessment to perform before administration?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Apical pulse. Before administering a beta blocker, it is crucial to assess the patient's apical pulse to monitor for potential bradycardia, a common side effect of beta blockers. This assessment helps determine if the patient's heart rate is within the safe range for administering the medication. Monitoring urine output (A) is important for assessing renal function but not specifically related to beta blocker administration. Potassium level (C) and serum level of medication (D) are also important assessments, but the most critical assessment before giving a beta blocker is to evaluate the patient's heart rate to prevent adverse effects.
Question 4 of 5
A patient begins therapy with a phenothiazine medication. What teaching should the nurse provide related to the drug’s strong dopaminergic effect?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Report muscle stiffness. Phenothiazines can cause extrapyramidal side effects like muscle stiffness due to their strong dopaminergic effect. Teaching the patient to report muscle stiffness is crucial to monitor for and manage this potential side effect promptly. Choices A, B, and C are unrelated to the dopaminergic effect of the medication and do not address the specific side effect of muscle stiffness.
Question 5 of 5
Which neurotransmitter is located only in the brain, particularly in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem, and is implicated in depression?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Serotonin. Serotonin is located predominantly in the brain, specifically in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem. It is known to play a crucial role in regulating mood and emotions. Serotonin imbalance is strongly linked to depression. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and acetylcholine are neurotransmitters found both in the brain and peripheral nervous system. While they also play roles in mood regulation, they are not exclusively located in the brainstem or specifically implicated in depression like serotonin.