ATI RN
ATI RN Pharmacology Proctored Exam 2023 Questions
Question 1 of 5
A mother asks the nurse when she should give her child cough medicine. What is the best response by the nurse?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cough medicines, like dextromethorphan, suppress nonproductive (dry) coughs to aid rest, especially when sleep is disrupted . This targets symptomatic relief appropriately, avoiding overuse. Green secretions suggest infection, where suppressing cough could hinder clearance, requiring medical evaluation instead. Fever over 102°F indicates illness severity, not a cue for cough medicine alone. Bronchitis often involves productive cough, where suppressants are less suitable. The nurse's best response (D) aligns with cough suppressants' purpose—relieving dry, disruptive coughs—ensuring safe, targeted use for the child's comfort.
Question 2 of 5
A patient will be taking niacin as part of antilipemic therapy. What is the best way to avoid problems with flushing or pruritus?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Taking niacin with a full glass of water on an empty stomach can help reduce the risk of flushing or pruritus, which are common side effects of niacin. Additionally, starting with a low initial dose and increasing gradually as tolerated can also help minimize these side effects. Niacin can cause vasodilation, leading to flushing and itching, so taking it with water and on an empty stomach can help alleviate these symptoms.
Question 3 of 5
Regarding diazepam:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, has active metabolites (e.g., desmethyldiazepam) with longer half-lives, contributing to its effects, so that's false. Activated charcoal is effective in overdose by adsorbing diazepam, reducing absorption, a true statement and standard intervention. It undergoes minimal, not extensive, enterohepatic recirculation, making that false. It's a GABA agonist, enhancing chloride influx via benzodiazepine receptors, not an antagonist, so that's incorrect. It also inhibits spinal reflexes, aiding muscle relaxation. The overdose utility of charcoal highlights its role in emergency management, binding unabsorbed drug in the gut, a key pharmacokinetic intervention distinct from flumazenil reversal.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is receiving heparin therapy as part of the treatment for a pulmonary embolism. The nurse monitors the results of which laboratory test to check the drug™s effectiveness?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse monitors the aPTT to check the effectiveness of heparin therapy in preventing and treating blood clots. Heparin acts by inhibiting the clotting cascade, specifically by enhancing the activity of antithrombin III, which inactivates clotting factors such as thrombin and factor Xa. The aPTT measures the intrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade, which is affected by heparin therapy. By monitoring the patient's aPTT levels, the nurse can ensure that the patient is within the therapeutic range for heparin therapy to be effective in preventing further clot formation. Monitoring bleeding times, PT/INR, or vitamin K levels is not typically done to assess heparin therapy effectiveness.
Question 5 of 5
A patient has received an overdose of intravenous heparin, and is showing signs of excessive bleeding. Which substance is the antidote for heparin overdose?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin overdose. Heparin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting the action of thrombin and factor Xa. Protamine works by binding to heparin and neutralizing its anticoagulant effects. This helps to reverse the effects of heparin and control excessive bleeding in cases of overdose. It is important to administer protamine sulfate promptly to counteract the effects of heparin and prevent further bleeding complications. Options A, B, and D are not the correct antidotes for heparin overdose.