ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Practice A 2023 Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which of the following agents if taken in overdose by a depressed patient is most likely to result in a fatal outcome?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Overdose fatality depends on toxicity and mechanism. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), blocks sodium channels and muscarinic receptors, causing lethal arrhythmias, seizures, and anticholinergic effects (LD50 ~13 mg/kg), making it highly fatal. Fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and citalopram, all SSRIs, primarily cause serotonin syndrome or seizures, but lethality is lower (e.g., citalopram's QT risk is less immediate). TCAs' cardiotoxicity far exceeds SSRIs', driving amitriptyline's higher fatality rate, a critical factor in prescribing for depression with suicide risk.
Question 2 of 5
In repeated (chronic or multiple) dosing:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: If the dosing interval exceeds the drug's half-life significantly, the body eliminates the drug fully before the next dose, minimizing accumulation.
Question 3 of 5
A patient who has advanced cancer is receiving opioid medications around the clock to 'keep him comfortable' as he nears the end of his life. Which term best describes this type of therapy?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Palliative therapy focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with serious or life-limiting illnesses, such as advanced cancer. The goal is not to cure the disease but to provide comfort and alleviate suffering. In this case, the patient is receiving opioids around the clock to manage pain and ensure comfort, which is a hallmark of palliative care. Maintenance therapy is used to sustain a patient's condition, supportive therapy addresses specific symptoms, and supplemental therapy provides additional treatment. Therefore, palliative therapy is the most appropriate term for this scenario.
Question 4 of 5
A patient presents with hypotension and bradycardia. The patient indicates that one of her physicians recently prescribed three new medications to her current list of 10 medications per day. Based on this information, which statement would be the most accurate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Polypharmacy-13 drugs-raises interaction risks (e.g., beta-blockers plus CCBs causing hypotension/bradycardia), a common adverse outcome in complex regimens. Allergy lacks specific signs (e.g., rash). Non-compliance isn't indicated-she reports use. Transient effects need time evidence. Polypharmacy fits symptoms, per pharmacodynamics.
Question 5 of 5
A patient with a creatinine clearance of 20 mL/min is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. The patient is in need of rapid diuresis. Which class of diuretic does the nurse anticipate administering?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Loop diuretics are the most effective diuretics for patients with significantly reduced kidney function, like a creatinine clearance of 20 mL/min. Loop diuretics, such as furosemide, act on the ascending loop of Henle to inhibit sodium and chloride reabsorption. They are able to produce a rapid and potent diuresis even in patients with impaired renal function. This class of diuretics is commonly used in patients with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease to promote diuresis and manage fluid overload.