Question

A nurse is collecting data from a client who is receiving vancomycin for a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Creatinine 3.1 mg/dL

Rationale :

🧪 Vancomycin is nephrotoxic, meaning it can cause kidney damage, especially when trough levels are too high or used for prolonged periods.

🧪 A creatinine level of 3.1 mg/dL is critically elevated (normal range: ~0.6–1.3 mg/dL), indicating possible acute kidney injury or worsening renal function.

🧪 This is a priority finding that must be reported immediately to the provider, as vancomycin dosing may need to be held or adjusted to prevent further kidney damage.

🧪 While the other findings (loose stools, slightly elevated WBC, and mild tachycardia) are expected in the context of infection, renal injury poses the greatest immediate risk.

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Answer 2

Correct Answers:

Inject air into each vial.

Rationale :

💉 When mixing NPH and regular insulin, the correct procedure is to inject air into both vials before withdrawing any insulin.

💉 Air should be injected first into the NPH vial, then into the regular insulin vial, without touching the insulin solution.

💉 After injecting air into both, the nurse should withdraw regular insulin first to prevent contamination of the short-acting insulin with intermediate-acting NPH.

💉 Insulin vials should never be shaken, especially regular insulin, as it can cause bubbles and degrade the solution. Gently rolling NPH is acceptable to mix the suspension.

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Answer 3

Correct Answers:

"You will need to take this medication on an empty stomach for it to be more effective.

Rationale :

🕒 Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), and like many antidepressants, it typically takes 2 to 4 weeks for clients to begin experiencing therapeutic effects.

🕒 It works by increasing levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain, but these neurochemical changes develop gradually over time.

🕒 The nurse should provide realistic expectations and support adherence by educating the client that improvement in symptoms takes time.

🕒 Reassurance about this timeline helps prevent premature discontinuation and improves treatment compliance.

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Answer 4

Correct Answers:

Respiratory rate 10/min)

Rationale :

🫁 Respiratory depression is the most serious and potentially life-threatening adverse effect of morphine, especially when given via epidural infusion, which delivers the drug near the central nervous system.

🫁 A respiratory rate of 10/min is below the normal threshold (typically 12–20 breaths/min) and indicates early respiratory compromise.

🫁 This finding requires immediate notification to the provider and may necessitate slowing or stopping the infusion, administering oxygen, or using an opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone).

🫁 Other findings like constipation, hypotension, and flushing are common side effects but not emergent compared to respiratory depression.

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Answer 5

Correct Answers:

"Is your name Sarah Jones?"

Rationale :

🆔 To ensure safe medication administration, nurses must use two approved identifiers—typically the client's full name and date of birth.

🆔 Asking "Is your name Sarah Jones?" is a valid method because it allows for confirmation of one of those identifiers.

🆔 Ideally, this should be followed by verifying another identifier (e.g., "What is your date of birth?") and checking the ID wristband against the MAR.

🆔 Asking about room numbers or age alone is not specific or reliable, as they can be misheard, misassigned, or shared by others.

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Answer 6

Correct Answers:

Wheezing

Rationale :

🌬️ Wheezing is a significant sign of an allergic reaction, particularly involving the respiratory system, and may signal the onset of anaphylaxis, a medical emergency.

🌬️ Amoxicillin, a penicillin-based antibiotic, is known to trigger hypersensitivity reactions in some clients, especially those with a penicillin allergy.

🌬️ Wheezing occurs due to bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation, requiring immediate assessment and possible administration of epinephrine, oxygen, and antihistamines.

🌬️ Early recognition of respiratory symptoms is critical in preventing progression to more severe complications such as airway obstruction or shock.

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Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Increased respiratory rate

Rationale :

🌬️ Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that works by reversing the effects of opioids, particularly respiratory depression, which is the most dangerous symptom of an overdose.

🌬️ An increase in respiratory rate following administration of naloxone indicates that the client’s respiratory function is improving, confirming the medication's effectiveness.

🌬️ Monitoring for restored breathing, increased alertness, and improved oxygenation are key indicators of a successful response.

🌬️ Other signs like decreased blood pressure or pain relief are not expected outcomes of naloxone and may actually reflect ongoing opioid effects.

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Answer 8

Correct Answers:

Nursing drug guide

Rationale :

📚 A nursing drug guide is a reliable and evidence-based reference that provides comprehensive information about medications, including indications, dosages, side effects, contraindications, and nursing considerations.

📚 When a nurse is unfamiliar with a medication, the drug guide ensures accurate, up-to-date, and safe information to support clinical decision-making.

