ATI RN
Practice ATI B Exam Pharmacology Questions
Question 1 of 9
When administering the drug lithium, name one important side effect to watch for:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: One important side effect to watch for when administering the drug lithium is seizures. Lithium is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, but it can lower the seizure threshold and increase the risk of seizures in some patients. It is crucial to monitor individuals taking lithium for any signs of seizures or seizure activity and to promptly address any such occurrences. Regular monitoring of lithium levels and adjusting the dosage as necessary can help minimize the risk of seizures in patients receiving this medication.
Question 2 of 9
A 4-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department who was found drinking antifreeze while the father was working on their car. A primary component of antifreeze is ethylene glycol, an alcohol converted to toxic metabolites by the liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. To prevent toxicity, the physician could administer ethanol, which would compete with ethylene glycol for the enzyme. In order to avoid administering ethanol to this patient, the physician could instead give which of the following drugs that would also prevent metabolism of ethylene glycol?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethylene glycol toxicity requires blocking alcohol dehydrogenase. Fomepizole inhibits this enzyme, preventing toxic metabolite formation. Bicarbonate treats acidosis, not metabolism. Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase. Furosemide and Methanol (E) are irrelevant. Fomepizole's specificity avoids ethanol's risks in a child, ensuring safe detoxification.
Question 3 of 9
Which of the following is NOT an ester type of local anesthetics:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cocaine is not an ester type of local anesthetic. While procaine, amethocaine, benzocaine, and etidocaine are all ester type local anesthetics, cocaine belongs to the group of local anesthetics known as ester anesthetics. Even though cocaine has local anesthetic properties, it is specifically classified as a "amide type" local anesthetic, not an ester type. Therefore, the correct choice among the given options is D. Cocaine.
Question 4 of 9
Select all when taking Iron Supplements.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 5 of 9
An 80-year-old man is taking digoxin and warfarin because of longstanding atrial fibrillation. He has an indwelling urinary catheter in situ, whilst awaiting a prostatectomy. At his pre-operation assessment he has a ventricular rate of 120/minute. The house officer doubles his daily digoxin dose and the operation is delayed one week. One week later he returns with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, confusion, delirium and visual disturbances. The most likely cause of his current symptoms is:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Symptoms (nausea, confusion, visual changes) suggest digoxin toxicity, common in the elderly with doubled doses. Digoxin's narrow therapeutic index (0.5-2 ng/mL) and renal clearance (impaired with age) increase risk. Viral infection lacks cardiac specificity here. Hyperkalemia (e.g., >5.5 mmol/L) isn't indicated without ECG changes. Warfarin's INR prolongation causes bleeding, not these symptoms. UTI fits the catheter but not delirium/visual issues. Digoxin toxicity, from overdose and accumulation, explains the presentation, requiring level checks and cessation.
Question 6 of 9
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving an adrenergic blocking agent. While writing the care plan for this patient what nursing diagnoses would be most appropriate concerning comfort?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: All four options would be appropriate nursing diagnoses for a patient receiving an adrenergic blocking agent. However, acute pain would be the only nursing diagnosis related to the patient’s comfort level. The nurse should address pain management as a priority to improve the patient’s quality of life and adherence to treatment.
Question 7 of 9
Discharge planning for the client prescribed tetracycline will include which instruction?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be rendered ineffective if taken with certain substances that interfere with its absorption. Dairy products, such as milk, contain calcium, which binds to tetracycline in the gastrointestinal tract, forming insoluble complexes that prevent the drug from being absorbed into the bloodstream. This interaction significantly reduces its therapeutic efficacy, making it crucial to instruct the client to avoid milk when taking the medication. Similarly, antacids (containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium) and iron supplements also chelate tetracycline, decreasing its bioavailability, so choices A and B are incorrect and potentially harmful instructions. Reducing vitamin intake is unrelated to tetracycline's administration or efficacy, as vitamins do not typically interfere with its action unless specifically combined with minerals like iron or calcium. Therefore, the priority instruction is to avoid milk, ensuring the drug's effectiveness, which makes choice C the correct and most critical discharge teaching point.
Question 8 of 9
Hormonal agents are used to treat some cancers. An example would be:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Estrogen antagonists, such as drugs like Tamoxifen or Fulvestrant, are commonly used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These cancer cells have receptors that can bind to estrogen, stimulating their growth. By using estrogen antagonists, the estrogen receptors on the cancer cells are blocked, inhibiting their growth and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. This makes estrogen antagonists an effective hormonal agent for treating breast cancer.
Question 9 of 9
What's the normal range for therapeutic serum digoxin levels?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The normal range for therapeutic serum digoxin levels is typically considered to be 0.5-2 ng/mL. This range is where the drug digoxin effectively treats heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure without causing toxicity. Levels below 0.5 ng/mL may be subtherapeutic, while levels above 2 ng/mL can lead to digoxin toxicity, characterized by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and cardiac arrhythmias. Regular monitoring of serum digoxin levels is essential to ensure the drug is being used safely and effectively.