ATI RN
Pharmacology Across the Lifespan Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client is to receive enteral nutrition. Which information should the nurse provide to the client and family?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A) Nutrition can be given either intermittently or continuously. Rationale: Enteral nutrition involves delivering nutrients directly into the gastrointestinal tract. This method is chosen when a patient is unable to swallow or take in enough oral nutrition. In this case, the nurse should educate the client and family that enteral nutrition can be administered either intermittently (through a feeding tube at specific times) or continuously (over an extended period). Providing this information helps the client and family understand the process and the options available for managing their nutritional needs effectively. Option B) Your nutrition will be administered through your veins, is incorrect because enteral nutrition is not administered intravenously; it is given directly into the gastrointestinal tract. Option C) Enteral feedings are chosen when you cannot swallow enough to maintain nutrition, is partially correct but does not provide specific information about the administration methods of enteral nutrition. Option D) Most enteral feeding consists of thinned pureed food, is incorrect as enteral nutrition typically consists of specially formulated liquid nutrition or commercial formula, not thinned pureed food. Educational Context: Understanding how to provide enteral nutrition is crucial for nurses caring for patients who cannot meet their nutritional needs orally. Educating clients and families about the different methods of enteral nutrition administration empowers them to participate in their care and ensures safe and effective delivery of nutrition.
Question 2 of 5
The physician ordered a brand name drug for the client, paroxetine (Paxil). After taking this medication for a year, the client tells the nurse that it is no longer working. What is the best assessment of the nurse at this time?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In this scenario, the best assessment for the nurse to make is option B) Let’s look for interactions with other medications you are taking. This response demonstrates critical thinking and a comprehensive approach to addressing the client's concern effectively. Option A is not the best choice because it jumps to conclusions without exploring other potential factors contributing to the medication's effectiveness. Option C, asking about the brand name versus generic name, is not the priority when addressing a client's reported lack of efficacy. Option D, conducting the Beck Depression assessment again, is premature without first considering other possible reasons for the medication not working. Educationally, this question highlights the importance of assessing for potential drug interactions, which is a crucial aspect of pharmacology across the lifespan. Understanding how different medications can interact and impact each other's efficacy is essential for safe and effective patient care. It also emphasizes the significance of considering various factors before making clinical decisions, showcasing the holistic approach required in pharmacological practice.
Question 3 of 5
An overwhelmed nursing student asks the instructor whether there are any tips that will make learning pharmacology easier. The instructor gives an example of the anticoagulant heparin. The instructor indicates that knowing heparin and comparing other drugs to it will facilitate learning the many anticoagulants. Which approach is the instructor using?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The instructor is using the prototype drug approach. This approach involves focusing on a well-known drug that represents a class of medications, in this case, heparin representing anticoagulants. Understanding heparin's characteristics, such as its mechanism of action, side effects, and interactions, serves as a foundation for comprehending other drugs in the same class. Option A, the mechanism of action approach, focuses solely on how drugs work, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the drug class. Option B, the generic name approach, and Option C, the trade name approach, are not as effective in pharmacology education because drug names can vary and may not reflect the drug's class or characteristics. In an educational context, using a prototype drug like heparin can simplify the learning process by allowing students to generalize their knowledge about a specific drug to other drugs in the same class. This method helps students establish a solid foundation of understanding that can be applied to various medications, enhancing their pharmacological knowledge and clinical decision-making skills.
Question 4 of 5
The patient comes to the emergency department following an overdose of aspirin, an acidic drug. What will the best plan of the nurse include?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the case of an aspirin overdose, the best plan for the nurse would include the administration of sodium bicarbonate to the patient. This is because aspirin is an acidic drug that can lead to metabolic acidosis. Sodium bicarbonate works as an alkalinizing agent, helping to counteract the acidic effects of aspirin overdose and restore the body's pH balance. Option A, administration of intravenous fluids to flush the kidneys, may help with general fluid support but does not directly address the acid-base imbalance caused by aspirin overdose. Option B, administration of ammonium chloride, is contraindicated in aspirin overdose as it can worsen the acidosis. Option D, administration of intravenous proteins to bind the aspirin, is not the primary treatment for aspirin overdose-induced acidosis. Educationally, understanding the pharmacological effects of aspirin overdose and the appropriate interventions is crucial for nurses caring for patients in emergency situations. It is essential to grasp the principles of acid-base balance and the specific actions of different interventions to provide safe and effective care to patients experiencing drug toxicities.
Question 5 of 5
Which statement regarding medication distribution within the body is accurate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C) Medications that are lipid-soluble are more completely distributed. In pharmacology, the ability of a medication to cross various physiological barriers and be distributed within the body is crucial for its effectiveness. Lipid-soluble medications have an easier time crossing cell membranes, as cell membranes are primarily composed of lipids. This property allows lipid-soluble drugs to be more completely distributed throughout the body, reaching their target tissues more effectively. Option A is incorrect because while the blood-brain barrier does inhibit the crossing of some medications, it is not true for all medications. Some drugs are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, although it may be a slower process. Option B is incorrect because organs with high levels of blood flow, such as the heart and liver, are actually easier to deliver drugs to due to the increased blood supply that can quickly transport medications throughout these organs. Option D is incorrect because drug-protein complexes forming prior to crossing capillary membranes is not a universal requirement for drug distribution in the body. While some medications may form complexes with proteins for transport, it is not a prerequisite for all drug distribution processes. Understanding how medications are distributed in the body is essential in pharmacology as it impacts the efficacy and safety of drug therapy across different patient populations. Knowing the factors that influence drug distribution can help healthcare professionals optimize drug regimens for individual patients based on their unique physiological characteristics.