ATI RN
Cardiovascular Pharmacology Drug Class Questions
Question 1 of 5
The physician tells the nurse, 'The medication I’m prescribing for the client enhances the GABA system.' Evaluation will be facilitated if the nurse correctly interprets this statement to mean the medication is expected to:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decrease anxiety. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps regulate anxiety and stress. Enhancing the GABA system means increasing its activity, which would result in a calming effect, reducing anxiety. A: Increasing alertness is unlikely because GABA is associated with relaxation, not alertness. C: GABA's role is not primarily in reducing hallucinations. D: While GABA may indirectly influence mood, its primary role is in anxiety regulation.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is reviewing discharge teaching for a patient who will be taking digoxin (Lanoxin) therapy. The nurse will teach the patient to avoid which foods when taking the digoxin?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: Digoxin interacts with high-fiber foods like bran muffins, decreasing its absorption. Step 2: Bran muffins can reduce the effectiveness of digoxin, leading to subtherapeutic levels. Step 3: Avoiding bran muffins can help maintain optimal digoxin levels for therapeutic effect. Summary: A - Leafy greens are okay; B - Dairy products don't interact significantly; C - Grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications, but not digoxin.
Question 3 of 5
A patient in the neurologic intensive care unit is being treated for cerebral edema. Which class of diuretic is used to reduce intracranial pressure?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Osmotic diuretics. Osmotic diuretics, like mannitol, are commonly used in the neurologic ICU to reduce intracranial pressure by drawing water out of the brain tissue and into the bloodstream, thus decreasing cerebral edema. Loop diuretics (A) are more commonly used for conditions like heart failure and kidney disease, not specifically for cerebral edema. Thiazide diuretics (C) are primarily used for conditions like hypertension and edema related to heart failure, not for reducing intracranial pressure. Vasodilators (D) work by dilating blood vessels and are not typically used as the first-line treatment for cerebral edema.
Question 4 of 5
A hydrophilic medicinal agent has the following property:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why choice A is correct: Hydrophilic agents have low ability to penetrate through cell membrane lipids due to their polar nature. Lipids are hydrophobic, causing repulsion. This prevents direct diffusion of hydrophilic molecules across the lipid bilayer. This leads to the correct answer, A. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: B: Endocytosis involves engulfing particles into cells, not typical for small hydrophilic molecules. C: The blood-brain barrier is selective and restricts the passage of hydrophilic substances. D: High reabsorption in renal tubules would apply to hydrophobic agents that can pass through lipid membranes easily, not hydrophilic agents.
Question 5 of 5
Tick the substance which changes the activity of an effector element but doesn’t belong to second messengers:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. G-proteins are signaling proteins that transmit signals from cell surface receptors to effector elements. 2. G-proteins do not directly change the activity of effector elements like cAMP and cGMP do. 3. cAMP and cGMP are second messengers that mediate intracellular signaling processes. 4. Calcium ions act as second messengers by regulating various cellular functions. Summary: Choice C (G-protein) is the correct answer as it does not belong to second messengers category and does not directly change the activity of effector elements. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they are all second messengers that modulate cellular responses.