ATI RN
Pharmacology Practice Exam ATI Questions
Question 1 of 9
What serious adverse reaction can occur with the loop diuretic Furosemide?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a severe and potentially life-threatening adverse reaction associated with the use of Furosemide, a loop diuretic. It is characterized by a severe skin reaction that can cause rashes, blisters, and mucous membrane involvement. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate discontinuation of the offending medication. Monitoring and management should be promptly initiated to prevent serious complications. Other side effects of Furosemide include electrolyte imbalances, ototoxicity, and dehydration, but Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a particularly serious adverse reaction that requires immediate attention.
Question 2 of 9
A patient is being counseled for possible participation in a clinical trial for a new medication. After the patient meets with the physician, the nurse is asked to obtain the patient's signature on the consent forms. The nurse knows that this 'informed consent' indicates which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement that ensures the patient understands the purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives of participating in a clinical trial. The patient must be fully informed before agreeing to participate, and they have the right to withdraw at any time. The consent process does not prevent the patient from suing for damages if harm occurs, nor does it withhold information to ensure the trial's success. Therefore, the nurse's role is to confirm that the patient has received all necessary information and voluntarily agrees to participate.
Question 3 of 9
When counseling a male patient about the possible adverse effects of antihypertensive drugs, the nurse will discuss which potential problem?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: One potential adverse effect of antihypertensive drugs, particularly beta-blockers and diuretics, is impotence. Antihypertensive medications can affect sexual function in males by causing erectile dysfunction or impotence due to their mechanism of action on blood vessels and circulation. It is important for the nurse to inform the patient about this possible side effect so that appropriate management strategies or alternative treatment options can be discussed. Impotence can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life and adherence to medication, so open communication and education are essential in managing this issue.
Question 4 of 9
Which one of the following is characteristic of both phenytoin and carbamazepine?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Phenytoin and carbamazepine are antiepileptic drugs with a shared mechanism: they stabilize neuronal membranes by preventing sodium influx through fast sodium channels, reducing excitability and controlling seizures, particularly in partial and tonic-clonic types. Both induce hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes, accelerating metabolism of other drugs, not inhibiting it. Phenytoin exhibits zero-order elimination at high doses due to enzyme saturation, while carbamazepine follows first-order kinetics, so this isn't a shared trait. They reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptives by inducing their metabolism, not enhancing them. Safety in pregnancy is questionable, with both linked to teratogenicity (e.g., fetal hydantoin syndrome). The sodium channel blockade is the fundamental property uniting their therapeutic effects, making it the key characteristic they share, critical to their role in epilepsy management.
Question 5 of 9
The nurse will monitor a patient for signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia if the patient is taking which of these diuretics?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that works by promoting potassium retention in the body. Therefore, patients taking spironolactone are at a higher risk of developing hyperkalemia, which is an elevated level of potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia can lead to serious complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and even cardiac arrest. It is important for the nurse to monitor patients on spironolactone for signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia, such as weakness, numbness, tingling, or an irregular heartbeat. Other diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide (A), furosemide (B), and acetazolamide (C) do not typically cause hyperkalemia as they work to decrease potassium levels in the body.
Question 6 of 9
What serious adverse reaction can occur with the loop diuretic Furosemide?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a severe and potentially life-threatening adverse reaction associated with the use of Furosemide, a loop diuretic. It is characterized by a severe skin reaction that can cause rashes, blisters, and mucous membrane involvement. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate discontinuation of the offending medication. Monitoring and management should be promptly initiated to prevent serious complications. Other side effects of Furosemide include electrolyte imbalances, ototoxicity, and dehydration, but Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a particularly serious adverse reaction that requires immediate attention.
Question 7 of 9
The nurse will monitor for myopathy (muscle pain) when a patient is taking which class of antilipemic drugs?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, also known as statins, are a class of antilipemic drugs commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol levels. One side effect associated with statin use is myopathy, which manifests as muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. In severe cases, myopathy can progress to rhabdomyolysis, a condition characterized by muscle breakdown and release of muscle fiber contents into the blood, potentially leading to kidney damage. It is essential for healthcare providers, such as nurses, to monitor patients on statin therapy for signs and symptoms of myopathy to intervene promptly if necessary. Niacin, fibric acid derivatives, and bile acid sequestrants are not typically associated with myopathy as a common side effect.
Question 8 of 9
A client takes calcium three times a day in the form of supplements. The nurse will advise the client to take the drug
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Calcium absorbs best with food-fat aids uptake, per pharmacokinetics-unlike empty stomach or tea (tannins bind). Zinc competes-separate dosing. Food optimizes, per guidance.
Question 9 of 9
A 17-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a persistent cough and nasal congestion. He has been taking various prescription cough and cold medicines but did not know their names. A urine drug screen is positive for amphetamines. When confronted with this information, he vehemently denies amphetamine use. What is the best explanation?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Positive amphetamine screen with cough/cold medicine use suggests a false positive from ephedrine . Ephedrine, in decongestants, cross-reacts with amphetamine assays. Codeine and marijuana don't. Lying or sample mix-up (E) are less likely given his denial and context. This common false positive explains the discrepancy.