VATI Custom: 2019 RN VATI
Pharmacological Therapies
A clinic nurse is giving instructions to a mother on the proper technique of applying ophthalmic
ointment to her preschool-age child who has conjunctivitis. Which of the following should the
nurse include in the instructions? - ANS -"Discard the first bead of ointment before each
application."
The parent should discard the first bead of ointment from the tube because it is considered
contaminated.
\A nurse caring for a client who has hypertension and asks the nurse about a prescription for
propranolol. The nurse should inform the client that this medication is contraindicated in clients
who have a history of which of the following conditions? - ANS -Asthma
Propranolol, a beta-blocker, is contraindicated in clients who have asthma because it can cause
bronchospasms. Propranolol blocks the sympathetic stimulation, which prevents smooth muscle
relaxation.
\A nurse in a provider's clinic is assessing a client who has cancer and a prescription for
methotrexate PO. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when the client reports
bleeding gums? - ANS -Check the value of the client's current platelet count.
The nurse should recognize that the bleeding is likely due to the adverse effect of the
chemotherapy and needs to be evaluated further. Bleeding gums is a sign of thrombocytopenia
(decreased platelet count) secondary to bone marrow suppression, which can be
life-threatening in a client who is receiving chemotherapy.
\A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving a parental lipid infusion. Which of the following
findings is a manifestation of fat overload syndrome? - ANS -Elevated temperature
An elevated temperature is an early manifestation of fat overload syndrome. The client is at risk
for coagulopathy and multi-organ system failure due to fat overload syndrome.
\A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy via an
infusion pump. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANS -Change the IV
tubing every 24 hr.
The nurse should change the client's IV tubing every 24 hr, or per facility protocol, to prevent
bacteria from developing in the tubing.
\A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who has seizures and is receiving phenytoin in
suspension form. Which of the following actions should the nurse take before administering
each dose? - ANS -Shake the container vigorously.
, A suspension form of medication refers to one in which the particles of medication are mixed
with, but not dissolved in, a fluid. It is important for the nurse to shake the container that
contains the suspension because the child can be under-medicated if the medication is not
evenly distributed.
\A nurse is caring for a client is who has a deep vein thrombosis and is prescribed heparin by
continuous IV infusion at 1,200 units/hr. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. The
nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest
tenth/whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) - ANS -24 mL/hr
\A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and a new prescription for ondansetron to treat
chemotherapy-induced nausea. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse
monitor? - ANS -Headache
Headache is a common adverse effect of ondansetron. Analgesic relief is often required.
\A nurse is caring for a client who has congestive heart failure and is taking digoxin daily. The
client refused breakfast and is complaining of nausea and weakness. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first? - ANS -Check the client's vital signs.
It is possible that the client's nausea is secondary to digoxin toxicity. By obtaining vital signs, the
nurse can assess for bradycardia, which is a symptom of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should
withhold the medication and call the provider if the client's heart rate is less than 60 bpm.
\A nurse is caring for a client who has poison ivy and is prescribed diphenhydramine. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse give regarding the adverse effect of dry mouth
associated with diphenhydramine? - ANS -"Chew on sugarless gum or suck on hard, sour
candies."
Clients who report dry mouth can get the most effective relief by sucking on hard candies
(especially the sour varieties that stimulate salivation), chewing gum, or rinsing the mouth
frequently. It is the local effect of these actions that provides comfort to the client.
\A nurse is caring for a client who has preeclampsia and is being treated with magnesium
sulfate IV. The client's respiratory rate is 10/min and deep-tendon reflexes are absent. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take? - ANS -Discontinue the medication infusion.
Magnesium toxicity is manifested by bradypnea (respiratory rate less than 12/min) and absent
deep tendon reflexes. The magnesium sulfate infusion should be discontinued and calcium
gluconate administered via IV.
\A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized with active pulmonary tuberculosis and is
started on ethambutol therapy. The nurse should understand that which of the following should
be monitored? - ANS -Visual acuity
A significant adverse effect of ethambutol is optic neuritis, vision loss, and loss of color
discrimination, especially red and green. Baseline vision testing should be performed before
use, and visual acuity monitored at regular intervals.
