ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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 2 of 5
Before integrating humor in the care of an Asian patient, the nurse should:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Understanding jokes assumes comprehension but ignores cultural comfort; humor's acceptability varies, and this misses emotional readiness assessment. Jokes about staff may offend or confuse; without patient input, this risks cultural insensitivity, especially in Asian contexts valuing respect for authority. Asking feelings respects cultural norms; humor's therapeutic effect depends on patient receptivity, ensuring it aligns with individual and cultural preferences. Joking about conditions can distress; it's culturally inappropriate in many Asian settings, potentially worsening trust or emotional state without consent.
Question 3 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 4 of 5
The nurse notes that the patient is scratching and has hives 2 hours after receiving a dose of antibiotic medication. The patient soon starts having difficulty breathing and his blood pressure drops. What is the correct analysis of the patient's condition?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Moderate reactions don't cause breathing difficulty or hypotension. Severe symptoms indicate anaphylaxis, requiring emergency intervention. Symptoms align with anaphylaxis, not food poisoning. Assuming an unrelated cause delays life-saving treatment. Mild reactions lack systemic effects like hypotension and breathing difficulties. Antihistamines alone are insufficient for anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis involves systemic reactions such as hypotension, airway constriction, and skin symptoms. Immediate interventions prevent progression and save lives.
Question 5 of 5
When administering medications, a nurse must know a client's medical history and pharmacokinetics of prescribed medications because most drugs are metabolized in the:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lungs excrete volatile drugs like anesthetics; most medications aren't metabolized here, as they lack the cytochrome enzymes needed for broad drug breakdown. The liver is the primary site; cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolize most drugs, converting them into active or excretable forms, critical for pharmacokinetics. Kidneys excrete metabolites; they filter, not metabolize, most drugs, relying on prior liver processing, making them secondary in the metabolic pathway. The colon absorbs some drugs but doesn't metabolize most; its role is minimal compared to the liver's extensive enzymatic drug transformation capacity.