ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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.
Question 2 of 5
The physician orders Zestril 15 mg po daily for hypertension. The medication is supplied in 5-mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: One 5-mg tablet provides only 5 mg, far below the 15 mg ordered; this underdose fails to control hypertension effectively, risking cardiovascular complications like stroke or heart failure. Two tablets yield 10 mg, still short of 15 mg; this insufficient dose wouldn't achieve therapeutic blood pressure reduction, leaving the patient at risk for hypertensive damage. Three 5-mg tablets equal 15 mg, matching the order precisely; this dose effectively inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme, lowering blood pressure to a therapeutic range safely. Four tablets deliver 20 mg, exceeding the order; this overdose could cause hypotension, dizziness, or renal impairment due to excessive ACE inhibition beyond therapeutic needs.
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 indicates vascular entry; discarding prevents unintended IV delivery of an IM drug, avoiding rapid absorption risks and ensuring proper route administration. Giving with blood risks IV administration; IM drugs aren't formulated for this, potentially causing embolism or toxicity, violating safety administration principles. Changing the needle leaves contaminated medication; blood-mixed drugs are unsafe, and this fails to address the compromised dose integrity fully. Omitting skips treatment needlessly; the issue is procedural, not the order, and restarting ensures the patient receives the intended therapy safely.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is going to administer a medication that must be crushed for the patient to take it. This medication is best given to the patient by:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Applesauce masks taste and aids swallowing; it ensures crushed medication is consumed fully, maintaining dose integrity without altering pharmacokinetics significantly. Juice may alter absorption, water may not mask bitterness, and meat/vegetables risk uneven distribution.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is assessing patient response to medications received. Which must the nurse know about these drugs to best evaluate whether the expected outcomes of the drug therapy have been achieved?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Therapeutic effects define expected outcomes; knowing these (e.g., pain relief) lets the nurse assess if the drug meets its clinical goal effectively. Chemical composition informs structure, not outcome; it's irrelevant to evaluating if the drug achieves its intended physiological effect directly. Mechanism explains how drugs work; it's useful but secondary to knowing the actual therapeutic result needed for outcome assessment. Side effects monitor safety, not efficacy; they don't directly measure if the drug achieves its primary therapeutic purpose as intended.