\A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following an appendectomy and is prescribed
D5 lactated Ringer's at 150 mL/hr by continuous IV infusion for 12 hr. The drop factor of the
Pharmacological Therapies
A clinic nurse is giving instructions to a mother on the proper technique of applying ophthalmic
ointment to her preschool-age child who has conjunctivitis. Which of the following should the
nurse include in the instructions? - ANS -"Discard the first bead of ointment before each
application."
The parent should discard the first bead of ointment from the tube because it is considered
contaminated.
\A nurse caring for a client who has hypertension and asks the nurse about a prescription for
propranolol. The nurse should inform the client that this medication is contraindicated in clients
who have a history of which of the following conditions? - ANS -Asthma
Propranolol, a beta-blocker, is contraindicated in clients who have asthma because it can cause
bronchospasms. Propranolol blocks the sympathetic stimulation, which prevents smooth muscle
relaxation.
\A nurse in a provider's clinic is assessing a client who has cancer and a prescription for
methotrexate PO. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when the client reports
bleeding gums? - ANS -Check the value of the client's current platelet count.
The nurse should recognize that the bleeding is likely due to the adverse effect of the
chemotherapy and needs to be evaluated further. Bleeding gums is a sign of thrombocytopenia
(decreased platelet count) secondary to bone marrow suppression, which can be
life-threatening in a client who is receiving chemotherapy.
\A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving a parental lipid infusion. Which of the following
findings is a manifestation of fat overload syndrome? - ANS -Elevated temperature
An elevated temperature is an early manifestation of fat overload syndrome. The client is at risk
for coagulopathy and multi-organ system failure due to fat overload syndrome.
\A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy via an
infusion pump. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANS -Change the IV
tubing every 24 hr.
The nurse should change the client's IV tubing every 24 hr, or per facility protocol, to prevent
bacteria from developing in the tubing.
\A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who has seizures and is receiving phenytoin in
suspension form. Which of the following actions should the nurse take before administering
each dose? - ANS -Shake the container vigorously.
, A suspension form of medication refers to one in which the particles of medication are mixed
with, but not dissolved in, a fluid. It is important for the nurse to shake the container that
contains the suspension because the child can be under-medicated if the medication is not
evenly distributed.
\A nurse is caring for a client is who has a deep vein thrombosis and is prescribed heparin by
continuous IV infusion at 1,200 units/hr. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. The
nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest
tenth/whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) - ANS -24 mL/hr
\A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and a new prescription for ondansetron to treat
chemotherapy-induced nausea. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse
monitor? - ANS -Headache
Headache is a common adverse effect of ondansetron. Analgesic relief is often required.
\A nurse is caring for a client who has congestive heart failure and is taking digoxin daily. The
client refused breakfast and is complaining of nausea and weakness. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first? - ANS -Check the client's vital signs.
It is possible that the client's nausea is secondary to digoxin toxicity. By obtaining vital signs, the
nurse can assess for bradycardia, which is a symptom of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should
withhold the medication and call the provider if the client's heart rate is less than 60 bpm.
\A nurse is caring for a client who has poison ivy and is prescribed diphenhydramine. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse give regarding the adverse effect of dry mouth
associated with diphenhydramine? - ANS -"Chew on sugarless gum or suck on hard, sour
candies."
Clients who report dry mouth can get the most effective relief by sucking on hard candies
(especially the sour varieties that stimulate salivation), chewing gum, or rinsing the mouth
frequently. It is the local effect of these actions that provides comfort to the client.
\A nurse is caring for a client who has preeclampsia and is being treated with magnesium
sulfate IV. The client's respiratory rate is 10/min and deep-tendon reflexes are absent. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take? - ANS -Discontinue the medication infusion.
Magnesium toxicity is manifested by bradypnea (respiratory rate less than 12/min) and absent
deep tendon reflexes. The magnesium sulfate infusion should be discontinued and calcium
gluconate administered via IV.
\A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized with active pulmonary tuberculosis and is
started on ethambutol therapy. The nurse should understand that which of the following should
be monitored? - ANS -Visual acuity
A significant adverse effect of ethambutol is optic neuritis, vision loss, and loss of color
discrimination, especially red and green. Baseline vision testing should be performed before
use, and visual acuity monitored at regular intervals.
\A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following an appendectomy and is prescribed
D5 lactated Ringer's at 150 mL/hr by continuous IV infusion for 12 hr. The drop factor of the
