ATI RN
ATI Fundamentals Exam Special Unit ADN Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is using professional standards to influence clinical decisions. What is the rationale for the nurse's actions?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Uses critical thinking for the highest level of quality nursing care: Professional standards provide guidelines for best practices, ensuring nurses apply critical thinking and clinical judgment to improve patient outcomes. Utilizing evidence-based practice based on nurses' needs: Professional standards focus on patient-centered care, not the nurse's needs. Evidence-based practice should prioritize patient safety and effectiveness. Establishes minimal passing standards for testing: While professional standards guide nursing education and testing, their primary role is to guide clinical decision-making for patient care. Bypasses the patient's feelings to promote ethical standards: Ethical nursing practice includes patient advocacy, not bypassing patient emotions or concerns.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for diphenhydramine for allergic rhinitis. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor for which of the following manifestations as an adverse effect of this medication? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: C,D
Rationale: Urinary retention: Diphenhydramine has anticholinergic effects, which can lead to urinary retention, especially in older adults or those with prostate issues. Dry mouth: Diphenhydramine blocks muscarinic receptors, reducing saliva production and causing dry mouth. Nonproductive cough: Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, not a cough suppressant. It does not cause a nonproductive cough as a side effect. Drowsiness: First-generation antihistamines (like diphenhydramine) cause CNS depression, leading to drowsiness. Skin rash: Skin rash is not a common adverse effect of diphenhydramine but can be a sign of an allergic reaction.
Question 3 of 5
A patient diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) asks the nurse why clubbing occurs. Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Your disease doesn't send enough oxygen to your fingertips': Chronic hypoxia in COPD leads to increased capillary growth and tissue changes, resulting in clubbing of the fingers. This response is accurate and appropriately explains the cause. 'Your disease often makes patients lose mental status': While severe hypoxia can cause confusion, this response does not address the reason for clubbing and lacks therapeutic communication. 'Your disease will be helped if you pursed-lip breathe': Pursed-lip breathing helps with air trapping and exhalation in COPD, but it does not explain clubbing of the fingers. 'Your disease affects both your lungs and your heart, and not enough blood is being pumped': COPD primarily affects oxygen exchange in the lungs, not necessarily blood pumping from the heart. Clubbing is due to chronic hypoxia, not poor cardiac output.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who is being discharged from the hospital after being treated for hypertension. The patient is instructed to take blood pressure 3 times a day and to keep a record of the readings. The nurse recommends that the patient purchase a portable electronic blood pressure device. Which other information will the nurse share with the patient?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: You will need to recalibrate the machine: Electronic blood pressure devices require periodic recalibration to maintain accuracy. The patient should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for recalibration and compare readings with a manual blood pressure check at clinic visits. You will need to use a stethoscope properly: A portable electronic blood pressure device is automatic and does not require the use of a stethoscope. The device detects oscillations in arterial pressure to provide a reading. You can move your arm during the reading: Movement during the reading can interfere with accuracy and produce incorrect results. The patient should keep the arm still and at heart level. You can apply the cuff in any manner: The cuff must be applied correctly—snug but not too tight, with the lower edge about 1 inch above the antecubital fossa, and the bladder of the cuff positioned over the artery—to ensure accurate readings.
Question 5 of 5
The patient requires temperatures to be taken every 2 hours. Which task will be the responsibility of the RN?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessing changes in body temperature: The RN is responsible for assessing trends in temperature and identifying potential clinical implications (e.g., infection, sepsis, or medication reactions). Being aware of the usual values for the patient: While knowing baseline values is important, this is not solely an RN responsibility. Nursing assistants and other healthcare providers also note baseline values. Obtaining temperature measurements at ordered frequency: This task can be delegated to a nursing assistant or licensed practical nurse (LPN), as it is a routine task that does not require assessment. Using an appropriate route and device: While the RN ensures correct procedures are followed, this specific task can also be performed by trained assistive personnel. The RN focuses on interpretation and intervention.