ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
After the nurse hands a client a medication, the client says, 'What is this red tablet for? I have always taken a yellow pill.' What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Withholding and rechecking ensures safety; a color change signals a potential error, and verifying the MAR against orders prevents administering the wrong drug. Assuming a change is risky; without confirmation, administering an unverified drug could harm the patient if it's not the intended prescription. Administering then checking later endangers the patient; a wrong drug could cause adverse effects, and delayed verification violates safety protocols. Describing and giving without verification is unsafe; the red tablet may not match the order, risking incorrect treatment or allergic reactions.
Question 2 of 5
An elderly patient who lives in a skilled nursing facility and who likes to walk is taking a medication that lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. The best nursing action for this patient is to:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bed rest increases clot risk and deconditioning; vasodilators lower pressure, but mobility is beneficial unless contraindicated, making this overly restrictive. Assisting ambulation helps, but it's less proactive; it doesn't address orthostatic hypotension risks at initiation of movement, where falls are most likely. Monitoring intake/output tracks fluid status, not directly addressing vasodilation's hypotensive effects during position changes, missing the primary safety concern. Rising slowly counters orthostatic hypotension from vasodilation; it allows autoregulation to stabilize pressure, reducing fall risk in an active elderly patient.
Question 3 of 5
The best method to verify 'the right patient' in an unconscious client is to:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An ID number alone lacks context; without name confirmation, it risks mismatching if wristbands are swapped, missing a critical identity check. Name alone may coincide with common names; without a unique identifier like a hospital number, this method risks errors in a busy unit. Name and hospital number provide dual identifiers; this matches the MAR precisely, ensuring accuracy for an unconscious patient per safety standards. Calling an unconscious patient is futile; they can't respond, making this impractical and unreliable compared to objective wristband verification.
Question 4 of 5
Using the label, what is the trade name of the medication? (No label provided; assuming Zestril from prior context.)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lisinopril is the generic name; trade names are branded, and this doesn't fit the question's focus on the manufacturer's marketed title. Zestril is the trade name for lisinopril; it's trademarked by the manufacturer, aligning with the question's request for the branded medication name. Acetaminophen is a generic, not a trade name here; it's unrelated to Zestril's class (ACE inhibitor), making it an incorrect option. Morphine is a generic opioid; it doesn't match Zestril's antihypertensive role or trade name status, ruling it out entirely.
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.