ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is administering a dose of insulin to a patient. To practice nursing safely and effectively, the nurse should:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Administering insulin at proper timing correlates with mealtimes. However, this alone doesn't ensure safe practice. Confirming the injection site prevents lipodystrophy but does not address dose accuracy, which is vital for safety. Insulin is injected subcutaneously, not in the deltoid muscle. Using incorrect sites disrupts absorption. Double-checking insulin dose prevents administration errors, ensuring compliance with medication safety protocols.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is to administer the patient's next dose of vancomycin at 9:30 a.m. What time will the nurse draw the patient's blood to check the trough vancomycin level?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Drawing at 8:30 a.m., 60 minutes before, is too early; trough levels, taken just before the next dose, reflect minimum concentration, and this timing risks inaccurate results. At 9:00 a.m., 30 minutes before the 9:30 a.m. dose, the trough level accurately measures the lowest vancomycin concentration, ensuring therapeutic monitoring aligns with pharmacokinetics. Drawing at 10:00 a.m., after the dose, measures a post-infusion level, not the trough; this timing misses the minimum concentration critical for dosing adjustments. At 10:30 a.m., well after the dose, blood reflects peak or random levels, not the trough, skewing data needed to assess vancomycin's therapeutic efficacy and safety.
Question 3 of 5
Which is the priority action of the nurse immediately after administration of an intramuscular injection?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Informing the patient is secondary; it addresses communication but not immediate safety risks like needlestick injury, which is a higher priority post-injection per occupational health standards. Assessing comfort is important but not urgent; pain evaluation can wait after securing the needle, as safety from sharps exposure outweighs immediate patient feedback in priority. Engaging the safety sheath prevents needlestick injuries; it's the priority action to protect the nurse and others from bloodborne pathogens, aligning with universal precautions post-injection. Checking for bleeding is routine but not critical; minor oozing is common and manageable later, while needle safety is an immediate concern to prevent infection risks.
Question 4 of 5
Which patient would be a candidate for animal-assisted therapy?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bone marrow transplant patients are immunocompromised; animals pose infection risks (e.g., zoonotic bacteria), making therapy contraindicated in this sterile setting. C. difficile is contagious; animal-assisted therapy risks cross-contamination via fur or handlers, endangering the patient and facility, ruling out this option. Acute asthma with dyspnea may worsen with animal dander triggering allergies or bronchospasm; therapy could exacerbate respiratory distress, making it unsuitable. Alzheimer's patients benefit from animal therapy; it reduces agitation and boosts mood via oxytocin release, with no acute infection or allergy barriers.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is going to administer a medication that must be crushed for the patient to take it. This medication is best given to the patient by:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Applesauce masks taste and aids swallowing; it ensures crushed medication is consumed fully, maintaining dose integrity without altering pharmacokinetics significantly. Juice may alter absorption, water may not mask bitterness, and meat/vegetables risk uneven distribution.