ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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 2 of 5
Which patient would be a candidate for animal-assisted therapy?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bone marrow transplant patients are immunocompromised; animals pose infection risks (e.g., zoonotic bacteria), making therapy contraindicated in this sterile setting. C. difficile is contagious; animal-assisted therapy risks cross-contamination via fur or handlers, endangering the patient and facility, ruling out this option. Acute asthma with dyspnea may worsen with animal dander triggering allergies or bronchospasm; therapy could exacerbate respiratory distress, making it unsuitable. Alzheimer's patients benefit from animal therapy; it reduces agitation and boosts mood via oxytocin release, with no acute infection or allergy barriers.
Question 3 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 4 of 5
A patient is scheduled to have biofeedback therapy for migraine headaches. On arrival to the clinic, the patient appears anxious and fearful and tells the nurse that she does not want electric shocks. The most reassuring response by the nurse is:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rescheduling dismisses the patient's fear; it delays therapy without addressing misconceptions, missing a chance to educate and proceed with migraine relief. Questioning prior explanation may shame the patient; it doesn't clarify biofeedback's non-invasive nature, failing to reduce anxiety about shocks. Explaining no shocks and describing biofeedback as monitoring reassures scientifically; it corrects fears, aligning with its role in stress-related migraine management. Vague reassurance lacks specificity; without addressing shocks, it's less effective, as patients need clear, factual dispelling of their expressed concern.
Question 5 of 5
Which of these is the correct way for a nurse to document medication administration?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Recording at shift's end risks memory errors or omissions; delayed documentation compromises accuracy and legal accountability for controlled substances and patient care. Pharmacy technicians don't administer drugs; nurses document their own actions, ensuring responsibility and precision in the medication administration record. Immediate recording post-administration ensures accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with standards; it reflects real-time events, reducing errors in patient care documentation. Recording others' actions is inaccurate and unethical; nurses must document only their administrations, maintaining individual accountability and patient safety.