A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client who has a prescription for docusate sodium

CMS Practice A Pharmacology With Answer & Rationale

ATI Practice A Pharmacology 2

1. A nurse is instructing a client on the application of nitroglycerin transdermal patches. Which of the following

statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. "I should apply a patch every 5 minutes if I develop chest pain."

B. "I will take the patch off right after my evening meal."

C. "I will leave the patch off at least 1 day each week."

D. "I should discard the used patch by flushing it down the toilet."

A. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets are used to treat new onset of angina pain. A client who uses sublingual tablets

should place one tablet under their tongue at the onset of angina pain and continue taking a tablet every 5 min for a

total of three doses of nitroglycerin. The effects of a nitroglycerin patch will take 30 to 60 min to occur and are not

useful to prevent an ongoing angina attack.

B. Clients should remove the patch each evening for a medication free time of 12 to 14 hr before applying a new

patch to avoid developing a tolerance to the medication's effects.

C. Nitroglycerin is an antianginal medication that results in dilation of the coronary vessels. Clients should apply the

patch daily to sustain prophylaxis.

D. Medication remains in the transdermal patch after removing it from the body and must be discarded safely. The

nurse should instruct the client to fold the patch ends together with the medication on the inside and place the

discarded patch in a closed container so that children and pets cannot gain access to the medication.

2. A nurse receives a verbal order from the provider to administer morphine five milligrams every 4 hours

subcutaneously for severe pain as needed. The nurse should identify which of the following entries as the correct

format for the medication administration record (MAR)?

A. MSO4 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain

B. Morphine 5 mg subcut every 4 hr PRN severe pain

C. MSO4 5 mg SQ every 4 hr PRN severe pain

D. Morphine 5.0 mg subcutaneously every 4 hr PRN severe pain

A. The use of the abbreviation MSO4 is prohibited by The Joint Commission. The medication name of morphine

must be spelled out to reduce the risk for error.

B. The nurse should identify this entry as the correct format for the MAR. The medication name is spelled out and

there are not any abbreviations from The Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list included in the transcription.

C. The use of the abbreviations MSO4 and SQ are prohibited by The Joint Commission. The abbreviation SQ can

be mistaken for SL and, therefore, this route should be written as subcut, subq, or subcutaneously.

D. The trailing zero on 5.0 can be mistaken for 50 if the decimal point is missed. Therefore, the dosage should be

written as 5 mg without a trailing zero.

3. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking acetazolamide for chronic open-angle glaucoma. For which of the

following adverse effects should the nurse instruct the client to monitor and report?

A. Tingling of fingers

B. Constipation

C. Weight gain

D. Oliguria

A. The nurse should instruct the client to report the adverse effect of paresthesia, a tingling sensation in the

extremities, when taking acetazolamide.

B. Diarrhea is an adverse effect of acetazolamide due to gastrointestinal disturbances.

C. Weight loss is an adverse effect of acetazolamide due to gastrointestinal disturbances causing reduced appetite.

D. Polyuria, rather than oliguria, is an adverse effect of acetazolamide.

1