ATI RN
ATI Pathophysiology Test Bank
1. A nurse practitioner is seeing a client in the clinic with a suspected diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. What should the nurse anticipate as the priority action?
- A. Administer the first dose of antibiotics immediately after blood cultures are drawn.
- B. Start an IV line and administer corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
- C. Isolate the client to prevent the spread of infection.
- D. Perform a lumbar puncture to confirm the diagnosis.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to administer the first dose of antibiotics immediately after blood cultures are drawn for suspected bacterial meningitis. This is crucial to initiate treatment promptly and improve patient outcomes. Starting an IV line and administering corticosteroids (Choice B) may be part of the treatment plan but administering antibiotics is the priority. Isolating the client (Choice C) is important to prevent the spread of infection but not the priority over initiating antibiotic therapy. Performing a lumbar puncture (Choice D) may confirm the diagnosis, but treatment should not be delayed for this step in suspected cases of bacterial meningitis.
2. Which patient should be most carefully assessed for fluid and electrolyte imbalance among those receiving the following drugs?
- A. lithium (Eskalith)
- B. clozapine (Clozaril)
- C. diazepam (Valium)
- D. amitriptyline
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Lithium is known to cause polyuria (excessive urination) and polydipsia (excessive thirst), which can lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Therefore, patients receiving lithium should be carefully monitored for signs of fluid and electrolyte disturbances to prevent any potential complications.
3. A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is at risk for tumor lysis syndrome. What laboratory values should the nurse monitor to detect this complication?
- A. Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- B. Electrolytes and uric acid levels
- C. Serum glucose and calcium levels
- D. Liver enzymes and bilirubin levels
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Electrolytes and uric acid levels are important to monitor for the development of tumor lysis syndrome.
4. Roger has suffered a major brain injury. As a result, he is unable to speak fluently, tends to mispronounce words, and speaks haltingly. For instance, he says 'wat' instead of 'watch' and 'tot' instead of 'talk.' What is the diagnosis?
- A. Agnosia
- B. Spatial neglect
- C. Broca's aphasia
- D. Prosopagnosia
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct diagnosis for Roger's condition is Broca's aphasia. Broca's aphasia is characterized by difficulty in speaking fluently and accurately, often due to brain injury. In this case, Roger's symptoms of being unable to speak fluently, mispronouncing words, and speaking haltingly align with the characteristics of Broca's aphasia. Agnosia refers to the inability to recognize or interpret sensory information, spatial neglect is the lack of awareness of one side of the body or space, and prosopagnosia is the inability to recognize faces, none of which match Roger's symptoms.
5. Which of the following patients is at greatest risk for developing pressure ulcers?
- A. An alert chronic arthritic patient treated with steroids and aspirin
- B. An 88-year-old incontinent patient with gastric cancer who is confined to bed at home
- C. An apathetic 63-year-old COPD patient receiving nasal oxygen via cannula
- D. A confused 78-year-old patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) who requires assistance to get out of bed
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. An elderly patient who is incontinent, bedridden, and suffering from a serious illness like gastric cancer is at the highest risk for developing pressure ulcers. Being bedridden and incontinent increases the pressure on certain areas of the body, leading to tissue damage and the development of pressure ulcers. Additionally, the patient's age and underlying health condition further contribute to their risk. It is crucial to identify and address such risk factors promptly to prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers in vulnerable patients.
Similar Questions
Access More Features
ATI Basic
- 50,000 Questions with answers
- All ATI courses Coverage
- 30 days access @ $69.99
ATI Basic
- 50,000 Questions with answers
- All ATI courses Coverage
- 90 days access @ $149.99