ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Study Guide Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client is prescribed an intranasal corticosteroid. What should the nurse include in client education about this drug?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Intranasal corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone) can cause burning and nosebleeds due to mucosal drying . They're preventive, not symptom-driven (choice B is wrong), and dosing is fixed, not squeeze-dependent . Choice D educates on a common, manageable side effect, ensuring client awareness and compliance.
Question 2 of 5
A patient is receiving fluid replacement. The nurse's health teaching with this patient includes which suggestions? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Monitoring weight daily (A) helps assess fluid balance, as sudden changes may indicate fluid retention or loss. Thirst (B) is an early sign of mild dehydration. Monitoring intake and output (C) is essential to evaluate fluid status. Avoiding calcium and chloride supplements (D) is not relevant to fluid replacement. Reviewing electrolyte labs (E) is important but not part of routine health teaching for fluid replacement.
Question 3 of 5
A client with hyperlipidemia is prescribed simvastatin (Zocor). Which instruction should the nurse include?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Simvastatin, a statin, lowers cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, most active at night when synthesis peaks. Evening dosing optimizes efficacy. Grapefruit juice increases levels, risking toxicity. Stopping if normal risks rebound. Breakfast misses the cycle. Evening aligns with simvastatin's pharmacodynamics, key in hyperlipidemia where timing boosts results, making A the key instruction.
Question 4 of 5
A patient tells the nurse that he likes to eat large amounts of garlic to help lower his cholesterol levels naturally. The nurse reviews his medication history and notes that which drug has a potential interaction with the garlic?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Garlic is known to have antiplatelet and anticoagulant properties. When taken in large amounts, garlic can enhance the effects of anticoagulant medications like warfarin (Coumadin), which can increase the risk of bleeding. Therefore, it is crucial for patients on warfarin therapy to avoid consuming excessive amounts of garlic or garlic supplements to prevent potential interactions and complications.
Question 5 of 5
Midazolam is an effective anesthetic because it acts by
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine widely used as an anesthetic due to its rapid onset and potent sedative effects. Its mechanism involves enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, at GABA_A receptors—not GABA_B receptors, which are linked to different effects like muscle relaxation. By binding to a specific site on the GABA_A receptor, midazolam increases the frequency of chloride channel opening, leading to greater chloride ion conductance into neurons. This hyperpolarizes the neuron, making it less excitable and producing sedation, anxiolysis, and anesthesia. Dopamine enhancement is unrelated to its action, as is NMDA receptor blockade, which is a feature of drugs like ketamine. Partial agonism at serotonin (5HT) receptors also does not apply here. The facilitation of GABA-mediated chloride conductance is the precise mechanism that underpins midazolam's clinical utility as an anesthetic agent.