ATI RN
ATI Fundamentals Proctored Exam 2024
1. After 5 days of diuretic therapy with 20mg of furosemide (Lasix) daily, a patient begins to exhibit fatigue, muscle cramping, and muscle weakness. These symptoms probably indicate that the patient is experiencing:
- A. Hypokalemia
- B. Hyperkalemia
- C. Anorexia
- D. Dysphagia
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The symptoms of fatigue, muscle cramping, and muscle weakness in a patient after starting furosemide therapy are indicative of hypokalemia. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can lead to potassium depletion, causing hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can manifest with muscle weakness, cramps, and fatigue due to alterations in neuromuscular function and decreased ATP production.
2. When preparing to administer eye drops to a school-age child, what actions should a nurse take?
- A. 52341
- B. 53241
- C. 35241
- D. 14325
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct sequence for administering eye drops to a school-age child is as follows: 5. Place the child in a sitting position, 2. Ask the child to look upward, 3. Pull the lower eyelid downward, 4. Instill the drops of medication, and 1. Apply pressure to the lacrimal punctum. Placing the child in a sitting position helps with stability and ease of access. Asking the child to look upward helps expose the conjunctival sac. Pulling the lower eyelid downward creates a pouch for instilling the drops. Instilling the drops of medication directly into the pouch ensures proper administration, and applying pressure to the lacrimal punctum prevents systemic absorption and promotes local action of the medication.
3. A healthcare professional is assessing a client who has a pulmonary embolism. Which of the following information should the healthcare professional not expect to find?
- A. Bradypnea
- B. Pleural friction rub
- C. Petechiae
- D. Tachycardia
Correct answer: A: Bradypnea
Rationale: In a client with a pulmonary embolism, bradypnea, which is abnormally slow breathing, is not an expected finding. Pulmonary embolism typically presents with tachypnea (rapid breathing) due to the body's compensatory mechanism to increase oxygen levels. Pleural friction rub, petechiae, and tachycardia are commonly associated with a pulmonary embolism due to the impaired oxygenation and increased workload on the heart. Therefore, the healthcare professional should not expect to find bradypnea during the assessment of a client with a pulmonary embolism.
4. A client complains of difficulty swallowing when the nurse tries to administer capsule medication. Which of the following measures should the nurse take?
- A. Dissolve the capsule in a glass of water
- B. Break the capsule and give the contents with applesauce
- C. Check the availability of a liquid preparation
- D. Crush the capsule and place it under the tongue
Correct answer: C
Rationale: When a client has difficulty swallowing capsule medication, the nurse should check the availability of a liquid preparation. This is a safer approach and ensures that the medication's integrity is maintained, providing an alternative form that is easier for the client to take. Dissolving the capsule in water (choice A) may alter the medication's effectiveness, breaking the capsule and mixing the contents with applesauce (choice B) is not recommended as it may cause an unpleasant taste, and crushing the capsule and placing it under the tongue (choice D) can be unsafe and affect the medication's absorption.
5. Which of the following procedures always requires surgical asepsis?
- A. Vaginal instillation of conjugated estrogen
- B. Urinary catheterization
- C. Nasogastric tube insertion
- D. Colostomy irrigation
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Surgical asepsis, which involves maintaining a sterile field and preventing contamination in a surgical setting, is required for urinary catheterization as it involves entering a sterile body cavity. Vaginal instillation of conjugated estrogen, nasogastric tube insertion, and colostomy irrigation do not always require surgical asepsis as they involve different levels of sterility and infection control measures.