ATI RN
Cardiovascular Drug Questions
Question 1 of 5
Lithium is prescribed for a new patient. Which information from the patient’s history indicates that monitoring of serum concentrations of the drug will be challenging and critical?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Heart failure. Patients with heart failure often have fluid and electrolyte imbalances, affecting lithium levels. Monitoring serum lithium concentrations is critical in these patients due to the risk of toxicity. Arthritis (choice A), epilepsy (choice B), and psoriasis (choice C) do not directly impact lithium levels or require close monitoring like heart failure does.
Question 2 of 5
A patient begins therapy with a phenothiazine medication. What teaching should the nurse provide related to the drug’s strong dopaminergic effect?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Report muscle stiffness. Phenothiazines can cause extrapyramidal side effects like muscle stiffness due to their strong dopaminergic effect. Teaching the patient to report muscle stiffness is crucial to monitor for and manage this potential side effect promptly. Choices A, B, and C are unrelated to the dopaminergic effect of the medication and do not address the specific side effect of muscle stiffness.
Question 3 of 5
Which neurotransmitter is located only in the brain, particularly in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem, and is implicated in depression?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Serotonin. Serotonin is located predominantly in the brain, specifically in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem. It is known to play a crucial role in regulating mood and emotions. Serotonin imbalance is strongly linked to depression. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and acetylcholine are neurotransmitters found both in the brain and peripheral nervous system. While they also play roles in mood regulation, they are not exclusively located in the brainstem or specifically implicated in depression like serotonin.
Question 4 of 5
The drug nalbuphine (Nubain) is an agonist-antagonist (partial agonist). The nurse understands that which is a characteristic of partial agonists?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because partial agonists like nalbuphine have a lower dependency potential than full agonists. This is because partial agonists have a ceiling effect, meaning they reach a maximum level of activity regardless of the dose. This makes them less likely to cause dependence or tolerance compared to full agonists like morphine. Choices A and C are incorrect because partial agonists do not typically have antiinflammatory effects or higher potency than agonists. Choice B is incorrect because partial agonists are not given to reverse the effects of opiates; rather, they may be used for pain management in certain situations.
Question 5 of 5
A patient has a new order for the adrenergic drug doxazosin (Cardura). When providing education about this drug, the nurse will include which instructions?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because doxazosin is an alpha-1 blocker that can cause first-dose hypotension, leading to dizziness or fainting. Instructing the patient to lie down after the first dose can help prevent these adverse effects. A is incorrect because weight loss is not a common side effect of doxazosin. B is incorrect because there is no specific need to increase potassium intake with this medication. C is incorrect because impaired taste is not a common side effect of doxazosin, and if it does occur, it typically does not last for 2 to 3 weeks.