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ATI Pharmacology Practice Questions
Hematologic, Cardiovascular, Pain and Inflammation
1) A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client who has angina pectoris and a new prescription to apply a
nitroglycerin transdermal patch daily at home. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
give the client?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
1) Fold used patch with medication area to the inside and discard in a closed
receptacle.
Answer Rationale:
It is important to prevent pets, children, and others in the client’s home from coming into contact with the
medication on the nitroglycerin patch. Therefore, the client should be instructed to fold the patch in half with
the medication area to the inside and to discard the patch in a closed receptacle rather than in an open trash
can.
INCORRECT
2) Put a second patch in place if angina pain occurs.
Answer Rationale:
Nitroglycerin transdermal patches are designed for prophylaxis of angina pain and are not to be used to stop an
existing angina attack. Adding a second patch is not appropriate and could cause adverse effects, such as
hypotension. The client should discuss strategies for treating an angina attack with the provider.
INCORRECT
3) Keep a nitroglycerin patch in place 24 hr per day.
Answer Rationale:
Since clients can develop tolerance to nitroglycerin, the transdermal patch should be removed after 12 to 14 hr
each day, and the client should have 10 to 12 hr of time without a patch during the evening and nighttime
hours.
INCORRECT
4) Shave excess hair from skin before applying a nitroglycerin patch.
Answer Rationale:
The client should be instructed to apply the patch to a different hairless area each day. If it is necessary to apply
the patch to an area with hair, the hair should be clipped, not shaved, to avoid irritation to the skin.
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2) A nurse is caring for a client who has a deep vein thrombosis, who received IV heparin for the past 5
days, and now has a new prescription for oral warfarin in addition to the heparin. The client asks the
nurse if both medications are necessary. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the
nurse?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
INCORRECT
1) "Heparin enhances the effects of the warfarin."
Answer Rationale:
Neither medication enhances the effects of the other.
INCORRECT
2) "I will ask the charge nurse to call your provider and get an explanation."
Answer Rationale:
The charge nurse does not need to call the provider for an explanation at this time.
INCORRECT
3) "Both heparin and warfarin work together to dissolve the clots."
Answer Rationale:
Neither heparin nor warfarin dissolves clots that have already formed.
4) "Heparin will be continued until the warfarin reaches a therapeutic level."
Answer Rationale:
Heparin and warfarin are both anticoagulants that decrease the clotting ability of the blood and help prevent
thrombosis formation in the blood vessels. However, they work in different ways to achieve therapeutic
coagulation and must be given together until therapeutic levels of anticoagulation can be achieved by warfarin
alone, which usually takes about 3 days. Oral warfarin therapy may continue for several months following
discharge.
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3) A nurse in a provider’s office is reviewing the laboratory results of four clients who take digoxin.
Which of the following clients is at risk for developing digoxin toxicity?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
INCORRECT
1) A client who takes glyburide for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Answer Rationale:
Glyburide is an oral antidiabetic medication to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Altered glucose levels have no
effect on digoxin toxicity.
2) A client who take furosemide for hypertension
Answer Rationale:
Loop diuretics such as furosemide can cause hypokalemia, which greatly increases the risk of digoxin toxicity.
INCORRECT
3) A client who takes ranitidine to reduce gastric acid secretion
Answer Rationale:
Ranitidine can reduce the absorption of some medications such as cefuroxime and ketoconazole, but it does not
increase the risk for digoxin toxicity.
INCORRECT
4) A client who takes azelastine for allergic rhinitis
Answer Rationale:
Azelastine can cause central nervous system depression, but it does not increase the risk for digoxin toxicity.
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4) A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and receiving fentanyl via patient controlled
analgesia. The client has a prescription for naloxone. The nurse understands that the purpose of
naloxone is which of the following?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
INCORRECT
1) To suppress respiratory secretions
Answer Rationale:
Atropine suppresses respiratory secretions.
2) Block the effects of opioids on the central nervous system
Answer Rationale:
Naloxone is a narcotic antagonist that combines competitively with opiate receptors and blocks or reverses the
action of narcotic analgesics. By blocking the effects of narcotics on the central nervous system (CNS), it
prevents CNS and respiratory depression.
INCORRECT
3) To treat nausea
Answer Rationale:
Ondansetron is used to treat postoperative nausea.
INCORRECT
4) To treat urinary retention
Answer Rationale:
Bethanechol is used to treat postpartum and postoperative urinary retention.
