ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Study Guide Questions
Question 1 of 5
The systemic bioavailability of the following oral drugs is increased if taken in the fasting state:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Oxytetracycline's bioavailability increases in the fasting state as food, particularly calcium, can bind the drug and reduce its absorption.
Question 2 of 5
A client calls the nurse help-line and says, 'My friend and I have been swimming and drinking beer all day and he took a couple of swigs of Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan) about 15 minutes ago. Now he is acting funny and seeing things.' What should the nurse consider when formulating a response?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dextromethorphan with alcohol causes dizziness and hallucinations , guiding the nurse to advise medical help. Dialysis , opioid status , and addiction are incorrect. D informs the response, making it key.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following is NOT a pharmacologic property of histamine:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Histamine is a biogenic amine that acts as a neurotransmitter in the body. It is known to have several pharmacologic properties, such as the ability to reduce gastric secretion (Choice A), relaxation of vascular smooth muscle (Choice B), contraction of bronchi (Choice C), and production of pain and itch (Choice E). However, histamine does not have a direct effect on free nerve endings. Its effects on pain and itch are mediated through activation of specific histamine receptors on nerve cells and not through direct action on free nerve endings.
Question 4 of 5
Midazolam is an effective anesthetic because it acts by
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine widely used as an anesthetic due to its rapid onset and potent sedative effects. Its mechanism involves enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, at GABA_A receptors—not GABA_B receptors, which are linked to different effects like muscle relaxation. By binding to a specific site on the GABA_A receptor, midazolam increases the frequency of chloride channel opening, leading to greater chloride ion conductance into neurons. This hyperpolarizes the neuron, making it less excitable and producing sedation, anxiolysis, and anesthesia. Dopamine enhancement is unrelated to its action, as is NMDA receptor blockade, which is a feature of drugs like ketamine. Partial agonism at serotonin (5HT) receptors also does not apply here. The facilitation of GABA-mediated chloride conductance is the precise mechanism that underpins midazolam's clinical utility as an anesthetic agent.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient. The nurse will anticipate administering which medication to this patient to help prevent thrombus formation caused by slow venous blood flow?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is commonly administered to postoperative patients to help prevent thrombus formation caused by slow venous blood flow. LMWH works by inhibiting the activity of certain clotting factors, ultimately preventing the formation of blood clots. As a result, it is often used in the prevention and treatment of conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in surgical patients. LMWH is preferred over traditional heparin due to its longer half-life, allowing for once or twice daily dosing, and reduced risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).