ATI RN
RN ATI Capstone Pharmacology 2 Quiz Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client receiving morphine sulfate for pain. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Morphine, an opioid, depresses the respiratory center, and a rate of 10 breaths per minute signals potential overdose, requiring immediate intervention (e.g., naloxone) to reverse life-threatening hypoventilation. Blood pressure and pulse are normal, not urgent. Pain at 4/10 suggests control, not distress. Respiratory depression is morphine's most dangerous effect, especially in acute settings, where even slight drops below 12 bpm demand action. This aligns with opioid pharmacology'mu-receptor agonism slows breathing'making A the priority finding to address swiftly for client safety.
Question 2 of 5
A 62-year-old man with Parkinson's disease on levodopa and carbidopa presents to his primary care physician for follow-up. He is following his prescribed course of medications. He is stable in terms of his motor function but recently has begun to have visual and auditory hallucinations. What is the most likely explanation for these findings?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hallucinations in a Parkinson's patient on levodopa/carbidopa suggest a medication-related issue. Drug toxicity is correct-levodopa increases dopamine, and excess in non-motor areas (e.g., mesolimbic) can cause hallucinations, especially with long-term use or dose accumulation. Overactivity at basal ganglia improves motor symptoms, not hallucinations. Subtherapeutic dosing would worsen motor control, not cause this. Dementia or infection (E) could contribute, but hallucinations align more with levodopa's known side effect profile. Carbidopa reduces peripheral effects, but central dopamine excess remains possible, making toxicity the likely culprit in this stable motor context.
Question 3 of 5
During pharmacology class, the student nurse asks the nursing instructor how students will ever learn about the individual antibiotic drugs since there are so many. What is the best response by the nursing instructor?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Learning a representative (prototype) drug from each antibiotic class simplifies understanding by focusing on shared traits-mechanisms, effects, and side effects-reducing the burden of memorizing every drug. Mnemonics aid recall but don't teach concepts. Flow charts organize but lack depth. Categorizing is broad, while prototypes offer a practical, foundational approach, widely used in pharmacology education for mastery.
Question 4 of 5
A 23-year-old female patient presents at the clinic with a migraine headache. What beta-adrenergic blocking agent might the physician prescribe for the prophylactic prevention of future migraine headaches?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Propranolol is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, supraventricular tachycardia, tremor; prevention of reinfarction after myocardial infarction; adjunctive therapy in pheochromocytoma; prophylaxis of migraine headache; and management of situational anxiety. The other options do not treat or prevent migraine headaches. The nurse should understand the indications for propranolol to ensure safe and effective administration.
Question 5 of 5
How can Ondansetron be administered? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ondansetron, commonly used to prevent nausea and vomiting, can be administered either orally (PO) or intravenously (IV). Both routes of administration are effective in delivering the medication to achieve the desired therapeutic effects. While options C (Subcutaneous) and D (IM) are not typically used for ondansetron administration, the correct answers are A (PO) and B (IV).