ATI RN
Pharmacology of Drugs Acting on Cardiovascular System Slideshare Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient is taking hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg/day and digoxin 0.25 mg/day. The nurse plans to monitor the patient for which potential electrolyte imbalance?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Hypokalemia. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that can lead to potassium loss, increasing the risk of hypokalemia. Digoxin toxicity is more likely to occur in the presence of hypokalemia. Hypocalcemia (A) is not directly related to these medications. Hyperkalemia (C) and hypermagnesemia (D) are unlikely with hydrochlorothiazide and digoxin use.
Question 2 of 5
A patient taking a benzodiazepine says to the nurse, “I really like this pill because if I just take an extra one when I get really anxious, I always feel a lot better.” What is the nurse’s best response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it acknowledges the patient's behavior, educates them on proper medication usage, and reinforces the importance of coping measures. By reviewing the medication usage and suggesting coping strategies, the nurse promotes patient education and empowerment. Choice A is incorrect as it immediately suggests changing medication without addressing the patient's misuse behavior. Choice C uses accusatory language and may lead to patient defensiveness. Choice D is not as effective as B in educating the patient on proper medication use and coping strategies.
Question 3 of 5
A 78-year-old patient is in the recovery room after having a lengthy surgery on his hip. As he is gradually awakening, he requests pain medication. Within 10 minutes after receiving a dose of morphine sulfate, he is very lethargic and his respirations are shallow, with a rate of 7 per minute. The nurse prepares for which priority action at this time?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Administration of naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can reverse the effects of opioids such as morphine, particularly in cases of opioid overdose leading to respiratory depression. In this scenario, the patient is showing signs of opioid toxicity, such as shallow respirations, which can progress to respiratory arrest. Administering naloxone is the priority to reverse the opioid effects and restore normal respiratory function. This intervention takes precedence over other actions such as pain assessment (choice A), intubation (choice B), or close observation for tolerance (choice D) because the patient's safety and well-being are at immediate risk due to respiratory depression.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is reviewing medications used for depression. Which of these statements is a reason that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are more widely prescribed today than tricyclic antidepressants?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tricyclic antidepressants cause serious cardiac dysrhythmias if an overdose occurs. Tricyclic antidepressants have a narrow therapeutic index, meaning that even a small overdose can lead to severe toxicity, including cardiac dysrhythmias that can be life-threatening. This risk of overdose toxicity is a significant concern with tricyclic antidepressants and contributes to their decreased use compared to SSRIs. A: SSRIs having fewer sexual side effects is not the primary reason for their wider use compared to tricyclic antidepressants. While this may be a consideration for some patients, it is not the main factor influencing prescribing patterns. B: Drug-food interactions are indeed a concern with tricyclic antidepressants, but it is not the primary reason why SSRIs are more widely prescribed today. While SSRIs may have a lower risk of drug-food interactions, it is not the main driving factor behind their increased use. D: While SSRIs may have
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is preparing to administer adenosine (Adenocard) to a patient who is experiencing an acute episode of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. When giving this medication, which is important to remember?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. After administering adenosine, asystole may occur for a few seconds due to its rapid action on the heart's conduction system. Here's the rationale: 1. Adenosine works by slowing down conduction through the AV node, interrupting reentry pathways causing tachycardia. 2. This brief pause in electrical activity can cause a temporary stop in the heart's pumping action, resulting in asystole. 3. Asystole is expected and normal after adenosine administration, as it helps reset the heart's electrical activity and may terminate the tachycardia. In contrast, options A and D are incorrect because adenosine has a rapid onset of action within seconds and a very short half-life of less than 10 seconds, leading to a quick duration of action. Option B is incorrect as adenosine should be given as a rapid IV push to ensure its effectiveness.