ATI RN
Pharmacology Final ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
The patient has been depressed, and the physician plans to begin treatment with an antidepressant medication. In performing the initial assessment, what is the most important question for the nurse to ask?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Before starting antidepressants, assessing for suicidal ideation is critical because depression carries a high suicide risk, and some antidepressants, especially SSRIs, may initially increase this risk in vulnerable patients. This safety concern trumps other questions in urgency, as it directly impacts immediate care planning—potentially requiring closer monitoring or hospitalization. Alcohol use affects treatment efficacy but isn't the primary safety issue. Allergies are important for drug selection but secondary to life-threatening risks. Duration of depression informs chronicity, not acute danger. The nurse must prioritize identifying suicidal thoughts to ensure patient safety, aligning with psychiatric protocols and the therapeutic delay of antidepressants (2-6 weeks), making choice D the most essential question in this context.
Question 2 of 5
Drugs with no significant effect on anticoagulant therapy include:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Amiodarone inhibits warfarin metabolism, increasing INR, so it affects anticoagulation. Disulfiram also potentiates warfarin via CYP inhibition, enhancing effect. Fluconazole similarly boosts warfarin levels, a significant interaction. Benzodiazepines have no major effect on anticoagulant therapy, a true statement, as they're metabolized differently. Metronidazole, like fluconazole, increases warfarin effect. Benzodiazepines' lack of interaction makes them safer in this context, a key consideration in polypharmacy.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is working with a graduate nurse to prepare an intravenous dose of potassium. Which statement by the graduate nurse reflects a need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The statement "The intravenous potassium dose will be given undiluted" reflects a need for further teaching. Potassium should always be diluted before administration to prevent irritation of the veins and potential adverse effects, such as phlebitis or tissue damage. Diluting the medication helps to reduce the risk of complications, making it safer for the patient. Therefore, the correct approach is to dilute intravenous potassium before administering it to the patient.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is taking a cephalosporin. The nurse anticipates which appropriate nursing intervention(s) for this medication? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cephalosporins are antibiotics that can cause nephrotoxicity, particularly in patients with pre-existing renal impairment. Monitoring renal function is essential to detect any decline in kidney function early. Liver function studies are also important because cephalosporins can occasionally cause hepatotoxicity. Intravenous cephalosporins should be infused over 30 minutes to ensure proper absorption and minimize adverse effects. Mouth ulcers are not a common side effect of cephalosporins, but monitoring for superinfections, such as oral thrush, is important. Advising the patient to stop the medication when they feel better is incorrect, as it can lead to antibiotic resistance.
Question 5 of 5
The patient receives imipramine (Tofranil) as treatment for depression. He is admitted to the emergency department following an intentional overdose of this medication. What will the priority assessment by the nurse include?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, is cardiotoxic in overdose, causing dysrhythmias (e.g., widened QRS) due to sodium channel blockade. The priority assessment is cardiac status to detect life-threatening arrhythmias, guiding urgent interventions like sodium bicarbonate. Liver and renal effects are secondary in acute overdose. Neurological issues like seizures occur but are less immediately lethal than cardiac collapse. The nurse focuses on cardiac monitoring, aligning with toxicology priorities, making A the critical assessment.