ATI RN
Pharmacology Assessment 1 ATI Capstone Questions
Question 1 of 5
You have been monitoring a 62-year-old man who is a retired small business owner over the past year and have noted a slowly changing intraocular pressure bilaterally. You have started him on physostigmine to treat his open-angle glaucoma. How does physostigmine affect intraocular pressure?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, lowers IOP in glaucoma by increasing aqueous outflow . It contracts the ciliary muscle, opening the trabecular meshwork. Secretion or synthesis reduction isn't its mechanism. Raising pressure (D, E) contradicts its use. This aids drainage in open-angle glaucoma.
Question 2 of 5
A patient given furosemide for diuresis should have a decrease in what?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic commonly used to treat conditions involving edema such as heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disorders. By promoting diuresis (increased urine production), furosemide helps the body eliminate excess fluid, leading to a decrease in edema or swelling. Therefore, a patient given furosemide for diuresis should experience a decrease in edema as the drug acts on the kidneys to increase urine output and eliminate extra fluids from the body.
Question 3 of 5
A 34-year-old man with allergic rhinitis presents to his primary care physician for treatment. He is prescribed diphenhydramine and develops dry eyes and mouth within 2 days. His symptoms of rhinitis are approximately 75% better. He calls his physician asking what he should do. The most appropriate management for this patient is which of the following?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diphenhydramine's anticholinergic effects (dryness) are tolerable given 75% rhinitis improvement. Continue at current dose . Discontinuing loses benefit. Adding chlorpheniramine increases side effects. Surgery (D, E) is excessive. Balancing efficacy and mild side effects favors continuation.
Question 4 of 5
Medications bound to protein have the following effect:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When medications are bound to proteins in the bloodstream, they are inactive and unable to exert their therapeutic effects. Only the unbound (free) fraction of the drug is pharmacologically active. Therefore, the more a drug is bound to protein, the less available it is for its desired effect. Protein binding also affects the drug's distribution and metabolism, but it does not enhance availability or increase liver metabolism. Rapid distribution to receptor sites is influenced by other factors, such as blood flow and tissue permeability.
Question 5 of 5
Which drug is most likely to be ordered for the client with herpes simplex virus?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a viral infection requiring antiviral therapy, and acyclovir (Zovirax) is the gold-standard treatment due to its specific action against herpesviruses. It inhibits viral DNA replication, reducing symptom duration and severity, making it the most likely choice (A). Zidovudine targets HIV, a retrovirus, not HSV, and is irrelevant here. Nystatin is an antifungal, ineffective against viruses. Metronidazole treats bacterial and protozoal infections, not viral ones. Acyclovir's specificity and efficacy for HSV, supported by clinical guidelines, make it the priority drug. The nurse must recognize this distinction to ensure appropriate therapy, as misidentification could delay recovery or worsen outcomes. Choice A stands out as the only antiviral tailored to HSV's pathophysiology, ensuring targeted treatment.