ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Study Guide Questions
Question 1 of 5
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 2 of 5
A 6-year-old boy cuts his hand on the training wheel of his bicycle. The wound is 1.5 cm in size and the bleeding stops with direct pressure. One of the steps of blood clotting involved platelet aggregation through activation of collagen. Platelet release of granules is mediated by the release of mediators. Which of the following mediators, if activated, will likely cause bleeding to continue?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Platelet aggregation stops bleeding, but serotonin is correct-if defective, bleeding persists. ADP , Thrombin , and Thromboxane A2 (E) promote clotting. Dopamine is unrelated. Serotonin's vasoconstrictive role, if impaired, could prolong bleeding, though less critical than others here.
Question 3 of 5
An important function of calcium is to
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Calcium regulates nerve transmission-e.g., neurotransmitter release, per physiology-not acid-base (HCO3-), glucose (insulin), or energy (ATP). Nerve function is key, per role.
Question 4 of 5
When teaching a patient who is beginning antilipemic therapy about possible drug-food interactions, the nurse will discuss which food?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse will discuss grapefruit juice when teaching a patient about possible drug-food interactions with antilipemic therapy. Grapefruit juice can inhibit the enzyme CYP3A4 in the liver, which can affect the metabolism of certain medications, including some antilipemic drugs. This interaction may lead to increased drug levels in the bloodstream, potentially causing harmful side effects. It is important for patients to be aware of this interaction and to consult their healthcare provider if they consume grapefruit juice while on antilipemic therapy.
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.