ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is reviewing medication errors. Which situation is an example of a medication error?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Allergic reactions are adverse drug effects, not necessarily medication errors. Documentation of allergies before administration prevents such events. Administering a double dose results directly from improper preparation, constituting a clear medication error requiring immediate reporting and corrective action. Patient refusal is not a medication error but a decision. Nurses must document refusals and provide education on medication importance. Persistent pain indicates ineffective medication, which is an issue of treatment efficacy, not an error in administration.
Question 2 of 5
The physician orders vancomycin 500 mg in 250 mL of D5W IVPB daily to infuse over 2 hours. Tubing drop factor is 15 gtts/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 31 gtts/min assumes 250 mL over 4 hours with 15 gtts/mL; this halves the rate, underdelivering vancomycin, risking subtherapeutic levels and ineffective bacterial killing over the prescribed 2-hour infusion time. 62 gtts/min is correct; 250 mL over 2 hours is 125 mL/hr, times 15 gtts/mL equals 1875 gtts total, divided by 120 minutes yields 62 gtts/min, ensuring proper antibiotic delivery. 125 gtts/min doubles the rate; 250 mL in 1 hour with 15 gtts/mL is too fast, risking vancomycin toxicity, including renal damage, and exceeding safe infusion guidelines for IVPB. 250 gtts/min assumes 250 mL in 30 minutes; this dangerously rapid rate could cause vancomycin-induced red man syndrome or cardiovascular overload, far beyond the ordered 2-hour infusion duration.
Question 3 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 4 of 5
The patient's respirations dropped from 14 breaths/minute to 8 breaths/minute after receiving a large dose of morphine. Which term accurately describes the patient's reaction to the morphine?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Respiratory depression from high morphine doses signals toxicity; opioids suppress the brainstem's respiratory center, exceeding safe therapeutic levels at this extent. Allergic reactions involve immunity (e.g., rash, anaphylaxis); slowed breathing isn't allergic, but a dose-dependent opioid effect on respiration. Idiosyncratic means unexpected (e.g., paradoxical excitement); respiratory depression is a predictable morphine overdose sign, not an unusual reaction. Therapeutic effects relieve pain; 8 breaths/minute is dangerously low, beyond intended analgesia, indicating a harmful, not beneficial, outcome.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse caring for a patient without any religious affiliation who was admitted 2 days ago with a severe gastrointestinal infection encounters the hospital chaplain who wants to pray with the patient. The most appropriate response by the nurse is:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Permission respects autonomy; without religious affiliation, the patient may decline, and consent ensures ethical care aligned with individual beliefs. Assuming the patient’s preference without asking dismisses autonomy, endorsing without consent risks imposing unwanted activity, and a doctor’s order is unnecessary for prayer, which is a chaplain’s role.