ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Book Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is compiling a drug history for a patient. Which question from the nurse will obtain the most information from the patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive drug history includes information about the patient's current and past medication use, including over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, and non-pharmacological pain relief methods. Asking, 'When you have pain, what do you do to relieve it?' provides insight into the patient's self-management strategies and helps identify potential drug interactions or misuse. While questions about sleeping pills, family history, and childhood diseases are relevant, they do not provide as much information about the patient's current medication practices. Therefore, focusing on pain relief methods is the most effective way to gather a detailed drug history.
Question 2 of 5
Which of the following drugs is more likely to cause hyperkalaemia than hypokalaemia in a patient with diabetes and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within the 'normal' reference range?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia involves elevated potassium, hypokalemia reduced levels. Amphotericin causes hypokalemia via renal potassium wasting, not hyperkalemia. Prednisolone, a glucocorticoid, promotes potassium excretion, risking hypokalemia. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) rarely affects potassium directly with normal eGFR. Salmeterol, a beta-agonist, can shift potassium intracellularly, causing hypokalemia. Insulin, in diabetes management, drives potassium into cells with glucose, potentially causing hyperkalemia if renal excretion is impaired, though less common with normal eGFR. However, its potassium-shifting effect makes hyperkalemia more likely than hypokalemia compared to others, especially in acute settings, a key consideration in diabetic care.
Question 3 of 5
Tricyclic antidepressants:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like amitriptyline have a high volume of distribution due to lipophilicity, not low, making that false. They're not useful in urinary retention (they cause it as a side effect) but are effective for chronic pain via monoamine modulation, so that's partially false. They can prolong the QT interval by blocking cardiac sodium channels, a true statement and significant risk factor for arrhythmias. They don't block monoamine oxidase (MAO) but inhibit reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, increasing synaptic levels, so that's false. They treat severe depression, even with suicidal ideation, though caution is needed. The QT prolongation is a critical electrophysiological effect, requiring ECG monitoring in clinical use to prevent torsades de pointes.
Question 4 of 5
A male client has erectile dysfunction. Which systems should be assessed that could contribute to the erectile dysfunction?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Erectile dysfunction (ED) often stems from cardiovascular issues, like atherosclerosis or hypertension, which impair blood flow to the penis, a vascular process essential for erection. The integumentary system, while relevant to skin health, doesn't directly influence ED unless severe conditions affect genital tissue, which is rare. Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes or low testosterone, disrupt hormonal balance critical for libido and erectile function, making it a key area. The nervous system, including spinal cord injuries or neuropathy, affects nerve signals for arousal, another vital component. Cardiovascular assessment is prioritized because ED can signal underlying heart disease, with shared risk factors like smoking or high cholesterol, and its vascular basis often precedes overt cardiac symptoms, necessitating a thorough check of circulation and heart health to pinpoint or rule out this common cause.
Question 5 of 5
The patient is complaining of a severe headache. The physician orders aspirin. Which action by the nurse will result in the fastest relief of the patient's headache?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Aspirin on an empty stomach absorbs fastest, speeding headache relief by avoiding food delays-fatty meals like peanut butter slow gastric emptying, reducing onset. Alkaline foods may alter pH but don't hasten absorption significantly. Enteric-coated forms delay release for GI protection, not speed. Empty stomach delivery maximizes bioavailability quickly, aligning with pain relief urgency.