📚 Consulting unverified sources like family members or pharmaceutical representatives may lead to incomplete or biased information, and other staff may not have specialized knowledge.

📚 Using the drug guide promotes safe medication administration and upholds professional nursing standards.

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Answer 9

Correct Answers:

1

Rationale :

Step 1: Convert weight to kilograms

⚖️ 110 lb ÷ 2.2 = 50 kg

Step 2: Calculate the total ordered dose

🧪 5 mg/kg × 50 kg = 250 mg

Step 3: Use the available concentration to calculate mL

📦 Available: 250 mg/mL

250mg÷250mg/mL=∗∗1mL∗∗

✅ The nurse should administer 1 mL of amikacin.

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Answer 10

Correct Answers:

IV fluid bolus

Rationale :

💧 Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor used to treat hypertension, and a common side effect—especially with the first dose—is orthostatic hypotension or a significant drop in blood pressure.

💧 The client's symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness suggest hypotension, and the appropriate intervention is to support blood pressure with an IV fluid bolus to expand intravascular volume.

💧 This helps restore perfusion and blood pressure while the body adjusts to the medication.

💧 The other options do not address hypotension:

Diphenhydramine is for allergic reactions,

Naloxone reverses opioids,

15 g carbohydrates is used for hypoglycemia, not hypotension.

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ATI PN Pharmacology-2020 Exam 2

No.

1 :
A nurse is collecting data from a client who is receiving vancomycin for a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?

2 :
A nurse is preparing to mix NPH insulin and regular insulin for administration. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

3 :
A nurse is caring for a client who started taking amitriptyline 6 days ago. The client reports that the medication is not helping. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

4 :
A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is receiving morphine via a continuous epidural infusion. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?

5 :
A nurse is preparing to identify a client prior to medication administration. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask to determine the client's identity?

6 :
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a new prescription for amoxicillin. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is having an allergic reaction to the medication?

7 :
A nurse is monitoring a client who received naloxone to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the medication is effective?

8 :
A nurse who is preparing to administer medications to a client is unfamiliar with a medication that the client takes at home. Which of the following resources should the nurse consult?

9 :
A nurse is preparing to administer amikacin 5 mg/kg IM to a client who weighs 110 lb. Available is amikacin injection 250 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if applicable. Do not use a trailing zero.)

10 :
A nurse is administering the first dose of ramipril to a client who has hypertension. The client reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Which of the following should the nurse administer?

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ATI PN Pharmacology-2020 Exam 2

No.

1 : A nurse is collecting data from a client who is receiving vancomycin for a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?

2 : A nurse is preparing to mix NPH insulin and regular insulin for administration. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

3 : A nurse is caring for a client who started taking amitriptyline 6 days ago. The client reports that the medication is not helping. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

4 : A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is receiving morphine via a continuous epidural infusion. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?

5 : A nurse is preparing to identify a client prior to medication administration. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask to determine the client's identity?

6 : A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a new prescription for amoxicillin. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is having an allergic reaction to the medication?

7 : A nurse is monitoring a client who received naloxone to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the medication is effective?

8 : A nurse who is preparing to administer medications to a client is unfamiliar with a medication that the client takes at home. Which of the following resources should the nurse consult?

9 : A nurse is preparing to administer amikacin 5 mg/kg IM to a client who weighs 110 lb. Available is amikacin injection 250 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if applicable. Do not use a trailing zero.)

10 : A nurse is administering the first dose of ramipril to a client who has hypertension. The client reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Which of the following should the nurse administer?

1 :
A nurse is collecting data from a client who is receiving vancomycin for a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?

2 :
A nurse is preparing to mix NPH insulin and regular insulin for administration. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

3 :
A nurse is caring for a client who started taking amitriptyline 6 days ago. The client reports that the medication is not helping. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

4 :
A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is receiving morphine via a continuous epidural infusion. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?

5 :
A nurse is preparing to identify a client prior to medication administration. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask to determine the client's identity?

6 :
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a new prescription for amoxicillin. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is having an allergic reaction to the medication?

7 :
A nurse is monitoring a client who received naloxone to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the medication is effective?

8 :
A nurse who is preparing to administer medications to a client is unfamiliar with a medication that the client takes at home. Which of the following resources should the nurse consult?

9 :
A nurse is preparing to administer amikacin 5 mg/kg IM to a client who weighs 110 lb. Available is amikacin injection 250 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if applicable. Do not use a trailing zero.)

10 :
A nurse is administering the first dose of ramipril to a client who has hypertension. The client reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Which of the following should the nurse administer?