Practice Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has been taking high doses of aspirin for chronic joint pain. Which finding should the nurse recognize as an indication of salicylate toxicity?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Tinnitus and hyperventilation
Rationale:
🟦 Salicylate toxicity commonly stimulates the respiratory center, leading to hyperventilation and early respiratory alkalosis.
🟦 Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a classic and early neurologic sign of aspirin overdose.
🟦 As toxicity progresses, metabolic acidosis may develop due to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.
🟦 High doses of aspirin interfere with acid–base balance, causing mixed respiratory and metabolic disturbances.
🟦 The presence of tinnitus with rapid breathing is a hallmark finding that strongly indicates salicylate toxicity.
Yellowing of the skin and sclera
🟦 This finding suggests jaundice, which is associated with liver dysfunction, not salicylate toxicity.
🟦 Aspirin toxicity does not typically cause bilirubin accumulation.
Bradycardia and hypotension
🟦 Salicylate toxicity more commonly causes tachycardia due to metabolic stress and acidosis.
🟦 Bradycardia and hypotension are more consistent with advanced shock states, not aspirin overdose.
Constipation and abdominal distention
🟦 These symptoms reflect gastrointestinal motility issues, not the neurologic and respiratory effects of salicylates.
🟦 Aspirin toxicity more often causes nausea, vomiting, and gastric irritation.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from ATI Custom LPN Pharm 2 NSG 2310 Final Exam Fall 2025 which contains 52 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has diabetes mellitus and a new prescription for prednisone. Which of the following statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is preparing teaching for a client prescribed levothyroxine. Which instruction about timing should the nurse provide to ensure optimal absorption?
Answer Choices:
While assessing a client who is receiving antiarrhythmic drugs, the LPN/LVN notes the presence of hypotension, dizziness, and confusion. What is the priority intervention by the LPN/LVN?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving opioid therapy for chronic pain who reports infrequent, hard stools. Which nursing intervention should the nurse prioritize to prevent opioid-induced constipation?
Answer Choices:
The nurse is assessing a client who receives a neuromuscular blocking agent. The nurse knows that which of the following is accurate regarding the medications?
Answer Choices:
From Exam
ATI Custom LPN Pharm 2 NSG 2310 Final Exam Fall 2025
52 Questions
View Full Exam Start PracticingQuestion Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: Pharmacology
- Answer Choices: 4