ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Study Guide Questions
Question 1 of 9
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 2 of 9
Which substance has the lowest rate of crossing renal tubular membranes and would therefore be excreted in the urine?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ionized drugs cross renal tubular membranes poorly, staying in urine for excretion, unlike non-ionized or lipid-soluble drugs reabsorbed easily. Volatile drugs (e.g., anesthetics) excrete via lungs, not kidneys. Ionization traps drugs, a pharmacokinetic excretion key.
Question 3 of 9
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 4 of 9
A client calls the nurse help-line and says, 'My friend and I have been swimming and drinking beer all day and he took a couple of swigs of Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan) about 15 minutes ago. Now he is acting funny and seeing things.' What should the nurse consider when formulating a response?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dextromethorphan with alcohol causes dizziness and hallucinations , guiding the nurse to advise medical help. Dialysis , opioid status , and addiction are incorrect. D informs the response, making it key.
Question 5 of 9
A patient is hypokalemic and will be receiving IV potassium. The patient is not on a heart monitor. How should the nurse administer the potassium replacement?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When administering IV potassium replacement to a hypokalemic patient who is not on a heart monitor, it is crucial to prevent rapid infusion that may lead to dangerous cardiac complications such as arrhythmias or cardiac arrest. The general guideline is to administer no more than 20 mEq/hour of potassium when the patient is not on continuous cardiac monitoring. This rate allows the body to tolerate the infusion more safely and reduces the risk of serious adverse effects. It is essential for the nurse to closely monitor the patient's response to the potassium replacement and adjust the rate if necessary based on the patient's condition and any signs of potassium-related complications.
Question 6 of 9
Which of the following is NOT a pharmacologic property of histamine:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Histamine is a biogenic amine that acts as a neurotransmitter in the body. It is known to have several pharmacologic properties, such as the ability to reduce gastric secretion (Choice A), relaxation of vascular smooth muscle (Choice B), contraction of bronchi (Choice C), and production of pain and itch (Choice E). However, histamine does not have a direct effect on free nerve endings. Its effects on pain and itch are mediated through activation of specific histamine receptors on nerve cells and not through direct action on free nerve endings.
Question 7 of 9
The nurse works with a physician who frequently prescribes benzodiazepines. The use of benzodiazepines in which patient would cause the nurse the most concern?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Benzos (e.g., diazepam) in an 87-year-old with a cane raise fall risk-sedation and slow clearance heighten injury odds, per geriatrics. Kids rarely get benzos-alternatives exist. Adults (42, 32) handle them better unless dependent. Elderly frailty drives concern, a safety red flag.
Question 8 of 9
Intravenous (IV) therapy is ordered for a patient with a serum sodium of 150 mEq/L. Which of the following does the nurse anticipate administering?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a patient with a high serum sodium level (hypernatremia), the goal of treatment is to gradually decrease the sodium concentration in the body to prevent complications. Isotonic solutions (0.9% NS or LR) can worsen hypernatremia because they have a higher sodium concentration than the patient's current serum sodium level. Hypotonic solutions, such as 0.45% NS, are typically used to treat hypernatremia because they have a lower sodium concentration than the patient's serum sodium, which helps dilute the sodium in the body and lower the serum sodium level back to a normal range. Therefore, in this case, the nurse would anticipate administering 0.45% NS to the patient with a serum sodium level of 150 mEq/L.
Question 9 of 9
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.