ATI RN
ATI RN Exit Exam
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
- A. Blood glucose level of 150 mg/dL
- B. Serum sodium level of 138 mEq/L
- C. Serum potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L
- D. Serum albumin level of 3.8 g/dL
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A serum potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L is below the normal range and indicates hypokalemia, which should be reported to the provider. Hypokalemia can lead to serious complications such as cardiac arrhythmias. Choices A, B, and D are within normal ranges and do not require immediate reporting. A blood glucose level of 150 mg/dL is slightly elevated but not critically high. A serum sodium level of 138 mEq/L is within the normal range. A serum albumin level of 3.8 g/dL is also within the normal range.
2. A patient with hypokalemia and heart failure is admitted to the telemetry unit. The nurse is aware that hypokalemia could cause which of the following abnormalities on an electrocardiogram (ECG)?
- A. Shortened P-R interval
- B. Inverted T wave
- C. Depressed U wave
- D. Elevated U wave
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Elevated U wave. Hypokalemia is associated with ECG changes such as an elevated U wave and flattened T waves. Choice A, a shortened P-R interval, is not typically seen in hypokalemia. Choice B, an inverted T wave, is more commonly associated with ischemia or CNS injury rather than hypokalemia. Choice C, a depressed U wave, is not a typical ECG abnormality seen in hypokalemia. Therefore, the correct ECG abnormality associated with hypokalemia is an elevated U wave.
3. Which medication is used as a bronchodilator?
- A. Warfarin
- B. Lovastatin
- C. Albuterol
- D. Valproate
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Albuterol is the correct answer. It is a medication commonly used as a bronchodilator to treat conditions such as asthma. Albuterol works by relaxing the muscles in the airways, allowing better airflow and making breathing easier for individuals with respiratory conditions. Warfarin (Choice A) is an anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots, Lovastatin (Choice B) is a medication used to lower cholesterol levels, and Valproate (Choice D) is used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder. These medications are not bronchodilators and are used for different medical conditions.
4. The nurse understands that which are characteristics of anthrax? Select all that apply.
- A. Cutaneous lesions become a black eschar, Flu-like symptoms are a sign of pulmonary anthrax
- B. Cutaneous lesions become a black eschar
- C. Gastrointestinal anthrax causes blood anthrax
- D. Flu-like symptoms are a sign of pulmonary anthrax
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct characteristics of anthrax are that cutaneous lesions become a black eschar, and flu-like symptoms are typical of pulmonary anthrax. Choice B is incorrect as it only covers the cutaneous anthrax characteristic and does not include the flu-like symptoms of pulmonary anthrax. Choice C is incorrect as gastrointestinal anthrax does not cause 'blood anthrax,' and Choice D is incorrect as flu-like symptoms are not associated with gastrointestinal anthrax.
5. When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Educate the family not to push the button for the client while the client is asleep.
- B. Explain to the client that vital signs will be monitored regularly due to being on a PCA pump.
- C. Instruct the client to push the button only when pain is above a 7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
- D. Adjust the basal rate and decrease the lock-out interval time if the client's pain level is too high.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: When a client is receiving pain medication through a PCA pump, it is essential to adjust the settings if their pain level is not adequately controlled. Increasing the basal rate and shortening the lock-out interval time can help manage the client's pain more effectively. This adjustment should be made by the healthcare provider based on the client's pain assessment and response to the current settings. It is crucial to individualize the PCA pump settings to optimize pain management for each client. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because educating the family not to push the button, explaining vital sign monitoring, and setting a specific pain level for button pushing are not direct actions the nurse should take to adjust the PCA pump settings for effective pain management.
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