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ATI Pharmacology Practice Questions
Hematologic, Cardiovascular, Pain and Inflammation
1) A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client who has angina pectoris and a new prescription to apply a
nitroglycerin transdermal patch daily at home. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
give the client?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
1) Fold used patch with medication area to the inside and discard in a closed
receptacle.
Answer Rationale:
It is important to prevent pets, children, and others in the client’s home from coming into contact with the
medication on the nitroglycerin patch. Therefore, the client should be instructed to fold the patch in half with
the medication area to the inside and to discard the patch in a closed receptacle rather than in an open trash
can.
INCORRECT
2) Put a second patch in place if angina pain occurs.
Answer Rationale:
Nitroglycerin transdermal patches are designed for prophylaxis of angina pain and are not to be used to stop an
existing angina attack. Adding a second patch is not appropriate and could cause adverse effects, such as
hypotension. The client should discuss strategies for treating an angina attack with the provider.
INCORRECT
3) Keep a nitroglycerin patch in place 24 hr per day.
Answer Rationale:
Since clients can develop tolerance to nitroglycerin, the transdermal patch should be removed after 12 to 14 hr
each day, and the client should have 10 to 12 hr of time without a patch during the evening and nighttime
hours.
INCORRECT
4) Shave excess hair from skin before applying a nitroglycerin patch.
Answer Rationale:
The client should be instructed to apply the patch to a different hairless area each day. If it is necessary to apply
the patch to an area with hair, the hair should be clipped, not shaved, to avoid irritation to the skin.
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2) A nurse is caring for a client who has a deep vein thrombosis, who received IV heparin for the past 5
days, and now has a new prescription for oral warfarin in addition to the heparin. The client asks the
nurse if both medications are necessary. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the
nurse?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
INCORRECT
1) "Heparin enhances the effects of the warfarin."
Answer Rationale:
Neither medication enhances the effects of the other.
INCORRECT
2) "I will ask the charge nurse to call your provider and get an explanation."
Answer Rationale:
The charge nurse does not need to call the provider for an explanation at this time.
INCORRECT
3) "Both heparin and warfarin work together to dissolve the clots."
Answer Rationale:
Neither heparin nor warfarin dissolves clots that have already formed.
4) "Heparin will be continued until the warfarin reaches a therapeutic level."
Answer Rationale:
Heparin and warfarin are both anticoagulants that decrease the clotting ability of the blood and help prevent
thrombosis formation in the blood vessels. However, they work in different ways to achieve therapeutic
coagulation and must be given together until therapeutic levels of anticoagulation can be achieved by warfarin
alone, which usually takes about 3 days. Oral warfarin therapy may continue for several months following
discharge.
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3) A nurse in a provider’s office is reviewing the laboratory results of four clients who take digoxin.
Which of the following clients is at risk for developing digoxin toxicity?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
INCORRECT
1) A client who takes glyburide for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Answer Rationale:
Glyburide is an oral antidiabetic medication to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Altered glucose levels have no
effect on digoxin toxicity.
2) A client who take furosemide for hypertension
Answer Rationale:
Loop diuretics such as furosemide can cause hypokalemia, which greatly increases the risk of digoxin toxicity.
INCORRECT
3) A client who takes ranitidine to reduce gastric acid secretion
Answer Rationale:
Ranitidine can reduce the absorption of some medications such as cefuroxime and ketoconazole, but it does not
increase the risk for digoxin toxicity.
INCORRECT
4) A client who takes azelastine for allergic rhinitis
Answer Rationale:
Azelastine can cause central nervous system depression, but it does not increase the risk for digoxin toxicity.
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4) A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and receiving fentanyl via patient controlled
analgesia. The client has a prescription for naloxone. The nurse understands that the purpose of
naloxone is which of the following?
ANSWERS - Multiple Choice
INCORRECT
1) To suppress respiratory secretions
Answer Rationale:
Atropine suppresses respiratory secretions.
2) Block the effects of opioids on the central nervous system
Answer Rationale:
Naloxone is a narcotic antagonist that combines competitively with opiate receptors and blocks or reverses the
action of narcotic analgesics. By blocking the effects of narcotics on the central nervous system (CNS), it
prevents CNS and respiratory depression.
INCORRECT
3) To treat nausea
Answer Rationale:
Ondansetron is used to treat postoperative nausea.
INCORRECT
4) To treat urinary retention
Answer Rationale:
Bethanechol is used to treat postpartum and postoperative urinary retention.
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