ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Consulting ensures safety; not all drugs can be altered, and the provider adjusts the order, preventing errors in bioavailability or efficacy. Liquid may work, but without approval, it's unauthorized; some drugs lack liquid forms, and this bypasses necessary prescriber oversight. Parenteral needs an order change; administering without it violates scope, and it's invasive, escalating care unnecessarily as a first step. Crushing alters pharmacokinetics; many tablets (e.g., extended-release) can't be crushed, and doing so without checking risks toxicity or inefficacy.
Question 2 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 3 of 5
To ensure the nurse administers medications to the right client, which method of identification is most appropriate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Calling the name relies on response accuracy; confused or hearing-impaired patients may not answer correctly, risking misidentification and medication errors. Verbal confirmation plus armband verification against the MAR ensures identity via two identifiers, aligning with safety protocols to prevent administration errors scientifically. Family or visitors may misidentify due to stress or error; this lacks direct patient verification, increasing risk of giving medication to the wrong individual. Bed or door labels can be outdated or misplaced; this indirect method fails to confirm identity actively, heightening the chance of medication misadministration.
Question 4 of 5
The physician gives orders to infuse 1 unit (250 mL) of packed red blood cells over 4 hours. Calculate the flow rate in milliliters per hour.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Flow rate is volume divided by time; 250 mL over 4 hours equals 62.5 mL/hr, ensuring safe transfusion pacing to avoid fluid overload or hemolysis. 125 mL/hr assumes 250 mL over 2 hours; this doubles the ordered rate, risking circulatory overload and transfusion reactions in a standard protocol. 250 mL/hr infuses the unit in 1 hour; this rapid rate exceeds safe limits, potentially causing hypertension or pulmonary edema in vulnerable patients. 500 mL/hr is far too fast, implying 250 mL in 30 minutes; this dangerous speed could trigger severe hemolytic reactions or cardiovascular collapse.
Question 5 of 5
The graduate nurse is aware that the count of the unit's narcotics and controlled substances at the change of shifts should involve:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Narcotics are controlled substances requiring strict accountability; two nurses—one ending and one starting the shift—verify counts to ensure accuracy and prevent diversion per regulatory standards. The head nurse and pharmacist may oversee inventory, but shift change counts involve direct caregivers for real-time accuracy, not administrative staff, ensuring immediate responsibility and oversight. Involving all nurses from both shifts is impractical and unnecessary; it dilutes accountability and increases error risk, as only two are needed to confirm the count efficiently. Pharmacy technicians lack authority over unit narcotics, and the charge nurse alone doesn't suffice; two nurses ensure a witnessed, reliable count per hospital policy and law.