ATI LPN
ATI LPN Pharmacology Exam I Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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 2 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 Bed or door labels can be outdated or misplaced; this indirect method fails to confirm identity actively, heightening the chance of medication misadministration.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 3 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 4 of 5
A hospitalized 3-year-old toddler is to receive an oral medication. For the most effective approach, the nurse should tell the child:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Promising instant relief is misleading; most drugs take time, and false expectations may erode trust, reducing cooperation in a toddler's care. Calling it candy is unethical; it risks future candy confusion with drugs, potentially leading to accidental ingestion, unsafe for a 3-year-old. Confident explanation suits a toddler's understanding; it builds trust, reduces fear, and ensures cooperation by clearly stating purpose and process age-appropriately. Firm insistence may scare a toddler; without explanation, it lacks reassurance, potentially increasing resistance and distress during medication administration.
Question 5 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.