ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A client is to receive a medication at 9:00 A.M. To prevent a medication error by administering at the incorrect time, the nurse can administer the medication anytime between:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Two-hour window (8:00-10:00) is too broad; most protocols allow 30 minutes before/after, as wider ranges risk altering drug pharmacokinetics significantly. One-hour window (8:30-9:30) is common but exceeds some strict policies; it's less precise, potentially affecting drugs with tight timing needs. 8:30-9:00 is only before; it excludes post-9:00 flexibility, limiting administration to early dosing, which may not align with full protocol windows. 8:45-9:15 (30 minutes either side) fits standard policy; it ensures therapeutic levels for most drugs, balancing efficacy with practical scheduling.
Question 2 of 5
Which nursing action is appropriate when pulling the plunger of the syringe back prior to administering medication and blood is aspirated in the syringe?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Blood aspiration indicates vascular entry; discarding prevents IV administration of a drug meant for another route, avoiding rapid absorption risks or contamination. Giving despite blood risks unintended IV delivery; drugs like IM injections aren't formulated for this, potentially causing toxicity or embolism. Changing the needle doesn't address blood-mixed medication; it remains unsafe for injection, as the dose is compromised and potentially contaminated. Omitting skips treatment unnecessarily; the issue is procedural, not the order, and restarting ensures the patient receives the intended therapy safely.
Question 3 of 5
Vistaril 75 mg IM is ordered for anxiety. Available: 50 mg/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 1 mL gives 50 mg; this underdoses the 75 mg order, reducing Vistaril's sedative effect, risking inadequate anxiety relief for the patient. 1.5 mL is correct; 75 mg divided by 50 mg/mL equals 1.5 mL, delivering the precise IM dose for effective anxiolytic action safely. 2 mL provides 100 mg; this overdoses Vistaril, risking excessive sedation or hypotension, exceeding the ordered therapeutic amount unnecessarily. 2.5 mL yields 125 mg; this far exceeds 75 mg, amplifying side effects like drowsiness or respiratory depression, unsafe for anxiety management.
Question 4 of 5
The patient prefers to take an herbal supplement rather than the prescription medication ordered by the physician. Which is the most appropriate response of the nurse?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Convenience doesn't ensure efficacy; supplements lack rigorous testing, potentially delivering inconsistent doses or contaminants, unlike prescription drugs' controlled standards. Cost isn't a clinical justification; lower price may reflect unregulated production, risking potency or safety compared to prescriptions validated by scientific trials. Supplements aren't FDA-regulated like prescriptions; lacking standardized purity and efficacy tests, they may contain variable active ingredients, posing therapeutic risks. Plant-based doesn't guarantee safety; many herbs are toxic or interact harmfully with drugs, unlike prescriptions with established pharmacokinetics and safety profiles.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection for a client of average weight. At what angle would the nurse insert the needle?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: IM injections use a 90-degree angle; this ensures deep muscle penetration for average-weight adults, optimizing drug absorption into vascular tissue. 45 degrees is for subcutaneous injections; it's too shallow for IM, risking fat deposition instead of muscle, reducing efficacy in this context. 15 degrees is far too shallow; it's not a standard angle, likely depositing drug in skin layers, failing to reach muscle for intended absorption. 25 degrees mimics subcutaneous; it doesn't reach muscle depth, compromising IM delivery and therapeutic effect in an average-weight client.