ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving warfarin (Coumadin) and notes bruising and petechiae on the patient™s extremities. The nurse will request an order for which laboratory test?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should request an order for a platelet level to assess the patient's platelet count. Warfarin (Coumadin) is an anticoagulant medication that works by interfering with the blood clotting process. Bruising and petechiae may be signs of decreased platelet count or impaired platelet function. Monitoring the platelet level will help determine if the patient's symptoms are related to thrombocytopenia (low platelet count). While the International Normalized Ratio (INR) is commonly used to monitor the effects of warfarin therapy, in this case, the presence of bruising and petechiae suggest a need to assess platelet levels specifically. PT and aPTT tests assess the clotting function of factors produced by the liver and are not directly related to platelet count. Vitamin K level may be tested in cases of suspected vitamin K deficiency, but it would not directly help in assessing
Question 2 of 5
A 55-year-old man is concerned about hair loss. The nurse expects that the patient’s baldness may be treated with which drug?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). It works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is responsible for hair follicle miniaturization. Dexamethasone (A), para-aminobenzoic acid (B), and mupirocin (C) are not used to treat hair loss.
Question 3 of 5
A patient who has advanced cancer is receiving opioid medications around the clock to 'keep him comfortable' as he nears the end of his life. Which term best describes this type of therapy?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Palliative therapy focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with serious or life-limiting illnesses, such as advanced cancer. The goal is not to cure the disease but to provide comfort and alleviate suffering. In this case, the patient is receiving opioids around the clock to manage pain and ensure comfort, which is a hallmark of palliative care. Maintenance therapy is used to sustain a patient's condition, supportive therapy addresses specific symptoms, and supplemental therapy provides additional treatment. Therefore, palliative therapy is the most appropriate term for this scenario.
Question 4 of 5
Nurse Bryan knows that the age group that uses the most units of blood and blood products is:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The elderly above age 65 years are the largest consumers of blood and blood products due to the higher prevalence of chronic diseases, surgeries, and medical conditions that require transfusions, such as anemia, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. While premature infants and children may require blood products, their overall usage is lower compared to the elderly population. Adults aged 21-64 also use blood products, but the demand is highest among the elderly due to their increased healthcare needs.
Question 5 of 5
Which of the following agents if taken in overdose by a depressed patient is most likely to result in a fatal outcome?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Overdose fatality depends on toxicity and mechanism. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), blocks sodium channels and muscarinic receptors, causing lethal arrhythmias, seizures, and anticholinergic effects (LD50 ~13 mg/kg), making it highly fatal. Fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and citalopram, all SSRIs, primarily cause serotonin syndrome or seizures, but lethality is lower (e.g., citalopram's QT risk is less immediate). TCAs' cardiotoxicity far exceeds SSRIs', driving amitriptyline's higher fatality rate, a critical factor in prescribing for depression with suicide risk.